Unbound 2024 - Survive or Thrive?

Welcome to the big show! Whenever 5,000+ gravel cyclists show up to Emporia Kansas to ride the Flint Hills, things always get wild. It ended up being a pretty decent day on the Surly Midnight Special for me, but even good day of 100+ miles of gravel in the Flint Hills are going to have plenty of challenges. Special thanks to Ottawa Bike and Trail for excellent SAG support as always, and Orange Mud for my entry to ‪@LifeTimeGrandPrix‬ Unbound. Not sure if we will make it to any more of the Lifetime Grand Prix races this year, but this one was certainly a big day out. And thanks to you for watching and supporting the channel, if you're interested in your very own BOTGP hat, hit us up on our socials!
Please support the companies that support us at BOTGP!
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Music in this episode includes:
Lars Eriksson - (Stay) True
Velvet Moon - Balcony
Blood Red Sun - Heart & Soul
Zorro - Trophy Wife
Will Harrison - Against the Grain
#unbound #unboundgravel #gravelcycling #surlybikes #gravel #kansasgravel

[@davidhagan691]

A man after my own heart, I always greet the cows and horses I come across on my rides.

[@backofthegravelpack]

I get even more excited for donkeys!

[@bikepackerfr]

🙋🏻‍♂️

[@gjabo178]

Surprising to see people walking their bikes. Good on you for riding through it all

[@backofthegravelpack]

Some are probably just walking because of the backups with that many people, but I agree its worth trying to ride if you can.

[@Al.2]

Regular folks on pros gearing.

[@cccycling5835]

Sometimes you have to walk a section if there’s too much slow traffic also. Normally, I’d try to ride that, but I’m not risking crashing into somebody else who’s walking.

[@backofthegravelpack]

There were a few uphills that had folks walking, but many more on those technical downs and stream crossings that I think were more just backup related. 5,000 people is a bunch to fit through those spots haha

[@jcmuellner]

Bravo, probably the best race video ever!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Much appreciated!

[@chrisclougherty1261]

Great video, Rich! And great job getting it out so quick. Liked everything about it. I hope you get a lot of views.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it. And I have my fingers crossed it does well again this year haha.

[@brif56]

Congratulations Rich! You finished strong, very inspiring content. The fact you rode the race with a Surly inspired me a lot. I have a Soma Doble Cross (Tange Prestige steel) that I ride with 650x42 tires. I wanted to ask you if it makes that much difference comfort wise doing this race with a steel frame over a carbon one? Also, any tire width recommendations for this event? Keep the good work!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you. I think a steel frame does help with the conform level for sure. There are some well built carbon frames that offer some of that same comfort though I suppose so each to their own. I've ridden this event and many like it quite a few times now on a few different bikes. There are arguments for them I suppose. For tires, I would suggest something in at least the low 40s or bigger. 650x42 be a fine tire choice. The northern route is for sure chunkier in some places though, so just make sure you think about that with tire choice. good luck!

[@saddleweary2777]

You've made the best Inbound again. Glad you keep doing them.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate that very much!

[@billyblanco8106]

Winners are finishers...and finishers are winners...U R A WINNER...Chapeau !!!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks very much!

[@myroccbox8877]

Nice job Red!! Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Awesome job!! Loved the timing of you getting to see the winners go ripping past.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you. I was a bit sad to get caught, but it was cool to see them so close to the end of the race

[@royrcf]

Excellent video, informative entertaining and above all inspiring. The filming was some of the best onboard I have seen, great work. Look forward to the next one.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you, really appreciate those comments!

[@ruthrodden7264]

Thanks for sharing the ride with us!

[@backofthegravelpack]

You bet, thanks for watching!

[@solarheat9016]

Thanks for making this video. It feels just like I was there. I'm glad the weather behaved and there weren't bad muddy spots.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Glad you enjoyed it, and I very much agree haha.

[@sw6493]

Great video of the Unbound experience and nice capture of Lachlan near the finish.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bmthoma6]

Rich, great job all around - on the bike, behind and in front of the camera, and at the editing desk.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it.

[@PastorKwangle]

Well done! Thanks for bringing us along with you!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@BIIIKES]

Great video as always. Your channel provides the best on course feel for races, hands down. I did the 100 yesterday as well and you really captured what it was like out there. When the heat and cramps kicked in, trying not to admit that when we felt like dog poop, etc haha. Top notch and congrats on an amazing race time!! I ended up getting 4 punctures between miles 75 and 92 at Americus. I really hit a low point there mentally and physically but ended up getting 'r done. Great job again 💪

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks so much, and good job powering through to finish! That stretch above Kahola can certainly eat some tires.

[@GMitchellAR]

Great ride and video Rich. I always look forward to them.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Much appreciated!

[@nickrodina8055]

Good to see you out there on the course. Thanks for putting this video together. You did a good job of covering the whole course with footage and content.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Likewise Nick, great ride! Thanks for watching.

[@momojes_3]

Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed all the coverage on Instagram from all the great accounts this time around but I was waiting for your vlog since I believe you capture what it's like for all of us normal gravel grinders.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@Hubertalcala]

Awesome! Congratulations, Rich! 👏👏👏

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks so much!

[@leighdeluca7282]

Awesome aspect of the day, thanks for sharing mate 👍🏻

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@estelja]

Authentic content!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ericleszkowicz898]

Also that is so cool that you got to see the leaders on their surge to the finish…..and you might end up on TV!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Probably when I was cussing out the helicopter for kicking up all that dust haha!

[@pedalposting]

Another man repping the Periwinkle Midnight Special! Same as mine. Sick vid king

[@backofthegravelpack]

Legend! Thanks for watching!

[@mikebaltierra]

It was my first time doing unbound (100) I had a great time. I suffered with cramps after mike 60 or so until the end. I'm glad I finished

[@backofthegravelpack]

Nice work! I think lots of folks had cramping issues out there. I'm just glad it wasn't warmer out.

[@mikebaltierra]

@@backofthegravelpack I have myself 12 to finish. Finished in just a tad over 10. Total move time was 8.5 hours I wasn't sure if I'd even make it to the event. I had lumbar surgery mid March. I was emotional when I crossed that finish line

[@backofthegravelpack]

That is awesome, congrats! Glad you had a memorable experience.

[@Joe_Sa_3rd]

Great content Rich... I can relate to your effort as a four time Unbound participant. Thanks for sharing...

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks very much!

[@Cj-vt1uf]

awesome video ! glad to see you getting so many views !

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks CJ. Maybe someday they'll all do this well, but for now Unbound is always the biggie haha.

[@alanatkins3769]

Great video! Thanks for all the coverage this week. Having serious FOMO since I was there in '19. #cantucrew

[@backofthegravelpack]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@callahanlumber]

Great job on the video and the ride. We shared a climb or two together out there right after the impromptu coke stand. Thanks for capturing the day!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Those are some tough climbs, nice work!

[@paulvillavicencio5402]

great ride and footage on the Hundy . I'm about a couple hours behind you guys .

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you, hope you had a good day out there!

[@DunderOz]

Well done. You're a legend 👏🏽

[@backofthegravelpack]

Ha, many thanks! I'm just happy to help folks see what these roads are like.

[@GG108CT]

Congratulations. A good day for you. Just found your channel. Enjoyed your take on the ride. Be well

[@backofthegravelpack]

Welcome aboard, thanks for watching!

[@CyclistJack56]

Great effort, Great video, so now I know what the Unbound 100miles looked like :-D. We did the Rebound 100miles ( the for those out side Kansas who can't join the real Unbound) we had a lot of mud tho.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yea getting in can be tough. You only have to live pretty close to town to get in automatically so I feel your pain. I think I went a 4 or 5 year stretch of not getting drawn.

[@dean_ov_az]

Congrats, great ride! Thanks for sharing

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks for watching!

[@speedy1490]

Found this Channel threw your Midnight Special Build many moons ago as a big Surly Fan myself. (I own a Straggler and Bridge Club and was originally thinking about getting a Midnight special instead of the Straggler.) So cool too (still) see you riding that Bike on events like this. Did you ever try the original Steel Fork in your Midnight Special to see if the stiffness problem is solved? A friend of mine in Germany runs a MS in size 64. Hes a heavy Guy as well, and also has problems with the stiffness, especially if heavy loaded on the front. But according to him its the Frame flexing, mainly because the downtube is somewhat undersized on the larger Frames. But thats also what makes this Bike supple and nice to ride. So everything has its pros and cons.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Nice! I did not not try it with the original fork. I wish I would have. I have heard from at least three or four folks that have the same whiskey fork and same issue as me though, so I'm confident we can make it at least better with a different fork.

[@michaelfinch7778]

Great video Rich! I really enjoyed it. Heckuva ride too btw. Well done!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks Mike glad you enjoyed it, and good ride for you as well!

[@claymcclendon]

Great talking with ya from Kahola Hill! Great Vid! Next time in Bentonville, come say hi!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Likewise Clay, great riding with you. Hope that drive home Saturday night wasn't too bad.

[@brianwaugh9249]

Hey @backofthegravelpack. Great ride, Thanks for sharing! Curious, how did you like the Surly MS vs the Gorilla Monsoon for this ride?? I am between the two, but leaning toward the MS for its 'sportiness'. Curious to hear your thoughts since you own both!! Particularly how it handles on the 'rough bits'?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate that. As far as the bikes, the Midnight special for sure. The GM was much more at home with a bikepacking load, and could rally smooth out some rough stuff, but the sporty feel of the MS is much more to my liking for a ride like this.

[@matthewdennis9456]

Really enjoyed the video. Thank you! Would be curious to know what your tech setup is (camera, batteries, settings, mounts, etc). Just filmed my first couple races and have a lot to learn to bring production up to this level. 👏🏽

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate that. I'm going to do a video soon of my bike and camera setup, stay tuned!

[@MisterE331]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing your ride. Would you mind posting the strava link of the 100 mile route?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Coming soon!

[@ericleszkowicz898]

Great edit leaving the gasping on the uphill time lapse 😂

[@backofthegravelpack]

It is an important part of the experience!

[@chadkelly1920]

Good job man. Great content as always.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate it!

[@IowaNinersFan]

Looks like fun. Hoping to see you next year in Emporia for my first ride there.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Awesome hope so thanks for watching!

[@chrisoliver2543]

Well done-both the video and your ride!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@akactors]

Great job on the video, really enjoyed it.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you very much!

[@MichaelS-pr9qn]

Congratulations, Great Job!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

Nice job!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks for watching!

[@surly4130]

"Nutrition on the ground." LOL. Yeah, there were top shelf gels all over the course. It was like a poor man's Garmin to navigate the route.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Haha, poor man's Garmin, or wealthy man's breadcrumbs! It woulda been pretty hard to get lost out there.

[@bruceunruh1685]

What gearing did you use that enabled you to make all the climbs?

[@backofthegravelpack]

@bruceunruh1685 I had a 1x setup with a 40T up front and 10-52 rear cassette. More info on bike can be found in this episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWa9dKCMopdsn6M

[@thomasdailey4566]

Thrive! I’m interested in your merch. After my last DK-UG 50-mile in ‘21, I said “never again” (arthritis), but forgot that proclamation (70-years old). I started at Back of the 55-mile Gravel Pack Saturday, but with the clouds and fast cycle-cross bike (35 mm tires 50 psi), I improved my position 40% from 714th to 425 passing 289 riders. I love hills, like you, a clydesdale, fly downhill! Back of the Pack more fun for sure.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks Thomas! Sounds like an excellent day out there. If you have facebook or instagram, reach out to us there and we can get you the info for a hat purchase!

[@robbchastain3036]

I enjoyed your journeyman perspective, nice work, and why the walking sections, were they being cautious of flats or were they tired or what was happening there. And what about tire flats in general, a lot or fewer as tire sizes seem to be increasingly around the 50mm mark?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yea I think flat/risk aversion but also just some issues with backup too with that many people. I'd say the most common tire choices I see are still around 43 or so as that's what most bikes fit easily. We are able to run bigger tires on our tandem. They are nice for that bike but I'm ok with the 43c pathfinder pros I used on this bike.

[@robbchastain3036]

@@backofthegravelpack Thanks for your reply and interesting to see an obvious line on most roads or sections.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yep no worries thanks for watching!

[@Jinedan]

Great job, fun video!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you!

[@onlyspecialized]

Nice job and great video!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ZenEndurance]

Great video! What kind of camera were you using?

[@backofthegravelpack]

All of the on-bike stuff was either a gopro 10 or 9. The finish line was a Canon on a gimbal, and add in a few phone shots at the SAG.

[@jefalder]

kudos all around

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks so much!

[@harizavdic4893]

Can you ride unbound on a hardtail mountain bike. If you didn’t have a gravel bike.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yep you see less and less of them as gravel bikes have become more common, but still see some out there.

[@sixth77]

yesss!!! the first post!!

[@backofthegravelpack]

ummm...

[@karinjessop1046]

can any of us use Ottowa as a crew for hire or is this just for the special folks like you? and contrats on your day!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yes they do a crew for hire every year, so anyone can get the same great help I had!

[@SeanMatson]

They should instruct poeple to move out the way when walking there bikes that's ridiculous

[@backofthegravelpack]

I try not to affect other peoples experience out there too much, but it was tough to make it through some of those spots. Each to their own I guess, glad I was able to make it through eventually haha.

[@davidballesteros3635]

Why are they walking those sections? Too rocky?

[@airporteffect]

They do but nobody remembers in the moment. I politely reminded people and it didn’t help. The only thing that you can do is line up further in the pack with the stronger riders that are less likely to walk and have better etiquette if they do. It’s even worse on single track.

[@davidschiffer4448]

That section is really gnarly. And washed out from the rains the night before. I tried to ride up it just to have a few riders walk right in front of me. Oh well, it's normal for this race. So many first timers. Mostly everyone was well behaved most of the day. It was a lot of fun.

[@akactors]

How wide are your tires on tje Surly?

[@burger8954]

The true peoples champion!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Does Lifetime award a 🏆 for that?

[@burger8954]

@@backofthegravelpack They should have the best content creator award!

[@backofthegravelpack]

winner takes home a helicopters?

[@burger8954]

@@backofthegravelpack only at Big Sugar *sponsored by Walmart

[@rcbii]

Rolling through the start loading the route 😂

[@backofthegravelpack]

Can't say I haven't had route loading issues before, but I probably would have waited for a safer spot for that haha

[@SwattSoloWattaggio]

anyone know who is the photographer at the river crossing at 12:43?

[@backofthegravelpack]

I'm pretty sure that is North40 photography

[@johngriffith4330]

Shirts, Rich, Shirts!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Haha, Cassie says the same thing, so I guess we are going to have to get there at some point!

[@rwb2231]

Didn’t think you got a slot, we’re you on the wait list and got in?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Dis not get in through lottery, but I was lucky enough to get one through orange mud this year

[@heathdelzell9547]

Great job! You passed a bunch of people. You may have to rethink your channel name...

[@backofthegravelpack]

Haha, think I was still somewhere in the 600a for places. Just a bunch of people out there unbound day!

[@futureoflink]

Can someone fill me in why people are walking in those sections? Save tires, dangerous, what? Why not walk off to the side of the road?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Some of it could just be from the backup with that many people, but yea avoiding flats probably also comes into play. That first spot was a little tricky and I could see folks not wanting to ride. Creek crossing, sometimes you just gotta send it!

[@alanhickerson2345]

Yea just the sheer number of people when you hit those more challenging sections. Starts with a few people with lack of ability/skill to navigate it quicker than it can back up. Then at that point even if you wanted you can’t try it because of the traffic jam

[@Lsleszynski]

Just bunch of casuals way to worried about their bikes.

[@backofthegravelpack]

agreed

[@adamscott8497]

I rode that section doing the 200 and it wasn't that bad. Lots of good lines in there but yeah, just takes one person to stop to mess up the whole line.

[@roxic1212]

Saw you on Ty’s Rides 👍

[@backofthegravelpack]

Hope I looked majestic! Ty's the best

[@thefrener794]

Anyone who says watching other people ride bikes is boring have concrete in their eyes. Used to staring at concrete buildings all their lives.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Ok

[@thefrener794]

Lol had to edit, that did not make any sense before at all.

[@bruceperry1408]

Guess I would have to experience more gravel to understand all the walkers I saw and impolite.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Not sure I follow the impolite comment, but I think many of the folks walking were just the result of so many folks on the course at once. One or two people aren't comfortable riding a section and it backs up from there. Im sure many of those folks would have liked to ride those sections too, I was maybe just a bit more persistent?

[@troycarpenter3675]

Dirty kanza!

[@backofthegravelpack]

Think I still have a few cups and shirts around here somewhere...

[@BostilCensurado]

The spirit is so weak in this lot, i'll die before setting my feet in ground during a ride

[@backofthegravelpack]

Bold strategy Cotton!

[@mikecardwell6497]

Why is it that when people are walking their bikes they can’t do it on one side of the road . Let those that can ride go by , come wake up show some curtesy . If that doesn’t work for you then how about GET the HELL out of the way.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yea I hear ya. It gets a bit trick when there are that many people trying to get through. I imagine at least some of those folks woulda ridden too if it wasn't for the backup. I try not to affect other peoples ride much but I was just pretty committed to riding no matter what!