The Taurus Mountain Race begins this Wednesday at 6 am, and the route was just released yesterday. I made sure to sync the big route & the 'little' 200km piecemeal files onto my Elemnt today, as doing that with hotel wifi or shoddy mobile service has had me way too stressed prior to too many races. (For instance, I did the entire Bohemian Border Bash Race without Czechia's map loaded on my GPS lol)
I feel pretty prepared for this newest addition to Nelson's Quarter of Mountain Races. In fact, maybe the most prepared. I certainly have the most well-equipped & dialled setup that I've ever had.
- Frame: @sour.bicycles Pasta Party. Literally the perfect bike for Nelson’s Mountain Races. Took me 8 years to figure it out. But here I am! The @whiteind headset pairs perfectly with the fork, too!
- Wheels: @munrowheels & @astralcycling came together with uniquely polished Serpentine rims, the new @wolf_tooth_comp rear hub & @sonnabendynamo up front & @ultradynamico Mars Rozzo rubber w/ @silca_velo sealant! 🙏🏻, Jorrit & Loren!
- Drivetrain: an @ingridcomponents rear mech & 10-52 SRAM cassette via @chrs_swt & @cyber.cycles + a 28t @aarn_ up front. Danke, Chris!
- Cockpit: @ritcheylogic bars, stem, grips & inner inner bar ends (with SILCA wrap). @sqlab inner bar ends too! Comfy AF! Thank you, Jeff !
- Brakes, Dopper & Suspension: @manitoumtb & @hayesbrakes pretty much make me a pro MTB’er now. Comfort & stopping power like never before. Thank you, Josh!
- Lighting: @exposure.lights are the clear choice. The Revo 5 has a battery AND charges from the dynamo & sends a steady current to my power bank, phone or Elemnt. Thank you, Morgan!
- Navigation: @wahoo_benelux Elemnt Ace! Dank je, Tim!
- Luggage: fellow @workspacesix officemate, Amy from @amateur_hour_ams made these custom bags for me from recycled electric car battery transport baggage. I love the feel, the look & durability! Thank you, Amy!
- Rack & Cradle: @oldmanmountainracks has been making the toughest racks for the toughest adventures since forever. The Manzanita gives me a NASA-level heads-up display with mounts for my GoPro, light & GPS!-
- Saddle: a gift from @kike.molares straight from the @essax_saddle factory in Alicante where Kike is also from. Kike took these photos too! Thank you, Kike!
- BB: special shout out to Konstantin of @drustcycles for the adapter to get this square peg in this T47 hole. ; )
I don't have a proper packing list prepared, but I may document it better before the race starts on Wednesday. Three pillars of my packing for this event: nutrition, hydration & insulation. I've got space for lots of water, food and extra warm clothes. Also, rain gear because precipitation is already expected on day 1. Fun!
Follow my dot here & keep up with the race via their podcast & social media. And on Dotwatcher.cc!
Thank you for reading & I hope you have a nice week,
Jon
p.p.s.
🎵 Some tracks on deck over the past few week: still LOTS of Pinback and plan on continuing to do so in Turkije as well as Pinkshinyultrablast, lots of assorted dungeon synth, Sweet Pill, Cold Gawd, Poison Ruïn and Trauma Ray.
October
- 🇳🇱 12-13 International Cargo Bike Festival
- 🇹🇷 14-24 Taurus Mountain Race
- 🇳🇱 18 AMS Cross Comp | Big Spotter's Hill
- 🇳🇱 25 AMS Cross Comp | HSC DE BATAAF
- 🇯🇵 23-25 Bespoked Osaka
- 🇳🇱 31 Kalfjescross Tracklocross & Spooky Alleycat
November
- 🇳🇱 1 AMS Cross Comp | UWTC – UITHOORN
- 🇳🇱 3-5 ISPO
- 🇳🇱 8 AMS Cross Comp | HSV DE KAMPIOEN
- 🇬🇧 12-14 Rouleur London
- 🇳🇱 14 Lowlands Fixed Gear 2 Year Bday
- 🇳🇱 15 AMS Cross Comp | WV DE AMSTEL
- 🇳🇱 22 AMS Cross Comp | FC TRAPPIST – ‘T TWISKE
December
- 🇳🇱 4 Twotone Turns 12! Live Music, Great Food, Refreshing Drinks, & Permanent Tattoos!
- 🇳🇱 5 Cyclezirkus & Twotone Hangover Ride
- 🇳🇱 6 AMS Cross Comp | ASC Olympia Sloten
- 🇳🇱 13 AMS Cross Comp | ARC Ulysses
- 🇳🇱 19 AMS Cross Comp | Avondcross ZWC DTS
- 🇳🇱 31 AMS Cross Comp | Oliebollencross
Bikes
The International Cargo Bike Festival 2026 sets sights on mainstream cargo bike adoption
Twotone will be at this year's International Cargo Bike Festival with our clients Veloe, Remco Tools & TMD Locks.
Threaded #62 | Dave Rome Reviews Remco Tools' Hi-Lo Electric Repair Stand
Taurus Mountain Race: The Route, the Weather, and What It Will Take to Win
Conor McKenzie
The trick is not to think about it too much but just enough to be prepared. First step is reassembling my bike when I land. : )
Ideas
Riding On. For Max.
gravgrav
Lisa, Karen, Jan & Žan talk about how Gravgrav will continue in Max's memory. I'm grateful that they will keep the fire burning and I will certainly be involved! Read more here.
The Mechanics of Joy Nº60 with Bast Rotgans
Bikes & Business Social Club opts for knowledge sharing
Friends
Kalfjescross Tracklocross & Spooky Alleycat 31.10
MAAP LaB SummerCrits Amsterdam Photography by @Ludography
_ludography
Beautiful analog shots of an awesome evening of racing! Follow @Ludography on insta
MAAP LaB SummerCrit Images by Jakub Roczek
"All pictures were taken on my Canon AE-1 with 100 ISO black and white Kentmere film and developed at home with Cafenol. Some of the shots are also made using a flash which gives a pretty cool effect even tho it was sunny. I decided to leave all the pictures I took in the album, even the not-so-great ones, just so everyone has something from the race if I took a pic of them. There are no pictures from the fixed gear category since I participated myself. Hope y'all enjoy, and if you want to use any pics, feel free to download and just tag me on Instagram" Awesome snaps, Jakub!
Radness
Further Æolus 27 - 31 Dec 2026 & Upcoming 2027 Dates
- LOSTWAYS - DEVEON + CORNWALL - England - 19th / 21st - MARCH
- MERRY ENGLAND - EAST of ENGLAND - 18th / 20th - JUNE
- PERSEVERANCE - PYRÉNÉES - 27th / 29th AUGUST
- UNCEDED - B.C - CANADA - 17th / 19th SEPTEMBER
- ELEMENTS - SCOTLAND - November 2027 - TBC
Thank you for reading!
Here's to cargo bikes & bikepacking bikes this week!