{"id":654553,"date":"2026-10-14T14:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/654553\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T14:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:32:10","slug":"meaghan-hackinens-taurus-mountain-race-bike-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/654553\/","title":{"rendered":"Meaghan Hackinen’s Taurus Mountain Race Bike Check"},"content":{"rendered":"

The debut edition of the Taurus Mountain Race is officially underway, taking more than 250 intrepid riders on a 1,440-kilometer journey across T\u00fcrkiye. Meaghan Hackinen is out there racing, and her latest video shares a detailed look at her bike and gear. Watch it here\u2026<\/p>\n

Words by Meaghan Hackinen<\/a>, photos and video by Cameron Russell<\/a><\/p>\n

The inaugural Taurus Mountain Race route clocks in at 1,440 kilometers with a whopping 34,849 meters of climbing on a 70\/30 gravel\/paved split. From Antalya, the route winds east through the increasingly wild and remote Bolkar and Alada\u011flar Mountains before looping back to finish on the Mediterranean coast in Erdemli. Here\u2019s what I\u2019m packing: <\/p>\n

THE BIKE: I\u2019m racing on a Salsa Cutthroat C Rival GX AXS Transmission SUS with a 32T chainring and 10\u201352T cassette. I\u2019m using flat bars with SQlab inner barends and grips for comfort. Wheels: Light Bicycle WG44 carbon rims, laced with a SON dynamo hub up front and a Hope Pro 5 rear hub. The dynamo is paired with my trusty kLite to light up the nights and keep my electronics charged (shoutout to Jefe Velo for setting me up!). I opted for 29 x 2.2 Ren\u00e9 Herse Fleecer Ridge tubeless tires, offering the traction and control needed for steep, loose mountain slopes while still rolling quickly on the fast gravel and paved stretches between them.<\/p>\n

PACKS: My Apidura Backcountry bag system is centered around a prototype bolt-on frame pack (for my hydration bladder and smaller layers) and a long top tube pack (for electronics and hygiene). I\u2019m using a seatpost pack for my sleep kit and warmer layers, and a stem pack for resupply\u2014starting with Precision Fuel & Hydration PF 90 gels + PF 60 chew bars. I\u2019m also carrying Apidura\u2019s tiny packable musette bag, which expands to 7 L for longer stretches between resupply points.<\/p>\n

APPAREL: My daily 7mesh kit includes an Atlas Jersey, WK2 Shorts, and Ashlu Merino socks. I\u2019ll layer up with Hollyburn Tights, a weather-resistant S2S Vest, and Colorado Arm Warmers. For rain gear, I\u2019m bringing the Guardian Air Jacket and Apex Pants.<\/p>\n

SLEEP SYSTEM: Rab Bivi (strapped to the handlebars) paired with an ultralight Rab Mythic 180 down sleeping bag (rated to 0\u00b0C\/32\u00b0F), plus a homemade DIY sleeping pad.<\/p>\n

NAVIGATION & MISC: COROS DURA bike computer. Lube from Godfather\u2019s Garage.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in taking a deeper dive into what I\u2019m bringing and how I\u2019m carrying it, I\u2019ve broken out everything in my kit list in more detail below. The video above also walks through everything if you\u2019d rather watch a more extended walk-through.<\/p>\n

\"Meaghan<\/a>
\n\"Meaghan<\/a><\/p>\n

THE BIKE<\/p>\n

Frame: 2026 Salsa Cutthroat C
\nFork: RockShox SID Select 3P 100 mm travel
\nCrankset: SRAM Force 32T
\nDerailleur: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
\nShifter: SRAM Force AXS
\nCassette: SRAM XS-1275, 10\u201352t, 12-speed
\nFront Wheel: Custom Light Bicycle WG44 with a SON Dynamo hub
\nRear Wheel: Custom Light Bicycle WG44 with a Hope Pro 5 Hub
\nFront Tire: Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 29 x 2.2\u201d
\nRear Tire: Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 29 x 2.2\u201d
\nHandlebar: Teravail Radia 24 Carbon
\nSaddle: Specialized Oura<\/p>\n

HANDLEBAR<\/p>\n

Rab Bivi strapped to handlebars
\n7mesh Guardian Air jacket strapped to handlebars<\/p>\n

COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Apidura Expedition Stem Pack (1.3L)
\n29 x 2.2\u201d Rene Herse TPU tube x2
\n29 x 2.2\u201d rubber tube
\nGodfather\u2019s Garage lube
\nGarmin inReach
\nSnack storage
\nApidura Backcountry Long Top Tube Pack (1.8L)
\nKLite Micro-D electronics
\nElectronics bag: cables, wall plug, backup computer, AXS batteries x2 and charger, CR2032 batteries x2
\n6000 mAh battery pack x2
\nPetzl Headlamp
\nQuad Lock mount
\nMultitool
\nTire plugs
\nHygiene kit<\/p>\n

FRAME<\/p>\n

Apidura Prototype Backcountry 5.8L Full Frame Bag
\nApidura 3L Hydration Bag
\n7mesh Desperado Arm Warmers
\n7mesh neck buff
\nWaterproof socks
\nDissent 133 thermal gloves
\nDissent 133 waterproof gloves
\nDishwashing gloves (backup)
\nKatadyn BeFree .6L water filter
\nSoft flask .5L
\nSpare spokes
\nZipties x10
\nPassport
\nLittle Hotties hand warmers x2
\nRepair kit<\/p>\n

REAR<\/p>\n

Apidura Backcountry Saddle Pack (6L)
\nApidura Packable Musette
\n7mesh Guardian Apex Pants
\n7mesh Hollyburn leggings
\n7mesh Desperado Merino Hoodie
\nMontbell 1000 fill down jacket
\nWool socks
\nPyjama shorts
\nEmergency blanket
\nFirst Aid Kit
\nRepair Lit<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.<\/p>\n