SRAM GX Eagle AXS (wireless) upgrade kit now in stock £449
You can also upgrade to any of the Garbaruk 12 speed cassettes at the same time!

When purchased with Travers RUSSTi frame you can buy the SRAM GX Eagle AXS upgrade kit for just £379

The SRAM AXS mountain bike groupset technology was revolutionary on release. Up until now it has only been available on the most expensive component levels (X01 and XX1). Now SRAM have made this fantastic kit available at the extremely popular GX Eagle spec.
If you are already running SRAM Eagle on your MTB this kit contains all the parts you need to swap over to wireless shifting.

• SRAM's world changing AXS mountain bike groupset technology now available at the more affordable GX range pricepoint
• Dependable wireless shifting for your 1x12 SRAM Eagle equipped ride
• Simple to set-up and maintain
• One less cable makes for a clean cockpit
• Featuring the proven ergonomic touchpoints that make shifting effortless, they are customizable to your preferences, allowing you to choose which button does what through the AXS App
• AXS enabled componentry software that makes it possible to both program and personalize new SRAM and RockShox components Eagle technology
• The GX Eagle AXS upgrade kit contains everything you need to complete the jump to wireless (compatible with all SRAM Eagle cassettes, cranksets)
• Includes Derailleur, Shifter and charger
  

The Escapade isnt a race but...from the start I my legs felt good, after about 20 km I took the lead and held it until the first refueling stop at 79km just as the rain really started to hammer down, this is when my issues started, the heavy rain got into my Garmin, it would freeze or restart leaving me with no navigation, this lead to a number of off course excursions, stops and general frustration.
I refuelled, tried to get my head straight, dry my garmin and push on, with the easing of the rain this worked for a while, then the rain returned and the Garmin (after about 300 restarts) finally stopped being of any use.
I decided to strap my phone to the garmin and navigate using that, it wasnt long before the rain got into the charging port and although the phone worked the battery was rapidily dying. At this point I would like to issue an appology to the badger who pulled out of the bushes near box hill almost taking my front wheel out (you know who you are!) my language was unacceptable, inferring you were on an ebike was said in the heat of the moment as you rushed past me, I am sure you were not motor doping!
I digress, I somehow made my way to Check point 1 169km into the Escapade, I was ready to scratch, I couldnt see how I could continue without navigation. Kevin (nice chap who runs these events) was manning CP1 and suggested a hard reset of the Garmin. It seemed to work, I was now 2 hours behind the front 2, everyone had their issues, many punctures and electronic issues so the gap was probably about right (my fitness probably wasnt up to staying with them at this stage). I had a gap of about 6 hours over the 4th place rider, everyone behind me had stopped for a few ours sleep to get out of the rain.
I pushed on just as the rain started to come down much heavier again, it wasn't long before my Garmin started to freeze/restart again, maybe about 5km into section 2. I realised it wasnt realistic to continue and reluctantly returned to CP1 to scratch.
These endurance events can be so cruel, it doesn't matter how fit or well prepared you are, you can get taken out of the event due to circumstances beyond your control, I encourage anyone who likes the idea to give it a go, you will get some dark moments on the ride but you will also get some amazing experiences, even this event, leading for about 50km was a new thing for me, I have never even been close to the front of something like this before, having a chat with a badger! all these things I would never have experienced sitting on a sofa at home.
Keep going, no matter how slow you are turning the pedals, everything can change round the corner, smile and move on.

I will be riding the Great British Escapade on Thursday 8th September 2023, starting at 17:00, you can follow my progress here. The event is a self supported (you have to carry all your kit and have no team or outside help) and is 479km, mainly offroad event.

The bike itself is a Travers bespoke DIRTi EVO, all of the DIRTi EVO's are bespoke made to your requirements and needs. This versions is a monster mullet! SRAM Force AXS leavers, XX1 AXS Rear mech, Garbaruk 10-52 cassette and a Hope Tech Crank with 36t chainring, I normally run a 38t which covers pretty much everything I do on the road and offroad but due to the type of event "keeping moving" is more important than speed, so hense the smaller 36t. The setup seems to cover pretty much all my gearing needs, you can climb up the steepest offroad climbs but still travel along at 40kph on the road.

Everything about the setup is done for simplicity, ride comfort and speed, paring everything down to making it as mechanically bullet proof as possible. This was the main reason for the wheels, Nextie 650b gravel rims with Halo 47mm tyres, these can handle everything you throw at them offroad without being draggy on the road.
I have made 1 concession to comfort with the Redshirt stem, it has 20mm of travel and combined with the 47mm tyres takes most of the buzz out of the trail. The bars are my own Travers flared carbon bars (not yet avaliable).
The frame bag is amazing, I had it made bespoke by 7roads (in Ukraine) I have all of my sleeping kit in there, spare clothes and my food! plud they also supplied the reflective elements on the saddle and set tube.

How to power your lights, GPS and phone is always an issue when you are out in the wild, the hassle is all taken out of your hands with the kLite system. I have a kLite "Always on" switch under the Garmin which send power to the kLite Bikepacker Ultra (road version) and to the kLite USB charger, I have the USB always powered, so the kLite Qubes are "always on" and the other spare USB slot I have plugged directly into the Garmin (because this trip will be just a couple of days I charge the Garmin directly, if it was longer I would charge a cache battery, then power the Garmin/USB from that). I also have a spare rear battery light that I can charge vis the kLite USB if needed as a backup, plus a Exposure Joystick mk 13 I use on my helmet, I only every use this for technical section or if I stop and need to look in my bags etc. I am not suing the standard kLite mount for the bikepacker Ultra, it is attached below the Garmin keeping it out of the way.

I do mess around with my setup and like things simple, tried and tested, the last thing you need when you are in the middle of nowhere is your kit playing up and you do not know how to fix it.
The Tools I carry...
The bike is setup tubeless with squirt sealant and so far in the last 5000km I havent punctured...actually I have but the sealant has alway filled the hole and I havent lost pressure but I always carry items that give me multiple options to solve an issue.
So I also carry a Tubolito ultra light innertube, If all else fails, I can stick that in, I also carry Stans Dart with spare darts (in the pocket of my Evoc hydration pack, so I can get access to it quickly), I also have a Park tool sticky boot to repair any long slices in the tyre. To get the tyre back to pressure I carry 2 Co2 cannisters 25g and Topeak Mounatin DA pump. It might sound like overkill but it gives you options, when you are tired and your hands are cold, things don't always go to plan.
I also carry...
Lezyne multi tool
2 x tyre leaver
spare eTap Battery
Whistle
6 zipties
15ml Squirt chain lube
cloth - stops the tools rattling and for wiping hands
12 speed quick link
Charmast 10,000 mAh cache battery
Cables for charging
Sleeping bag, Bivy bag, inflatable pillow, inflatable mat
Precision Hydrartion 1500
Food - pancakes, nuts, jelly babies - everything else I will pick up along the way (hopefully)
Evoc hydration pack
Small lightweight lock
Squirt balm
Hand sanitiser
Face mask
I will probably start the event with shorts, undervest, track mitts, SS jersey, armwarmers, helmet and gillet, I will also carry a rain jacket in the frame bag.

This is the first event I have used a hydration pack but I have been training with it and I can carry 1.5ltr of water which seems fine, I will also carry an extra water bottle in the frame bag to fill up on sections I know will have long gaps between shops or water taps.

We are happy to announce our first crankset. It's a lightweight hollow crankset made of aluminum, designed to be as light as carbon cranksets, while also keeping the reliability and stiffness of heavier aluminum cranksets. Minimalistic design, lightweight hollow body, high stiffness and variety of customization options are main highlights of this model. (chainring not included)
Pre Order - Garbaruk Crank
1) Weight, without chainring, depending on the model 370-380g
2) Two-piece hollow body crankarms made of 7075 aluminum
3) Spindle diameter - 30mm
4) Compatible with RaceFace bottom brackets ( Raceface: BSA CINCH 30mm. Shell Width 68,73,83mm / BB92 CINCH 30mm. Shell Width 89,92 / PF30 CINCH 30mm. Shell Width 68,73,83mm) and BB30 Bottom Brackets
5) 170&175mm length available
6) Cannondale direct mount standard
7) Recommeded to be purchase together with Garbaruk Oval Cannondale Hollowgram MTB Chainring or Garbaruk Round Cannondale Hollowgram MTB Chainring
8) Q-Factor: 170mm
9) Chainline: 52mm - 136 Spindle

Its been a couple of weeks since the end of the MTB Series and people are away on holiday so while things have finally slowed down around here I decided to redesign the website and update information and expand the Servicing area.

Thats right, I have expanded the bike maintenance and servicing side of the business to everyone, not just Travers Bikes frame/bike owners. I am now offering everything from brake cable changes to full bike strip down and rebuilds. Pick up and drop off is available to everyone in the South East of Essex.

You can pick from one of the 3 service plan options Bronze, Silver or Gold or pick individual services you/your bike might require.

Servicing - Parts and components are not included in the price

Bronze - £45
Visual inspection of the complete bike
Check and adjust  brakes
Check and adjust gears
Check tyres for wear and tear
Check for wear on drive chain components
Check and tighten bolts (if needed)
Headset bearings checked and adjusted

Silver - £80
Everything from the Bronze Service - Plus;
Wash and polish frame and forks
Wash and degrease all drive train components and wheels
Lubricate the chain
True wheels
Replace inner and outer gears cables
Bleed brakes (if needed)
Replace inner and outer brake cables (if needed)
Wheel bearing check and adjustment
Wheel bearings replaced (if needed)
Bottom bracket bearings replaced (if needed)

Gold - £130
Everything from the Bronze/Silver Services - Plus;
All components cleaned degreased and adjusted (except suspension forks or rear shock/linkages which are cleaned only)
Forks removed and headset, stripped, cleaned and re-greased (bearing replaced if needed)
Seat post removed degreased and re-lubricated
Fit and/or replace new components either supplied by Travers Bikes or the customer
Remove pedals, service, regrease and replace

For those of you who havent ridden the series before, rather than giving out the prizes to the fastest riders (Winners in each category get a jersey and top 3 get trophies) we feel that everyone deserves to get the chance of winning a prize. Every rider/marshal and helper will get a free ice cream after their race has finished (just hand in your helmet tag) even if you dont want an ice cream hand in your helmet tag because they will be used as your draw ticket. You have a chance to win one of the prizes below.
Thanks to the support of Squirt Cycling Products who have given us lots of products from across their range, traversbikes.com (me...I distribute NEXTIE, Garbaruk Bike Components and kLite.com.au in the UK)
List of prizes, Set of Nextie 29er carbon rims, Squirt lube, sealant etc, Travers bobble hat, bottles etc, Garbaruk 10-50 XD cassette, kLite dynamo and light.