A couple of months ago, I got the call: “Do you want to ride Unbound?”
Now, I’m not exactly a gravel specialist – my background’s all road, pro peloton stuff – but Unbound’s one of those events. It’s iconic. Wild. Brutal. So of course, I said yes. No hesitation.
But saying yes and actually being ready for 100+ miles of rugged, unpredictable gravel across Kansas? That’s a whole different story. I knew straight away I had to shift my mindset, my training, my setup – everything.
I like to feel properly fit when I ride. If I’m going to take on something this big, I’m not turning up undercooked. So I’ve been training with one thing in mind: long, sustained power. No more short, punchy efforts. That’s great for crits or fast road races, but this? This is all about consistency.
I’ve been working up to three and a half hour efforts, holding around 300 watts. That’s the number I’ve got in my head. One of my key sessions has been 20 minutes on, 2 minutes off – again and again. Legs screaming, mind locked in. That’s the type of resilience you need when you’re 7 hours deep on dusty tracks with no shade, no fans, and nowhere to hide.
Then there’s the bike. My old gravel setup had clearance for 35mm tyres. That wasn’t going to cut it. Not at Unbound. I needed something that could handle chunky gravel, deep ruts, sketchy corners, and the odd peanut butter mud section.
So I reached out to the crew at Reilly Cycleworks. Absolute legends. They sorted me out with a Makov – a titanium gravel machine that’s tough as nails but still light and playful. It’s a bike built to go long, go hard, and survive the chaos. Clearance for 55mm tyres. Spot on.
Of course, I gave it the full Muc-Off treatment. Big Bore Tubeless Valves. Deep-cleaned, fully ceramic-protected drivetrain. The chain’s been lab-optimised thanks to Lewis and the wizards in the optimisation lab. Marginal gains? Absolutely. But when you're riding over 10+ hours, those small gains matter – they keep you fast, smooth, and efficient all day long.
I touched down in Emporia, Kansas a couple of days ago, and honestly – the atmosphere here is electric. This little town transforms into the beating heart of the gravel world. The whole place starts to fill up – riders from every corner of the globe, support crews, brands, media, fans. It’s wild.
You head out on a short ride and it turns into a rolling social ride with 30 strangers. Every gas station car park is full of people tweaking tyre pressure or loading up snacks. The energy is real – and it builds every day as race day creeps closer.
By today, it’s at full throttle. I think around 15,000 people have descended on Emporia. Nearly 5,000 riders are racing – from 25 miles up to the full 200+. It’s not just a race; it’s a travelling circus of endurance athletes, bike nerds, gear junkies, and people just hungry for adventure.
What’s mad is how small the cycling world feels when you’re here. You bump into people you haven’t seen in years. Teammates, rivals, mates from way back. Everyone’s got stories. Everyone’s got nerves. Everyone’s here for the same reason: to push themselves somewhere new.
Today’s all about the final bits. One last easy ride. Dial the setup. Wash the bike – obviously with the good stuff. Prep the gear. Load up on carbs like it’s an Olympic event. And try to chill, just a bit, before the big day.
Unbound is huge. It’s gnarly. It’s legendary for a reason. And I’m here for it.
Let’s go.
