April Drage's Winning Bike Setup for the 2024 Race to the Rock

A day after finishing the 2024 Race to the Rock, April Drage takes us through her race winning Curve titanium GMX+ bike set up, as well as her highly specialised gear list for this uniquely Australian event.
Race to the Rock is an extremely remote unsupported bikepacking race through outback Australia. While the race usually finishes at Uluru, each year the course starts at a different location. The 2,750km 2024 edition started in Derby, WA and took riders along three iconic outback thoroughfares, the Gibb River, Duncan and Tanami roads. From the heat of the Kimberley to the icy nights further south in the Tanami Desert, riders had a wide range of conditions to be prepared for. The roads are typically unsealed and range from rough and rocky, to heavily corrugated with sections of bull dust and sand.
What makes Race to the Rock unique is the huge distances between services in the outback. This year's course had a section of 600 km between remote outposts with limited opening hours. To make sure they can keep moving, riders will resupply for even longer distances. Riders need to be extremely well prepared to cover the course safely. It's unavoidable when experiencing the vastness of Australia once you venture away from thin veneer of safety near the coastline and forge a path inland.

[@xjamis]

Thanx for showing us your race setup, very interesting. Outback Australian bike racing is fascinating to me.. the distances the heat the dry, the wildlife you have to be weary of, just the vastness of the the country, incredible thankyou

[@julianwearne4967]

You're a fucking legend April. Bad arse

[@aprilawol]

Best compliment ever. Thanks!! 💥

[@paulwild7352]

Congrats. You are a Champion. Talk about overcoming adversity, you nailed it. I rode with the group for 15kms just after the start in Derby 👏💪💪

[@aprilawol]

Thanks Paul. I had so much fun. Thanks for your kind words and for coming out to the start. 🎉

[@mushypeacycling]

Congrats April!! Followed your dot and wow you aced it. Peace of mind is worth carrying-nice!

[@julianwearne4967]

On the Vic Divide I bought a pair of sunnies at the top of Buller and the frame cracked above one lens and the lens popped out in under 2 hours as I descended. 😂😂😅

[@aprilawol]

😂😎🙅‍♀️

[@kimrose2310]

Great to see your race setup! Congratulations on an awesome ride! Truly inspirational 🩵

[@aprilawol]

From one inspirational woman to another, this means a lot. ❤😊

[@duanechase9419]

Great set up! What was that little lock you pulled out ? Thanks

[@aprilawol]

That’s an abus combiflex. Not very robust but hopefully enough to stop someone walking off with my bike.

[@ironnigel3887]

How long was that first shower? 😂 Great setup on the tractor. Congrats🎉

[@aprilawol]

The first shower was long and also insufficient. The towel was orange afterwards! It took a good 3 goes and a lot of scrubbing for my legs to return to almost normal skin tone. 😂