Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

Isn't that the same setup Lee has used in the past? Familiarity with kit is important too. Plus there's a few hundred grams less weight to carry everywhere. I'm not sure what I'd do - it really depends on how much smooth(ish) double track/ fire road there is. If there's bugger all you can ride on the aerobars I'd question taking them.

Yeah, I think so. She's also already spent 3 weeks acclimatising and scouting out bits of the route so I reckon she's got it all pretty dialled in.

She's also already spent 3 weeks acclimatising and scouting out bits of the route

That counts for a lot. Most people will just rock up and have to deal with the unknown.

The route has a fair bit of smooth tarmac so aerobars are worthwhile. But there is plenty of rough gravel, and a day long section of hike a bike. Aerobars will not be a lot of help for that!

Cripes

a day long section of hike a bike. Aerobars will not be a lot of help for that!

They might let you park the bike in a crevice or something :)

I saw some setups on Instagram and Facebook. Safe to say a lot of people are underestimating the difficulty of this route: bike gears, drop bar gravel bikes 🤔

POIDH

In what sense?

Well Nelson checked out the route last year on a gravel bike

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This guy on the other hand...

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Is that just 'ready to head over' to the race or is he actually planning on riding with that backpack? #noway

Give me... ALL THE BAGS!

ie. he still has a d-lock attached to the bike.

More like it...

Mikko is riding the same bike there as he did in TCR, but he has posted some parts there to change before the start, like mtb cranks. So he can get small enough gears with the campa record rear mech and cassette. He's using some touring tires, marathon something I think, in 35 or 37mm. Fucking awesome but also WTF. He's also got a Surly Troll, at home.

Had a google as I didn't follow 2016 and she has been mentioned a few times.

Looks like both of 86 are listed as Male
https://www.silkroadmountainrace.cc/2018­-startlist/

Seems as though I was wrong. What are the chances of two endurance cyclists called Min from Taiwan? Quite high it would seem.

The photo is definitely of a chap and so a different Taiwanese Min.

Take them off and use as ski poles if the route gets boggy?

hahaha I like it

Björn and Vera’s set-up... very snazzy

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And they are off. The field is already pretty spread out with riders distributed between around 38 km and 20 km. Long way to go.

Double ftw

Gonna be great to follow this. The first climb is crazy.

I have a feeling the ones on gravel bikes gonna suffer in the long run. I was on 2.35" tires riding big chunks of the route last year and If anything I'd go wider. @Polky summed it up well. Salsa Cutthroat or similar should be pretty ideal if youre intending on a fast run but I wouldnt rule out a HT.

John Woodroof (60) has a great post about his setup on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmfK_UGhZ5F/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1oiicyps7covz

Love seeing what supplies these guys are taking.

Looks like mainly gravel bikes on Instagram

lots of food in there, thermarest and dangle mug. 👍

Some mtbs too