MY BIKE SETUP & ALL THE GEAR I NEED TO FINISH UNBOUND GRAVEL
The UNBOUND Gravel 200 is the world’s biggest gravel race, and it’s one of the toughest on your body and equipment. Flats, mechanicals, and bonks are part of the game, so you need to be ready for them. I used my experience riding the previous four UNBOUNDs to set up my bike. I'm loading it up with plenty of nutrition and bringing plenty of tools and spares. This is the gear I’ll be taking with me to Emporia to give myself the best chance of making it to the finish.
My Titanium Bike Setup for Unbound Gravel
I’m using essentially the same bike I raced at UNBOUND last year: my trusty Litespeed Toscano. The setup is largely unchanged from what I had last year. I chose a titanium frame to survive big crashes and the most brutal mud, both of which are highly likely at UNBOUND. I have the same Cane Creek Invert SL gravel suspension fork, which will add a bit of comfort over UNBOUND’s rough 207-mile distance. Here’s the rest of the build:
- Handlebar: ENVE SES AR, 40cm x 100mm
- Shifters: SRAM RED AXS
- Crankset: SRAM RED AXS, 42t, 170mm
- Cassette: SRAM RED AXS XPLR, 10-46t
- Chain: SRAM RED AXS
- Wheels: Industry Nine Solix SL UL250c wheels
- Tires: Schwalbe G-One R Pro, 50mm
- Seatpost: Litespeed Titanium
- Saddle: Specialized Power Pro Mirror
- Bottle Cages: King Titanium
There are no crazy aero bits, and no novel components. For me, chasing an overly optimized setup rarely leads to results. Instead, I focused more on training this year, which will make a much bigger difference. Still, I wanted my bike setup to be proven and reliable, without sacrificing performance.
The element I spent the most time thinking about was the tires. The G-One R is a tire I’m very familiar with. It’s decently fast, and in my experience, has enough puncture protection to get me through the Flint Hills. Otherwise, I’ve been racing on this setup for over a year, I’m super comfortable on it, and most importantly, I trust it. For a couple of small bits of optimization, my chain is hot waxed with Silca Super Secret Wax, and the tires are filled with Silca Ultimate tubeless sealant.
Tools and Spares I Carry on the Bike
At Unbound Gravel, the sharp and rough terrain of the Flint Hills is notorious for shredding tires and breaking derailleurs, so riders have to be ready to handle punctures and drivetrain mechanicals. There’s a lot more that could happen: loose bolts, twisted handlebars or saddles, wonky shifting, etc. Here’s what I’ll carry in my saddle bag and on my bike during the race:
- Multitool w/ a chainbreaker
- Tire plug kit
- Spare Tube(s)
- CO2 inflator
- CO2 cartridge(s)
- Small hand pump
- Tire lever
- Spare chain quick link
- Tape
- Mud scarper/paint stick
When it comes to multi-tools, I recommend choosing one with a chain breaker. Chain breakers add a bit of weight, but they can save your race if you snap your chain or destroy your rear derailleur. You can cut the chain and reconnect it with a quick link to create a singlespeed setup, which can allow you to limp to a checkpoint or the finish. Otherwise, be sure your multitool has a bit for every bolt, usually a 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, and t25.
I use a basic Genuine Innovations tire plug kit, mostly because it’s affordable and simple. Dynaplugs are the gold standard, but I’m just too cheap, and I’ve gotten by just fine for years with the Genuine Innovations Bacon Strip tire plugs. Unfortunately, they went out of business! When I run out of the plugs I’ve stocked, I’ll probably switch to Wolf Tooth’s products, which are fairly similar. On that note, make sure you know how to plug a puncture before race day! There are plenty of good videos on YouTube.
Whether you’re using plugs or a tube, you need a way to reinflate your tires. I use the Silca Eolo IV Regulator CO2 inflator because I’ve had spring-loaded inflators fail in the past. I carry two 20g CO2 cartridges, plus a Silca Tattico mini pump, so I’ll have plenty of air if the worst happens.
Finally, mud is a constant worry at UNBOUND. It packs up on your tires and clogs your bike, slowing you down and potentially breaking components. The traditional mud scraper of choice has been the wooden paint stick. You can easily stick one in your pocket or tape one to your frame. This year, I’m going a bit fancier with Wheels MFG’s Hootin Hauler 3D-Printed mud scraper, which attaches to one of my bottle cage mounts.
The Other Tools, Spares, and Extras I’ll Bring
I’ll also bring plenty of tools, spares, and extras along just in case I need to perform some sort of major repair before race day. My full tool kit contains:
- Repair stand
- Chain lube
- Hot wax pot
- Quick link pliers
- Hex wrench set
- Torx wrench set
- Torque wrench
- Wire cutters/scissors
- Floor pump
- Tubeless sealant
- Tubeless tape
- Sealant Injector
- Spare tire(s)
- Shop towels
- AXS charger
The Litespeed team is also going to have a couple of mechanics in our booth at UNBOUND, so they can help me out if there’s an emergency. (Stop by if you need help with your bike!)
My Nutrition for UNBOUND Gravel
When I did my first UNBOUND 200 in 2022, I fueled with Rice Krispies Treats, gummy bears, and Doritos. In 2024, I’d made the switch to carbohydrate drink mixes and gels. The main reason is that these allow me to carry and eat A LOT more carbs without feeling too heavy or full, and they’re much easier for me to consume in high-stress situations.
We’re a few years into the “carbohydrate revolution” at this point, and I think most serious cyclists should already understand the importance of carb intake during races. The general recommendation is around 90-120 grams of carbohydrate per hour. There are plenty of riders pushing these numbers even higher. Personally, I find I perform best and experience less gut distress at 90-100 grams/hour.
To ensure I eat and stay consistent with my eating, I keep an eye on the timer on my cycling computer and make sure I eat a gel at least every 30 minutes. Some riders will even have an alarm programmed into their computer that reminds them to eat.
Ideally, you’ll have your preferred nutrition products figured out well in advance. I’ve been testing new gels and drink mixes during the last few months to figure out what I can eat without upsetting my stomach and training my gut to handle the level of intake I’ll need for the race. One interesting thing I discovered about myself is that maltodextrin makes me feel very gassy and nauseous. Tons of products use maltodextrin, and finding alternatives has been a game-changer for me this spring. This is why testing your nutrition and practicing fueling is so important!
I’ll be starting the race with 14 gels in my pockets (the plan is to go 100 miles without stopping!), and an additional 200 grams of carbs in my two-liter USWE hydration pack. I like having carb mix in my hydration pack because it’s much easier to consume while riding in high-stress situations and on rough roads. I keep plain water in my bottles, which helps keep my stomach happy, plus it’s handy for spraying on myself when the heat builds up later in the day. I’ll plan to give myself the option to replenish this same amount of gels and carb mix at each checkpoint.
I still like to use Doritos, but I do it more sparingly as an occasional salty snack to reset my palate, especially when I’m taking in a lot of sugar. I also plan to drink a Red Bull late in the race for the caffeine, and just because I like Red Bull. Sometimes you have to treat yourself when you’re suffering!
One more thing I’ll mention is that it might be a good idea to learn how to eat and drink on your bike, especially while riding with one hand or in a group. When I started racing years ago, it shocked me how scary it felt to try to pull out food and eat it while riding around other people. In my first few races, I ended up under-eating because of this. At the very least, if you can’t practice eating in a fast group ride, it’s a good idea to practice doing it during a hard effort. Often, you can’t choose the best opportunity to eat, and you have to do it during uncomfortable moments to ensure you don’t get behind on your nutrition.
