Just in: Kalkhoff Sahel Compact

I don't see an issue, if you've nothing to hide... If they see a large increase in V02 max or FTP values then they can do extra investigating and maybe more actual testing. They team can show if a certain training program could indicate larger than historically seen gains by a rider. I think if I was a rider, I'd sooner let then have my TP files than have to be watched while having a piss into a cup.

Looks like a knock off of the Ortlieb pannier.

@Surreyrider One would have thought you'd be more concerned with the vital issue that it's an "allroad" bike so at least half the review shouldn't be on road.cc. Groupset is a flexible term, e.g. on the Shimano website they include their own hubs and wheels as part of the R7100 groupset but I don't think many people would say a bike hasn't got a full groupset if it doesn't have wheels that match the mechs. If you look online most groupsets are sold without disc rotors due to the differing compatibilities of hubs, so I think one can still call something a full groupset if it doesn't include the rotors.

@Secret_squirrel You are Henri Desgrange and I claim my £5...seriously, the route has only existed for 11 years so it's not exactly laden with precedent and historical tradition. Certainly there is a place for an unsupported bikepacking record (I think Mark Beaumont still holds this?) but the outright speed record is effectively a 500 mile time trial and in that context I'd say using every tactic and piece of technology legally available is absolutely fair enough.

You don't have to be a superhuman to ride it (although, of course, as with any ride, it helps).

The spirit of this ride is that a superhuman rider pedals every bit of the route. She did that.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head- mountain bikes are now mainstream, with brands relying on their sales volume for the profit of the company as a whole and consumers knowing what they want. We also expect more from our bikes and constant failures would be unacceptable, I remember when head tubes snapping was a semi regular occurrence to hear about. We have had incremental improvement- geometries are longer and slacker, suspension is more responsive, tubeless tyres are great, disc brakes work, derailleurs don’t break and gear ratios are now appropriate for application. I wouldn’t drop £6k on an out there bike that might not last and might not work well, and I don’t think many people would or could. It’s the price of mountain biking being many stream. If you want something wacky buy a tt bike

Not to be a negative Nelly but is swapping between a Road and TT bike in the spirit of this ride?

It’s American English. Nice-looking bike, a shame about the harsh ride.

who don’t want disc brakes or tubeless tyres I DO want disc brakes because they're better, and I DON'T want tubeless tyres because they're a right faff.