How I Pack and Prepare for the First US Gravel National Championships

I went into Gering, Nebraska with high hopes for a solid result. A good portion of that is thanks to some quality preparation amid a western two month van trip. Among the various levels of preparation is how to pack and the things that I bring, which is the core of this video: how I pack, what I bring, what makes me happy come race day. And yes, it includes a mini-van.

[@spencerlemon2679]

Yo man, not sure if you read all of these but I just wanted to say thanks. As a very amateur racer I got lucky enough to find cycling in college and Untapped sponsored the UNL team. As a broke ass college kid I appreciated every bit of cheap/free nutrition. Hope the western NE folks treated you well. Also major respect for your Tour Divide attempt too!

[@TedKing1]

Thanks very much Spencer!

[@miggyflo4545]

Watching Ted re-assemble his bike reminds me that I can barely put my socks on without almost falling over, let alone assembling anything correctly on my bike 😅

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Walmart is taking applications for bike assemblers!!!

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Never too old to get some cool tips. Thanks Ted!

[@justinbrester7677]

Yo Ted, for future reference, there is a bike shop about 2 miles from Gering…Sonny’s Bike Shop-stop by next year if you make it back out to Western Nebraska :)

[@user-zk8im3oz4k]

So good to see you back on form after the TD. Good luck gravelling!

[@TedKing1]

Thanks so much!

[@ShawnIsBatman]

Awesome video and incredible tips! Thank you! Thanks also for visiting us here in the great state of Nebraska!

[@larrymyles1012]

So Good Ted!

[@robertjonsson7618]

Great that you're back and racing!

[@blazacrew]

Your vid gets getting better ! Keep moving !

[@user-in9th2fu7s]

That was brilliant

[@Henrikoijer]

Great video and thanks for sharing. Really like that bike. :)

[@DanaBlack]

CR2032 batteries are an overlooked key item. Was like 40 miles into Mammoth Gravel in PA back in May and my right shifter died. Luckily I had an extra in my power meter I could swap in, but now I carry a spare.

[@stevengibbs8117]

I'm not a pro but I'd say semi-professional? So I think I know enough to say, my biggest piece of advice, especially after Lachlan setting the tour divide record is don't let Alex Howes touch your spokes. :p

[@TedKing1]

Quality response!

[@stevengibbs8117]

@@TedKing1 the post had more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie. Keep up the great work, love the documentation of the journey!

[@garyonnen7634]

Always good stuff. Thanks.

[@DouglasKubler]

Hoping to see a strong recovery from a brutal TD. You had all the preps ready.

[@mejdrichj]

Awesome, thx!

[@ShawnStradamus520]

Go Sepp Kuuuuuuus! ❤️🦅🇺🇸

[@escsniper]

With a name like Ge(a)ring, they GOTTA host a bike ride of this caliber!!!

[@ChrisCorless]

Great video Ted. Quick question do you take the coin batteries out of your SRAM shifters when flying?

[@simonguard5087]

Thanks that was very interesting, can I ask you wat saddle you use on your bikes especially the gravel?

[@mitchjones6326]

Great advice. Where did you clean your bike?

[@lazlo2511]

… I see you failed to mention that it’s best to travel with a recycled box! Man Simple Simon always win on the day. I thought all gravel rock stars had Thule box’s! 😂😂😂 Love the take it with you or else. Yeah tough course, lots of loose sandy spots and camera does make it look flat but I’m sure some punchy climbs are going to come into play. Also nice shout out to Sepp, man it’s his time… let’s hope the JV machine doesn’t steam till him. Now next will be the race report because we all wanna see how there was a pileup or crash? Which of course affected the end result.

[@TedKing1]

I didn't really lean into this, but this trip was started amid a 2 month van trip. There's no room in the van for a bike box, so a visit to the local bike shop got me this bad boy. Check out ShokBox, that's my go-to travel case when I'm not using cardboard.

[@TedKing1]

I didn't race with a camera, so no post-race report coming... for better or worse.

[@corymonteiro5455]

Great video! What did you fly with that big cardboard box?

[@TedKing1]

My bike…? Maybe I’m missing something.

[@corymonteiro5455]

Sorry, I always see people fly with cycling cases. I have never seen anyone bring a cardboard shipping box. Is it the same price?@@TedKing1

[@massiccio1969]

Nasto isolante! Sai quante volte l'ho utilizzato quando il liquido antiforatira non sigillava! Con un pezzetto di stoffa, un pó di giri copertone cerchio, e via fino a casa!!!

[@massiccio1969]

Bel colore i tuoi occhiali!

[@ThegearlockerNet]

What pressure gauge was that?

[@konstantinkurtz9346]

Ted, what tire pressure are you running?

[@TedKing1]

Hahahaha. 120psi, always.

[@bluet3073]

bella ted

[@jonpoon3896]

I’m curious why you use a cardboard box instead of a travel case

[@TedKing1]

I mentioned this before. “I didn't really lean into this, but this trip was started amid a 2 month van trip. There's no room in the van for a bike box, so a visit to the local bike shop got me this bad boy. Check out ShokBox, that's my go-to travel case when I'm not using cardboard.”

[@gravelworlds]

So close..... but so far away. ;)

[@TedKing1]

Someday, I swear!

[@gravelworlds]

Lolol!! Love ya man. Aug 24, 2024. ;) @@TedKing1

[@dickthomson3436]

Ya know Helen might decide to be a soccer player instead of a cyclist which means you’ll have to have your very own minivan😉!!!

[@vampirekiller16]

hopefully he finishes this one or he'll be 0 for 3

[@goldenretriever6261]

Also need a large bank account to buy all this stuff.

[@oldanslo]

That's why Ted has sponsors to give him that stuff.

[@goldenretriever6261]

@@oldanslo Haha, the video is basically a commercial.

[@TedKing1]

I bought a lot of that stuff.

[@goldenretriever6261]

@@TedKing1 I'm just jealous

[@immolatewarlock6542]

Gravel doesn't need a national championship.

[@oldanslo]

Gravel doesn't need racing.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

You should quit because its too hard!

[@lazlo2511]

… and the spirit of gravel award goes to…

[@cyclingfreak56]

Didn’t actually click on the vid to hear Ted huck for his sponsors! 👎