BIKES OF EL PIRI 2026
JEREMY BROOK
ENGLAND
Specialized Crux Pro / Gravel Bike with panniers / bags
RICHARD WORKER
ENGLAND
Enve Mogg sram 54/10 gx derailleur 38 front ring/sram rock shockx dropper seatpost.
DWYER O’NEILL
SPAIN
After last years edition of El Piri I decided that a bike with suspension would be more suited to the terrain, especially the long arduous descents. I had been considering what was available when Trek released the Check Out and I just went for it. Thankfully I have used it in the 2026 edition of Gravel Birds (June 26) and have used the experience to refine the set up.
DANNY MCNAB
FINLAND
Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL6, SRAM XPLR AXS 38T front 10-44 rear.
Hunt 35 carbon gravel wheels with 50mm Vittoria Terreno T50 tyres.
Rex Black Magic hot dip wax and same drip wax to go, Stan’s sealant.
Bags: Ortlieb frame bag and seat pack, Tailfin bar rack and bag combo all of which I’ve found to be bombproof!
Electronics: Ravemen PR2400 main light, Exposure Joystick headlight, Garmin Edge 530, Flextail powerbanks.
Packed weight without water about 15kg.
CHARLOTTE SIT
CANADA
The bike is a Canadian designed steel frame hardtail from Panorama Cycles, with a 120mm Marzocchi fork. Nitty gritty bike details… 30T x 10-51 XT drivetrain, XT 4 piston brakes. Sector 29 carbon wheelset from We Are One with 2.25” Vittoria Mezcal tires. Loop style flat handlebars found in a friend’s shed, with inner bar ends.
Bags and such…the eye candy is the custom frame bag from Wild North Gear. The front handlebar cage and dry bag is from Tailfin (big thanks for supporting the event), Tumbleweed T rack on the rear with Old Man Mountain fork packs.
STEPHAN KOLLER
GERMANY
I will ride my 3T exploro Race with 27.5x 2.1 Schwalbe Thunder Burt. Equipped with SRAM force 38/10-44. Bike weight ist 10,5kg without food and water. It's my second time at El Piri, want to beat my time from Last year (3 Days/ 9 hours).
NICK WILLIAMS-WALKER
ENGLAND
I was lucky enough to ride the first edition of El Piri and I found the descents almost as tiring as the climbs. This time I’m going for comfort with my hardtail from Naked Bicycles with Fox 120 fork and 2.4” tyres. The bags are a mixture of Restrap and Tailfin.
BRIAN DOLL
UNITED STATES
Enve MOG on Zipp XPLR wheels with Vittoria Peyote 2.1” tires and sturdy and roomy Tailfin bags, ready to bivy in the mountains 🤘🏻
BLAKE MARRIOTT
AUSTRALIA
My bike is a Curve Downrock with 1x12 GX drivetrain, K-lite & SON dynamo setup for endless electricity and light. Bags are a mix of Tailfin and Bike Bag Dude. Sleep kit (if not in accommodation) is a Sea to Summit spark sleeping bag, ether lite mat and Big Agnes Fly Creek tent. Coros Dura for navigation and Spotify for tunes. Hoping to do some touring (and find some single track) after El Piri so bringing a solid kit that I know works for me.
SAM MCCLURE
SCOTLAND
Gloria All Gravel. SRAM force/GX eagle. Wolftooth 36T chainring. Rockshox Rudy XL Ultimate fork. Tailfin bar cage/top tube bags/aeropack/mini panniers. Restrap frame bag. Hope the low gears get an old man to the finish!
ROB MCRITCHIE
ENGLAND
Specialized Epic WCh
- Hope X2 brakes, as they work
- Son dynamo, exposure Revo 5 light
- Sqlab inner bar ends, Ergon grips, aero bars, to help keep numb fingers at bay
- Awesome WizardWorks custom frame bag for tools, bike wear
- Apidura bar bag for sleep kit
- Apidura saddle bag for wet weather / off bike kit
- Tailfin top tub bag for snacks
PATRICK EVERARD
LUXEMBOURG
I've done a lot of underbiking the last two years. As I'm not racing this event, I'm opting for comfort this time. Specialized Epic WC with mostly Tailfin bags. Conti Dubnital tires in 2.4. The aerobars will probably not be used a lot, but it's super convenient to park stuff there, especially with that ingenious Pitchfork bag / lunch table from Relevate Designs. Let's see if I can catch a few gravel bikes in the descents 😅
Salvador Ribot Pons / Associació ICTUS Girona
SPAIN
Giant RevoltX. Després de moltes voltes he fet la configuració que es veu a la foto + motxilla lleugera. La primera ultra que faig i espero no deixar-me res a casa.
MANUEL SCHMID
SWITZERLAND
I'll be riding my Enigma Escape FB Gravel Bike with mechanical Shimano XT. Hope Crank 170mm, Chainring 40 and Cassette 10-51. SON Dynamo front Wheel and Sinewave Beacon Light. The Tire width is 45. Bags are from Apidura and Revelate Designs.
FLORIAN BRAUER
GERMANY
Bike: I’ll be riding a Sour Pasta Party with a Vittoria Mezcal on the rear and a Vittoria Barzo on the front. The drivetrain consists of an Ingrid crankset and a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed groupset.
Bags: A Topeak FrontLoader (12 L) on the handlebars carries my clothes, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag, with my Big Agnes Fly Creek tent strapped on top (I would never switch back to bivying). I also use an Apidura Expedition Frame Pack(5.3 L), a Tailfin Top Tube Bag (2.2 L), and a Tailfin Down Tube Bag (1.8 L). In addition, I wear an Evoc hydration vest with 1.5 L of water and plenty of space for snacks and food.
GPS: Garmin Edge 550
Michael Leitermann
GERMANY
Specialized Diverge
SRAM Force
Crank 38 T
Casette 10x50
Future Shock 2.0
PHILIP BUTCHERS
ENGLAND
Orbea Terra H40 gravel bike. I have put on DT Swiss GR1600 dynamo, with 45mm gravel king sk tlr and Ritchey comp venturemax xl handle bars.
MANUEL ROHRER
Lichtenstein
"The smiling rock n' rolla" mondraker arid rr sl
Most important: my fizik one to one saddle
Sram red xplr 38-10/52 (Garbaruk)
Vecnum freequence stem
Lizard Skins 2.5mm Bar Tape with selle italia bar pads
Schwalbe g-one rx pro 50 mm on zipp 303 xplr sw
Evoc bike-packing bags (not shown)
Tailfin Bar Cage
Lezyne 2400 lamp
Wahoo Roam V3
GABRIELLE ANTOINE
FRANCE
My name is Bloodie. I'm a good old Rockrider 740 Special steel bike, with a full XTR setup, 3x9 drivetrain and V-brakes. I'll be rolling on Mavic Crossmax SL wheels wrapped in Panaracer GravelKing tyres, while my RockShox SID fork does its best to keep things smooth when the trails get rough.
My partner and I are heading for El Piri adventure, bringing reliability, comfort and a dose of 90s mountain bike free-minded spirit. A stable Tailfin rack and bag will carry the essentials, while frame, handlebar bags and pouches make sure there is always space for extra snacks.
We're all ready to embrace the spirit of Catalan bikepacking and we're looking forward to having fun all along the way!
WOUTER TONNON
ZURICH
This is my Lauf Seigla with 2.25" Schwalbe Thunder Burt tyres. I am going for a minimal set up with just a frame bag and a backpack. This bike is a lot of fun to ride anywhere from smooth tarmac to technical single track. The aerobars are mostly for comfort, but I might still decide to take those off.
ERIC KUSATZ
GERMANY
Custom build Stanton Gen 3Sherpa Ti Hardtail. 30tooth Wolf Tooth chain ring attached to 5Dev 170mm Cranks. Aeroe rack, Ortlieb framebag and Restrap top tube bag. Longer thing King cage attached to a Enve MTB fork.
OSCAR RIGNELL
ENGLAND
The Mason Macro which served me well during the French divide, going with basically the same setup. Gear highlights are the lovely Witslingers frame bags and miss grape's Il Coso.
DENIS RAUTOVIC
SWITZERLAND
El Piri 800 Setup 🚴♂️
Built for 800 km of demanding bikepacking through the Pyrenees, this 3T Racemax Italia is equipped with Thunder Burt tires, a full Tailfin bag setup, and a SRAM Red + XO drivetrain with a 38T chainring and 10–52 cassette. Finished with a Polymer wheelset and handlebar, plus a Garmin 1040 Solar and Knog 1800 light for reliable navigation and all-night riding.
Light, fast, and ready for adventure.
EDWIN ACHTERBERG
SPAIN
Canyon grail CFR with Shimano grx 2x12. Lowest gear 31x40. Tires: Thunder Burt 2.1 front and 44 mm vredestein aventura rear. Apidura top tube bag and frame bag. Topeak saddle bag. AGU handle bar bag.
ROBERT SIEBERT
GERMANY
For the event I'll ride my Stevens Gavere bike with the same setup that I used for Badlands and Vienna to Berlin.
The default cassette was replaced with a larger 11-42T to give me the extra gears needed for steeper, technical climbs. Tyres are 45mm wide. The entire rig is outfitted with Apidura bikepacking bags. My front light is a Ravemen PR1600 and for navigation I rely on my old Garmin Edge 830.
GERT WITVOET
NETHERLANDS
My first ever dropbar-bike; this aluminum Trek Checkpoint 2021 taught me the love for gravel cycling and brought me many adventures. I installed DT-Swiss gravel wheels with 42mm wide WTB Resolutes, and a larger and lighter cassette for rougher terrains and steeper climbs, although the latter is difficult to test in the Netherlands… For the rest, I like to work with what I have: taking my standard (and spacious) Ortlieb rearbag with me, and using a handheld hiking Garmin for navigation. Food will go in the framebag and toptubebag. Can’t wait to take my alu-friend to the Catalonian mountains!
HELENA EKHOLM
SWEDEN
Bike: Kona Libre (aluminum frame carbon fork)
Wheels: Deda Gera carbon
Tires: Cinturato Gravel H 50 mm
Gearing: 34/42 gear ratio (34T chainring / 42T cog)
Bags; Apidura Expedition Compact Frame Pack 5.3L, Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack 9L, Black Diamond Distance Backpack with hydration bladder
Front light; Knog 1300 + Trek ion 300
Rear light; Trek ion 300 + two spare
Headlight; Black Diamond Distance
Navigation; Garmin 1040 + Iphone 14
BRENDAN TALLON
IRELAND
Focus Atlas 8.0 with Focus aftermarket bag frame, Tailfin bags, Restrap top tube bag and Vaude bar bag.
SASCHA HAUS
GERMANY
I’ll be riding my beloved and trusty Midnight Special, which has been accompanying me for several years in various setups and adventures and is incredibly versatile. This time set up as a little gravel monster with 2.2 (55mm) Conti Race King tires, a 34t chainring up front and a 50t Garbaruk cassette in the back, as well as a Ritchey Beacon handlebar. Overall I’m trying to keep it fairly minimalist, but not a speed setup — rather as much comfort and control as possible. A little bit of everything.
LANDER JACOBS
BELGIUM
Racing El Piri on a BMC Twostroke One 29er built for comfort and long days in the mountains. Running 2.4” Pirelli Scorpion tires, surprisingly fast on hardpack, but comfortable enough to survive the rough stuff. Tailfin bags keep the setup light and stable, while aero handlebars help save the upper body during endless hours in the saddle. Sleep setup is simple and efficient: bivy bag, mattress and sleeping bag. For the nights, I trust the Exposure Toro 16 to turn dark mountain descents into daylight. Fast where it matters, comfortable where it counts.
JONAS WERSIG
GERMANY
3T Racemax, Force XPLR 1x with a 38T chainring; Probably G-One RX in 45 if they fit; Sorry for showing the wrong side of the bike…
GERD GABRIELS
BELGIUM
Orbea Oiz, full suspension, dropbar, everything for a comfortable ride. Max 15kg with bags. Tailfin toptube (snacks, electronics), Mogabags frame (clothing, spares), Tailfin downtube bag (cold, rain), in total 8L, Backpack for water, food, sleeping gear, Knog lights - 3,5h driving time.
JAMIE MENZIES
ENGLAND
Fairlight Secan 3.0, Mullet gear set up mix of XTR, XT, GRX and Ultegra group set with Hope 4pot calipers and 180mm discs, Hunt 35mm Gravel X wheelset with Schwalbe Thunderburt 2.1 Tyres, Exposure Front and rear lights, fidlock bottles and Tailfin Speedpack and frame bags.
DOMINIK BAUER
GERMANY
Canyon Grizl CF 9 ESC w/Rift, Schwalbe G One R Pro 45mm tubeless, Cyclite top tube bag, Ortlieb frame and saddle bag, Cyclite race backpack w/ hydration bladder, Lupine SL minimax Front light, Lezyne rear light, extra tool bottle.
BLAIR BLACKWELL
UNITED STATES
My Bingham Built gravel frame bike, “Birdie,” is a mullet setup with an SRAM AXS drivetrain. It features 50mm TerraAdventure tires on Astral Cycling carbon Outback rims and a SON29 hub powering my KLite Adventure Light. Nerpa Gear custom bags allow me to carry the Tien Shan mountains and Kazakh swallows wherever I travel. Tailfin front cage, back rack and top tube bag (not pictured) complement the bags and will help carry my Copper Spur tent. Aero bars are pictured but will not be riding El Piri!
LUISA VINUEZA
SPAIN
My bike is a custom titanium Chiru Highlander built specifically for me, as I’m 1.55m tall. The frame was made to measure to provide the best fit and comfort for long days in the saddle. It features a Manitou suspension fork, 27.5” wheels with a Vittoria Mezcal front tyre and a Vittoria Barzo rear tyre, waterproof ORTLIEB bikepacking bags, and a Bontrager Mimic saddle. It’s a reliable and comfortable setup designed for self-supported adventures and long days exploring the mountains.
JONAS VAN MOLLE
BELGIUM
My bikepacking setup is built around a Fairlight Secan 3.0 (GRX 1x11 speed), paired with a mix of Tailfin and custom Baby Legs bags. I deliberately avoided going full ultralight, choosing instead a balance between efficiency and comfort to fully enjoy the ride — and hopefully spend as many nights as possible wild camping in beautiful places. The setup is completely self-supported, carrying all sleeping and cooking gear needed for long days and remote camps. For this race, though, the camping chair had to stay home!
DAVID MOFFETTE
CANADA
I’m riding El Piri with my friend Pete Moss: my loyal moss green Lauf Seigla. For all those climbs: a 38t chainring x 10-52 cassette. For those rocky descents: a minimalist 20mm sus grit fork, and still fast-rolling 50mm Schwalbe G-One R tires. For snacks, the big stash of good luck I’m hoping to bring along, and other essentials: a mix of bags from different brands and a hydration pack.
ALBERT CUFÍ BOHIGAS
SPAIN
Trek Procaliber 9.8 hardtail XC bikepacking setup featuring a carbon frame with IsoSpeed decoupler, Fox suspension fork, shimano XT/XTR and Bontrager carbon wheelset. Equipped with an Ortlieb full-frame bag, Apidura top-tube bag and saddle pack, providing efficient gear storage while maintaining stability. The bike runs Schwalbe Racing Ray/Rick tubeless tires mounted on Bontrager rims for low rolling resistance and reliable grip on mixed terrain. Cockpit-mounted lights and Garmin gps.
ALEIX MONTANE
SPAIN
Specialized Diverger ☀️
LUC ANTOINE
BELGIUM
Cannondale Scalpel
WALTER VERBERGHT
BELGIUM
Bike : Canyon Exceed CF7 with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25" tires
Bags : Revelate Designs Spinelock saddle bag, Alpkit frame bag and an Ortlieb dry bag on a Salsa Anything Cradle
TOM RICHARDS
ENGLAND
I'll be on the same Giant Revolt as last year. New for this year is a smaller chain ring on the front to help with the climbs. And a redshift stem to help with the rocky sections. Light sleeping bag, bivvy, mat set up for the nights.
DENNIS ULM
GERMANY
Built around a Sour Pasta Party steel frame, it reflects what I’ve learned in the mountains and during long-distance events. The setup has gradually evolved into a balance of efficiency, comfort, and reliability for long days off-road. Everything I need, including my sleep system, has found its place in the bags. There are always small things to improve, but for now, this is the bike I trust when the route gets rough and the days get long.
SAM PUTTIPAP
ENGLAND
2019 Genesis Longitude - a simple steel frame that’s taken me (and its previous owner) all over the world. A new pair of Hunt XC Wide wheels and 2.4” Vittoria Peyotes should roll well and smooth out some of the rougher gravel. A mix of Shimano parts for the drivetrain, including a tiny 30t chainring for spinning up the Pyrenean climbs.
Bags very kindly on loan from Tailfin as part of the Startline Bursary, and I’ll be making my own frame bag for more snack storage. A 8l Black Diamond vest will hold water and some clothes.
CEFAS BOUMAN
FRANCE
Rolling on a Ferrus G75d with a SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain (42t chainring, 9-52t cassette) and Elite Aero Gravel wheels. For rubber, I'm running Hutchinson Racing Lab tires: a wide Touareg 50mm up front for control and a fast Caracal 45mm in the rear. Navigation is handled by a Wahoo Bolt v2. Night riding relies on an Exposure Sixpack upfront, with a Garmin Varia and Lezyne Strip backup in the rear. Luggage includes a Revelate Terrapin saddle bag alongside Apidura frame and top tube bags.
GABRIEL PERNAU
SPAIN
I will ride a titanium Sauvage leBaroudeur equipped with a 1x12 (10-51) transmission with a 32 chainring, because I already know the endless climbs of the Pyrenees. And for tires I will rely on some Mezcal, 2.10 rear and 2.25 front, because the descents are also long and rocky. Enough? It is never enough!
DANIEL BUIRA
ENGLAND
I’m riding the best bike – the bike I already own – an Orro Terra carbon gravel/allroad I use for road/club rides. Upgrades: Roval Terra carbon wheels, Redshift suspension stem, Ritchey carbon seatpost. Mech is Shimano 105 mechanical 12speed, but with a GRX46/30 chainset and 11-42 cassette for MTB gear ratios. Tyres are Pirelli 45mm front and Continental 40mm rear, giving some cushion without too much rubber to carry up endless climbs. Bags as accumulated over the years: Tailfin1L Toptube (snacks), Alpkit Frame1.5L (tools and spares) and Handlebar13L (sleep system), Restrap14L Saddlebag (everything else). Garmin Edge 1040 for navigation.
ERIC GAERTNER
GERMANY
Bike: Canyon GRIZL CF SLX 8
GRX DI2 2x11 48/31-11/40; Tires: Pirelli Cintorato Gravel M in 650bx45.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb saddlebag 16.5l; decathlon fuel tank; Ortlieb framebag 4.5 l; Fo.Goods Front Roll.
PAULA SOLER
SPAIN
Cannondale scalpel de MTB, Plato 34 y 11-54. Atrás llevo el elkhorn rack y una bolsa de Old Man Mountain de 9litros y delante, el manzanita rack con una bolsa de 9litros también. Llevo un top tube de Tailfin para herramientas de fácil acceso.
GEORGES-HENRI MANSOUX
FRANCE
Open Wi.de. (2022)
Bags : mix of Miss Grape and Taifin
Lights : Bookman (f) & Knogg (r)
Drivetrain : SRAM Mullet Force / XX1
Wheels & Tyres : Bontrager Paradigm 30 pro with Schwalbe 45 mm Gone R (f) et RS (r)
And for Max. Comfort : Specialized Saddle, Ergon seatpost, redshift susp. Stem and Ritchey Venturemax Hbars
Especially for El Piri and its 19000+ mètres : 32 teeths chainring
CORNELIA KONIECZNY
SWITZERLAND
A bike that has been part of many wonderful shared cycling adventures over the last few years.
JOSEFINE JAKOB
GERMANY
Tackling El Piri on my trusted Canyon Grizl. While keeping the spec mostly stock, I swapped the rubber for chunkier 45 mm tires to handle loose, technical mountain descents with more confidence. My packing strategy is quite minimal, relying on a streamlined Tailfin setup. Finally, to conquer late-night pushes or early starts, I’ve mounted powerful Exposure headlights up front. They absolutely turn the pitch-black alpine night into broad daylight. Ready for the Pyrenees!
TORBEN SLYNBORG
DENMARK
J. Guillem Titanium, 650b Wheels, 2.1 tyres
MICHAEL WEIS
DENMARK
Giant Revolt Advanced gravel bike with 45 mm tires and a great gearing setup designed for mountains. I have new Tailfin bags on the bike.
JOHN RUTHERFORD
ITALY
2021 3T Exploro Racemax, Hunt limitless wheels, Schwalbe G1RSPro 45/40 Silca tubeless. SRAM Red and Eagle mullet. 3T Torno crank. Garmin 1040 solar up front. This rig has seen me through countless brevets and 3 ultras. Apidura aero bags up front, a more practical saddle bag for clothing, a tool bidon on the downtube, 950ml bidon on seat tube (and 2L on my back). Exposure Toro beast of a light that got me through two nights of Badlands without a recharge, and an Exposure helmet light spare. Will carry about 600g simple cho and emergency food from the start, but really this is a minimalist approach. Emergency blanket for sleep (tried and true). Just the essentials to move light and fast.
CEDRIQUE SLUITER
FRANCE
Hello fellows, i will be riding my "Petit-Tonnere". It's a second hand steel Kona Sutra Ltd with a 1x drive train of 36 /9-46. It will be carrying a mix of Irtlieb and Apidura bags. Equipment wise i use a Garmin 840 solar gps, a Lezyne front light, unidentified tail light i found on the road and a power bank to save my day. Stil hesitating on the sleeping kit but i will carry a Bivy, silk bag, mattres and may be sleeping bag.
Douwe Vellinga
NETHERLANDS
I'm riding a Curve Big Kev with 2.1 inch tyres: Vittoria Mezcal on the front and Terreno on the back. SON dynamo with K-Lite lights connected. Saddle bag, frame bag (containing the bladder) and snack bag from Apidura with a Tailfin toptube bag. Aim to sleep indoor where possible, OR bivy with puffer jacket and pants as a back up.
SCOTTY CORNISH
FRANCE
It doesn't matter how many adventure cycling trips and events I've ridden over the decades, my AuADHD mind still intently deliberates what to take! It's part of the perfectionism trait that's common for AuADHD individuals.
Bike: Cotic Cascade with their matching steel fork. Well thought out geo prioritising comfort and handling over being aero—ideal for this older rider where being long and low is a distant memory!
The Ritchey Beacon bars have a low drop, enabling comfortable use of the drop position for long and/or technical descents (especially with the extended flare)—essential for this aging body. Ritchey's Flexlogic provides some welcome vibration damping at the back end.
Bags are from.the good folks at Tailfin, who need no introduction, except the custom frame bag that has seen many km over the past 4 years. Which just happens to fit .
Lighting is provided by the ever reliable Exposure MaxxD, with their Tracer Reakt out back.
Saddle is the latest incarnation of WTB's Silverado, a perch I've been using for over 15 years. Tyres are also from WTB, the 29x52mm (2.1) Nanos. Their first 29er tyre, now repurposed as big volume gravel tyres.
A setup that prioritises age-related changes, especially the lumbar disc degeneration, as adventure riding has always been my go-to for managing the challenges of being AuADHD.
