The Gravel racing season is now upon us, or at least it should be. It looks like many of the gravel races planned for the year are now going to be postponed until safer times. However, that doesn't mean that there are not plenty of amazing gravel bikes sat around waiting to travel the world to some of the biggest gravel events and races.
We caught up with 5 HUNT Beyond supported riders, to run the bike check of all bike checks and see what bikes they are planning to race later in the year.
Gosse Van Der Meer
Gosse is a professional cyclocross racer, but likes to spend his summer racing mtb and gravel events. This season he had planned to head to the USA for Dirty Kanza, and has built up his carbon Bombtrack Hook EXT to take on the race. Watch the video to find out his full bike spec.
Jenny Tough
Jenny is supported by Shand Cycles, and her steel Stooshie has been on many an adventure. This particular frame was due for a respray, which has been delayed due to the lockdown. However, she admitted to us that she's actually pleased to keep the old paint for now... all those scratches are memories of adventures past. Jenny is running a Shimano groupset with a set of HUNT 30 Carbon Dynamo Disc wheels. Later in the year, Jenny plans to ride the route of the Highland Trail 500 in Scotland.
Rodney Soncco
Italy-based Rodney was set for a big year of bikepacking races, including Italy Divide and Tour Divide. His bike of choice is the well-proven Open UP frame with a Shimano Ultegra groupset, with HUNT 30 Carbon Gravel Disc wheels rounding it out. Rodney runs the Mason x HUNT 650b Adventure Sport Disc wheels in the bike for rougher off-road events.
Sofian Sehili
Sofian is hot property in the world of Ultra racing in 2020, after making a name for himself in 2019 and winning the inaugural Atlas Mountain Race before lockdown started. As a result, Sofian signed a deal to ride for Bombtrack Bikes in 2020 and, like Gosse, is riding a Hook EXT C. Sofian has set up his bike geared towards long-distance bikepacking events, whilst Gosse mainly focuses on 1-day gravel racing. Sofiane is hoping that he might be able to compete in GBDuro or French Divide later this summer if restrictions allow.
Sofian has built his Hook EXT with parts off his old bike (for now). The groupset is primarily Shimano Ultragra, with the addition of a Shimano SLX chainset. Finishing kit is Bombtrack's own, and the saddle is Sofians favoured Fiziik Gobi. Wheels are Mason x HUNT 4 Season Disc with 42mm Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge tyres.
Josh Ibbett
Josh has been a long-term HUNT-supported rider and employee. 2020 goals included racing Dirty Kanza and the Tour Divide, but have now been refocused closer to home. GBduro is an aim if it is able to take place, along with the revised Dirty Reiver later in the year. This special one-off Mason Bokeh was build up to take on these races.
The Bokeh frame has a custom colour-matched Lauf Grit SL fork to take the edge off the rougher gravel tracks. The current setup is tailored more towards bikepacking events and so a set of Hunt 30 Carbon Dynamo Disc are fitted to power lights and charge the GPS unit. Tyres are courtesy of WTB and are the Riddler 45mm, a fast-rolling tyre ideal for gravel. A MissGrape frame bag allows extra food and clothing to be carried and the groupset set is Shimano's gravel-specific GRX 2x11. Finishing kit is by Ritchey and includes the brand new VentureMax carbon bar.