Trek Checkmate SLR Gravel Racer

To The Power of One - Holly's Bike

"The power to thrive and function at the highest level. All on your own"

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Project Holly - To The Power of One


The International gravel racing scene reminds us a little of the professional mountain-biking in the late 1980's and 90's. Lots of talented individuals who are living and racing as one person teams and brands. 1 x is not so much a gearing preference but a living and racing imperative. The power to thrive and function at the highest level all on your own, is a necessary but not sufficient quality.

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Holly Who?

We have known Holly for a while as a graphic designer and brand ambassador for Quoc shoes, and we have been impressed with how her results in big gravel races have been steadily improving.

Project Holly is an experiment to see what happens if we devote the same level of support that we give the professional riders and teams that we work with (and London Academy), to a local riding hero - Holly.
Can we help Holly close that small gap that takes her to the top step of the podium in major international gravel races?

"Can we help Holly close that small gap that takes her to the top step of the podium in major international gravel races?"

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No stone left unturned. Julian taking charge of bike-fit duties.

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Our friends at Rapha were commendably rapid to back Holly with apparel

No Stone...

Cyclefit will be supporting Holly with a bike and equipment, bike-fitting and performance physiology (testing, coaching & nutrition) with Dr Jon Baker. We will leave no stone left unturned to help Holly jump up to that top step.

First job has to be to equip Holly with a front-line race-bike with the credentials to take on the world's finest racers. Should we go full-custom Seven, or maybe Ridley's brand-new Astr RS or the grit or glory bike of the moment - Trek's Checkmate SLR

Holly was pretty clear that she thought that she needed carbon to perform on the world stage - that knocked Seven out. And we needed a company that was especially keen to see a local London rider write themselves into the international gravel ledger. And for us that was Trek and their astonishing Checkmate SLR.

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IsoSpeed Decoupler - a nod to comfort..

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.. on an otherwise relentless focus on aero, light, speed, landscape

"First job has to be to equip Holly with a front-line race-bike with the credentials to take on the world's finest racers"

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Holly's bike, freshly minted from Barna's skillful hands.

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LANDRACE GRV Wheels step up to the task of international gravel racing duties

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Handmade in London for Holly by Barna

"Good luck Holly. Send us a postcard"

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Technical Spec

FRAME 800 Series OCLV Carbon, IsoSpeed, T47 BB, UDH
FORK Checkmate SLR full carbon, tapered carbon steerer
WHEELS LANDRACE LANDRACE GRV Carbon Disc Gravel wheelset, with DT 180 hubs.
GROUPSET Shimano GRX Di2
CRANKSET ROTOR 2INPOWER SL RD 165
BOTTOM BRACKET Ceramicspeed T4730 Intern
TYRES WTB Vulpine S - 40mm (WTB Riddler for spare wheels)
BAR/STEM/SEATMAST Trek Aero RSL Integrated OCLV / KVF - 5mm offset
SADDLE Reform Seymour Carbon - custom-moulded at Cyclefit

With Thanks

  • George from Saddleback - WTB race and training tyres
  • Rapha - fine clothing
  • Trek - race-fuselage
  • Quoc - race shoes
  • Apidura - race bags
  • 1st Formations - race sponsorship and support
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What our clients say

  • "Very very personalised service. You arrive, they expect you, greet you by first name, have checked your file from past visits and set out very clearly what the process will be, what issues they're looking to address and how and they are happy to take the time to walk you through everything in layman's terms. Almost any professional service entity could learn a lot from how Cyclefit works. "

    Peter G.

    Recreational rider

  • "Julian was very knowledgeable and explained the fitting process very well. He came highly recommended and i completely agree. Very happy with the service. Instantly felt better on the bike. The pain i had in my knee went away right away. "

    WD

    Recreational cyclist

  • "Hey Julian and Phil, I hope you are both well. I just completed a 21 hour week on my new 165mm cranks and I am in love. They feel so so great! Thank you for all your help. I’ve never felt so comfortable on my bike before. All the best, Hannah"

    Hannah Barnes

    National Champion / Professional Bike Rider

  • "I have been able to ride every day since the fit. So far I have had no pain which feels like a miracle!"

    Neilson Powless

    Professional Cyclist - Education First - Easypost

  • "A great service, full of personal touches as well as the "harder" scientific analysis of my position on the bike, which was also excellent. I feel more planted on the bike now, and came away with some really useful feedback from the session."

    Ed H

    London Dynamo Rider