Another returning face to HUNT Beyond in 23 is the ever positive Gail Brown. The queen of trail snacks took the women’s win at the Highland Trail 550 in ’22 with a calm and calculated (and well fuelled!) ride and we look forward to seeing what Gail can achieve in 2023 at the Atlas Mountain Race and the Tour Divide.
Hunt Beyond:
Gail Brown
Name: Gail Brown
Hometown: Bristol, UK
Years riding: 30 - maybe several more if you count being cycled around as a baby.
Longest bike ride: 4200km, when I did TCR07 which ran from Burgas to Brest.
First Bike trip/ adventure: A summer break bike tour from Zagreb to Athens with three friends. It was everything a tour should be: sandal tan lines, full to burst panniers, broken hangers, wild swimming every day, Balkan bakeries
Favourite ride snack: Near impossible to choose! Variety is my favourite. But that said, you can't beat a fresh Portuguese pastel de nata.
Wheels of choice: Hunt Search 29'' Dynamo Disc wheels
Cycling Highlights: 3rd woman at Transcontinental 2019. 1st woman in GBDURO 2020 and Highland Trail 550 2022. Results aren't really the highlight though, more the experience of getting there. Little moments of absolute aliveness, like flying down off the top of the Galibier into warm sunset air with the sound of freewheeling hubs and singing crickets. There's a multitude of moments like that are the real highlights.
2023 Goals: Atlas Mountain Race in February - to explore how I race in a very unfamiliar culture and remote, dry environment. Tour Divide in June - aim is to combine all the learning from races so far. I'm pretty scared, which normally is a good sign.
Follow Gail's adventures
Name: Gail Brown
Hometown: Bristol, UK
Years riding: 30 - maybe several more if you count being cycled around as a baby.
Longest bike ride: 4200km, when I did TCR07 which ran from Burgas to Brest.
First Bike trip/ adventure: A summer break bike tour from Zagreb to Athens with three friends. It was everything a tour should be: sandal tan lines, full to burst panniers, broken hangers, wild swimming every day, Balkan bakeries
Favourite ride snack: Near impossible to choose! Variety is my favourite. But that said, you can't beat a fresh Portuguese pastel de nata.
Wheels of choice: Hunt Search 29'' Dynamo Disc wheels
Cycling Highlights: 3rd woman at Transcontinental 2019. 1st woman in GBDURO 2020 and Highland Trail 550 2022. Results aren't really the highlight though, more the experience of getting there. Little moments of absolute aliveness, like flying down off the top of the Galibier into warm sunset air with the sound of freewheeling hubs and singing crickets. There's a multitude of moments like that are the real highlights.
2023 Goals: Atlas Mountain Race in February - to explore how I race in a very unfamiliar culture and remote, dry environment. Tour Divide in June - aim is to combine all the learning from races so far. I'm pretty scared, which normally is a good sign.