Pan Celtic Ultra Race 2026: My Complete Bikepacking Setup

It was a bit of a slog, a long old race, and a real test of the mind. I was a little wary of how light I was running this time, but hopeful that—being a road race—there’d almost always be a 'get out of jail free' card if things really went south. All in all, I’m happy that the strategy and kit choices paid off. So, here we go: The 2026 route kicked off Chapter 2 ("Flight of the Druids") with a grand loop that started and finished in Conwy, Wales. • Starting in Conwy, the route headed across North Wales to Holyhead for a ferry crossing over the Irish Sea to Dublin. • Once in Ireland, riders took on rugged, iconic terrain: from the Mourne Mountains and Antrim Coast up north, through the wild beauty of Donegal and the Atlantic coast, heading south through Connemara and the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and finishing the Irish leg in the Wicklow Mountains. BIKE SETUP: • Frame: Pearson On and On Gravel Bike • Wheelset: Hoopdrive Rock and Roll • Tires: Pirelli P Zero TLR 28mm • Drivetrain & Gearing: Shimano GRX 2X (48-31) with a 11-34T Cassette • Lights: Exposure Diablo and Toro BAG SYSTEM: • Frame Bag: Apidura Aero Frame Pack • Top Tube Bag: Apidura Racing 2L Top Tube Bag • Seat Pack: Old Man Mountain Atlas 9L Rear Bag on an OMM Prototype UL Racing Rack SLEEP & CLOTHING SYSTEM: • Sleep System: SOL Emergency Bivvy • Weather Layers: Albion UL Jacket/Albion Rain Jacket ELECTRONICS: • Navigation: Coros Dura • Power: Anker 10,000mA Powerbank Please shoot me any questions you have about the setup or the race.