Pre-race Q&A:
We're stoked to be heading down to Unbound for the 2025 race (come say hi at the expo, Booth E74!) and can't wait to be the support crew for one of our own team members. Customer support specialist, Tony, will be taking on the 200 miles of Kansas gravel for the first time and we wanted to share a quick interview before he tackles the event.
1) How long have you been riding & what type of riding do you usually do?
I began riding back in 2005, and entered my first race in the junior category in 2006. During my time racing, I primarily focused on criteriums and road races, and I have since shifted my energy towards having fun on gravel.
2) Have you done a race/event like the Unbound 200 before?
This will be my first time experiencing the Unbound 200, or any Lifetime race, and I am incredibly excited! I've had a few rides of similar length, but none that have involved so much gravel.
3) What Redshift components will you be riding with and why?
To help make my first Unbound experience as comfortable as possible, I'll be riding with several pieces of Redshift kit, including:
- ShockStop PRO Suspension Stem
- ShockStop PRO Race Suspension Seatpost
- Quick-Release Clip-On Aerobars
4) What are you most looking forward to and/or nervous about the race?
For the first half of my riding life, my winters were spent on the rural gravel roads of southern Minnesota, and I'm really looking forward to being immersed into similar terrain again. Currently, the only thing I'm nervous about is if I have everything packed that I could need for this event. I've quickly learned that this is not just your average event to pack for!
5) Any favorite snacks or songs to listen to that are a must-have for a race like this?
At some point later in the Unbound 200, there is a significant chance I'll have a Coca-Cola in one hand, a Snickers in the other, and a playlist of Nickelback's best hits playing on repeat through my earbuds.
Good luck to Tony & all the riders at Unbound! Stay tuned for a post-race recap after the event.
Post-race Q&A:
Phew, while everyone was glad the rain held off, that was a hot day out in fields of Kansas. We loved running support for Tony and after a couple of rest and travel days, have caught up with him to get the details on his 200 mile accomplishment.
1) What were some highlights of the race for you?
I had such a great time at my first Unbound. Some of the highlights from the day were seeing the cutest calf you can imagine in a random field, numerous moments where upon cresting a hill, I could see miles of rolling green fields around me against a blue sky backdrop, and the sheer amount of cheering and support from all the folks watching the race along the route.
2) It ended up being a mostly dry (and hot!) day out there, were there any major route, weather, or terrain challenges?
The course was littered with more sharp, steep hills than I anticipated, and there was just enough unavoidable mud on course to require a new chain at each aid station. The weather was perfect at the start - overcast and cool, but the heat really hit at the mid-way point in the race. All those slow-speed hills felt like I was in an oven!
3) You had some clever items packed that other riders were jealous of at the aid station (the mini pressure washer!) - did you have any mechanical challenges on the bike or any items that really paid off in helping you accomplish this ride?
Thankfully, I didn't experience any mechanical challenges. The worst I needed to endure was a very creaky chain (from all the mud) for the final 20 miles before the first aid station. My
Quick-Release Aerobars,
PRO Race Seatpost, and
PRO Suspension Stem made such a difference - at the end of the race, I didn't have any terrain fatigue in my body. I felt like I had simply done a long ride on some rough pavement, in contrast to the incredibly rough and jagged gravel I had actually ridden for the better part of 200 miles.
4) Would you do it again?
I absolutely would ride the Unbound 200 again!
Congrats to everyone who raced any of the events at Unbound!
