Bike (In)Decision For SRMR

What Kind of bike do you recommend for these events?

• There are a number of bike options that would all be solid choices for these races. There are few extremely technical sections, but you will benefit from wider tyres, flat bars and mountain bike geometry on the rougher sections and on descents. When it gets very tough, you probably won’t be able to ride, regardless of the bike you choose.

• We think the ideal bike is something fast and light with at least 2.0” tyres. When it comes down to it, it will depend on you: your bike handling skills, how much comfort you need for long days in the saddle, and the bike that you have available. What I would recommend though is low gearing, with, at the very least, a 1 to 1 ratio for your lowest gear. There are some steep, steep sections. You may well also want to go with front suspension, but it is not required. We would personally recommend a hardtail 29er.

• At the end of each race many gravel bike riders wished they had brought a mountain bike, but not a single rider on a mountain bike wished that they had brought a gravel bike. You have been warned!

– from the Mountain Race Series FAQ

I amn’t a conformist by nature, I like to go against the grain, but at the same time, I am not ignoring advice, I have been warned.

I have set myself a deadline of June 1 to decide on which bike to take to the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) next summer (2026) (assuming I am accepted). Last time, I took my Trek Top Fuel mountain bike, it was not the wrong choice, in fact, I don’t think there really are wrong choices in this race, just less right. My not finishing had very little to do with bike choice, and lots to do with making poor navigational choices, so I won’t beat myself up about this decision.

The Criteria

I am currently more than a little spoiled when it comes to bike choice. I have or can get at least 4 bikes that I could ride and are up for the task of racing. They have widely ranging strong points, but the SRMR is not a uniform surface type, and different capabilities of bike will shine in different parts of the course. I amn’t looking to get a bike that works for everything, just something that averages out quick.

Last time, I felt like I was biasing my decision toward technical capability, but by the second day, I realized that my own skills were pretty solid compared to the rest of the back-of-pack riders, and perhaps I wanted a faster, less capable bike. I want to work with my strengths, and support my weaker areas, so maybe this time I will bias my decision toward a faster, less rowdy bike. Then again, maybe not, to paraphrase Christian Slater, “It’s better to have a long-travel mountain bike and not need it, than to need a long-travel mountain bike and not have it.” 

The Contenders

Full-suspension mountain bike: I own a Specialized Epic 8 Evo, and it is a great bike for mountain trails. I can get rowdy on it, and I can also put in the miles on less technical terrain. I have an Old Man Mountain rack for it, I can make myself a frame bag, and I generally make whatever upgrades I see fit to make things reliable enough to cover 2000km unsupported. By being faster on technical terrain, offering the most cushion for long-term fatigue resistance, and since I am already fast on hike-a-bike sections, this could be the fastest choice.

 

 

Full-suspension gravel bike: I have tried Trek’s new full suspension gravel bike, the CheckOut, on some decent rides now, and it is deservedly the most hyped bike on the ultra-endurance gravel/bikepack-racing scene. For me, the biggest feature is the fact that the rack is suspended, instead of unsprung weight like all the other rack options.  Aside from the absurdity of servicing the suspension pivots on a rack, this bike ticks a lot of boxes. Justinas rides one, and he’s fast, so maybe I would be fast on it too? This might be the fastest choice.

 

Hardtail Mountain Bike: I have ridden a Trek Stache 29+ hardtail on several bikepacking trips since 2020, and aside from the increasing scarcity of good 29×2.8-3″ tires, it is a great bike. The plus-size tires let me run at lower pressure to kind of mimic suspension without as many moving parts. I have it rigged up specifically for bikepacking, so I won’t need to change anything other than standard maintenance, like changing out bearings. I have single-speed and fully rigid options for this bike if I want to simplify further. This may be the fastest choice.

Gravel Bike: This one is a bit of a dark horse, almost entirely due to the opening quote of this article. I am including it though, because with the addition of a Cane Creek e-Silk suspension stem and seatpost, my gravel bike is way more compliant than a pure rigid bike would be. The suspension post and stem are also probably more durable over 2000km than “real” suspension would be. The total weight for this one will be less than any of my other options. My gravel bike is fast on road and gravel, and I am probably going to hike a lot of gnarly parts anyway, so it may be one of the best choices for me.

I have other, some very weird, options, but I think the above encapsulates the range of choices I want to fit into. With a nod to my fatbike collection, I don’t think they fit well into the goal of finishing within the time limit.

 I’m probably not bringing this

Inconclusive Conclusion

I don’t think anyone knows the fastest bike choice for this race, but maybe I can figure out the fastest choice for me. If you have a strong opinion, or really any thoughts at all, you are all super-welcome to chime in with a comment. I also have some rough plans for some equipment and components articles to follow. In the meantime, the season for pogies is upon us.