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"

Holly Landrace GRV wheels

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? Holly Winstone.

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 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

2160x850 Landscape

A big thank you to Holly's sponsors and supporters who have helped make this project come to life:

1st Formations - race sponsorship and support

Rapha

Trek Bikes

LANDRACE wheels

WTB Tyres

Quoc shoes

Apidura bike bags

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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Handbuilt in London at the Cyclefit workshop

"Good luck Holly. Send us a postcard"

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Technical Spec

FRAME Trek Checkmate 800 Series OCLV Carbon, IsoSpeed, T47 BB, UDH
FORK Trek Checkmate SLR full carbon, tapered carbon steerer
WHEELS LANDRACE GRV Carbon Disc Gravel wheelset, with DT 180 hubs.
Shifters Shimano Ultegra Di2
Derailleurs Shimano GRX Di2 12 speed
CRANKSET ROTOR 2INPOWER SL RD 165mm cranks
BOTTOM BRACKET Ceramicspeed T4730
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
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What our clients say

  • "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

  • "I have a lot of trust in you guys and I know how you work so I think we could do something good. Orthotics feeling good."

    Tom Pidcock

    World and Olympic champion, Ineos Grenadiers.

  • "Cyclefit provide a great personalised service that focuses on giving you exactly what you need. They are extremely knowledgable and friendly and no request/requirement is too difficult for them."

    PM

    Cyclist & triathlete

  • "The personal service from both Phil and Julian is second to none. They have such a wealth of experience in fitting that they can almost tell at a glance if something is just a little off. It felt as though it didn't matter how long it took to get the best position possible - even for an amateur cyclist like myself. Can't recommend them enough."

    Susan

    Cyclist

  • "Honestly these are great (custom orthotics). My feet feel totally balanced and stable and I‘m not searching for the pedal when I want to push it. They’ve made a massive difference.”"

    Tom Pidcock

    Olympic MTB Gold Medallist