Testing at The Traka.
Gravel is changing. Kit must too. Our new hydration vest produced in collaboration with performance support specialists Compressport is responding to the new level of competition.
The Traka 360 is a long day out on the bike. No two ways about it. But these pinnacle gravel events are being raced in a very different way even to just a couple of years ago. Competition is fiercer and marginal gains are being searched for everywhere. Speeds are rising. Bikes are getting more aero and often incorporate suspension. Tyres are getting fatter and nutrition is being dialled in. In such an environment, punctures, mechanicals, missed feeds or dropped bottles can spell the end of any hopes for a top placing.
It’s no surprise, then, that a few years ago some elite riders in these super-long one-day races began using hydration vests borrowed from trail running. They meant more liquid could be carried safely between the infrequent feed stations – no bottles rattling out of extra cages – and allowed riders to carry a mix of different drinks. Nutrition, hydration, tools and spare layers were all close at hand.
The Café du Cycliste x Compressport Ultride Evo 8 is the first hydration vest designed specifically for the demands of elite gravel cyclists. It carries up to 2.5L of liquids distributed between two 500ml soft flasks and a hydration bladder. Plus 8L of storage sitting securely against the body, even over rough terrain, without compromising comfort or freedom of movement. Stretch pockets keep essentials within reach, and the easily adjusted, close-fitting design stays stable for attacking rocky descents or grinding out climbs.
For Mattia De Marchi and The Grip, as they approached this year’s Traka, the UltRide Evo 8 was a way to prepare better. Speed is what you bring to these races and it’s what you carry with you. All the necessaries exactly where they should be, so the focus stays on the performance.
