The Grifn RS as a weapon for the Pan Celtic Ultra bikepacking race: 'An all-road bike adventure along the epic west coast of Scotland'
Picture bagpipe music, deer on the side of the road and rugged landscapes and you will get a first impression of the Pan Celtic Ultra. This ‘self-supported’ bikepacking race through the heart of the Celtic nations is an impressive adventure. Sales Rep Brendan Barnes took part on the UK's first ever Grifn RS. ‘The bike was absolutely faultless over any terrain or challenge I threw at it,’ he enthuses.
The Pan Celtic Race saw the light of day in 2019 at a fleet of cars in Inverness. The concept was quite simple: today there are six Celtic nations and over five years the event would visit them all. Within a few years, the adventure quickly gained prominence. ‘We Who Travel Have Stories To Tell’ is the principle behind this crazy adventure. Because of the corona pandemic, the 2020 edition did not take place and the first cycle reached its end in 2024.
The Pan Celtic Race saw the light of day in 2019 at a fleet of cars in Inverness. The concept was quite simple: today there are six Celtic nations and over five years the event would visit them all. Within a few years, the adventure quickly gained prominence. ‘We Who Travel Have Stories To Tell’ is the principle behind this crazy adventure. Because of the corona pandemic, the 2020 edition did not take place and the first cycle reached its end in 2024.
Clip-on aero bar extensions
Participants chose between the ‘Short Route’ (1,637 kilometers and 19,546 meters of elevation gain) and the ‘Full Route’ (2,393 kilometers and 26,931 meters of elevation gain). Apart from the route, they had complete freedom in how they told their story. 'David Scott, the winner, completed the long route in 5 days, while I finished the short route 3 days later, covering almost 800 kilometers less. This highlights how impressive those at the front are. Some push on for multiple days with little to no sleep, while others give maximum effort all day, relying on a hotel bed to recover overnight.'
About 95% of the route was on paved roads. ‘That's why I chose the Grifn RS,’ explains our rep. ‘I installed 32-millimetre tyres and chose to ride tubeless. I wouldn't regret that as I didn't have a single puncture. The Grifn RS is not immediately known as a bike for bikepacking, but it can be done. I installed a bike rack from Tailfin, as these also fit carbon frames. This allowed me to easily carry all my luggage. The clip on aero bar extensions were an addition in terms of comfort. If you ride for hours in the same position on the handlebars, your hands sometimes dare to tingle.’
About 95% of the route was on paved roads. ‘That's why I chose the Grifn RS,’ explains our rep. ‘I installed 32-millimetre tyres and chose to ride tubeless. I wouldn't regret that as I didn't have a single puncture. The Grifn RS is not immediately known as a bike for bikepacking, but it can be done. I installed a bike rack from Tailfin, as these also fit carbon frames. This allowed me to easily carry all my luggage. The clip on aero bar extensions were an addition in terms of comfort. If you ride for hours in the same position on the handlebars, your hands sometimes dare to tingle.’
From Isle of Man to Bealach-Na-Ba
The start took place on Saturday 6 July in the evening. ‘We headed to the Isle of Man, the island on which Mark Cavendish was born. The adventure begins with ‘the Race of Truth’, after which the participants (the Clan) cross the Irish Sea together and head towards the rugged Scottish west coast.
Anyone who knows Scotland is aware that rain is always on the horizon. 'It was as if it was meant to be: when I crossed into Scotland, it started raining. That day, the weather was so bad that I actually preferred a hotel over my tent. The roads in Scotland were also challenging at times—particularly steep and of very poor quality. Fortunately, I had MTB pedals installed, which allowed me to navigate the more difficult stretches on foot. It was a fine balance between pushing hard to catch the multiple ferry crossings and riding within my limits to manage the ever-growing aches and pains. Rest and Ibuprofen gel were my friends in preventing me from having to scratch from the race.'
The final days included a loop of the stunning Isle of Skye and an ascent of the Ratagan pass before a highlight – pushing through the night to climb the Bealach-Na-Ba on the Applecross peninsula, from sea level to 626m it is the highest road pass in the UK. A final push to the finish in Inverness was met with a small scale affair, some hugs and congratulations. My next event will be the Borderland 500 Race in Wales. This has a spin where riders set off staggered according to their ability in an aim to finish together for a party on September 21th. Pan Celtic Ultra is an event I can recommend to anyone. And if you do go, definitely do it on a Grifn RS!’
Anyone who knows Scotland is aware that rain is always on the horizon. 'It was as if it was meant to be: when I crossed into Scotland, it started raining. That day, the weather was so bad that I actually preferred a hotel over my tent. The roads in Scotland were also challenging at times—particularly steep and of very poor quality. Fortunately, I had MTB pedals installed, which allowed me to navigate the more difficult stretches on foot. It was a fine balance between pushing hard to catch the multiple ferry crossings and riding within my limits to manage the ever-growing aches and pains. Rest and Ibuprofen gel were my friends in preventing me from having to scratch from the race.'
The final days included a loop of the stunning Isle of Skye and an ascent of the Ratagan pass before a highlight – pushing through the night to climb the Bealach-Na-Ba on the Applecross peninsula, from sea level to 626m it is the highest road pass in the UK. A final push to the finish in Inverness was met with a small scale affair, some hugs and congratulations. My next event will be the Borderland 500 Race in Wales. This has a spin where riders set off staggered according to their ability in an aim to finish together for a party on September 21th. Pan Celtic Ultra is an event I can recommend to anyone. And if you do go, definitely do it on a Grifn RS!’
Grifn RS
Lighter and faster!The Grifn RS is the elite series carbon version of the Grifn, intended for riders with a competitive mindset. The bike is lighter and faster, responding even better to the rider's impulses. This way, your true potential fully emerges.
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