The Sigma Sports Cafe Ride - Lachlan Morton
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A long distance record breaker and the pioneer of many modern cycling challenges, Lachlan Morton joins Matt Stephens for this inspirational episode of the Sigma Sports Café Ride.
The prospecting hills of northern California set the perfect backdrop for a mixed surface bike ride with the destination set to an idyllic riverside camping spot. The gold rush might be over, but the warm glow of an open fire sets the tone for a twenty-four carat chat between two of the most likeable characters in the cycling world.
After a night under the stars, Lachlan provides a leadout for Matt to take the K.O.M. from his EF Education EasyPost teammate Neilson Powless on the most famous climb in the region - Iowa Hill. But can Matt return to his pro rider form, and perhaps more pertinently, can he survive in a region known for its bear attacks!
The Route
Californian dreaming? You will be with the latest Sigma Sports Cafe Ride route. Jetting off half way around the world for a truly out of this world adventure with a rider who knows a thing or two about exploring the road less traveled. Just north of the historic town of Auburn, the route starts from Weimar and soon leaves the highways and begins to climb into the lush forests that populate the area. Serious climbing is instore, on some challenging yet beautiful gravel tracks. Iconic landmarks are plentiful, with Yankee Jims Bridge and Devils Falls being two particular stunning locations along the route. With close to 1500 metres of elevation in just over 50km this is a serious spin yet you will be greeted by the Mineral Bar Campground, where you can enjoy the peaceful river views as you get set for the steep ascent back into Colfax and final 10kms to Weimar.
Ensuring both Matt and Lachlan stayed on track both when it comes to their effort and the route, the pair used Wahoo ELEMNT ACE GPS Bike Computers.
The Bike
The latest high performance gravel bike from Cannondale, the Super X was the machine of choice for tackling this enthralling route. Perfect for the steep on and off road ascents, the Shimano GRX groupset offered Matt a 48/31T set up on the front and 11-34T on the rear. The Super X Carbon 2 spec benefits from, as the name suggests, a super strong and lightweight carbon frameset. This has been paired with Reserve 40|44 GR carbon wheels and Vittoria Terreno T50, 700x40c, tubeless ready tyres. Up front and the Vision TriMax Aero Alloy handlebar was the ideal cockpit addition, while the Prologo Dimension AGX T4.0 was a comfortable and supportive choice.
The Kit
Functionality, performance and style were the name of the game when it comes to Matt's kit choices on this episode of the Sigma Sports Cafe Ride and this was achieved with the help of Rapha and POC. Decking Mr Stephens out in their Pro Team range, the layering options for Matt made regulating his body temperature based on the ever changing terrain a simple task. POC kept Matt's vision crystal clear with Elicit Toric Sunglasses and their Cytal Carbon Road Helmet ensured safety and ventilation were never compromised. Thought Matt's kit ensemble was cool? Why not also check out Lachlan's EF Education–EasyPost attire?
Want to explore the series? Find out about the other Sigma Sports Cafe Ride guests and watch all the episodes.