How I Got a Top 10 Finish at the Dirty Kanza 200

The Dirty Kanza 200 mile gravel race was one of the hardest things I've ever done on a bike. Here's how it went down.
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[@DylanJohnsonCycling]

Have you ever done DK? Was your experience as brutal as mine?

[@EdwardLawrie]

Loved this video mate. Thanks for sharing!

[@soarstar]

Sure did! Not sure if this link will work, but my best results happened before the really big players started showing up. youjustgofaster.blogspot.com/2013/?m=0 Your experience mirrors mine in many ways regarding the ups and downs through the day. A hard bonk ~ 170 miles in - and an almost state of delusion towards the end. The following year I did it again with Lyme disease & a bad crash in Lawrence on the bike path (small dog avoidance). I can't even remember the details of that one!

[@hellopsp180]

i was trying to find this Strava ride, but it seems to hidden. Can you confirm if its just private and not for sharing :O ?

[@steverode7589]

I've done it the last 4 years, one more to go this year for my 1000 miler cup! I've always hit a dark spot when I questioned why I was doing this and temped to quit. Ive only bonked, once, that was last year (bad fueling and pacing), but I didn't bonk my way into 9th place! LOL Nice work, it's always been brutal for me, but it's just such a great race/ride I have always looked forward to returning. Good luck with your return this year

[@faintscrawl]

I tried and failed in 2019: faintscrawls.wordpress.com/2019/08/14/a-post-mortem-of-the-dirty-kanza-200-2019-a-noobs-notes/

[@martinaxe6390]

Top 10 at DK? That's some serious street cred.

[@georgehugh3455]

_Gravel_ cred ;-)

[@TheOldBeekeeper]

Outstanding, bro! Had to smile about your 'pathetic' sprint watts. They equal my terrific sprint watts!

[@daveklein2654]

Agree. I thought he was going to say something like 400 watts! That’s a big sprint with 11 hours in your legs!

[@user93634]

Keep race recaps like these coming! I love hearing a professional's first hand perspective of how a race truly unfolds. It is also comforting to know that you guys are human once in a while and have to deal with blowing up and bonking!😂 I don't know how you guys push that many watts for that long a time! Animals!

[@christopherdavy2152]

Great work, Dylan. You should throw a GoPro on your bars and do more race recaps.

[@caspian21]

That would add a few grams! Outrageous!!

[@adventuresona700dollarhard5]

GoPro's are not aero.

[@SR77SR]

This was great, we really don't often hear such detailed experiences told by a pro often. Please keep them coming!

[@leeseoWestport]

I love to hear about strategy. Especially from an elite athlete!

[@mightysaintmike1520]

Pretty confused as to how this video got a down-vote. I really liked this type of info. I hope you’ll help us to follow your racing by continuing to make videos about your experiences!

[@edgarpereira4865]

True. 👍

[@SuperRowbear]

it's probably the delivery. If he just spoke about it off the cuff it might be better. Instead, it sounds like he is reading something in pretty much all of his videos and it makes them seem stilted and boring because his reading voice doesn't carry the same kind of emotion. At least, imo, that's one thing that detracts from his content. I wasn't the one that downvoted it, however.

[@danmccabe2529]

I think the one downvote was Geoff Kabush ;)

[@michaellefeuvre2204]

Four years ago my wife and I did the 100 mile Axel Merrcx GranFondo (road) in the Okanagan, British Columbia. The temperature climbed in the afternoon to over 37 C and I started cramping in my right leg with 20 km to the finish. (I spent the last thirty km with a cramp in the left leg) I was sitting at the side of the road with two horrible cramped legs when a race van came by and asked me if it was biological or mechanical. I laughed and said Biological and somehow that got me back on the bike. It was the hardest 20 km I ever did to get the finish line. Given my fitness is about 1/10 of yours that was my equivalent to the dirty K and yes I was happy I finished. Great video and it nice to hear that everyone can have a bad day and recover.

[@brianjones1612]

I’m here for these honest race recaps man. Really great, keep em coming. Good luck as a “Florida Man”.

[@1jmcm]

Absolutely elite.

[@tobioderso]

You are a Legend. I am inspired by your effort. Mindset is everything. Especially in long-distance races. In two weeks I'm racing the atlas mountain race which is around 700miles. When it gets tough I'm gonna think of this video 😉

[@rieckstudio]

Yeah was food to get your insight to this

[@xgalvan1]

Backward Hat Dylan made the race winning move, Real Dylan finished the race. Great work, never quit

[@facediaper09]

I still rewatch the old stuff DJ.

[@JonPrevost]

You entered a famous, or possibly infamous race. Took a 10 minute "break", maybe even napped, and placed in the top 10. I can't understand this because I am bedazzled by your abilities to perform at this level. Congrats and thanks for the story. These kinds of videos are very encouraging to those of us trying to increase our range on a bicycle.

[@martinextejt3453]

Wow, even though my numbers are pathetic, the stats you presented in a Top 10 Finish gave this seasoned rider the incentive to make sure I hit the gym today. I'd like to hear more about aero bars. My goal after watching this is a Top 10 in my age group in the Black Fork Gravel Grinder. Thanks for sharing and the whole honesty thing. I was happy to finish the Black Fork last time and refuse a ride on the sag wagon. Good luck with all your races.

[@timwhite2365]

Love the recap. I did the 100 in 2018 as an intro to DK and then ‘attempted’ the 200 last year. Will be back for the 200 this year. Enjoy hearing others experiences out there since even the party at the back where I’m at get to experience the same course as the elite racers such as yourself. I do also enjoy the science topics. On course nutrition is my main focus since gut rot is what seems to undo me on these long events. Good luck at the Sugar Cane.

[@RusticRussellAdventures]

Thanks for the brutal honesty DJ We've all got the wall. Glad you continued and finished. Good work

[@arkansasdave7764]

Thanks for being so honest about suffering and bonking. Looking forward to DK 200! See you there, maybe?

[@drinkycrow4453]

Great video; please do more like this. It's nice to hear about the personal experience, and not just the science. For amateurs like me, cycling is still more about the wonder than the watts. We've done DK on the tandem a few times, and I managed to "Beat the Sun" on a solo finish years ago. It was tough but not brutal - I was racing myself, so the competition was pretty weak.

[@natalienat7894]

Top 10 at DK is an amazing achievement!! Keep up the great work both on the bike and on KZbin!! 🚵‍♀️🌱

[@rubybenedict3872]

This my first attempt at the Dirty Kanza with my longest/hardest being the Dirty Kitten last year. The video was helpful. I took notes regarding chain ring size and tires. My goal is to not DNF. Anything beyond that will just be over achieving for me in 2020.

[@jbratt]

I’m in the lottery. I have to be careful what I wish for. Thanks for sharing.

[@jgeronimo4051]

me either bro lets go for a POWERBALL thanks we are future millionaire.

[@TriathlonDan]

Awesome performance Dylan, DK sounds insane. You’ve probably seen it already but the Vegan Cyclist’s video of the event is great 👍

[@avoycendeether8869]

The best part of this post: a story told by a top 10 DK finisher that was pretty much the same story told by a mid pack DK finisher. Ha! Just a lower finishing number. Went too hard too early. Popped. Bonked. Wanted to quit but couldn't find a spot private enough to do it. Rescued by some anonymous rural Kansan. Going back to try again.

[@ElonMuckX]

From YT, Bike Magazines, the DK 200 first person stories/survivals, are the best bike stories I've heard in this century!

[@jimc.4927]

Great video and story! I bonked just thinking about riding the DK200....

[@r3drum3k92]

Well done, and kudos for the farmer.

[@phxrsx]

That's actually a disqualification.

[@mcbezinque]

@@phxrsx No, it's not. From Rule 12: "Participants may also receive “neutral” assistance from residents along the route. “Neutral” is defined as support that is freely offered equally to ALL event participants, and is done so from a stationary, non-moveable location. In other words, it is OK to stop at a farmhouse and fill up a water bottle from a garden hose. It is OK to receive a can of soda from a resident sitting in a lawn chair in their front yard with a cooler full of cold drinks."

[@phxrsx]

Mark Chauvin Bezinque was that farmer out there for the whole 200 mile race. Not likely.

[@196592]

Congrats! And yes, we do like this type of videos.

[@robbchastain3036]

This was interesting, Dylan, and ultimately, your tactics in the end were brilliant--you used all of your free time to refuel and relax before riding the final miles with the bunch of four and then nabbing a top-ten finish, excellent. And you were in the Twilight Zone when you were doing this and doing that and stopping for the farmer's hospitality and still not losing any places.

[@kmancrx]

Yeah I like this content. Hearing how people who are way more awesome than me on the bike is fun. 🚴🏿‍♂️🚵🏿‍♂️

[@johnbouttell5827]

Thanks for sharing Dylan. Having done a few long rides with The Toronto Randonneurs, I know that, as long as you eat regularly, it's possible to get your 2nd wind, 3rd wind, 4th wind, nth wind ...

[@philallan6685]

9th place at DK. Walking the walk, Dylan. Chapeau!

[@gamby16a]

Great insight. Your average speed for DK200 was still pretty beastly. I couldn't do that on tarmac! Also impressed by how fast you can do a 100 mile MTB race. That seems blazing fast.

[@stevenbalderstone709]

Yes, more like this please.

[@rquinones27]

Yes, videos like this are interesting for not professional riders like us. Keep making stuff like this! 👍🏼

[@jasonosunkoya]

Great story, really. You DK riders are absolutely M A D! One day I'll come do it

[@daniellalinde578]

Yes, these anecdotal videos are great. Keep them up 👍

[@pagey007]

Dude ,, All your vids are informative and interesting but this is the best yet ,, A humble gutsy post ride review including wattage data ,body weight etc ,, An athlete of your ability would normally be about as transparent as muddy water ,, Top 10 finish ,,AWESOME , Keep the post race vids coming please :-)

[@joshschrader4732]

This was an awesome video Dylan- keep 'em coming fella

[@marcdaniels9079]

Great video and commendably frank ! Would be great to have backwards hat Dylan chiming in to tell our hero what a fool he was to make those stupid mistakes ! Keep em coming 👍

[@jeffs5519]

Love this stuff. Do more Dylan.

[@chrisroe6603]

Definitely want to see more content like this!!!

[@mcbezinque]

Really glad you added this. I entered the lottery and all I need now is to be selected and a place to stay.

[@joangregg4378]

I lived it! I like the idea of being able to stop and rest which is unheard of in road races that I've been in. You inspired me to try some gravel racing. Thanks. Good Luck with Sugar Cane!

[@stefankirchfeld9203]

Great video as usual. I find your channel very informative and refreshingly humble, yet extremely professional, in this overhyped social media scene today. Seriously one of my favorite cycling channels out there.

[@jfritzinger]

Great summary. Sounds like a Tough day.

[@markwaren5048]

Great video Dylan. More of these please....

[@VincentJGoh]

Whew, it's gonna be a hard race this year. A lot of heavy hitters are starting to line up at that race. You don't have to just deal with one Ted King anymore, you've got a whole line of WT riders in there to blow up the race. I'm looking forward to that race report a lot. :D

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Just watched this. I love how open you are about your struggles. Lovely episode. Thanks for sharing.

[@josephdunbar2105]

Good luck in Florida, another video like this covering the Florida race would be great, thx dude

[@shred3005]

Great story. Great learnings. I DNF’d 210km into a 250km road event. We had been dealing with 40C (104F) heat during the middle of the day and had >4200m climbing behind us but when it came to that last 500m range to climb between me and the finish, I had nothing left. Nothing. My mental strength was left in a ditch miles before. No will to keep slogging up those hills so I just sat down and waited for the support to pick me up. So close, I knew I was throwing it away but couldn’t overcome. Later, when I could think clearly again, I was so upset with myself folding. It happened because I didn’t do the preparation. Sure I’d done a lot of riding and a lot of hills in the weeks leading up to it but it wasn’t structured training to prepare for what I had to face on the day. That’s when I learned that just doing a bunch of big rides every week for weeks and months doesn’t mean you are ready and it doesn’t prepare you mentally when the grit is needed to finish the job.

[@shawnmckinney745]

A top 10 finish in that field on that course gets four arm pumps from me. Bad ass. 💪💪💪💪

[@jasonstevens4192]

Very cool to get a race report from a pro’s head, enjoyed hearing of your experience!

[@vincentcolson7963]

Thank you for telling DK from your point of view. Hearing your issues and how you went about it helps even us weekend warriors. Really hope you go over your Florida race as well, in part due to being my home state !

[@daveklein2654]

That was awesome. Thanks for the race report! That is a legit result and cannot wait to here about your gravel and mtb season in 2020. Definitely think these videos are a great addition.

[@billwelch9431]

Great explanation of the pain that is DK200. Been there, done that, but nowhere as well as you did. Nice ride!

[@austincaley5007]

What a great effort,and told so well the mind boggles at riding that far in a race.

[@pbarr1935]

Total admiration for all who even attempt races like DK200 much less place top 10. Your grit and perseverance will inspire others to keep turning the pedals when the easy thing to do is just quit. Something tells me you will be a force to be reckoned with now that you know what to expect. Can't wait to watch this recap after next years DK200. Thanks for the humble recap and for sharing your thoughts.

[@Wds__99]

I really liked this video. War stories in these big sufferfest races are entertaining. I especially like hearing about the talk that goes on mid race amongst the leaders.

[@barrycox7585]

I am currently in the lottery for my first DK200 and am still really pumped to do this despite (or maybe because of) your tale of epic suffering. I hope to see you on the start line in Emporia on May 30, and good luck in Florida tomorrow!

[@poochie8208]

Great vid. It is refreshing to see how going out too hard is an error even the best make. Somehow I don't feel as silly for that one time last year when I did my best 60 min power for the year during the first hour of a 6 hour race. Good take on resting a few minutes while bonking, seems to pay off better than just continuing to suffer at low power.

[@PatrickArchibald]

Yes. More endurance race recaps. Congrats on your 9th place finish at DK 2018. Looking forward to hearing about the Florida race. ✌️

[@dirragon1]

Good stuff once again man. Would love to see more of this in addition to the more science-y training videos. I have DK in the back of my mind as a potential future event. It'll have to marinate for awhile there though... gotta get in the right mental state to even decide I would attempt it. Great story, and thanks for taking us along.

[@Advcrazy]

Loved the race report Dylan! I say keep me coming!! Hope you manage an even better result at this years DK!

[@etemerson]

Great to hear your experience. Review of your mindset and strategy with the many and varied race pressures/stressors is helpful.. More like this would be would be great.

[@twowheelslater7112]

That's impressive dude! Y'all whipper snappers just keep getting faster.

[@marirodriguez2162]

2018 was my first and was part of the 200 women 200 miles .. I was just happy that I finished and luckily with no flats but it was very lonely for long periods of the race and HOT as hell!

[@MaxApartin]

Thanks for the video, Dylan. Good luck and let the force be with you!!! :)

[@classactracing]

Sounds like quite the experience. Thank you for sharing.

[@gabeszilagyi254]

Enjoyed the recap!Good luck down in FL!

[@chrisdavis9717]

Great video! Would love to see more of your reflections from your races along with your numbers! Give the people what we want! :)

[@RGCastro7]

Excellent content, Dylan. Different from the usual, but just as informative and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing this!

[@simon.voggeneder]

Fantastic video, Dylan. I would love to see a recap on all the races you do, it‘s a great learning experience. All the best for your first event of the new decade!

[@gregtitus2467]

Yeah, I liked hearing about your experience, and your honest humility about how you performed. Would like to see more on your experience on some of these rides.

[@lepszejnazwyniebylo]

That's some sick sh... Please, post more of vids like this.

[@mrsmartypants_1]

Appreciate your straightforward, honest narratives. Major respect on that 9th place finish. I’m not a gravel guy. Don’t even own a curly bar bike anymore but I do recognize a few names on the results board that you beat who I know are incredible riders.

[@trainingbeats8213]

This is a great vid Dylan. Love your info vids but would be great to see a few more of these analysis vids from your own races. Good stuff!

[@ronrankin8727]

great ride. Unbelievable that you had all those breaks and still got top 10. Those 2 you rode with punched your ticket. More vids like this will be appreciated. Carb the fuk up .

[@jcsrst]

Enjoyed hearing about it, I will look forward to your next go at it ; )

[@kitzingmarko]

Good luck for your races! And yes, I would love to see more videos like this one!

[@jeffconwell8353]

Loved this recap of your DK200 experience. Love how honest you are about your limitations. Post more race reports!

[@gd3515]

Thanks for sharing this and being so honest!

[@MrTronzomonzo]

This was an awesome video. I would like to hear more race recaps in the future.

[@DmitryPAP]

Good luck during Sugarcane! It will be also great to hear story about your journey in sport (when and how you started and etc.) in the next video. Thanks!

[@beavis17UF1]

Love the content. Looking forward to introducing you to the Florida gravel this weekend! Hope you’re ready to pedal....lots and lots of pedaling.

[@TWROC96]

I just found your channel and WOW, Dude how you describe your ride is FANTASTIC!!! Race commentator or writer, those careers would suite you so well. The very best of luck to you in the coming year.

[@rodlake1112]

Kansas farmers-some of the best people on the planet. Congrats on the finish.

[@BikeRidingBassist]

this was great. Make more videos like this one.

[@user93634]

Been trying to get in for 2 years now, and just gave up both years and went bikepack racing. Nothing more sadistic than 24 hour to 8 day efforts on 0 to 4 hours a night of sleep 🤣.

[@mrwest6150]

Video was pure gold! Loved it, keep more like this coming. You science ones are awesome but this gives a good balance and it was very entertaining too! 10/10

[@mrwest6150]

Oh and we missed backwards had Dylan on this video, not sure if he could of added anything though as I know he can be a dick some times..

[@supplepanda5096]

Good stuff. DK is on my 2021 list so good to have the lessons learned. I’ll just be hoping to beat the sun!

[@naikshibabrat]

dude that's Reid Beloni @2:26 giving a push, small world! He was with Virginia Tech cycling team before my time

[@DylanJohnsonCycling]

We work together now!

[@mikedarco6358]

Awesome video. Very inspirational and you show you are human too! 👍

[@Dennis4523]

Backwards hat Brian would’ve gotten the KOM and Strava segment totally bonking at the end. But they said he was staying with the cat 1 racers for 30 miles

[@MR-dv6ms]

thanks for sharing awesome vid

[@njm3211]

Really exciting to hear your telling of your experience. I was on the edge of the sofa listening word for word about your struggle and ultimate success. Bravo

[@johevideos]

Thanks for sharing your experience and good luck for the next one 💪🏻🚴‍♂️💨

[@andremalan9644]

Love the race recaps. Please do more of them when possible