Bike Check
Matt and Sandefur Porter
Photography by Kai Caddy
Matt & Sandefur Porter
Adventuring Together
Bella Vista couple celebrates wedding anniversary on gravel.
Sandefur Porter
HOMETOWN:
Bella Vista
OCCUPATION:
Stay-at-home mom
SANDEFUR ON THE ARKANSAS GRAVELER:
Matt and I chose to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary by riding the Graveler. We have only lived in Arkansas for two years, and it was a unique way to see the state and its vast beauty. Adventuring with Matt that week, I was able to enjoy a sport he’s loved for years with him and that really made it special for both of us. We loved the community of people on the ride and all of the hospitality from all of the towns we rode through. It was the best summer adventure and we plan to do it again.
Matt Porter
HOMETOWN: Bella Vista
OCCUPATION: Owner of Red Hawk Consulting
MATT ON THE ARKANSAS GRAVELER: Sandefur and I celebrated 15 years of marriage this year, the Thursday of the Graveler ride. It’s been several years since we have been able to adventure together. Having two young boys has had us adventuring separately over the past couple years. The Graveler was the perfect adventure to celebrate our years spent together and create new memories in a place we now call home and have fallen in love with the state of Arkansas.
We registered for the Graveler within a couple minutes of it opening up and we plan to return year after year. We made new friends and grew in friendships this year, and we look forward to the years to come with friends.
SANDEFUR’S BIKE: Specialized Diverge. This is my first gravel bike and honestly nothing specific about the bike is extra special to me. Just having a gravel bike and being able to enjoy this sport is really my favorite part. I consider myself a runner and we purchased this bike so I could train for the Arkansas Graveler.
SANDEFUR’S DRIVETRAIN:
SRAM GX eTap, with an 11-52 rear cog and a 40-tooth chainring.
SANDEFUR’S HANDLEBARS:
Specialized Adventure Gear Hover.
SANDEFUR’S COMPUTER:
Wahoo ELMNT Bolt.
SANDEFUR’S WHEELS:
700 Roval Terra Cs with 47mm Pirelli Cinturato tires.
SANDEFUR’S SADDLE:
Specialized Power Expert.
SANDEFUR’S BAG:
Cedaero Tank Top Pack. If I had to pick one thing that’s special about my bike, it would be my top tube bag because of the amount of stuff it can hold, especially snacks.
MATT’S BIKE: Ibis Hakka MX. I have ridden this bike all over the world and have built it up in every way imaginable. It has taken me on big loops around the Arkansas High Country route, Ozark gravel, Colorado adventures and Unbound Gravel. I have raced it, ridden countless miles of singletrack and bikepacked with this bike. I love this bike and have only one wish; well, two: that I could run 700×50+mm tires and that there was a third bottle cage on the downtube. Otherwise I love this bike and it has taken me everywhere.
MATT’S HANDLEBARS:
ENVE Gravel In-Route Handlebar.
MATT’S COMPUTER:
Wahoo ELMNT Roam.
MATT’S SADDLE:
Specialized Power Pro.
MATT’S DRIVETRAIN:
SRAM XO, with an 11-52 cassette, 38-tooth chainring and a Quarq power meter.
MATT’S WHEELS:
650b ENVE G27s with 50mm Pirelli Cinturato tires.
MATT’S BAG:
Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag.
