Rigs of the 2026 Highland Trail 550 (HT550)

Initially concocted as a simple training ride in preparation for the Colorado Trail Race, the Highland Trail 550 was designed by veteran endurance mountain biker Alan Goldsmith. It eventually evolved into one of the most popular self-supported off-road routes in the world, with racers tackling it under five days, and tourers spending up to two weeks experiencing the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. No matter how it’s ridden, the Highland Trail 550 is no easy ride. Fickle Scottish weather dishes up some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, and everyone who completes the annual grand depart is a winner in our eyes.

With the help of organizer Alan Goldsmith and the participants, we gathered bike, bag, and gear details for nearly 40 riders taking on the course this year. Dig into the submissions below, and then head over to the Tracker page to follow their progress live. The grand depart is tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. local time, and over 60 riders are registered for live tracking, half of whom are women. Alan is proud of this milestone, saying the rest of the bikepacking world needs to catch up, but it’s much easier because the event has limited numbers and it’s not-for-profit.

Conditions are looking foul as ever, with nighttime temps as low as 34°F (1°C), highs hovering around 50°F (10°C), and plenty of rain and possibly snow in the forecast. If the route itself isn’t challenging enough, the weather surely will be. Follow along on our Tracker page throughout the race.

Markus Barden

Age 29 / Regensburg, Bavaria (Germany)

BIKE: Fairlight Holt. Rolling on fresh Adventure Wheels built by my friend Melvin.
BAGS: Tailfin and Ortlieb.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Analog Leica Mini II, Fred Ferkel Party Edition.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Megan Joy Barclay

Age 29 / South East London (UK)

BIKE: Cotic Solaris, DT-Swiss XMC1200, Vittoria Barzos, 12-speed 28/10-52T.
BAGS: Handmade frame bag by my pal Harry (AKA Spoked), Wholegrain Cycles Carrie cradle and Cliff cage front setup, Tailfin top tube and Restrap backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Full Albion kit, particularly the Zoa rain gear and hoody, Knog blinders lights (both sponsored). Sea to Summit sleep kit and my luxury item, an MP3 player.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Element Roam 3 and my old Wahoo Roam.

Ruby Beardsall

Age 30 / London

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Cannonade Supersix Evo CX – my cyclocross/gravel/road/ultra/everything bike. Pirelli Cinturato gravel M tires; 50mm at the front, 45mm at the back. Shimano GRX 46/30 at the front, 11-36T cassette.
BAGS: Restrap front pack with the help from my CLIFF rack from Wholegrain Cycles to keep it off my front wheel. Custom full frame bag and saddle bag for my sleep system, also from Restrap. Rapha stem bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Hydration bladder in the bottom of my frame bag, Exposure front light and Ledlenser head torch, Albion cargo vis vest and a mix of Rapha and Albion kit.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Elemnt Roam.

Ben Brough

Age 30 / Peebles (Scotland)

BIKE: Specialized Chisel FS with a special blend of parts that I’m happy riding down an enduro trail or pedaling for five days.
BAGS: A medley of bags from Tailfin, Restrap, Straight Cut, Apidura, and Sea to Summit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Good brakes, comfy suspension, and a bucket of smidge.

GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Alexandra Burk

Age 28 / Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

BIKE: I will be riding the Highland Trail 550 on a 2025 Rocky Mountain Element C30. It’s pretty much stock except for the Jones H Bars, which provide maximum comfort and heaps of hand positions. I’m running Maxxis Rekon 2.4″ tires with a Cush Core insert in the rear, a 1×12 Shimano XT drivetrain, and a Marzocchi Z2 fork paired with a Fox Float.
BAGS: My rig is outfitted with a Shaka Packs custom frame bag, an Atlas Rack Pack fit to the Old Man Mountain Elkhorn Rack, and an Arkel Rollpacker front Handlebar Bag. Completing my cockpit is my Rapha Explore Bar Bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be using a Nemo Dragonfly Osmo tent as my shelter, a NeoAir XLite NXT sleeping pad, and a SOL Escape Lite Bivvy Sack.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Garmin Edge 540 Solar for navigation.

Greg Brown

Age 31 / Glasgow (Scotland)

BIKE: I’ll be racing aboard my Stooge Dirt Tracker. Stops and goes with a mix of Shimano SLX/XT, DT Swiss wheels and Vittoria Agarro/Mezcal tyres. Touch points are a Specialized Power saddle and Ergon grips with SQLabs Inner bar ends to ease some pressure on my paws.
BAGS: Tailfin Bar Cage and Top Tube bag up front, custom rolltop frame bag from Ride & Get Lost plus a small repair kit under the saddle. Ultimate Direction running pack with all the pockets for all the snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Freelite 1 tent, Sea to Summit pad and Otimos Quilt. Merino and Polartec alpha bits to keep me toasty. Montbell/Alpkit waterproofs I’m (ambitiously) dreaming of not having to use! Big thanks to Jack and Becky for the borrowed bits of kit.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura for navigation.

Rosemary Byde

Age 48 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE: My beloved titanium Lynskey Ridgeline 29. Size small, 2010 frame. This is my first MTB ultra event. Despite contemplating alternative bikes, I kept coming back to how much I enjoy riding this bike, and how comfortable it is. So I have done a full upgrade (courtesy of expert advice from Interlaced Cycles in Edinburgh) and had it converted to a 1×12 (34T front, 10x52T back) with carbon Jones handlebars and Rockshox SID SL 100m forks. Tires are Schwalbe Racing Ray/Racing Ralph tubeless set up. We also swapped in some 155m cranks, they feel so good when my legs are tired.
BAGS: Apidura Backcountry handlebar pack – 11L. Sits nicely in the gap between my bars and cables and fits my full sleep system plus insulated jacket. Apidura Backcountry saddlepack – 6L. Mostly clothes, and day-day toiletries, battery pack & cables. Apidura Racing top tube pack 1L – for snacks. x2 Restrap Adventure race stem bags 1.1L each – a water bottle and other handy bits. Restrap frame bag, small 2.5L – all the first aid and tools I hope not to have to use! Albion visibility cargo vest 8L – for food and has a good front pocket for the tracker.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A lot of my kit is new for this race, including my whole sleep system, so I’ll have to wait until I’ve finished to decide if it will become ‘favourites’ or not! I’m loving my Albion Zoa mountain jacket, because it’s so warm and versatile, as well as very packable. Although I know it’s generally safe to drink water from Highland streams, I like to be careful, and the Katadyn BeFree is excellent for filtering water fast. A tick remover is ever-present in my kit (they were already out and about in April).
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar – attached to a mount up front. Offline maps on the OruxMaps app on the phone as a backup. Garmin InReach Mini3 for tracking.

Danni Coffman

Kalispell, Montana (USA)

BIKE: Bingham Built Ti “Bingo” hardtail. Electronic shifting, Astral wheels, and a Fox fork.
BAGS: Swift Industries, Tailfin, and my friend Mark Christensen made my frame bag for me.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I pretty much gave up on trying to look like I’m in a race. I will be carrying a lot of food and not carrying anything on my back.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Ashley Cordingley

Age 41 / Scotland

BIKE: I’m riding a Fairlight Holt, set up with a Shimano XTR drivetrain, SID ultimate 120mm fork, and a wide-range 1×12 drivetrain using an e*thirteen 9–52T cassette. Custom Lightbike rims and DT240 wheels, I’ve decided to run a dropper post this year, let’s see how that goes.
BAGS: I’m running custom bags from the wonderful people at Restrap. Frame bag, top tube bags, and a roll-top hydration bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping setup is minimalist but warm: an Alpkit bivvy bag, Nemo mat, and a Rab Mythic 200 bag. I’m also running a full set of Albion clothing to keep me warm and dry in the changeable Scottish conditions.
GPS DEVICE: Navigation is on a Garmin 1040 Solar, and light is provided by Exposure.

Graham Cottingham

Age 37 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE: I will be riding my Gloria All-Terrain Titanium Hardtail, equipped with Fox 32 Step Cast forks and Fox Transfer SL dropper. I’m running a mechanical Shimano XTR drivetrain, Sturdy Cycles Titanium crankset and a XCADEY power meter. Wheels are Black INC Twenty Seven fitted with Continental Dubnital Race Rapid tyres. Touch points feature SQ Labs 16 degree swept bars, Ergon grips and a Fizik saddle.
BAGS: Straightcut Design framebag, Tailfin top tube bags and down tube bag and a Restrap handlebar bag to storing all my bits and bobs. Apidura Backcountry backpack will carry the rest of my stuff.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system consist of Sea To Summit SP2 sleeping bag, Ultralight mat and Life bivy. Exposure lighting and three jackets.
GPS DEVICE: My old faithful Garmin 1030 Plus.

Bastien Demange

Age 43 / Grenoble (France)

BIKE: I’ll be racing an On One Whippet Hardtail. DTSwiss XM Vittoria Barzo tire front and back with a lot of sealant. SRAM GX drivetrain and brakes. I have a dropper seatpost too. Ergon grips with SQlabs innerbarends for hand positions.
BAGS: Almost full Revelate Designs bags. Old and new bags that still goes strong enough after many years and a Decathlon hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have nothing very fancy. Clothes for HT550 are tricky. A moderately light, no-name sleeping bag. I will probably take a tent, but I will decide at the last moment. Merino clothes, waterproof trousers, and a jacket. And some gels for in between the resupply.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Garmin 1040.

Jason Fowler

Age 55 / Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (UK)

BIKE: My HT550 set up is a Mondraker F-Podium RR full suspension XC. Mavic Crossmax carbon wheels running Maxxis Ikon 2.35″ tires, SRAM Eagle 1×12 running a 32T chainring. Handlebars are Alpkit with a front hoop to incorporate a bag, with a Tailfin mount holding the Exposure 6-pack light and computer.
BAGS: Tailfin rear rack & bags carry the sleep system and some clothing. Tailfin downtube bag for pump, tube, and some tools. Restrap custom frame bag for spares and some food, Alpkit bar bag for food and Garmin inReach 2 tracker, and Apidura top tube bags for a battery pack, phone, and some room for more food. Two Alpkit bottle bags on the bars for hydration and a water filter for refills.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Alpkit Soloist XL tent, a lightweight sleeping bag from Mountain Warehouse, and a small blow-up pillow. A backpack will carry things needed in a hurry, like wet-weather clothes, layers, chunky sandals for hiking and getting some air to my feet, and electrical accessories, including charging cables and plugs.
GPS DEVICE Garmin 1040 solar and a spare Garmin 530.

Jimmy Grade

Age 55 / Leuven, Vlaams Brabant (Belgium)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Highland Trail 550 on a 2018 Canyon Exceed with SRAM AXS 1×12 gears, 32T chainring, 10-50T cassette, Shimano XTR brakes and pedals, Schwalbe Racing Ray 2.35″ front and Maxxis Icon 2.35″ rear.
BAGS: Tailfin as backloader and downtube, Apidura on top, and BBB as frontloader.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Elemnt v3 and an older version as spare.

Yann HAFFNER

Age 34 / Nantes (France)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Trek Supercaliber full-suspended 80mm rear travel with a Rockshox SID Ultimate 120mm fork. Shimano XT groupset with 32 x 10-51T transmission. Stans Crest MK4 wheels, with SON 28 dynamo hub and kLite lamp at the front, and Vittoria Barzo 2.35″ tires. BikeYoke Divine SL dropper post with Brooks C17 saddle.
BAGS: Homemade (by my girlfriend and me) Dyneema waterproof bags. Full-frame bag with food supplies, toolkit, spares and clothes. Front bar bag with sleeping system and extra clothes. Long top-tube flip bag with electronics and food. Restrap hydration bag for water and extra storage on the way.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gore Wear rain clothes, sleeping system with Sea to Summit Spark 1 sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad.
GPS DEVICE: Hammerhead Karoo 3.

Benjamin Hoehn

Age 38 / Jena (Germany)

BIKE: Racing on a Specialized Epic 8 with 120 mm of travel front and rear. Drivetrain is an SRAM T-Type with a 32T chainring. Brakes are 4-piston Shimano XTR´s. For tires, I’m using the tried-and-true Mezcal/Barzo combo with inserts front and rear, running on Roval Control wheels.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag, Apidura saddle bag, and a Tailfin top- and down tube bag. I am also carrying a Salomon running vest for hydration and some layers.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love sleeping comfortably outdoors, which is why I really appreciate my sleeping gear: an MLD bivy, a WM sleeping bag, a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir, and a Sea to Summit pillow.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040.

Rup Hoyland

Age 38 / Darlington, Co Durham (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the HT550 my Titanium Sonder Broken Road.
This bike has been round the HT550 twice before, this year it’s running a SRAM AXS Transmission groupset, Zipp Moto wheels (with the front rim laced onto a SON 28 hub dynamo) with Continental Trinotal/Dubnital Trail Grip 2.4″ tyres, and a RockShox SID fork. RockShox AXS Reverb B1, with a travel limiting collar for the seatpack.
BAGS: I’m using a mix of my favourite bags, Altura top tube and front 10L drybag, with a Blackburn Outpost front harness and framebag. Restrap Race seatpack with 7L drybag. Water bottles mounted on fork using Drj0n bagworks Barnacle mounts and Blackburn Mountain cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An ultralight (500g) Nordisk Lofoten tent will hopefully keep me sheltered from the Scottish weather, whilst keeping weight and pack size down. Rab Mythic 180 sleeping bag and a Alpkit Numo mat complete the sleep kit. Exposure Revo Dynamo light with battery backup/helmet light for techy descents in the dark.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Hammerhead Karoo to navigate.

Ben Hudson

Age 34 / Smethwick, West Midlands (England)

BIKE: A handmade (by me) Vulcan Bicycle Works expedition bikepacking bike, with a Wren suspension fork, wide drop bars, and a 32x20T singlespeed transmission.
BAGS: Since the photo was taken, I’ve settled on two Ortlieb gravel panniers on a front Zefal rack, plus a few small bags for electronics and snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: It’s a draw for my favorite components between my silent and super-reliable Onyx rear hub, the excellent KLite Bikepacker dynamo lights, and my cozy and compressible PHD down quilt. But really, the handmade frame is the centerpiece: a perfect fit for long rides, confidence-inspiring off-road handling, and supreme thin-wall steel comfort.
GPS DEVICE: Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 with Komoot.

Lars Hundscheid

Age 43 / Sittard, Limburg (Netherlands)

BIKE: I’ll be riding on a Santa Cruz Highball with SID forks. Wheels will be some Tandell carbon rims laced to a SON front hub and a DT350 rear hub, wrapped in Schwalbe Racing Ray/Racing Ralph combo. Drivetrain, XT/SLX 12 speed 30T with a 10-51T cassette. Whisky Scully handlebars with Ergon GA3 grips and a SQ labs saddle should take care of the contact points.
BAGS: Toptube bag by the amazing Merit gear filled with food and electronics. Saddlebag: Revelate Terrapin for some rain gear and more food and a Topeak harness with a Sea to Summit drybag for the sleeping kit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Purple Dog Terra front light, to go through the night and keep the electronics powered up, and a top tube bag with a Gnomathon patch.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 540 Solar.

Nicolette Jones

Age 27 / Aspen, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Vassago Optimus Ti (Ergon GS1 grips, Ergon SM saddle, Fox 120 Grip SL, One up Dropper and handlebars, Formula Cura 4 brakes, 28T chainring, 1×12 Shimano, Reserve 30SL rims, 2.4″ Rekons).
BAGS: Home-sewn VXpac and Cordura, UD hydration pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The plastic bag inside my handlebar bag that will keep a precious pair of sleep socks dry.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 540.

Jan Kriska

Age 58 / Mount Airy, North Carolina (USA)

BIKE: Otso Voytek, PNW dropper post, Wren inverted fork.
BAGS: Tailfin rack, Revelate Designs bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks quilt, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir xlite NXT sleeping pad, Black Diamond bivvy.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1080 solar.

Justinas Leveika

Age 37 / Tolga (Lithuania)

BIKE: Top Fuel Gen 4, a “down-country” trail bike that I think will suit perfectly for this job with its 120mm front and 130mm rear suspension.
BAGS: couple of things have changed since the picture was taken. I have found out about the mandatory kit, so I had to add the speed pack on the rear, also removed the downtube bag. So it will be R&D custom top tube bag + custom frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: well, if it will not rain, I want my money back. So Albion waterproof stuff is the highlight.
GPS DEVICE: sun, moon and stars.

Kerry MacPhee

Age 39 / Stirlingshire (Scotland)

BIKE: I’m riding a 2017 Genesis Mantle, set up with a Shimano XTR drivetrain, SID ultimate 100mm fork, Pro Components to finish and a wide-range 1×12 drivetrain using a 10-51T cassette. Wheels are DT Swiss XRC 1200 with Vittoria Mezcal 2.4″ tyres.
BAGS: Bags are from the braw folk at Restrap. A custom frame bag, long top tube bag, front roll and the roll top hydration bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping setup is: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mat, a Rab Mythic 120 sleeping bag with a Rab bivvi. I’m also running a full set of Albion clothing to keep me warm and dry in the changeable Scottish conditions. Lights are an Exposure Diablo coupled with an Exposure Toro. Charging banks are 2x Flextails.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Christine Marshall

Age 37 / Tweed Valley (Scotland)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Highland Trail on my Pipedream Sirius S6 Ti. Custom built with a Pike Ultimate 140mm, 27.5″ Hunt wheels with Barzo/Mezcal tyres, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain, and Hayes Dominion A4 brakes. I’m using SQ Lab bars and inner bar ends “wee knobs”, Ergon grips, and a mix of Hope and Burgtec finishing kit in racing purple.
BAGS: Custom Poca Bags frame bag, Tailfin top tube bag for all the snacks, tools in Tailfin downtube bag, Tailfin Bar Cage and bag for my sleep system, two Alpkit stem cells, and a Restrap Hike-a-Bike harness. I’ll also be carrying an Apidura Hydration backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep system will be a Vango F10 Hydrogen Air Tent, Nemo mat, and Apkit Pipedream sleeping bag. Fenix lights for night riding.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Garmin Edge 1080 for navigation.

Julie Perilla

Age 50 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding my Trek Supercaliber, with 110mm of travel up front and 80mm in the rear.
BAGS: I have bags from five different makers, an Apidura “dropper-friendly” seat pack to carry extra layers, a Restrap top tube bag that holds all the snacks, a Revelate feedbag for my electrolytes, Rockgeist mount and harness up front carrying my sleep system, and, my personal favorite, a custom framebag made by my boyfriend Karl, color purple, but he’ll make you one in any color you want, he’s got a lot of free time.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My newest kit purchase is an Enlightened Equipment synthetic quilt for the wet Scottish weather (trying out synthetic, because I’m tired of a wet clammy bag).
GPS DEVICE: Hammerhead Karoo.

Josh Reid

Age 28 / Newcastle (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Giant Anthem SL SE with Flight Attendant and SRAM Eagle Transmission. The bike is equipped with a pair of Hutchinson WYRM 29 x 2.4″ downcountry tyres, Enduro Bearings, and Giant’s XCR WheelSystem. I’ve also added some Ergon GA3 grips for a bit more comfort and a pair of Crankbrothers Candy 7 pedals.
BAGS: The bags on the bike are all from Restrap. A Custom Frame Bag in the centre, a Race Top Tube Bag, a 2.5 litre Saddle Pack, a Downtube Bag and a Frame Strap to carry a tube. I’ll also be carrying a Rolltop Hydration Vest to carry lots of camera gear.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Knog Blinder X 2300 on the front and the Knog Plus on the rear. I’m also going to to be carrying my Canon EOS R6 Mark II with a 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM, which is the same camera setup I used on the Tour Divide last year.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Garmin Edge 1040 Solar to navigate and a Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus as my tracker.

Isabelle Scheyltjens

Age 37 / Bierbeek, Vlaams-Brabant (Belgium)

BIKE: My companion on the HT550 will be an Orbea Oiz, OMR, size large, with a 1×12 Shimano XT drivetrain with a 32T chainring and 10-51T cassette. The bike features a Fox 34-Step Cast 120mm trail fork and a Fox Transfer dropper seat post with a WTB Volt saddle. The bikes shoes of choice will be a Vittoria Barzo XC Trail 2.4″ in the front and a Vittoria Mezcal XC Trail 2.4″ in the back, on homemade carbon rims. As handle bar grips I will use Large Ergon GS3 Evo grips.
BAGS: My bike bags are from Tailfin (a flat bar bag of 19L, a cargo pack of 18L, a small top tube bag and 2 down tube packs should hopefully fit everything). I’ll also carry my trusty Revelate Designs snack bag, (and a whole lot of dry bags).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: As a front light I will use Exposure Lights Toro Mk13 and I will also be carrying a headtorch of Ledlenser. For the sleeping kit I’m still doubting between a tent (Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo) or a bivvy (OR Helium) which will be decided last minute based on the weather forecast. I will sleep in a Cumulus X-Lite 200 with a cosy silk liner on a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad.
GPS DEVICE: I will be using a Coros Dura.

Matt Schweiker

Age 40 / Chattanooga, Tennessee (USA)

BIKE: Esker Hayduke Ti SS (32×21).
BAGS: Dispersed Framebag, Dispersed Front Roll, Rockgeist Gondola Dropper Seatbag, and Tailfin top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Western Mountaineering sleeping bag, NeoAir X-Lite pad, OR Helium Bivy, Fenix BC26R lights.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040.

Brittany Shalagan

Age 35 / Cumberland, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: Naked Bicycles Titanium Mountain Adventure 29r hardtail, hand built by Sam Whittingham on Quadra Island, BC, Canada. Bike build-kit includes custom fit brushed titanium frame, Fox Factory SL 34 130mm Fork, Shimano XT brakes and drivetrain, One Up carbon bars with SQ lab inner bar ends and Ergon grips with outer bar ends for multiple hand positions, We Are One Triad carbon wheelset, Industry Nine hydra hubs. Maxxis Rekon (front) and Rekon Race (rear) 2.4″ tires with Tannus inserts help keep the rubber side down for maximum mixed-terrain performance and fun.
BAGS: Enchanted Sacks custom frame bag designed and stitched by my Kreuzberg neighbour Kevin who makes super dope bike bags in Berlin. The rest of the bag kit includes: Ortlieb handlebar roll bag and rear seat bag, 8bar Top Tube bag, and an old school MEC feedbag to harken back to my Canadian roots.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Restrap Hike a Bike Harness, Scott Pack Trail vest, Six Moons Deschutes solo tarp shelter (adapted with a sewn-in mesh floor to keep pesky midges out, thanks Mom!) and my handy-dandy Japanese fishing gloves for tsunami weather riding.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Bolt, Garmin Inreach Mini 2.

Niall Shannon

Age 41 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE: No major changes from 2024. It’s an Ibis Ripley V4, XT Groupset, Hope Pro5 wheels, Exposure Lights, Maxxis Ikon rear/Rekon front.
BAGS: Usual mix of Revelate Designs harness and drybag, Straightcut split-frame bag, Tailfin top and bottom. I’m running a hydration pack this year so I can get away without the saddle bag and get full use of my dropper.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Minor changes like a 120mm SID (swapped from a 130mm Pike) and a more aggressive front tyre. No real logic, just enjoy the experiment.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Roam V3.

Hannah Simon

Age 28 / Austin, Texas (USA)

BIKE: My beloved custom titanium Chumba Sendero equipped with 12-speed Transmission, Industry Nine wheels, a Cane Creek HELM fork, 29 x 2.5″ Teravail Ehlines. This. Bike. Riiiiips.
BAGS: The same, trusty South City Stitchworks custom bags that I’ve used the last two years and an Atlas pack + Elkhorn rack from Old Man Mountain.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Can’t wait to be SO cozy in my down sleeping quilt and OR Helium bivvy (s/o Alan, Highland Trail’s organizer for requiring sleep kit.. safety is so rad!)
GPS DEVICE: Hammerhead Karoo.

Harry Walton

Age 44 / Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Fairlight Holt 2.0, which is a mostly stock spec apart from a swap to electronic shifting with Shimano Deore XT Di2. For comfort, I’ve added full-size Fifty-Fifty inner bar ends and a well-loved Bontrager saddle that I am very attached to. I’ll be rolling on a Vittoria Barzo/Mezcal tire combo with the trail casing to help avoid feelings of deflation.
BAGS: My carrying system features an Apidura handlebar bag and feed pouches, a Tailfin Long Top Tube Bag, a custom-made Alpkit Stingray frame bag, and a Silca seat pack. I’ll also have a USWE Rush backpack with waterproofs and other essentials.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep system is an Alpkit Kloke bivy, an OMM Mountain Raid 233 sleeping bag, a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite mat, an old pillow, and Ohropax earplugs. I’ll be carrying roughly 1.5 liters of water… maybe.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Ken Waring

Age 62 / Caledon, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: Binary Super B XC Titanium. Mezcal 2.25″ (F) 2.35″ (R). Shimano 1×12 32/10-51. SP PD8 Dynamo. Beacon Front Light. Redshift Suspension Post. SQLab 612 Active.
BAGS: Protostudia Y-Rack Titanium. Mountain Laurel Paniers (MLD) 10L x2. Ortlieb Rolltop Frame Bag. MLD Front Roll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Durston XMid Pro 1, Zenbivy Quilt.
GPS DEVICE: Bryton S800.

Alex Watts

Age 46 / Aberdeenshire (Scotland)

BIKE: Yeti ASR. 2024. It’s a new bike last year and bought as a Cairngorms bike packing rig. Its as comfy as a pair of old pants and goes like a scolded cat.
BAGS: Trusty Salsa cage on the front with dry bag. A Rockgiest dropper bag on the rear and Wizard Works frame bag custom made by Harry and the crew. Revelate Designs everything else.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Bivy, Mountain equipment bag, ExPed matt, Exposure lights for the bike and a Petzl head torch for back up. I lost my light for Italy Divide one year and have over lighted ever since. Not sure which insulated jacket to take but it will be held together with tape. It’s all old and well used gear but it’s mine and I know where im at with it. MIDGE HEAD NET.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar. Or the sun and stars if it breaks.

Molly Weaver

Age 32 / Ludlow (England)

BIKE: Bike is an Orbea Oiz with SRAM XX Eagle AXS 12-Speed Groupset, OQUO Mountain Performance MP30LTD wheelset, and Continental Dubnital tyres.
BAGS: Bike is kitted out with Apidura bags, clothing is lots of Albion layers for the Baltic conditions we’re forecast, and my sleep system is a Sea to Summit sleeping bag, SOL bivvy, and a Therm-a-Rest mat.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Changed things up in the shoe game for a pair of Shimano EX700’s to hopefully tackle the hiking with a bit more comfort. Added some bar ends and Farr bars to the cockpit for different hand positions and to enable a mini aero tuck, plus a bodge of some pipe insulation gorilla taped to the bars to rest my elbows.
GPS DEVICE: Tech-wise I’ll be using a Coros for navigation, a couple of power banks to keep things charged (not that the Coros will need it), and Exposure lights on the front, back, and helmet.

Mel Webb

Age 30 / Bristol (UK)

BIKE: Cannondale Scalpel with Fox 34SL and Float SL suspension, SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, a Fox Neo Dropper, 160mm Era SL Cranks with a 28T ring, and RaceFace ERA SL Wheels wrapped in 2.4″ Continental Dubnitals with Tannus Inserts to help with water bars. For comfort, I’ve got SQ Labs Innerbarends and small 710 grips, plus a Fizik Vento Argo Adaptive saddle.
BAGS: Full Tailfin bag setup with a SpeedPack in the rear, a 1.6 Long TopTube Bag, a 1.7l Downtube Pack in the front triangle, a DropBar Bar Bag in the front, and a Carrie Gere pack on my back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Head to toe Albion kit will keep me comfy in any conditions. I’m also excited to be packing a Jetboil Mighty Mo paired with a 700ml Snowpeak titanium mug to cook for myself out on the trail.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Tobia Zantedeschi

Age 34 / London (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the HT550 on my Chiru Divider. It is fitted with a 30T front chainring and 10-51T casette in the rear, Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires.
BAGS: Kicking Donkey custom frame bag for extra food, first aid kit and bike repair kit. Top tube Restrap bag for food and quick access tools. Front expedition Apidura bag for my Cumulus Vencer 200 sleeping bag, pillow, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite, Decathlon down jacket and spare clothes. Downtube Tailfin 3L bag will store my tent.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Pro compact aerobar for comfort and mount options on rough terrain. Magichsine RN3000 front light, and a vest where I will store my waterproof and 2L bladder with two 500ml collapsible water flasks.
GPS DEVICE: Phone and Garmin 1040 which gives me 40+ hours of autonomy, Inreach messenger for tracking.

Further Reading

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