Something about my Equipment

This is about my bike equipment. Most ppl going those ultradistances have a very custom bike. Most bikes are based on racing bikes, but with cahnges. One of the most important changes to generic race bikes is thhat these bikes are equiped for the night: They have light. De facto standard is "Schmidt Oririnal Nabendynamo" (SON). A fine hub dynamo, but it has its price - about 150 EUR. That is over my budget. I try to do the brevets with my budget bike.

It is a speed bike by Bergamont: Bergamont Beluga Speed.
I changed some things to use it daily. I added:
- light weight alu cariers
- fenders by SKG
- a stand
- Cateye Opticube EL300G (front light)
- Sigma Sport Cuberider II (back light)
- Sigma Sport BC 500 cycle computer
- a Trelock BS400 lock (but this is not taken with me while on brevet ;-))

While I prefer for daily usage a genric metal basket for luggage transport I use two rather small bike carrier bags by Agua when abroad. I used one of them for the brevets to take my stuff with me.

Just before the first 200km brevet exchanged the original saddle (Tattoo TT Kevlar) to one by Specialized (Avatar) and replaced the brake shoes (now Shimano Deore BR-M530). The rest of the bike remained unchanged. My clothing was rather normal - I even wore jeans.

For the 300 km ride I improved my clothes. Wore generic biker short trousers with additional leg warmers. Also I bought some long finger bike gloves by Roeckl. While the jeans were okay for the 200km this was definitely better.

After the 300km brevet I changed some compounds on my bike. The tyres were exchanged. The original Schwalbe Speed Cruiser tyres were removed and some Schwalbe Marathon Racer (700x30C) were put on. They are fast, lightweight and robust. Also the pedals were changed to click pedals by Exustar (E-PM82-S). One side of the pedal holds a Shimano SPD compatibe click in system, the other side of a bear pow profile for generic shoes. Of course I also bought some Shimano shoes (M70T3) for the pedals.
Regarding my equipment the 400km distance went fine, I only had some trouble with my right hand, which felt a bit numb after the ride. Now I am thinking of changing the grips. My interest is on a pair of Ergon GX1 grips. But - holy cow - those grips are 36 EUR. Anyway, will test them.
I would like to add a triathlon handlebar extension, but I guess the PBP rules do not allow them (for security reasons). But for the 600km distance such should be allowed. I am thinking about it...
The bike computer is rather low end (to say the least), but I don't know if it's worth to upgrade. I still think speed, distance, ride time and clock is enough informatation.
All in all I guess there is not too much to exchange, maybe a better gear change or a carbon fork (I like those designed by Specialized with the anti vibration mechanism), but I guess it is okay as it is now.
Also I think time is up to exchange the chain and cassette (but this is no upgrade, but just a wearout replacement).
All in all that bike costed me yet a bit below 1000 EUR and I think this now tweaked bike is quite good for the brevets and still very good for my everyday cycling (to work and such things, no car here). While no doubt most of the other bikes around at the brevets have the better material I think I got most for my tight budget. I think if I had more money I would buy a dedicated bike for the brevets. But with my little salary as doctoral student I have to mind about budgets and decided to have only one bike for everything (daily use and brevets). It does the job and I like it.

Should upload some photos...