Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Rigs of the 2022 Hunt 1000
Next up for our “Rigs of” series is the Hunt 1000, a 1,000-kilometer journey through the rooftop of Australia featuring backcountry trails, exposed high plains, snow gum woodlands, and tall native forests. Check out our gallery of more than 30 race rigs of the 2022 Hunt 1000 here, featuring bag and gear highlights for each…
PUBLISHED Mar 3, 2022
Developed by Dan Hunt in 2016, the Hunt 1000 is a bikepacking route that links two of Australia’s major cities, Canberra and Melbourne, and traverses some of Australia’s most beautiful high country. The route links some amazing campsites and historic alpine huts, offers riders a limited number of resupply points, and mixes in some challenging hike-a-bike sections and river crossings.
Returning after last year’s cancelled event, the 2022 Hunt 1000 will travel from Melbourne to Canberra with a grand finish on March 19th, rather than a grand depart, a first for the event. Those participating can depart any time between March 5th and March 12th.
There are more than 40 riders registered to participate, and with their help, we’ve collected bike and gear details for around 30 riders who are tackling the route. Scroll through and get a good look at everyone’s rig and then head over to the 2022 Hunt 1000 event page to follow along live.
Adam Hill
Age 46 / Canberra, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: Surly Disc Trucker 26″. It’s a heavy bike even when unloaded. Currently 30 kilograms laden with three days of food and snacks but no water. Planning on taking my time to complete the route.
BAGS: Using existing bags from previous on-road cycle trips: 2x Ortlieb Back Roller Classic (2x 20L), 2x Ortlieb Front Roller Classic (2x 12.5L).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nature Hike 1UP tent, Klymit Insulated Static V Lite, Vango Ultralite 50 Pro 1 season bag, Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme liner, MSR Pocket Rocket Solo Cook Set, Garmin Edge 830 navigation with GPSMap 66i as backup.
Benjamin Damyon
Age 42 / Canberra, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a small Salsa Fargo. It’s been built as a flatbar with Carver Myti bars. These plus Ergon GS2s and SQLab inner bar ends give great control and lots of hands positions. A Cane Creek eeSilk seat post provides some cush. It has Shimano XT/SLX 12-speed in 30x51T, four piston Shimano brakes with 180/160 rotors, and is shod in Vittoria Mezcal 2.6 front & 2.35” rear tires. Wheels are 29″ i25 DT240 rear and an i30 Hunt dynamo wheel up front.
BAGS: I am running mainly Revelate gear with a Terrapin seat pack, two feedbags, tool bag, frame bag, and a Pronghorn. Two 1L bottles are on the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My shelter is a Tarptent Aeon Li (lots of rain about and likely mozzies, so the bivvy will be left at home for this ride). Sleeping bag is TBD, either a warmer Enlightened Equipment quilt or lighter Cumulus bag. A mat, pillow and liner should help recovery through good sleep! Lights are Klite. Fantastic lights and superb customer support. Highlights are two ockey straps—one each on my Pronghorn and Terrapin to give me the ability to stow more food for longer stretches. A perennial challenge for riders of small frames!
Bernie Lauinger
Age 57 / Deakin, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be cruising the Hunt 1000 on a 2021 Salsa Fargo. The bike features a new pair of tubeless Teravail Honcho 2.4” tires, and the rest is a standard set-up straight out of the box from Kingston Foreshore Cycles: triple butted steel frame, carbon fork, SRAM Apex 1 derailleur and shifter, Stylo crankset 32t, Salsa Cowchipper handlebar.
BAGS: Plenty of wet weather has been hitting the east coast and I’m confident that Ortlieb will protect my gear: handle-bar pack, top tube frame bag, fork outer bags, cockpit pack, and an exception for the Fargo seat-pack. Three bottles will be mounted to the fork and downtube and I’m also carrying a Grayl Ultrapress purifier and Jetboil stove.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Black Wolf Mantis UL1 will keep me dry and warm along with a Macpac Escapade 150 sleeping bag and Klymit air mat. I’ll also be carrying an eTrex 32 for navigation.
Brandon Stewart
Age 36 / Wonthaggi, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on a custom Surly Karate Monkey fitted with Kindernay XIV drivetrain with 32/16 cogs. Keeping me grounded will be 27.5 x 2.6″ Vittoria Agarro (R), Barzo (F). I’ll be hanging onto good old kiwi Passchier bamboo bars (Gump 760 bubba blue).
BAGS: Bags are a mixture of Terra Rosa Gear (frame, saddle, and stem), Restrap (fork), and my own homemade gear (front roll).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Terra Rosa Mesh Hood Tyvek Sleeping Cover will serve as my shelter along with a Terra Rosa Gear Tarp.
Brendan Boyce
Age 35 / Brisbane, Queensland (AUS)
BIKE: 2018 Niner Sir 9 with 12-speed drivetrain; 32T up front and 10–50T rear. Running carbon hoops with Maxxis Ikons as well as Whiskey LT Boost rigid fork and Cane Creek bar ends.
BAGS: I’ve got two Bike Bag Dude fork bags that hold my tent and sleeping gear. Also using a Blackburn frame bag, top tube bag, and feed bag, mostly for food, batteries, charging, and cooking gear, as well as an AlienX double bottle holder that allows me to carry bottles and a frame bag. Saddlebag is a Topeak and I’ve got a Dakine Gripper for first aid and spare tubes.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Pretty keen on my Ground Effect rain jacket which turns into a bumbag that can hold snacks. Also excited to use my One Planet Cocoon -8 sleeping bag and insulated Sea to Summit mat in an environment that justifies the bulk. Another highlight is the rusty beer/stem cap with a goat head pointing the way forward. Navigation will come from rusty goat head and Garmin Fenix 6.
Chris Jenkins
Age 47 / Newcastle, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: I will be tackling the Hunt 1000 on “The Wolf,” my much loved Ti Hardtail. The frame is my own design, custom-made by Waltly. Rockshox Reba fork, SRAM AXS 32T x 10-52T drivetrain, a Syntace P6 Hiflex seat post to smooth out the bumps, and some Wolftooth bling. The wheels are Mongrels; SON dynamo hub up front, an I9 Hydra rear hub, and Maxis Ikon 2.2” tyres. The awesome kLite charger and light will keep my devices powered and scare off any drop bears when it gets dark.
BAGS: Custom frame, fork, and top tube bags from the Bike Bag Dude, who along with kLite is another great bikepacking company based right here in my home town of Newcastle. Revelate seat and feedbags round out the packs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks Hexamid tarp to keep the rain off, an Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt to keep warm, and an Exped Hyperlite mat, which is 400 grams of plush comfort or deadweight depending on your point of view. No problems, as I will offset that weight by cutting the end of my toothbrush and like the pros, I’ll take my water bottles off the frame and put them in the back of my jersey at the bottom of the climbs. That helps right? Laws of physics you say? Blah! Who believes those in a post-truth world?
Cory Griffiths
Age 49 / Hobart, Tasmania (AUS)
BIKE: Hunt Bikes 29er CrMo hardtail with Fox 34 120mm fork, Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain (11-46T cassette and 30T chainring), Hope cranks and rear hub, SON dynamo 15 front hub, Thomson post and stem, Selle Italia MaxFlite seat, and Salsa Bend2 bars with Profile aero bar and Ergon bar-end grips for multiple hand positions.
BAGS: Revelate Terrapin seat bag and tank, Apidura bar roll and bag, Salsa Anything cage and bag (not pictured), and Restrap feed bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be running a Garmin 530 for navigation (Samsung Galaxy S10 for back up and communication), a Sinewave Beacon front light/charger and Knog USB rear flasher, a Cygnett 20k mAh powerbank for backup.
Dan Hunt
Age 39 / Braidwood, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: Hunt Bikes Land Cruiser, the new Hunt Bikes titanium gravel adventure/fast off-roading frame paired with the new Hunt Bikes carbon adventure forks. The bike is set up with a mullet drivetrain using a Garbaruk derailleur cage on a SRAM Rival derailleur. Lighting is via a kLite dynamo light and SON hub. Also, some fresh Panaracer Gravel King 50mm rubber.
BAGS: Hunt Bikes V1 saddle bag and handlebar roll. Revelate top tube bag. As I’ll be playing organiser and occasional trail angel for this year’s Hunt 1000, those bike bags will primarily be filled with snacks and maybe a tinnie or two.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Obviously the new Hunt Bikes Ti Gravel frame and fork, stoked to have it dialed in and available for others to order now. I love my klite too. Not in the photo, but I have to give a shoutout to my old Garmin Edge 810, that thing has guided me many 1000s of kilometres.
David Robinson
Age 38 / Melbourne, Naarm (AUS)
BIKE: Surly Karate Monkey aka George. I bought this bike with the Hunt 1000 in mind, something that was durable, flexible, and versatile for mounting options. But I love the ride unloaded as well, it’s a super fun bike to take out for a day ride. I haven’t owned this bike for too long and so it remains fairly stock for now aside from the Moloko bars. Whilst it’s not as quick and rolls a little slower than some of my other bikes, it’s the ever-dependable tortoise when loaded up.
BAGS: The majority of my bags are Ortlieb. They are well made, and like my other Ortlieb backpacks, I expect them to last.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love the design, flexibility, and variety the Moloko bars offer for attaching bags, gear, and hand placement. The bullhorns are great for cruising along, and I get to attach my front light, GPS, and snack bags, etc., without it feeling overcrowded. I’m expecting to be glad I have the 51T Sunrace cassette on the back. It’s made climbing steep gradients a straightforward affair even with a fully loaded bike.
Derek Ireland
Age 51 / Brisbane, Qld (AUS)
BIKE: I will be riding the Hunt 1000 on a Curve GMX+ with 55cm wide Curve Walmer drop bars. The drivetrain is a SRAM AXS Rival/GX Eagle Mullet, with 30T chainring and 10-50T cassette. Underneath are Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tyres mounted to Curve Dirt Hoop AL Boost wheels with 30mm internal width, an SP dynamo front hub, and DT Swiss 350 rear hub.
BAGS: Up front I have a Salsa EXP Anything Cradle with 10L dry bag, and the fork legs have Curve Rocket Pooches. In the cockpit, I have Apidura feed bags and a small top tube bag for the dynamo USB charger and associated cables and batteries. Out the back is a Tumbleweed Mini Pannier Rack with Revelate Nano Panniers.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For lights, I have a dynamo powered KLite Ultra up front and KLite rear flasher. For some luxury accommodation, I’m taking a Big Agnes Copper Spur 1P tent, S2S quilt, and Nemo insulated mat. I’m really enjoying the convenience and stability of a rack and panniers, which are a nice change from the struggles I have had trying to squeeze a seat pack into a small frame.
Graeme Cross
Age 55 / Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: Trek Superfly 8, a 29″ hardtail MTB that has served me well over the years. I’m running the standard gearing: 24/38T on the front with an 11–36T cassette. I’ve added Ergon GS2 grips and a Topeak Versacage for extra water capacity. For the Hunt 1000, I’ll be switching over to Maxxis tyres: Ardent 2.4″ (front) and Ikon 2.35″ (rear).
BAGS: I’m running a mix of Revelate Designs and Apidura bags with a Decathlon feed bag. Handlebar bag for sleep system and some clothing, saddle bar bag for the rest of my clothing, stove, and food. Total water capacity on board of 3L.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The combination of a Macpac Sololight tent and Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag has worked well in a range of conditions in Australia and New Zealand, so I’m taking them again as there will be a number of nights camping in the mountains with potential for snow. My favourite piece of gear is the Garmin Inreach Mini, especially for solo travel: people know where I am and it’s handy for staying in touch with family when I’m far from a phone network.
Hans-Jørgen Jahr
Age 47 / Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my Trek Top Fuel 9. I also use this bike for racing XCO/M since it’s my only bike. I swap to a wider (30mm internal) wheel set with an SP dynamo hub when bikepacking, otherwise pretty much an off-the-shelf setup. Pirelli Scorpion M 2.2″ tires front and back.
BAGS: Revelate bags: Mag-Tank, Jerrycan, Spinelock 16L, and a Sweetroll (in a homemade carbon fibre harness to keep it from interfering with cables). A pair of Gorilla Cages with 5.5L Dry Bags. Camelbak MULE 3L.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Excited to bring my new Terra Rosa Gear Tyvek with Mesh Hood Sleeping Cover and TRG Tarp 2.
Ian Morrison
Age 39 / Maroubra, Sydney (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be rolling on a 2019 Scott Spark 910 driven by 32T/10-50T. 120mm travel front and back with three-position lockout will hopefully flatten things out a bit. Custom wheels from Light Bicycle with 29 x 2.2″ Conti Race King Protection rubbers.
BAGS:Custom frame bag from Bike Bag Dude. Two-litre capacity top tube straddle bag. Revelate Terrapin saddle bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Garmin Edge 1030 tells me where to go. I’ve got two side-by-side 1L bottles on the downtube supplemented by a 1L bladder. The saddle bag will stash an Outdoor Research Helium bivy, sleeping bag, and Vango Aostrom short mat.
James Sloan
Age 65 / Ettamogah, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: Motobecane SL titanium hardtail with SRAM Eagle 32T x 10-52T, 29″ SRAM Roam front rim, DT Swiss XR331 rear rim, Mavic Recon Race front and Ikon rear 2.2″ tyres.
BAGS: Apidura seat bag, expedition handlebar pack plus utility bag, 1 litre and 0.5 litre top tube bags, plus Ortlieb frame pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 2 King Cage titanium bottle cages fixed on seat stays plus King Cage flask (for evening tipple of some Talisker Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch Whisky).
Jody Betzien
Age 45 / Naarm, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: A well-travelled Velo Orange Piolet that has had many guises but has now settled on its identity as a no-nonsense low-maintenance flat bar ATB. Recently Rohloff’d and shod with Vittoria Mezcal 2.6″ tires.
BAGS: Mix of Ortlieb and Apidura bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A drivetrain I seldom forget to forget about. A Borah Gear Ultralight bivvy combined with a Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid for maximum slumber flexibility, and a Hammerhead Karoo 2 for millions of functions I never use but a lovely clear screen.
John Paul Lopez Taberdo
Age 39 / Geelong, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a Merida Big Nine Lite alloy frame with a 100mm travel Manitou Markhor fork and Hunt XC Wide alloy wheels with tubeless Maxxis Ardent and Ardent Race 29 x 2.4″ and 2.35″ tyres. The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano 1×11 components with an 11-51T cassette and a 28T chainring. I’m using a set of Pro Missile aero bars, and my saddle is an Ergon SMC Stealth on top of a Merida Team carbon seatpost.
BAGS: I’m a big fan of Restrap, so I’ll be using their 14L Bikepacking Saddle Bag, Race Top Tube bag, and two Stem Bags. I’m using a Topeak Frontloader handlebar bag and a Zefal universal bottle cage adapter holding the 1L water bottle underneath the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m travelling in luxury with a Mountain Designs Redline tent and a Jetboil stove. To (hopefully) keep me out of trouble, I’ve got a Raveman PR1600 front light and a Garmin Edge 830 and InReach Mini 2. My Shimano SLX brakes are definitely the best safety addition to this bike—any 4-pot brakes are highly recommended for loaded MTB bikepacking.
Jonathan Elliot
Age 45 / West Hobart, Tasmania (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on my 2018 Muru Innaminka Ti 29er. The bike has a Rohloff hub, Gates carbon drive, Hope cranks and E4 brakes, Fox 34 fork, and Specialized Ground Control 2.3″ tires on DT Swiss wheels with a SON 28 Dynamo hub up front.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Pronghorn rollbag, Egress Pocket and Mag Tank 2000, Apidura feed bags, Salsa Anything Cage and bag, and a Tailfin Aeropack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Ti Jones bar with Fred Bar for aero bars, Cane Creek eeSilk seat post, Sinewave Beacon light, Zpaks Plex Solo Tent, Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 40F sleeping bag and down pants, Outdoor Vitals Loftek Jacket, Alpkit Kraku stove. Navigating with a Garmin Edge 1030.
Jules Wearne
Age 36 / Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: 2017 Ritchey 650B with a 2015 SID Fork and some American Classic Wide Lightning Wheels. Shimano drivetrain and brakes, I’ll be running a smaller chainring and bigger brake rotors for the Hunt.
BAGS: Restrap Handlebar Roll and Saddlebag, a Revelate Feedbag (love all of them) and an okay-ish Blackburn frame bag. I’ll upgrade the frame bag to a Terra Rosa custom job one day.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my Cyclewerks (NZ) dual-bottle mount adapter on the downtube, and my quite cheap (but matching) bar ends and the cheap clip-on aerobars. The setup gives me more than enough hand positions and the aero position really helps with stretching out the lower back.
Mark Liddle
Age 49 / Melbourne (AUS)
BIKE: My Bike for the Hunt 1000 is a 2021 Kona Unit X. I have swapped out most parts (I think only the crankset and seat post are original!). It’s running a Shimano 12-speed drivetrain with a 28T chainring and a 10–51T cassette. By far my favourite thing about this bike is the front rack/basket combo made up of a Simworks Obento rack and a Wald 139 half basket. Other highlights are the Tumbleweed Persuader bars and the SON dynamo paired with a Sinewave beacon light. I’ve sized my tyres down for this event, from 2.6″ to 2.3″ based on wanting to be more efficient with rolling resistance, we’ll see if that gamble pays off!
BAGS: I went all out with a full Rockgeist bag set up including a custom framebag, an assortment of cockpit bags combined with a Meanwhile basket bag, and a Mr. Fusion saddle bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be carrying a Big Agnes Copper Spur tent and Q-Core pad combined with a Sea to Summit Spark 3 bag. I’ll be relying on a Garmin 830 for navigation with backup power supplied by a couple of Voltaic V25 cache power banks.
Mattie Gould
Age 37 / Canberra, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be gently riding the Hunt 1000 on an Open Cycles One + with Rock Shox SID World Cup 100mm forks. I’m running a 1×12 drivetrain with a 34T oval chainring, 2.25″ Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres, and my 10-year-old Brooks saddle.
BAGS: On the front, I’ve got a Hunt Bikes handlebar roll and a couple of dry bags strapped to the forks. On the rear is an Oveja Negra Gear Jammer and in the middle is an Oveja Negra ½ frame pack, both from local Aussie dealer BikePackShop. A Chuckbucket is holding snacks and a couple of litre cages are holding extra water.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using a TarpTent ProTrail for shelter, Zorali sleeping mat and pillow and a Sea to Summit quilt. Possibly the heaviest piece of gear I’m carrying will be my camera and 24-105mm lens, which will be carried in a hip pack.
Michael O’Brien
Age 33 / Canberra, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on my trusty 2020 Surly Karate Monkey with a Salsa Firestarter fork. This bike is set up with a mix of Schwalbe G-One and Maxxis Rekon tyres, 1×12 Shimano drivetrain with a 30T chainring, and DT Swiss 27.5+ wheels with Hope/SON Dynamo Hubs.
BAGS: Frame space goes to the huge Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag. I am also running a Revelate Terrapin seat pack, Bike Bag Dude Garage top tube bag, a Revelate Jerry Can, and a Revelate Pronghorn on the handlebars. Three litres of bottles will be mounted to the fork and downtube. I am likely to also have 1 or 2 Terra Rosa Gear fork bags mounted to my Anything Cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An MLD SuperLight Solo Bivy combined with a Terra Rosa Gear Sil-Poly Tarp will serve as my shelter. S2S SparkIII bag and Exped mat will make sleepytime complete.
Michael Potter
Age 24 / Hornsby Heights, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my Titanium Curve GRX (Kevin) for the Hunt 1000. The bike features Shimano GRX 1×11 Di2 with a 36T chainring and 11-42T cassette. The bike rolls on Curve 27.5″ Dirt Hoops with Maxxis Icon 2.2″ tyres paired with a SON Dynamo front hub. I’ll be using the Walmer bars from Curve as well.
BAGS: My bag setup will include eight bags along with three water bottle cages. I’ll be using two Curve Rocket Pouches on each of the forks, two Revelate mountain feed bags, and an Apidura handlebar pack, frame pack, top tube pack, and saddle pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping gear! An Outdoor research Helium bivy as shelter with a Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air mat, Spark SP0 sleeping bag and Reactor liner all packing into the Apridura handlebar pack.
Nicholas Avery
Age 31 / Sydney, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2018 Kona Unit X with a microSHIFT and Wolf Tooth drivetrain (30T x 11-48T), Avid Juicy Ultimate hydraulic brakes, and Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ tires hugging Race Face offset rims that I laced myself with the help of my friends at Glow Worm Electric Bikes.
BAGS: 5L dry bags straddle the fork, a tent and tarp are wrapped footlong-style in Tyvek and strapped to the bars, two feed bags fulfill their duties at the controls, an Oveja Negra frame bag is nestled in amongst a gymnasium of cages and bottles of water, tools, and methylated spirits, and a second Oveja Negra brings up the rear.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m pretty stoked on my four-pronged fender set up. La Niña is in full force at the moment on the east coast of Australia, and I reckon keeping my gear a little drier will help my odds of finishing.
Peter Beggs
Age 57 / Leura, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: 2019 model Surly ECR, 14 speed Rohloff hub, Shutter Precision Dyno hub, Shimano XT brakes, crank, pedals, and bottom bracket, Selle Anatomica saddle, Thompson Seat post and stem, Comfort lock-on grips. I don’t need any extra handlebar bits. Alex Supra wheelset 35mm. A bit heavier and stronger. Specialized Fast track 29 x 2.6″ tyres. Fast-rolling and have found them to be durable (no problems) in rocky terrain.
BAGS: Revelate Terrapin Rooster tail, 2x Revelate feed bags. One is for a water bottle. Bike Bag Dude Front roll, Top Tube “garage”, 2 Zip frame bag, 2 Anything cage bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using a local Aussie made one-man tent, a One Planet Goondie one. And kLite is another local Aussie product that is an excellent Dyno hub-driven light. Love my Vietnamese Coffee maker, which fits perfectly inside my mug. Using a Garmin 530 for navigation and phone backup.
Richard Haertel
Age 51 / Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: Surly Bridge club, Original 2X10 drivetrain, New DTSwiss rear wheel and hub, front fitted with SON28 hub with Klite bikepack light and charger setup.
BAGS: Framebag is by BBD, Revelate top tube, Blackburn handlebar feedbag. Tent straps onto bars, sleeping gear strapped to rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Bike is an XL frame, so the frame bag is HUGE. A mixed blessing, as I’m a bit of a kitchen-sinker when I pack. The Klite is a winner, too, as I do enjoy the odd dusk-dawn dash. And after a rocky start, my Brooks B17 and I are best mates now.
Richie Neal
Age 45 / Engadine, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Hunt 1000 on a Tumbleweed Stargazer. The bike features a pair of Maxxis Ardent 29 x 2.25″ tires. Depending on weather forecasts, these will probably be changed out for a new pair of Maxxis Ardent Exo 29 x 2.4″, a 1×12 drivetrain, 10-50T with a 32T chainring, and alloy Curve Dirt Hoop wheels with a Dynamo hub up front. Saddle is a Brooks B17 on a Thomson seat post. Handlebars are Curve Walmer bars 55cm.
BAGS: Bags are a combination of Bike Bag Dude (BBD) and Apidura. Roll and sling, Top tube garage, 2x chaff bags from BBD, and a 14L Expedition saddle pack and 4.5L frame pack from Apidura. I will carry five water bottles fixed to the frame and forks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Using my old Army issue hootchie, bivvy bag, and 0-degree rated bag, which still serves me well. Carrying an eTrex 22X for navigation with a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro watch and phone for backup.
Robbie McEwan
Age 39 / Naarm/Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: My bike is a tractor on two wheels. A stock XL 2021 Kona Unit X I picked up second-hand and fitted with a Jones H-bar, Surly rear disk rack, AlienX front cradle, and Brooks C17 saddle. It’s not going to win any races but it’s great for extended bikepacking through Australia’s remote areas. A Maxxis Ikon 2.6″ has replaced the worn rear WTB Ranger 2.6″ for the Hunt.
BAGS: Dry bags are strapped to the front cradle and rear rack, with an elastic cargo net for quickly tucking in a raincoat, sandals, or drying tent. Geosmina fork cages and bags sit below the Geosmina gas tank and Jones H-Bar pack. The Revelate XL Ranger frame bag fits well and a small generic saddlebag holds tools and spares. A litre bottle is carried on the top tube and two flat 1400ml bottles can be strapped to the inside or outside of the rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The flat bottles are designed as cooler divider water bottles and are food-grade. It’s a bit of an experiment, but it’s working great so far. In dry Australia, this setup allows for extra capacity to be added, but otherwise keeps bladders out of bags and bottles off the downtube where they can sometimes snag. Soft adhesive has been applied to any rubbing points. Hopefully one day somebody will manufacture flat bottles like these with quality seals as there’s the odd drip when on their side.
Rohan Hunt
Age 28 / Queanbeyan, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my beloved Surly Straggler. Sporting a simple 1 x 10 drivetrain (32T x 11/42T), 29 x 2.0″ tires, Curve Walmer bars, and Hunt wheelset. This will be the third Hunt 1000 route for the Straggler, making incremental improvements each time.
BAGS: The Hungry frame and feed bags will carry the camp essentials and food, a custom Dyneema bag from Zero G Gear will hold an MSR hubba hubba up front, the rest of the sleep system and layers of clothing are stuffed in a Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion saddlebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: It’s hard to pick a favourite piece of gear, but I’ve narrowed it down to my Hungry Big Lunch hip pack and my MSR hubba hubba NX2. The Hunt 1000 traverses the stunning Australian alpine region and the Hungry Big Lunch lets me bring a camera and an array of lenses. It’s such an awesome experience, and this piece of kit allows me to share my adventure with family and friends. The Hubba Hubba is the only tent I’ve found that can keep out the drop bears.
Royce Gordon
Age 53 / Brisbane, QLD (AUS)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on a Curve GXR. The bike has a SRAM Force 1×11 drivetrain with a 38T chainring (34T if it arrives in time). Wheels are Curve G34T with 50mm Maxis Ramblers that only just fit.
BAGS: I’ll be using a mix of bags, including the Ortlieb Gravel Pannier on a Tubus Airy rack, PRO Discover Gravel Frame Bag, Topeak FastFuel Dry Bag, and DOM Gorilla fork Bags on King Cage Manything Cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system consists of a Macpac Bush Cocoon Bivvy Bag, an Etherlight XT mattress, and an Epic HyperDRY 400 bag.
Steph Skinner
Age 27 / Canberra, ACT (AUS)
BIKE: I’m riding a 2021 Liv Devote Advanced 1. I’ve swapped out the stock wheels for a set of 650b Curve Grav Al wheels to up the clearance and finished with some 2.0” Maxxis Rekon Race tyres. The drivetrain is 1 x 11 GRX810, and I’ve substituted in a 36T Wolf Tooth chainring and a 10-46T Sunrace cassette for all the big vert.
BAGS: My frame is pretty small and compact, so my setup is all about making use of every possible mounting point! On the front, I’ve got a Revelate harness for my sleep setup, while my feed bags and handlebar bag were made by a delightful custom maker based in Poland called Baby Legs Bags (she ships worldwide and was so lovely to deal with I’ll give her a plug at any given chance!). On the forks, I’ve got Dom gorilla cages with Apidura fork bags, and my top tube bag, frame bag, and seat bag are all Apidura as well.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I like being comfortable at camp after a long day on the bike, so for me all my highlights are the things that let me feel warm, clean, and happy. Sea to Summit comfort plus sleeping mat. Ultra-thick merino wool socks and North Face camp sandals to savour the feeling of dry feet after all the river crossings. Fairy lights for the ambiance. A deck of cards. A block of Parmesan and chili flakes to make dehydrated meals taste edible!
Tayebeh Alirezaee
Age 45 / Hawthorn, Victoria (AUS)
BIKE: Salsa Fargo steel with dynamo, 2.8″ tyres, Jones Bar.
BAGS: Salsa bags with cages (stove/food and clothing), Rapha handlebar bag (bivvy/bag/sleep clothes), frame bag (spare/repair/toiletries/first aid), pannier (food, tarp, sandals).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my kLite dynamo set up, has never let me down, helps me charge the GPS and tracker, also love the micro pannier (set me free from the hassle of using saddlebags as a short person come with limitations) but still isn’t in my way for hike-a-bike sections.
Warwick Chate
Age 53 / Sydney, NSW (AUS)
BIKE: Brother Cycles Big Bro built for comfort and versatility. XT 1×12 with 28T chainring and 10-51T cassette for hill-climbing with touring load. Custom-built wheels with tubeless 29 x 2.6″ Mezcals and SON28 dynamo. kLite Ultra V2 Gravel light, eTrex 32x and iPhone on Jones bars with Ergon grips to reduce the sweep and aid comfort. kLite Qube on seat stay. 3x 1L water bottles and Jetboil in Salsa Bag on Rockshox Reva RL 100mm suspension fork, with Tailfin SFM to mount bottle cages and a Blackburn Outpost cage.
BAGS: Bike Bag Dude custom frame bag with three pockets: tools, first aid, and utility store in lower, food and quick-grab items in upper, flat items in side compartment. SPOT4 tracker (using DIY mount) on Revelate Gas Tank, with kLite USB charger inside. Bike Bag Dude Chaff Bags with bottle in one and snacks in the other. Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle with sleep system (MLD Duomid, inner mesh tent, down quilt, and air mattress). Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack stores clothing and additional food when needed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Jones bars give multiple hand positions and mounting options. Awesome light off the kLite Ultra! Bike Bag Dude custom frame bag is my favourite storage space.
The Hunt 1000 route is a 1,000 km journey through the rooftop of Australia along backcountry trails, across exposed high plains, through snow gum woodlands and among tall native forests. The trail links two of major cities with limited resupply points and some of Australia’s best high country campsites. Find the full route guide here.
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