My Setup and Gear - 2024 Mishigami Challenge

All those little choices matter. Depending on who you ask, that's half the fun of it.

I think it’s in the nature of bikepackers and ultra racers to constantly be tinkering with their setups. I don’t know which way this goes: do tinkerers become bikepackers to give themselves something to tinker with? Or do bikepackers become tinkerers because they are so dependent on their gear choices? I guess it’s probably more of the latter, but also probably closer to 50/50 than you think.

Regardless of which one led me to the other, I am both a bikepacker/ultra racer and a tinkerer, so this will be a bit of a reflection on what gear I chose for the 2024 Mishigami Challenge and what I might change in the future.

I’ll be taking this in sections, so in case you want to skip down to a particular part, here’s what to expect:

1. Bike

2. Bags

3. Sleep

4. Repair Kit

5. Lights

6. Clothing

7. Other#

Bike

Frame: 2023 Bearclaw Thunderhawk

Fork: Enve Adventure

Handlebar: Lauf Smoothie, 42cm

Stem: Whisky Parts Co., 110mm alloy

Seatpost: Whisky No. 7 Carbon

Wheels: ENVE AG25

Tires: Continental GP5000 AS TR, 35mm

Saddle: Brooks C13 Cambium

Aero Bars: Secondhand alloy, they might originally have been branded Felt?

There’s a favorite piece of advice, at least among many of the cycling communities on Reddit: The best bike is one that fits you. Very true. So I won’t say much more about the Bearclaw Thunderhawk frame or many of the bits hanging off it other than I love this bike very much, and I adore how versatile it is. When I’m riding fast road, I can mount skinny tires and go. When chunky gravel is the order of the day, I can put on fat 47mm rubber and roll. This is my one bike to rule them all, and while that’s not the best choice for everyone, it’s the best choice for me.

The most consequential choice for Mishigami is certainly tires. The vast majority of the course is pavement, and mostly pretty good pavement at that. This means that there are minutes - maybe even hours - to be gained simply by choosing a low rolling resistance tire. My personal favorites (the flat I suffered notwithstanding) are Continental GP5000s. In 2022, I ran 32mm TR versions; since then, Conti released wider options in the AS TR (“All Season Tubeless Ready”) version, which trades slightly better puncture resistance (ha!) for slightly - but only very slightly, especially when loaded - more rolling resistance. I sized up to 35mm tires this year for a little extra comfort, but I think it’s basically a toss-up between 32s and 35s. 

I’m including a saddle callout here even though A) it’s not something I typically swap on my bike, and B) saddles are incredibly personal, and different people will fit different saddles. Honestly, saddles are one of the most maddening parts of bike fitting to me. They aren’t cheap, they’re hard to test, and it’s nearly impossible to settle into a ride when you’re paying attention to a new saddle. Still: for me, I’ve come to a friendly relationship with my Brooks C13. This is the version without a cutout, but perhaps counterintuitively this added rigidity helps prevent some of the weird hotspots I’ve gotten with other saddles over long or especially multi-day rides. It never feels like the most comfortable option moment to moment, but my butt is always happy to hop back on the next day.

My aero bars are definitely the cheapest part of this bike, and they’re also the only component carryover from 2022 and my previous ride. I bought them secondhand and bodged together some of the mounting hardware in order to make the elbow pads line up the way I wanted. I also added a clip-on bridge on the ends to make space for additional mounts. They’re relatively low for ultra distance, but I’ve never had an issue with them before this year’s Mishigami. A spacer kit to boost them a few centimeters higher is likely in my near future. We’ll see if a new set of aero bars comes with that, but I otherwise don’t see much cause to change.

Bags

Frame Bag: Custom by LesenokBag

Feed Bags: Custom by LesenokBag

Rear Bag: Topeak Backloader

Rear Bag Stabilizer: Topeak Backloader Wishbone

Downtube Bag: USWE saddle bag, held in place with a bottle cage

Top Tube Bag: Revelate Designs Mag Tank

The majority of my bags are tried and true options I’ve been using for years, including on the 2022 Mishigami Challenge. Both my frame bag and my feed bags were custom made by Ukranian bagmaker LesenokBag (find them on Etsy). Feed bags may not be the most aero, but I deem them essential on rides like this. You will never keep up calorically on an ultra race, but a constant supply of snacks immediately at hand helps limit the losses.

The 2022 setup was similar, but different in some important ways.

The frame bag was actually made for my previous bike, but the dimensions are close enough that it works well on my Thunderhawk, too. I’ve loved these bags, but they may be approaching the ends of their lives - they’ve been worked hard over the last few years, and whenever I do replace the frame bag I’ll be looking for a fully waterproof option. One feature I do love: A velcro “shelf” in the middle not only splits the frame bag into an upper and lower portion to keep things organized, it also prevents the bag from bulging too towards my legs. 

The other bit of carryover gear is my Topeak Backloader and accompanying wishbone. I love the design of this rear bag. The hard-wearing outer portion remains mounted on the bike at all times while a specially shaped dry bag fits snugly inside. This makes it easy to get essentials on and off the bike. The Backloader also has a bungee cord on top and loops for mounting lights on the bottom/rear of the rollup outer. I have had this bag since 2019, and the only repair I’ve had to make is stitching a piece of old tire to the point where the bag contacts the seat post - a seatpost clamp wore a hole in the outer bag over time, but this bit of rubber ensures the dry bag won’t be impacted and the hole won’t grow.

The Backloader straps pretty securely to begin with, so while the wishbone does make a significant reduction in sway, its main utility is carrying water bottle mounts. While it’s perfectly possible to use these actively, I prefer to keep two bottles in reserve back here while using one of my feed bags for a 3rd bottle I’m actively drinking from.

The rest is pretty simple, although it’s also where I see room for optimization: tools went in what’s normally my everyday saddle bag, just strapped into a downtube water bottle. This worked fine, but was a little bit of a pain to get into because I had to strap it into place to ensure it wasn’t going to fall out. A dedicated tool keg might be a worthwhile addition in the future. Similarly, the Revelate top tube bag is spacious and easy to access, but it always seems that top tube bags shift laterally a little more than I’d like them to. I don’t have bolts on my top tube, so a Tailfin version of basically the same bag (with a slightly raised contact point and voile straps to hold the bag in place) might be a better option, but I doubt I’m going to pay for the marginal improvement.

Sleep

Bivy: Outdoor Research Helium

Sleeping Pad: Nemo Tensor Ultralight Insulated

Sleeping Bag: REI Helio Sack 50

I absolutely love my tent. I love camping in a tent!

I do not love camping in a bivy; however, I sleep fine in one, and it is SO FAST to set up and pack down, and SO SMALL to put in my bags that it just has to be the choice for an event like Mishigami if you’re trying to go fast. I ended up packing some spare clothes into my rear bag, but the majority of it was taken up by my bivy, pad, and bag all rolled up together so that when I got to a campsite all I had to do was roll out the bivy and air up the pad. I know some ultra racers will bring and repack emergency bivvies to save even more weight and space, but I appreciate the durability of mine. The only modification I’ve made is to add a guy line to help hold the bivy off my face. Even if there’s nothing else around to strap it to, I can cinch it on my bike. Easy.

There are also lighter and smaller pads and bags, but you start paying major premiums for cutting weight. The Nemo pad is much nicer than the REI bag (which can get cold in the UP, even in the summer), but they both get the job done without any fuss.

Repair Kit

Rather than list these out at the start, I’m just going to offer a quick thought on each.

Multitool - Get one with a chain breaker, you don’t know when you might need it.

Tyre Lever - Yeah, the multitool has one, but it’s lousy. I’ve got the space for a real one.

Pump - Maybe double check it’s working every 3-6 months (and definitely before your race)?

Tubolito x2 - I love these things, they’re so small. Pretty sure the busted valve on the one I tried to use was negligence/having it crammed into too small a space in my old everyday rear bag.

Tire Boot - Was on a group ride this spring when someone sliced a tire and needed one of these. Made it a permanent addition to my every-ride kit.

CO2 x2 - I probably had space for three. Or four. Then again, I hadn’t used one in over a year.

CO2 Stinger - Self-explanatory.

Presta/Schraeder Adapter - Wow, did this save me. Was on my “must include” list since I couldn’t make use of a friendly service station in 2022.

Tubeless Plugs - Also self-explanatory. They work! See exhibit A, my mangled rear tire!

Spare Valve Core - At least one of these is in my repair kit at all times. Another tiny thing that can make all the difference, these are so easy to bend by mistake.

Valve Core Remover - Required if you’re running tubeless. The tiny plastic ones the size of a fingernail come in most tubeless valve kits.

Quick Link - See the note about a multitool with a chain breaker. Conveniently, my multitool also has a space for storing the quick link.

Spare Cleat & Bolts - A late addition to my kit. Not sure I’d bring it again, but it’s so small there’s really no harm. Bolts can loosen and fall into the abyss from time to time.

Chain Lube - Absolutely essential. I re-lubed my chain one to three times per day. I wax my chain, and a small bottle of Silca Super Secret drip wax was plenty (and is a refillable vessel for future adventures).

Spare Sealant - This was the last item into my repair kit for Mishigami this year, and ended up being absolutely necessary to re-set my tire after my pump died and my Tubolito valve broke.

And this is the giant sealant plug that built up underneath my puncture.

Fabric Patch Kit - These are the cut-and-stick type in case I get a hole in my sleeping pad or a rip in my bivy or a dry bag.

Duct Tape - I have a little bit wrapped around a plastic dowel for emergencies.

Superglue - Similar - for emergency repairs of an unforeseen variety.

Zip Ties - Just a couple, also in case of emergency. 

Lights

Front Light: Outbound Lighting Detour

Backup Front Light: Knog Lil Cobber

Rear Lights: Blackburn Dayblazer 65, Amphipod Versa-Light Plus

Other: Black Diamond Sprint 225 headlamp

Until very recently, I’ve been using Serfas front lights and generally been happy with them. They were powerful, with adjustable beam strength, and most importantly I had two of them so I could recharge one while running the other. 

But these lights are starting to get old, and the last two times they’ve been subjected to significant water, they’ve malfunctioned, staying on even if I tried to turn them off and failing to charge. That was not a risk I was willing to take for Mishigami, so I decided to try a Chicagoland company I’d had recommended to me: Outbound Lighting.

I’ve now used my Outbound Lighting Detour light on a handful of rides, and I’m mostly pleased with it. The calling card here is that the beam pattern is more shaped than most bike lights, purporting to spread light wider across more of the road, while also cutting off the forward beam so that the road is illuminated without blinding oncoming traffic. On that last point, I can’t comment, but the beam does seem a bit wider. I’m just not sold on the utility. The beam pattern is roughly triangular, spreading out more light directly in front of the bike while the view ahead is still mostly a single round spotlight. I don’t know I’m seeing quite what the Outbound Lighting marketing department would like me to see, but it’s a very good light: well-built, waterproof, and with an impressively small form factor. It’s also got pass-through charging, which is definitely a plus.

I also, until very recently, had two Amphipod lights, but I seem to have lost one. These are technically running lights, but the clips are very secure and the lights do both red and white, solid and flashing modes, meaning that I could press this light into service as a headlight if I really needed to. 

The Blackburn light was a last-minute buy when I couldn’t find my second Amphipod, but it did exactly what I wanted it to: be a bright, noticeable rear light with good battery life.

Clothing

Bibs: Pactimo Summit Stratos Cargo bibs x2

Socks: Silca Aero Socks x2

Base Layer x1

Jersey x1

Packable Rain Jacket

Gloves

Knee Warmers

Merino Long Sleeve Tee (for sleep)

Athletic Shorts (for sleep)

The knee warmers were the absolute last thing I packed, the final addition to my 2024 Mishigami Challenge setup. The original idea was this: “The upper peninsula can get cold at night. Sleeping in knee warmers might be nice, and I might wear them for an hour or two in the morning.” To which the counter-argument came: “Are you really going to pack something for one night only?”

I am so glad that I brought them.

Yes, I wore them for a night, but I also wore them two mornings and basically all of day 4 to stay warm while it rained. I used them so much more than I expected, which is a little silly since I already knew how great they are for spring and fall riding in the midwest. My knee warmers were my MVP piece of kit this race. 

As with saddles, bibs (particularly for ultra distance) are about finding what works for you. For me, the Pactimo bibs just work in concert with my Brooks saddle. I have other bibs I like a lot, but these are my current go-to for multi-day riding. 

Aero socks may seem like a silly idea regardless of distance, and while I have seen the studies (and the pros) that tell me they work, it honestly still seems like a silly idea to me. That said, Silca’s socks are super comfy and basically the same price as any other nice socks I’d buy to ride in. So just like tires, why not rack up that little marginal gain all. Day. Long.

Other

I’m not going to list all the other miscellaneous items I brought because these tend to be personal things. Yes, I brought spare battery to recharge my Wahoo, phone, and lights. Yes, I brought a first-aid kit. But do you really want that list? (Tell me if you do, and I’ll add it here.)

So instead, some thoughts on a few particular items:

Pocket Knife

Some may consider this overlapping with a multitool, or unnecessary if I’m not bringing a cook kit. I say this serves a very different purpose, and you know what? I think I was proven right when I needed my pocket knife to be able to pull a screw out of my tire.

Chamois Cream

Maybe this is another “no, duh” essential, but I brought a brand-new 8 oz tub of Eurostyle Chamois Butter. I went through nearly the whole thing, and also finished the race with barely a hint of saddle sores. 

A favorite story I forgot to relate in my day 4 recap: In the afternoon I stopped at a supermarket for a resupply and discovered that the rain had started to wash two days’ worth of chamois cream out of my bibs (see the recap for context). My rear bag looked like someone had slopped white paint on it, and my saddle was greasy-slick.

Skratch Drink Mix

I like Skratch products, so I decided it was worth it to me to bring a bag of drink mix. There are a lot of places to get free water, and this way I could turn that into my preferred liquid fuel instead of buying Gatorade at every stop. At least, that was the idea.

In reality, I ran through the bag of mix a LOT faster than I anticipated and had to buy a ton of sports drinks of all different varieties for most of the route anyways. Don’t think I’ll do this again, even though I still think Skratch is a lot better than (especially) the convenience store alternatives.

Microfiber Towel

When you sweat a lot and for a long time, your fingers lose the ability to operate a touchscreen. It is the most infuriating thing to tap and swipe away and have your normally responsive phone treat you like a ghost. Voice commands are a helpful way to get around this much of the time, but I’ve started carrying a little microfiber towel in my top tube bag for the express purpose of wiping my hands and/or phone screen so I can use it whenever needed. Side benefit: It’s also good for wiping down glasses when your lens cloth is buried too deep in your frame bag to use without stopping. 

Got questions about something I did or didn’t mention? Fire ‘em off! I’d love to discuss further in the comments.