Matt's 5 best bits from 2021
Matt Page reflects his favourite bits from 2021
This has been another adventurous year for me, and I have maintained consistent riding. While events and racing are still gradually returning, highlights include success and Fastest Known Times on routes including the Trans Cambrian Way and King Alfreds Way; both record times still stand at the time of writing this.
- The state of XC in the UK: Where next for Britain?
- Cairn BRAVe 1.0 full bike review
- The best e-gravel bikes you can buy
Other highlights include a 3-day trip around the North Coast 500 with the second day, particularly along the western coastline, leaving a lasting memory.
As an event organiser for Battle on the Beach and Gritfest, it has been a huge relief to see both taking place after being postponed in 2020 due to COVID.
The distances and places that I have been fortunate to ride have allowed me to test some fantastic kit. Here are a few highlights that stand out from the year.
Schwalbe G-One R tyres
2021 schwalbe g-one R 5ct .jpg, by Liam Mercer
I will admit to being something of a tyre geek, and I have tested countless tyres, both on and off-road, over the years, and nothing has impressed me with the mix of speed and grip as much as the new G-One R tyre from Schwalbe. They suit our British style of gravel perfectly, being almost as fast as a slick, but with excellent grip on typical forest tracks.
Alpkit Pipedream 600 sleeping bag
AlpkitPipedream-6.JPG, by Matt Page
Winter is well and truly back, and the Pipedream 600 has been a big factor in my ability to enjoy winter nights out beneath the stars. During my most recent night out just a few weeks ago, the temperature was -3-degrees when I awoke, and yet I was comfortable and warm all night. The Pipedream 200 was also great for less chilly nights, and Alpkit also makes a 400 for cold but not frozen nights.
Redshift ShockStop PRO stem
2021_Redshift_ShockStop_Pro_Main.jpg, by Matt Page
While riding, comfort was not something I expected would matter so much. However, the performance of the ShockStop PRO stem continues to impress; it has not left my bike since testing several months ago. The PRO version is expensive, with only a minimal reduction in weight over the standard version, but the muting of vibrations and smaller bumps is impressive.
Scribe Carbon Gravel Wide++ disc wheelset
2021_Scribe_Carbon_Wide++_Gravel-4.JPG, by Matt Page
Scoring a perfect 10/10, there is nothing not to like about this excellent wheelset. They are incredibly light (1,360g pair with tubeless valves), have a wider 25mm internal rim, plenty stiff enough and a ratchet system that is fast and efficient. When compared to other similar spec wheels, even the price makes them good value.
Wildcat Ocelot Frame Bag
2021 Wildcat Ocelot Frame Bag Front.jpg, by Matt Page
Of all the bikepacking bags I have used, this one stands out a little more than most. The attachment system is not the fastest to install on the bike, but the effect is that opening and closing is much easier and simple, being a genuine one-handed job and not needing to support the bag in any way to help move the zip. It is also light, with a great choice of materials to ensure weatherproofing.
I have some event plans for 2022, all with an endurance focus both on and off-road. These events include the London-Edinburgh-London audax, which was postponed from the original planned 2021 date to August 2022. This is a 1,500km event where you hit different checkpoints along the way, and while it's not a race, the non-stop nature with both minimum and maximum time limits makes it a huge feat of endurance and I will be aiming for a sub-100 hour time.
If any of my Fastest Known Time records are broken, I'll look to return and improve upon them. If I can make it happen, I'd like to make a non-stop attempt at the NC500; that would be the dream route.
With event organising back on, it is great to have entries starting to be released for some of our key events and working towards a few new, yet to be announced events.
