Looks like a gravel race bike to me so makes sense it has one by. Looks a nice bike to me and it’s better to buy of a mate as you know the history than of eBay or some second hand site

@Mundo Vega nothing wrong with that sram force either it’s what’s on my gravel bike too. That’s good of him to let you try it. Tbh at that price it’s a steal. That will be fast on road and off road. Gravel bikes are also slightly more comfortable too to ride.

I use Assos or Morgan blue which I find just as good but a load cheaper

I have the same problem. I’m an xl 185cm and 83 kg but no fat I have long arms big shoulders and arms long torso. Castelli doesn’t work but sportful jerseys fit. Try decathlon ones or Rapha ones

@Widdley Braggins mate if the course is 5 days and travel on e.g. Sunday. Then do what I’m currently doing. So I get my fitness on the weekends now. Yep I have lifting and shifting during the week but it’s not as much as required. So the weekend that you go train bloody hard on the sat throw every workout into one ride sprits, vo2 and tempo. Throw in a head wind and even better. Add a walk on both days too then do a recovery ride on the Sunday. Whilst your away get your steps in as it’s enough to keep going. I did some research and it takes 14 days for to loose vo2 max and power. So just for the week focus on the course as work and money has to come before cycling, sad but true.

@Widdley Braggins exactly mate just test and adjust it’s all we can do. Unless someone’s going to offer me monies to ride lol

Haha that’s like me and my mate when we start at half hours difference like 4 and 430 and we call each other part timer