Preparing For The Dirty Kanza 200 | Ask GCN Anything About Cycling

We're back with another Ask GCN Anything, and this week we're answering all your questions about gravel riding and how Katherine is getting ready for the Dirty Kanza 200!
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We've got questions on tyre width, pressure, and tread pattern. Katherine runs through her strategy for beating the heat in Kansa, it's forecast to be around 40 degrees celsius! And there is even some great advice from our amazing viewers!
If you've got any last minute advice for Katherine, make sure you leave it in the comments down below 👇
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Train for a gravel event gcn.eu/gravelrace 📹
Hardtail V Full Sus gcn.eu/HardtailVFullSus 📹
Is 1x right for you? gcn.eu/sram1x 📹
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gcn]

Have you got any last minute advice for Katherine before the DK? Let us know 👇

[@MK-je7kz]

I wouldn't take Camelbak or any other backpack, if it's 39c. Camelbak is well ventilated, but still it hinders body to radiate heat from the back. I'd try to fit back-off-the-saddle bottle rack with two big bottles or some other way to carry the water.

[@robbchastain3036]

Just to stay hydrated and do some stretching after the long flight. And maybe work on fixing a flat or two as she watches the tele at the motel. That's one of my guilty motel pleasures, channel surfing for an hour or two. And another is a soda or two with a big bucket of ice. It is good to stay hydrated.

[@jasonlaidlaw9072]

Enjoy your ride and remember not to bonk! A little higher psi is always good on this gravel course, just saying.

[@granthenderson2146]

Any type of water retaining neck wrap in the heat works well at cooling body temp being that your largest arteries that are the closest to skin surface are located in the neck.

[@lisapet160]

Ride easy, it will be hot. Don't submerge chain whilst crossing deep water, walk it or else face squeaky chain and may be - loss of wattage.

[@jamesphillipsmaximumattack]

First of all, I hope you enjoyed your flight. I crewed for four riders last year, three finished. For each service stop I focused on the bike and rider in this order: water, medical, food, tires, chain, brakes, mechanicals, and spares. I had a cooler with pickles, pickle juice shots, coca cola, beer, and I kept spare bottles for all riders cold. Rider comes in, gets a cold bottle to drink, bike goes on the stand and we start talking while I start working. Flats happen, and the tubeless repair kits are the best. I would check tire pressures and ask about them, lube the chain (I just carpet bombed it with WD-40 and a rag to get the dust off), check the brakes and shifting, and replace any spares that were consumed. I kept spare tubes, co2, chain, and tubeless sealant. If you get a flat, remember to add more sealant at the next service. Rider fatigue leads to people breaking a lot of stuff and it’s hardest between CP3 and the finish. Last year, one of my guys was tired and bent teeth on two cassette sprockets and just had to not use those gears for the last 50 miles. Take your time and rest up at CP3, my guys spent over 30 minutes drinking and eating before heading off together. CP1 is a complete charlie foxtrot of chaos, and from a CP perspective, it just gets worse from there: assigned parking goes out the window. Have your crew wear something bright and meet you at the entrance to the CP so they can walk you (I took a bike with a basket and would literally ride my team back to the car from the entrance) back so you don’t spend all your time looking for them. Parking is all over several streets in these little towns. Also, do the pickles. It’s so hot here that these efforts cause awful cramps, and the acetic acid (vinegar) in pickle juice helps to kill cramps. It’s like magic. Seriously, I’ve rolled in crippled from several centuries in the heat only because I ate a steady stream of pickles the whole way. They’re a lot less vile if they’re ice cold, and if your crew loves you, they will keep them on ice. My guys were all supremely sick of all sweet things by CP3. Oh, Casey’s is known for having pretty good pizza #protip. CP3 my team had pizza and drank a beer. If you have time, you can also try to locate some HOT SHOT (should be avail at the expo or at the gravel outfitters). These are like an awful fraternity booze shot, but miraculously stop cramps. They are a combination of ginger, capsaicin, and cinnamon and burn like a bastard, but stop cramps in as little as a few minutes. Good luck, I had a lot of fun crewing and seeing my people finish. We didn’t make the lottery this year, but we hoped to attend. jim

[@dominickslush3593]

We need to see more of Katherine. She's adorable!

[@pavelrubio]

Happy to see Lasty all over gcn videos! And also happy that you are giving more space to new hosts, especially when they are so knowledgeable and charismatic as Kathy

[@fernandoroman6494]

Awsome vid. In the 1x topic, i think "one less things to go wrong" is not the right argument. I mean how many times have ur front derailleur gone wrong? and if it does, just fiddle with limits and u have a 1x to get you home. Weight is also not really a good arguments, after cranks, cassettes are the heaviest part if a groupset and to keep your range ypu need a massive 11-40 or morecassette which adds more weight than a 34 t chainring and a derailleur. To me the reason to run 1x is silence. A rear mech with a strong clutch and ypu can forget about chain-slap and bouncy derailleur. But then again, I've never been riding along on a 2x and thought "man i wish i had half the gears"

[@SlingingLead]

Good luck Katherine, you're going to crush it! Best advice I can give is prepare yourself for some oppressive heat.

[@richardandersen9259]

Great show! Lasty, its always great to see you wherever and whenever you pop in, and Katherine, please come back often (or just join the team)!!! Good Luck on the DK200...It would be nice for a race recap of your ride so we can all experience this epic gravel ride. Cheers...

[@tommccafferty5591]

Pickle Juice is a staple of hot weather riding here in Central Texas, specifically dill pickle juice. They have at the rest stops at most organized rides

[@danaelizabethx]

BEST OF LUCK for the DK200! You are gonna do awesome- can’t wait for the video!

[@MackWorkshop]

You're the best Katherine! Hope the playlist helps you through the ride!

[@julen2380]

Good luck, Katherine! Have lots of fun! And I hope you'll do another video once you're back to share the experience. :)

[@tmbmtl]

Kudos and good luck Katherine. Lasty, exceptional job. Extremely enjoyable vid from these two!

[@gcn]

Hugues Québécois Thanks!

[@redauwg911]

Nice chemistry between those two Good luck, Katherine!

[@dnsussman]

Good luck Katherine and have a safe and rewarding ride.

[@RandyArellano]

Have a great race at DK, Katherine! Looking forward to seeing your result! And hopefully a vlog?

[@pobg]

Katherine would make a great host. #justsaying young blood would be great. She seems funny too and very relaxed.

[@waynetravers6836]

More Katherine on GCN please 😊

[@slimelord314]

Thanks for answering my question GCN! I tried a few meters of gravel on 28c slicks and it was good, although I was doing a cyclocross style rut-following. Also Lasty, great pronunciation of my name 👍

[@jeffreypeters1902]

Amazing performance at DK given the short travel window! congrats on finishing, looking forward to the ride report!

[@ianpovey6331]

love having the young Katherine doing more content on the channel .....more please

[@granthenderson2146]

Good luck Katherine! Nice seeing a new face on the show.

[@Ryan-ud3kk]

Good luck in your event!!

[@shellythieman3547]

I was one of the jeeps that carried a paramedic during the dirty kanza race yesterday. I met your cameraman and his driver at one of their stops and caught a glimpse of you during the race a couple times during the late morning yesterday. Kudos to you on a job well done!

[@gcn]

Thanks Shelly!

[@THEdavehogue]

RE: Chainrings - My road bike is a standard 2x11, but my cross bike is pure single speed! Not only a single chainring, but a single cassette sprocket! No derailleurs, no hassle, loads of fun.

[@jon4739]

Good luck!! Pickles and Paydays were my staple for the Cheaha Challenge UCI qualifier century 2 weeks ago in Alabama. It was 90 degrees and high humidity. Without that combination I would not have finished.

[@TheDaemonKing]

More Gravel !!

[@SioLazer]

have an amazing time katherine!

[@spencerlemon2679]

28c is fine for a few gravel sections but probably not a great idea for an entire gravel race. You might be able to get away with a 30 or 32. You also have to realize that some gravel roads are better kept up than others

[@AEDumit]

I think a 32x ciclo-xKing would be good option

[@joeblack8566]

Great Video Katherine and Lasty!

[@grandad1982]

I love the look of a flaired handlebar!

[@robbchastain3036]

Houston, I think we have another good presenter pair.

[@brunocyclist]

Switched to 1x, wouldn't want to go back. Intuitive, clean looks and with 11-44 cassette and 46 tooth chainring all the gears I need. And less clutter so great to show off a gorgeous frame.

[@gravelcycling9267]

I have been using flared bars for 1500+ miles and I do not think they are necessary (from a comfort or descending perspective). Descents are not THAT technical in gravel. Tubeless is a must though! -especially in the flint hills of Kansas. I love Maxxis Rambler 38c's on gravel in the Midwest. They feel fast and comfortable and good for dry'er harder packed gravel (set up tubeless as well).

[@jmkmckenny]

Nice chemistry between those two

[@bjornclaerhout9390]

Love my single chain ring on cyclocross bike!!!

[@justlucky13]

Good Luck Have Fun I will definitely be following the race and your progress

[@justlucky13]

13.41 Well Done Kathrine

[@sickbassdrop]

Good luck Katherine!!! I lol'd at the delicacy part. Payday's are good though!

[@AndyVandy516]

🎉Yay!🎉 Katherine is back! Have fun in Kansas!

[@TheBassallyear100]

For hydration, Katherine has the right idea but I think it will be a little easier to manage than she might expect. I'm originally from Bristol, UK, but live in southwest Florida now. It's a little hotter here than in Emporia but importantly, a lot more humid. At this time of year I'll consume one 750ml bottle per hour on the bike and then usually drink a 500ml bottle of water back at the meeting place at end of ride after about 45-47 miles (right in line wither her 50 mile efforts between pits). The current Emporia weather in Kansas is more similar to what we experience locally in March / April. I generally only need about 2/3 the amount of fluids during those months. Last tip is while the GCN bottles are totally awesome, I'd be inclined to recommend the camelbak big chill insulated bottles in a white color. White bottles help a lot with keeping fluid temps down. Sanity not vanity during those hot months! :) Ps. as you know, lots of sunblock! you may want to try some of the high SPF spray on sport sunblock. Easy to apply and dries quickly - doesn't hold much dust.

[@ROBinJVILLE]

Double cranks here. Road, gravel, and even mtn

[@josh33172]

I run a single right. In my 1x10 Force setup, the Force derailleur short cage can clear a 30T cassette which Shimano makes. I would probably run 1x11 but I got two drop bar bikes on 1x10. I think the 1x11 setups with the cage options would be pretty neat to just swap from a road close ratio to a large ratio without having to do a lot of work. Oh btw, Wolf Tooth 42T oval. I would go to 46/36 if I ran 2X. If I did any race that got me 10 flats, I think I would be reevaluating my tire setup! The amount of time you can lose changing tubes rather than riding is no bueno!

[@disgruntledtoons]

I'm a road cyclist, and for rides 40 miles or shorter I wear denim shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. And I ride a hybrid, which has a triple front ring.

[@johnsmythe9449]

Katherine, enjoy the trip and FINISH!

[@kenmoum162]

I was in Emporia today for the Grand Depart for the first Dirty Kanza XL.... 35 riders headed out for 350 miles of racing... They are animals.

[@rogercmerriman]

Not convinced about mechanical reliability, or to put it another way, the rear mech is vulnerable and can get damaged, the front not so much. It is easier cognitively since you don’t have to think about which ring to be in, though does depend, never a issue on my MTB but is sometimes with the gravel bike, both are 2x systems. You do also loose (generally) some gear range, which depending on the riding, matters or not. I use the gravel bike rather like MTB of old so steep climbs and what not, so low gears is useful or you end up pushing a bike on a hill that can be climbed.

[@woolfel]

175 miles training ride! Have a great DK200.

[@benjiego22]

Nice seeing you out there Katherine, congratulations to a strong finish. I'm not sure if you remember me, I'm the one who asked you about what kind of headlight you are using. You really lit up my path going through the darkness.

[@carlosgarciavillasenor6231]

I used yesterday a double chainring, love the huge range of gears, but at some moment, le derraileur was unable to shift down the chain and I need to unclip and hit the chain with the heel in order to take the chain down. Not fun, but effective.

[@dustythewhale3809]

1 ring, 42c tubeless, steel frame, leather saddle, carbon bars and fork and mechanical brakes.

[@nctrns]

I have a cyclocross bike but I use it as a road bike. Today my route turned out to be partially gravel/small stones. Rode it through on 28c slicks. But I had to clench it when going downhill, braking hard was too dangerous, if I locked the wheel(s) I'd be toast.

[@VeselenyiVlado]

Single sounds great... unless you want just one biked (and a FS of course) with road rear derailleur and head up for climbs like Zoncolan, and would you ride a road bike with S-Ram Eagle? :)

[@fitz83]

Si's bike packing trip in Morocco was the Dirty Pantza

[@adriand6217]

Am I the only one who thinks Katherine is an absolute natural at presenting???? Not sure I've ever seen someone so at home on camera. Would love to see her present more apart from gravel content.

[@VeselenyiVlado]

For good sun protection, you can learn from Mountaneering, first of all you need a good water resistant and long lasting sun cream, dont use some cheap stuff... DayLong suncream is the way to go, i rarely apply it more that once a day and used it on snow in 4500m :)

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

I would love to go 1x on my gravel bike but in order to get the same range as my 2x10 I would need an eagle cassette (and so far that doesn't seem to be possible with drop bars) and on certain courses I know that I personally use every one of those gears on my 2x.

[@palicar]

I love 1x because shifting is easier and I was always annoyed at redundant gears with double ring systems. The big jumps between gears isn’t a big deal to me - just muscle up. It looks cleaner and more classic to me.

[@FlatSpinMan]

Bit late to the party,but Katherine is absolutely brilliant! So calm and natural. And so is Lasty! He’s so poised now. They grow up so fast😢

[@TheWaxChainFanClub]

Best of luck, Katherine - you'll do great! Enjoy!

[@AndrewDombroski]

Good luck!

[@philg6757]

If it`s going to be that hot try to go at a hard pace before it gets steaming,once it`s hot you will have to wind it back a lot. Keep,keep,keep hydrated whatever you do.

[@FireyAfterburner]

Wow what a well timed video

[@brendavane9148]

Definitely need to have a good hydration plan.

[@philg6757]

I`m still riding Sy`s favourite,the triple. The older you get the more ratios you need,well I do.

[@brewingwithpapa]

In a previous video on Beginners tips for first Sportive, the last tip was to not rest for too long at the rest stops to avoid muscle cool down. How long is too long? I understand it is dependent on multiple factors, but on a 200km ride, what is a good rest time (on average) at feed stations? Isn't it better to err on the side of too long to allow some of the lactic acid to clear out of the legs?

[@BenLubin]

Single with a wide range cassette is perfect for most surfaces. Get a smaller chainring if you're climbing a lot. Looks cooler, too.

[@rhyssheridan3642]

I ride a single at the moment with an 11 30 cassette and a 40T chainring. I think its great. The only issue for me is finding the perfect gear, especially when climbing.

[@BrendonHarris]

Good Luck!

[@kingprone7846]

1:34 after I sliced my my rear tire open and was desperate to continue riding for a few days until I got a replacement I bought a cheap 28mm slick in the local supermarket and used that as a rear tire. Riding gravel with that even at like 4 bar or so just does not work. There is not enough traction.

[@jerktimusprime]

I’ve used my road bike which maxes out at 28c for tire clearance on the rough stuff. They’re slick so I probably should have a better tread, bud I don’t shy away from adventure. The only problem becomes the mud clogging up the fork. Gets noisy and sluggish.

[@garthly]

Just based on my experience cycling in Tucson, where it is 40 / 104 degrees currently, I used two 22 oz bottles of water with electrolytes for a 2-3 hour 40 mile ride recently, so I wonder if you are carrying too much water. Of course I am used to it.

[@criggie]

Katherine: Have you done any altitude training ? I've heard of vertex training where you ride a spin bike in a sealed room where the partial oxygen pressure is reduced and it can simulate the air found at 3500 metres elevation.

[@mtcrun]

Way to go Katherine!!!

[@gcn]

Cheers Michael!

[@hawkeye5035]

Most of my bike still have doubles, but I did convert my commuter to 1x with spare parts, and my Cx bike is a 1x... I think I’m in, but would be more intentional if I covert another.

[@johnnydoe66]

Good Luck Katherine!

[@rosscads]

Good luck! Hope you will have some time to acclimatise before the event?

[@benbo21]

I ride a 3 x 9!

[@HuGenitals]

Sub-compact double. Been on it for years, no plans to change. It works for me, if it works, why muck with it

[@tpyu]

Of course depending on route, but for fire roads in the mountain, do you carry bear spray or do anything extra to prepare for wildlife?

[@diamantisathanasopoulos1479]

from my experience 700x28c slicks are not for the job. I used them in an epic 280km paved ride with only 2 small gravel roads sections (ca 10km in total) and I often found my self carrying the bike than the other way round in these sections. I just couldn't get traction uphill, and going down was scary, praying I didn't have to brake hard!

[@stuarthenderson7354]

I fancy Jones Bars on a gravel bike lots of hand positions and control, lots of room for bags etc Sits back and waits for the fireworks LOL

[@lebowskii98_9]

Good luck Katherine! Hope it gets a little cooler for the event. 39°C 😰!

[@elbowrinkles]

You are going to get your wish. The latest forecast for the DK course is a high of 28 C and partly cloudy. Should be comfortable

[@crimzonrazorxb4340]

Today is 95 tomorrow is suppose to be about 88 which is cool this time of year. Our high humidity is worse then the heat.

[@elbowrinkles]

I don't think it will get above 82 or 83, but yes the humidity out here will be a factor

[@ClockCutter]

Payday is a peanut and gooey caramel confection candy bar. But I hear people do make their own, so maybe they put marsh mellow in it. I love Paydays, but for some reason I never thought of taking them out on rides until know. I don't know why not. Unlike chocolate, cookies, and a lot of other stuff, they would hold up very well and wouldn't stick to the packaging even in hot weather, since the peanuts surround the caramel. The nutritional profile might not be ideal for short rides or serious training, but for a long ride it looks like a decent profile. 14g total fat. 2g sat fat. 27g carbs. 6g protein. 180mg sodium. No potassium.

[@chrisnelson5770]

Good luck on the DK, it's on my 2019 ride list! I wanted to share my experience on tires, I've ridden the Almanzo 100 on 28mm semi-slicks (T-Servs) and 4" Fat B Nimble tires (see profile pic of the fatbike). For my bike handling skills (poor), I like a larger tire when descending at 35+ mph, and I'm strong enough on climbs that the extra tire mass doesn't hurt (too much). Frankly, tire choice is really up to the right tire for the right rider on the right conditions - not exactly helpful advice, sorry.

[@phillippitts6294]

Double chainrings. The big gaps between gears on a single chainring .

[@BenLubin]

are not a problem

[@mjsylver]

Not. a gravel but health question. What type of natural or commercial food, bar etc would you suggest for those of us that are pre-diabetic with high A1C levels?

[@pobg]

LOVE.HER

[@vijayvj5970]

Do a review of Mach City Munich single speed cycle...!!!

[@amyiwan]

Hi GCN, can you talk about transitioning from casual rider on say a hybrid to becoming enthusiast on a road bike with low handlebars? I search high and low. I almost got discouraged doing this when I experienced neck/shoulder/back pain even with the correct bike fitting. Can you confirm this is normal, to suffer a little with muscle soreness/discomfort before getting used to riding better road bikes that will eventually be a much more comfortable long bike rides compared to the more upright posture of regular bikes? Should I do more conditioning on those muscle areas or just cycle more? Thank you for making your videos informative and not too complicated to understand-Amy C.

[@crimzonrazorxb4340]

It's 95 here today hope you guys are ready for our Kansas heat. Welcome to Kansas the greatest place in the world for fast gravel.

[@crimzonrazorxb4340]

Suppose to be 85 tomorrow thats cool weather here this time ayear yay.

[@olliemaynard4143]

Double on the road bike and a homemade 1x10 on the cross bike

[@peterdowney6085]

best of luck katherine

[@garybc]

Would love to have a single chain ring gravel bike. :)

[@robertbotta6536]

Hi great video and perhaps I am a bit late but…. What do you think is the number one best tire for the DK? I heard the Specialized Pathfinder Pro 42. I love the tread and reinforced sidewalls but unfortunately they do not make 40 and the 42 is just a hair too tight. I want a 40. What would you recommend?

[@geoffreydoyle4034]

all my bikes (road, TT, gravel and MTB) are 1x ... never looking back

[@johnrodgers6049]

A follow up on the gravel road hard tail mountain bike comment. I prefer the gravel bike to the hard tail. My wife prefers the mountain bike. On gravel roads I like the speed of the gravel bike. Maybe an episode comparing the two? Clearly a hard tail on technical downhills will be faster but on 50 plus miles of gravel roads I’d take the gravel bike any day.

[@LindyLooo99]

28C is woefully insufficient in Texas.... on the Rails to Trails in America, with the crushed Limestone, 28's are fine...

[@ryoiter]

Question was specific type of different treads goes with what gravel or surface your riding on. anyway thats what I understood the question to be. Not Answered?????

[@manankaramchandani8137]

I had a question Do expensive bikes' parts have a more risk of getting damaged than a cheap bike?

[@DeanJohnson67]

Way to tough it out and complete DK 200 this weekend Katherine!!

[@gcn]

Thanks Dean!

[@nootnoot1463]

Can we have a time trial week sometime?