Culture

Lachlan Morton’s Colorado Trail bike check

Take a peek at Lachlan’s Cannondale Scalpel set up

September 6, 2022

Like a song stuck in his head, Lachlan Morton has had the Colorado Trail racing through his mind since he last rode it in 2019.

When he sets out on September 6th to ride the 530 mile route from Denver to Durango, he can be sure his bike set up is designed for both speed and comfort. The Cannondale Scalpel is a fast and light dual-suspension mountain bike designed for traction, capability, and speed. His selected SRAM groupset of 32x10/52 will allow him to spin without pushing too hard and will make the 75,000 feet of climbing a little less brutal. As the Colorado Trail is technical and features steep sections, Lachlan has opted for an AXS dropper post. To ensure the best traction, he’ll run Vittoria Syerra 2.4 tires set up tubeless and mounted to Vision carbon wheelset.

To keep him on the right path, Lachlan will be using a Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM computer that he will power using a battery pack.

As for his nutrition, Lachlan is bringing with him some basic camping essentials along with some Neversecond gels and drink mix. Per usual, it wouldn’t be a Lachlan Morton adventure without instant coffee making the list.

And when it comes to sleeping, Lachlan is applying some lessons he learnt last time he took on the trail. He is bringing a bivy to shield him from the elements and a cold temperature sleeping bag to give him the option of sleeping at high altitude when the temperature drops at night.

Follow Lachlan’s dot as he takes on the Colorado Trail.

Lachlan’s bike set up

Cannondale Scalpel

120 mm Lefty fork (95 psi), 100 mm Fox rear (140 psi)

Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM computer

Prologo Dimension saddle

Vittoria syerra 2.4 tires

SRAM groupset 32x10/52

AXS seat dropper post

2x Spare innertubes

Patch kit and spare CO2 canisters

Mini hand pump & multitool

Tailfin bags

Lachlan’s camping set up

Bivy

Cold temperature sleeping bag

Basic first aid kit and bear spray

Lachlan’s gear

POC Ventral light Helmet

WHOOP 4.0

Rapha Pro Team Aero Jersey

Rapha Cargo Bibs

Rapha pro team base layer

Rapha pro team Gloves

Rapha leg warmers

Rapha Puffy jacket

3x Rapha socks

Extra battery pack

Lachlan’s nutrition

Neversecond C30+ gels

Neversecond C30 drink mix

Water Filter System

Instant coffee

Mix of solid food

MSR pocket rocket stove

Featured Event

The Colorado Trail

Sep. 06, 2022 – Sep. 10, 2022

Vert. meters: 75,000 feet
Distance: 530 miles

View race

More from The Colorado Trail

In honor of a lost friend, Lachlan Morton takes on the Colorado Trail

Lachlan Morton

Lachlan Morton’s cycling career has been anything but traditional. Though he got his start in road cycling, the thirty-one-year-old is best known for the alternative calendar and his long-distance rides. In recent years, he has taken his love of cycling and used it to benefit others.

In early 2022, he rode in a single push from Munich to Korczowa-Krakovets on the Polish-Ukrainian border, covering 1,064 kilometers in 42 hours and raising over $250,000 for Ukrainian refugees. The previous year, Lachlan rode the Alt Tour which saw him ride every stage of the Tour de France, plus transfers, unsupported. He tallied 5,500 kilometers, beat the Tour de France peloton to Paris by five days and, most significantly, raised over $700,000 for World Bicycle Relief.

Over the years, the Australian has joined forces with his brother Gus in the “Thereabouts” documentary series. Their films are dedicated to exploring new perspectives on the world — and their place in it — from their bikes.

Lachlan has ridden bikes for as long as he can remember. As a high school student, he regularly rose at 4:30 a.m. to train before going to class. While most teenagers would be put off by such an early start, Lachlan cherished the time on his own. He still does.

In 2022, he completed the 530-mile high-altitude Colorado Trail mountain-bike route solo in just three days, ten hours, and 15 minutes, and raised $12,000 for his late friend Sule Kangangi’s family. He set the fastest known time on Menorca’s Camí de Cavalls 360º solo.

Last year, Lachlan rode the Divide, a trail stretching from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the U.S.-Mexico border in 12 days, 12 hours, and 21 minutes. He approached this endurance effort differently than other ultra rides he's done. This time, Lachlan made himself stop for 12 hours out of every 48 hours, giving him about six hours of sleep a night, rather than push through and resting only from the occasional power nap. The Divide, EF Pro Cycling's first full-length film, documents the highs and lows (and the gas station snacks) that Lachlan experienced along the way.

This year, Lachlan will have more freedom than ever before. Who knows what adventures he is going to get up to…

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