BQ Big Five: The professional bike from Markus Bauer

Stefan Loibl

· 13.03.2018

Photo: Lynn Sigel

BQ Big Five: the professional bike from Markus Bauer

As the reigning German MTB marathon champion, Markus Bauer from Freiburg did not receive a professional contract for 2018. But he's riding the Cape Epic anyway, at his own expense. Here is his special bike.

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Despite his first German marathon championship title in 2017 Markus Bauer tried in vain to secure a lucrative professional contract for the 2018 racing season. However, the 28-year-old from Freiburg did not want to give up racing immediately. That's why he is still racing a few selected marathon races this season alongside his industrial engineering studies. Such as the German MTB Marathon Championships in Kirchzarten (15-17 June 2018) or the last race of the MTB Bundesliga, the Singen Forest Cupwhere he is also involved in the organisation with Simon Stiebjahn. But apart from a few equipment sponsors, he has no supporters; Bauer pays for the racing business out of his own pocket. Just like the start at the Cape Epic 2018where he will ride in a team with Belgian Frans Claes. Bauer has now designed his own bike especially for the eight-day stage race through South Africa. Bauer is also selling ten of his limited edition BQ Big Five for 7000 euros eachwhich reflects his personal Cape Epic story.

BQ Big Five - the Cape Epic bike from Markus Bauer

The control centre: Bauer drives the inner bar ends of SQLab. This allows him to take up a more aerodynamic position when he's pedalling at speed on the flat. He also uses the Dash computer from Stages to keep an eye on his wattage.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The control centre: Bauer drives the inner bar ends of SQLab. This allows him to take up a more aerodynamic position when he's pedalling at speed on the flat. He also uses the Dash computer from Stages to keep an eye on his wattage.

Photo: Lynn Sigel Bauer rides a 720 mm wide carbon handlebar from Ceetec. It weighs 116 grams.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The lightweight aluminium stem from Intend, the brand of inventor Cornelius Kapfinger from Freiburg, weighs 78 grams.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The Big Five can be seen on the seat stays. Bauer will not get to see the animals at the Cape Epic.

Photo: Lynn Sigel A lion is emblazoned on the head tube.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The Ride Farr saddle bag contains an extra tube and a cartridge, a tool and the chain lock.

Photo: Lynn Sigel Magura MT8 stopper with customised Celeste look.

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Photo: Lynn Sigel Protected against thorns: Bauer opts for the Maxxis Aspen 3C with EXO puncture protection.

A highlight on the bike: the wide and light rims with an inner width of 27 millimetres from Ceetec with DT Swiss 240 S Straightpull hubs.

Photo: Lynn Sigel A highlight on the bike: the wide and light rims with an inner width of 27 millimetres from Ceetec with DT Swiss 240 S Straightpull hubs.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The SR Suntour Axon WERX Carbon with handlebar lockout has customised decals in Celeste.

Photo: Lynn Sigel The Sahmurai Sword for sealing flat tubeless tyres is hidden in the Sram XX1 crank with oval 34 mm chainring.

Equipment in detail

Frame BQ Carbon Fullsuspension "BIG FIVE Replica" Edition
Fork SR Suntour Axon WERX Carbon with handlebar lockout
Damper Magura RL
Impellers Ceetec Revolution 27.2, DT Swiss 240S, Sapim spokes
Thru axle vo. Tune aluminium
Pivot axle hi. Tune aluminium
Tyres Maxxis Aspen 3C EXO
Switching group Sram XX1 Eagle Gold
Crank handle Sram XX1 Eagle Gold GXP
Chainring Absolute Black Oval 34Z
Brakes Magura MT8
Stem Intend Grace XC
Ahead cap Intend Smarty
Seat clamp Intend Corona
Handlebars Ceetec flat carbon
Saddle support Ceetec EVO2 C1
Saddle Carbon.CC
Handles SQLab 711
Computer Stages Dash
Powermeter Stages V3
Extras SQLab Innerbarends, Ride Farr saddlebag and CO2 cartridge, bottle, Sahmurai Sword

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BQ Big Five: The professional bike from Markus Bauer

BQ Big Five - the Cape Epic bike from Markus Bauer

Equipment in detail

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