Each year we hit the road and get in a big tour. This year we had originally planned to cycle across Europe, but with worldwide travel being scuppered, we're tackling a route that's a little closer to home, and doing a version of the North Coast 500, followed by a trip through the Scottish Highlands.
You can view our route on our Komoot page here.
Here's a breakdown of the kit we're taking along with us:
CHRIS'S BOARDMAN 2018 ASR 8.9
FRAME AND FORK: Size S Boardman ASR 8.9 (Reynolds 725 frame, carbon fork)
HEADSET: FSA No.42
GROUPSET: Shimano 105 (hydro disc); 50/34 chainrings, 11-32 cassette
HANDLEBARS: Boardman Alloy compact
STEM: Easton 100 mm
SEATPOST: Boardman Alloy
SADDLE: Fizik Aliante R7
FRONT WHEEL: Boardman Road Five tubeless-ready
REAR WHEEL: Boardman Road Five tubeless-ready
TYRES: Vittoria Rubino Pro G+, 700x28C tyres
LIGHTS: Lezyne Zecto Drive, headtorch
GPS: Wahoo Elemnt
TOOLS: Compact multi tool, split links, 2 X spare tubes, tyre levers, 50 mL wet Lube, brake pads; puncture repair kit, electrical tape, Lezyne pressure drive pump; foldable camping utensil
BIKEPACKING BAGS
REAR PANNER RACK: Axiom Streamliner
PANNIER BAGS: 2 x Restrap small (13L) panniers
FRAME BAG: Restrap race frame bag
HANDLEBAR BAG: Restrap bar bag with 14L Restrap dry bag and small food pouch attachment
OTHER: small clip-in Fizik saddlebag for tools; Restrap race musette for carrying extra food and drink.
FILMING EQUIPMENT
GoPro Session
CAMPING SETUP
TENT: Naturehike Cloud 2-Up Grey
SLEEPING BAG: Mountain Warehouse Extreme Lightweight Down
SLEEPING MAT: Naturehike FC-10 inflatable sleeping pad
OTHER: Cheap inflatable pillow; camping mug; toiletries; prescription sunglasses; 24,000 mAh battery pack; downloaded podcasts; insect repellent
CLOTHING
2 x jersey (Chpt3, Castelli); 2 x bibs (Alé, summer and windproof pairs); packable down jacket; packable hard-shell waterproof; cycling cap; arm and leg warmers (Castelli nanoflex); ls and ss baselayers; 2 x tshirts; shorts; jazzy holiday shirt
CARL'S RIBBLE CGR 725
FRAME AND FORK: Medium Ribble CGR 725
GROUPSET: Mix of Sram Rival/Force/Apex
HANDLEBARS: 44cm Ritchey WCS Butano
SADDLE: Brooks C15 Cambium
WHEELS: Mavic Aksium Elite Disc, 12mm Bolt Thru-Axle.
TYRES: Victoria Terreno Zero 650b x 47
LIGHTS: Exposure Trace + TraceR
GPS: Wahoo Element BOLT
BOTTLES: Restrap Mag Bottles
TOOLS: Crankbrothers Mini19 Multitool, Lezyne pump, Tubes x2, Patch kit, Finishline Wet Lube, Panaracer Tyre Levers, Park Tool Chainring Wrench, Wolftooth Masterlink Pliers, Spoke Key, Spare brake pads, Quick links, Gear cable, Zip Ties, Electrical Tape
BIKEPACKING BAGS
HANDLEBAR BAG: Restrap Bar Bag + Food Pouch
FRAME BAG: Restrap Large Frame Bag
SADDLE BAG: Restrap 14L Saddle Bag
COCK-PIT BAGS: Restrap Top Tube Bag (converted to bolt on) and Restrap Stem Bag
EXTRA STORAGE - Leeds Fixed Gear Musette Bag
CAMPING SETUP
TENT: Naturehike Cloud-Up 2 Ultralight
SLEEPING BAG: Lixada Ultralight LW180
SLEEPING MAT: Naturehike Ultralight (Built-in Pillow)
MISC: Mini soap and deodorant, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Buff, Sunglasses, Calypso Sun Cream, Flip-flops, Midge Spray and Net, Hip Flask
FILMING EQUIPMENT
GoPro Hero 8
CLOTHING
Jersey - Morvelo
Bib shorts - DHB Areon
Socks: Endura, Cadence Collection
Cap - On One Ice Cream
Rain Jacket - Gore Shakedry
Gloves - Endura Hummvee Lite
Evening - FiveTen Long Sleeve, Half Day CC tshirt, Chrome Industries Shorts, Uniqlo Down Jacket, Cult Beanie, Endura Base layers.
ALEX’S 2018 BROTHER KEPLER DISC
FRAME AND FORK: 56cm Brother Kepler Disc Aqua-Fade
HEADSET: Chris King No threadset
GROUPSET: Shimano 105 - Hydraulic Disc
HANDLEBARS: Thomson Alloy Road Handlebar
STEM: Thomson Elite X2 Oversized Road Stem
SEATPOST: Thomson Elite Inline Seat Post
SADDLE: Brooks C17 Cambium Cut-out
FRONT WHEEL: Hope 20FIVE - Pro 4
REAR WHEEL: Hope 20FIVE - Pro 4
TYRES: Continental Contact Speed 32c
LIGHTS: Exposure Pack & Trace Lights
GPS: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
TOOLS: Topeak Mini Morph Pump, Lezyne Multitool, 2 X Spare Tubes, Spare Brake Pads, Chain Quick Link, Tyre Patches, Tyre levers, Chain Lube, Hiplok Combi Lock, Midge Net, Hipflask full of single malt.
BIKEPACKING BAGS
HANDLEBAR BAG: Restrap Large Bar Bag
FRAME BAG: Restrap Large Frame Bag
SADDLE BAG: Restrap 14L Saddle Bag
COCK-PIT BAGS: Restrap Stem Bags x 2
MUSETTE: Adventure Race Musette
CAMPING SETUP
TENT: Naturehike Cloud Up-2 Grey
SLEEPING BAG: Berghaus Elevation 200 Down Sleeping Bag
SLEEPING MAT: Sea to Summit Regular Ultra Light Mat + Aeros Pillow
HYGIENE: Body + Hair Wash, Deodorant, Suncream, Towel, Toothbrush + Toothpaste, Chamois Cream, Midge Spray, Anti-Bacterial Gel, Biodegradable Wet Wipes, Quick Untick Card.
ELECTRONICS: Headphones, Battery Pack (Large), Battery Pack (Small), Charging Cables, Headtorch, Phone.
COOKING: MSR Pocket Rocket, Enamel Mug, Spork, Emergency Cous-cous.
CLOTHING
Columbia Shirt, Morvelo Overland Shorts, Beanie, Underwear (3), Evening Socks (3), Down jacket, Face-Mask, Tevas, CHPT3 Jersey, Cafe Du Cycliste Bibs, Merino Base-layer, Merino Arm Warmers, Merino Leg Warmers, Merino Socks (3), Outdoor Research Rain Jacket, Cap, Helmet, Cycling Shoes
FILMING EQUIPMENT
CAMERA: Sony RX100 MK4
JON’S 2018 BROTHER KEPLER DISC
FRAME AND FORK: 56cm Brother Kepler Disc Black
HEADSET: Tange Seiki
GROUPSET: Shimano 105
HANDLEBARS: 42cm FSA Adventure Bars
STEM: Thompson Elite X4 Over-sized Road Stem
SEATPOST: PRO inline seatpost
SADDLE: Brooks C17 Cambium Cut-out
WHEELS: Mavic Aksium All Roads
TYRES: Continental GP5000s, 32c
LIGHTS: Cateye Front light and Exposure Tracer rear
GPS: Wahoo ELMNT
TOOLS: Topeak Minidrive multitool, Topeak Micro Rocket Pump, 2 X Spare Tubes, Quick Links
BIKEPACKING BAGS
HANDLEBAR BAG: Restrap Bar Bag and small food pouch.
FRAME BAG: Restrap Large Frame Bag
SADDLE BAG: Restrap 14L Saddle Bag
COCK-PIT BAGS: Restrap Top Tube Bag and Restrap Stem Bag, Restrap Tech Bag
FILMING EQUIPMENT
CAMERA: Sony RX100
MOUNT: Stock Wahoo stem mount
CAMPING SETUP
TENT: Naturehike 1 Man Tent Green
SLEEPING BAG: Alpkit 2 season
SLEEPING MAT: Thermarest
MISC: Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Buff, Headphones, Sunglasses, Rain Poncho, Flip-flops, Swiss Army knife
CLOTHING
Cafe Du Cycliste Mona Audax Jersey
Bib shorts - Cafe Du Cycliste Matilde Audax
Socks: Cafe Du Cycliste, Quoc and Defeet
Cap - Cafe Du Cycliste
Rain-cape - Endura Race Jacket
Poncho - TERRAHIKE, Sealskin Gloves
NATHAN’S 2018 BROTHER KEPLER DISC
FRAME AND FORK: 56cm Brother Kepler Disc Custom Jack Johnson Kelper Fade Paint
HEADSET: Chris King No threadset
GROUPSET: Shimano 105/Dura Ace mix
HANDLEBARS: Pro Discovery 42cm Flared bars
STEM: Thompson Elite X4 Over-sized Road Stem
SEATPOST: Thomson Elite Inline Seat Post
SADDLE: Brooks C17 Cambium Cut-out
WHEELS L: Hope Hoops
TYRES: Schwalbe Durano 28c
LIGHTS: Exposure Tracer Front & Rear
GPS: Wahoo Elemnt
TOOLS: Multi tool, 2 X Spare Tubes, Tyre lever, Spokes, Spoke-key, Lube, Split links, spare pads, Gerber Knife.
BIKEPACKING BAGS
HANDLEBAR BAG: Restrap 17L Bar Bag
FRAME BAG: Restrap Large Frame Bag
SADDLE BAG: Restrap 14L Saddle Bag with 14L Restrap Dry-bag
COCK-PIT BAGS: Restrap Stem & Tech Bag
FILMING EQUIPMENT
DRONE: Mavic Air
CAMPING SETUP
TENT: Naturehike Cloud Up-2 Grey
SLEEPING BAG: OEX 3-season down
SLEEPING MAT: Thermarest
MISC: Naturehike camping pillow, Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Bluetooth Headphones, Flip flops, Glasses, Sunglasses, Contact Lenses, Battery bank & Speaker. Hipflask, too.
CLOTHING
Morvelo Overland Shirt, Cafe Du Cycliste Matilde Audax Bibs, Cafe Du Cycliste Socks, Mountain Equipment Gore-Tex Jacket, Dare2B Down Jacket, Cap, Tshirt, Longsleeve, shorts. Shimano XC7 Shoes.