Ultra Cycling Hardtail setup for the Dolomites

I'm headed to Italy to race Memory Bike Adventure, and ultra cycling in the Dolomites. It's 450 miles with 66,000ft of elevation gain starting in Bassano Del Grappa.
Memory Bike could be raced on a gravel or a hardtail… I wanted to shred a little more this time around so I went for the hardtail. I’ll be racing an Open One + with very similar geometry to my 3T Ultra.
The bike decision was hard for me this go around. I’ve been racing on a drop bar bike since 2013, on and off-road. Choosing a flat bar bike for this Ultra has been a source of uncertainty for me this Spring and Summer. After endless chats with friends and colleagues, I landed on racing with a flat bar hardtail for Memory Bike.
I customized the bike with some extras here and there to help alleviate some pressure on my hands. I originally started with aerobars as an extra hand position option but chose to remove them due to the elevation gain. I’m hoping the extra tire width and suspension fork will also help with the potential for hand fatigue.
Bike: Open One +
Wheels: Mason X Hunt Search 29 MTB Dynamo Disc
Fork: Rockshox SID Ultimate with remote lockout
Dynamo: Son 28 Boost
Tires: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25
Groupset: SRAM Eagle AXS with a 32T front chain ring and 10-50 cassette
Pulleys: Kogal Kolossos ceramic oversized derailleur cage
Bags: Apidura 1L backcountry top tube pack, Apidura 4L backcountry full frame pack, Apidura 10L Backcountry Saddle Pack
Saddle: Fizik Argo saddle
Bar: Ritchey Alloy
Handlebar add on: SQLabs Innerbarends 411 2.0
Lights: Sinewave Beacon Dynamo front light, Fenix headlight hm65r
Water: 3L hydration bladder from Apidura, 1 bottles on in my feedbag
Frame pump: Lezyne road drive
Fun tool: Muc Off bar end with tire plug

[@morganjones133]

Non bike multi tools are great, and have often got me out of a jam, but if you want a smaller/lighter one than you have there in your TT bag, then have a look at a Gerber Dime. Super small, super light, still really useful.

[@wattwagon]

oh I never thought about using a non bike multi tool. Super smart for some of those long distance events where you need a really good one.

[@LlamaCharlie]

Awesome channel! A lot of quality info and super well-shot! You'll be crushing RUclips soon!

[@wattwagon]

Wow thank you!! I appreciate the kind words. Working to make the YT channel happen!!

[@demoner1]

SQ labs are great! Great rundown on your setup! Excited to see how the race goes for you.

[@wattwagon]

thank you!! I liked the SQlabs, but I think I might try a different kind next time that's more rounded, this one was "lightweight" and had a cut out shape on the back that I didn't love.

[@Techwonderland]

Best of luck!! That’s an insane amount of climb.

[@wattwagon]

thank you!! It was A LOT of climbing, but having the 32T chainring was life (and knee) saving!

[@melwebb5332]

Now that you're finished, I'm curious if you were happy with the 32T chainring choice or if you would have opted to go even smaller (or bigger?!)

[@wattwagon]

Honestly at times I was wishing for a 30T!! Climbing up Monte Grappa I was wishing for more gears, it was 15-25% on the gravel and I chose to walk a portion of it to save myself. My gears were off a hair and I couldn't really use the 10 anyway, so it wasn't like I was missing the "fast" gears. Definitely would suggest a 30 or 28 for you if you raced it!!

[@melwebb5332]

@@wattwagon I love having all the gears so I almost always have a 30T on my hardtail 🤣 so if you were wishing for a 30T i would DEF want a 28 ahhaha

[@wattwagon]

@@melwebb5332 I would definitely use a 28 if I were you then!!!!!!! i also love having all the gears, worth it to me!

[@SonnyRVlog]

Very nice setup..good luck with the race… for that water hose, will get dirty by the dirt from the front wheel?

[@wattwagon]

Thank you!! Once or twice it got a little muddy, but that was because of rain I think. the hose was high enough off of the wheel it wasn't really getting mud splatter.