Last month Steven took on the Enve Stone Circle starting at the English Heritage site of Old Sarum near the Medieval City of Salisbury. 

The Bike

Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX running SRAM Force mechanical 1x groupset. Garbaruk front chain ring is the only upgrade from the standard Force install. 40T front and 10-44 cassette offering improved gearing for this kind of event over the standard 36 tooth with a KMC 11 speed waxed chain wrapped around oversized pulley wheels for smooth and quiet gear shifts.

Zipp XPLR 400mm bars with a standard Cannondale One stem 110mm. "I tinkered with a shorter, lighter stem for a while but went back to the standard stem before this event."

Guee SL Dual Metallic bar tape finishes off the look nicely but provides zero cushioning for the hands.

Wahoo Element Bolt computer. Whilst the smaller unit is not the best option for epic off road exploring, the maps easy to use and the battery life was more than enough for a 12 hour day in the saddle without any battery saving options.

The Wheels

Zipp 303s wheels were the preferred option to get the best performance across the flat plains of Salisbury. There's a small price to pay on the hills for the added weight but overall these wheels are ideal for an event like this and were definitely up to the job on all surfaces.

"Tubeless 40mm Pirelli's Cinturato Gravel H tyres have been my go to tyre for most gravel events and training rides. They offer excellent rolling resistance and have been super reliable on all types of terrain. I did experience a couple of punctures in this event and will be considering whether something with more puncture protection is better suited to me for future events. I didn't run tyre inserts for this event."

40mm is the absolute minimum size to run at this event with some of the surfaces being quite challenging if you're looking to maintain a good overall average speed. A couple of downhill sections were particularly rough and fitting the largest tyre size possible to your bike will provide the best comfort if you're considering this event.

"There's enough tarmac on this route that rolling resistance is a factor when planning your tyre choice, however if you're looking for a comfortable ride 40mm is the minimum!"

Bontrager bottle cages, Specialized Power Pro 3D printed saddle.

The Luggage

• Orucase saddle bag containing the essential tools, chain lube, Co2, spare chain links and Dynaplug.
• Apidura top tube bag for additional spares and nutrition. With the weather forecast looking good, additional clothing space wasn't required so minimising bike storage was key. A frame bag hampered bottle access in this setup.
• USWE hydration pack has become an essential piece of kit now for long events and provides easy access to water when you need both hands on the bars!

The Nutrition

A total of 3.2 litres of fluid across the hydration pack and two bottles provided sufficient for the first half of the event in the warm temperatures.

"I aimed for 90g of carbohydrates per hour, carrying everything for the first half until I reached the 106km feed station and my drop-bag. In addition to Precision Hydration 90g gel pouches and 30g chews I consumed Torq drink mix in my bottles and plain water in the hydration pack."

"The orange and watermelon segments and mini cheddars found at the feed stations provided much needed relief from the sugary cocktails. As the race warmed up and the hills got steeper I added more and more electrolytes to my drinks, arriving at the finish with nothing but empty wrappers."

The Clothing

• Nopinz Pro-1 Evo Gravel suit (Rebellion Racing Grunge edition) - "first time wearing this suit. Lots of storage in the rear and leg pockets, very comfortable race fit."
• Oakley ARO5 helmet
• Melon Optics Kingpin sunglasses
• QUOC Gran Tourer XC - "Super comfortable shoes!"

            Check out more from @spyyyyke at the ENVE Stone Circle 

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When

June 29th 2024

More info

For more information about the event, please go to hotchillee.com

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