Badlands is a race with a capital G, a race that Mattia De Marchi won in 2021 riding a 3T equipped with Miss Grape bags.
For those who don't know, the route starts from Granada and crosses the only European desert. The Badlands formula is that of ultra-cycling autonomously, i.e. without support. The theater is Andalusia, in Spain, with a setting made up of mountain ranges and deserts, which at times recalls the Rocky Mountains. A 760 km route with over 16,000 meters of altitude difference that crosses the desert areas of Gorafe, Tabernas and Cabo de Gata, and climbs the highest pass in Europe (Pico de Veleta, 3,350 m). The first, in 2020, was won by a certain Lachlan Morton in 43 hours and pennies. All the others, from the second onwards, took at least 60 hours. In this 2021 Mattia finished it in 45 hours and 53 minutes.
With him a series of Miss Grape which are also his favorites in general.
“I used the Node 2H , which is housed on the horizontal tube of the frame. It has two holes in the underlying part and is mounted (screwed) only on frames that have two-bolt mounting holes on the top tube. Small and compact, it is the bag that NEVER leaves my bicycle.
On the handlebars not one, but 2 bags, 2 small Buds. The Bud is applied between the handlebar bar and the stem using two Velcro straps and fixed on the fork head with a tape, so that the bag is stable. It has a light padding that not only protects the contents from small impacts, but also acts as thermal insulation. Suitable for transporting those small objects that must always be at hand, such as the camera or telephone but also for small snacks, easily reachable even while cycling. It can be used single or in pairs, positioning them to the right and left of the stem. On the external part there are two comfortable nets that form two pockets for objects. Nothing more and nothing less than what you really need.
The Internode FF Custom is the frame bag par excellence. Large thanks to the two possible volumes, it is also extremely resistant and designed not only for long journeys, but also for day trips and for those who use the bicycle daily as a means of urban transport. Placing the luggage in the center of the bike improves the center of gravity and that's exactly what I love about it.
Cluster 7 Road Waterproof saddle bag : it is a "must-have" for anyone undertaking a cycling journey. An essential item for any bikepacking experience. It is the smallest model but with its 7 liters it allows you to have enough space for everything you need for 1200 km alone, but without taking up too much space and weighing down the racing vehicle”.
