Yeah, the brief period once we started heading south but before the winds shifted back to a headwind coincided with the warmest part of the day, which made it feel warmer, I think.
It was brutal in 2019…people dropping like flies. But I was also surprised by what seemed like a pretty high dropout rate this year. There were supposedly 1200 riders in the 200, but only ~900 finished. 25% DNF seems really high for what was, IMO, close-to-ideal conditions.
Volume and more volume has been the key for me pushing the power curve further out. With good fueling, cooling, and hydration, upper Z2 basically becomes a “forever” wattage.
Ironically, I did an AIFTP check the week prior to unbound and it suggested a reduction in FTP from 308 down to 300w. It was a slight point of concern a week before my biggest race of the year, but I decided it had no f’n idea what it was talking about… I don’t think my FTP is much above 308 (if at all), but I know it has not been dropping. I have been hitting power PR’s for long durations over the past month. Clearly, whatever AI is being used has a bias toward shorter efforts and is ignoring the longer stuff when estimating FTP. Not bashing on AIFTP here, I find it pretty close when I’m doing normal interval stuff and never do ramp tests anymore.
I think there’s definitely an element of error in it at certain times reflected by the type of workouts you’ve been doing, as opposed to what you can do. I had it suggest a drop recently, declined it, and then went out and tested +10W soon after using longer form testing. Basically, the work I’d been doing had it fooled a little bit.
I have personally always had difficulty with AI FTP settings and Ramp Tests (and I don’t just mean the ones in TR). The AI models all seem to overvalue short/shorts. I can almost guarantee my Intervals.icu AI FTP will go up every time I do all out 30/30s. It will then creep back down over time until I do 30/30s again. This is why I now do the Kolie Moore Test.
Agreed…my IF was .72, as well. It should also be noted that the final IF represents a pretty steep drop in intensity after dropping off the bigger groups. I was at .85 for the first two hours and I’m guessing @grwoolf had similar numbers for the first few hours of the race. So to end up down at .72 means that the later part fo the race was done at a significantly lower intensity in order to finish up at .72.
Agreed…my AIFTP went down 5 points the week before the race. Some of that was certainly due to a lack of training time 3 weeks out when I was in Italy, but I think the bigger issue is as noted…favoring higher intensity workouts towards raising FTP.
Lachlan’s win put a huge smile on my face. Easy guy to pull for, especially as the race has evolved with all the road race and euro/WT influence. I know Lachlan is ex WT, but he’s a different cat and pretty far removed from that world. Watching him get/stay away while the group behind is playing road tactics makes it that much more satisfying. I didn’t hear anyone picking him as a favorite (myself included), but he did get 3rd last year and the dude knows how to mix up a race.
Some pretty pointed comments afterwards by Peyson (big surprise) about negative racing in the front pack. I give him a bit of a pass since he’s a MTB guy, but I’m just not a fan of folks complaining about race tactics that are within the rules. It’s OK to pressure others to do more work during the race, but complaining/reporting afterwards is just a bad look. A great result for him though. And dylan’s result is probably going to break the internet with mtb tires and lauf “aero” fork debates. Lauf and conti are probably going to have to double production. If you can’t fit 2.2’s in your gravel bike, it’s time for a new bike, right?
In 2019, he (and Phinney) represented the end of the SoG…5 years later he is it’s savior. 
I didn’t really take it as negative as much as an honest assessment of how gravel has changed (assuming you are talking about his post-race IG). In the space of a year, it went from a war of attrition to a tactical race, where it was not just about grinding down your rivals.
Lifetime just posted that the race highlight videos are dropping shortly… 
What kit is this. I like it
I have to be honest, I’ve sort of been considering if I want a suspension fork for next year anyways and it has me thinking between that or a suspension stem. (Still acquiring parts - not sure I’ll build up the bike until after Leadville this year)
Suspension is 100% coming to gravel at this point…lot of Lauf bikes on Saturday and with big names like Keegan now using suspension forks on their bikes, it is all but inevitable IMO.
I don’t have any issue with Payson and I understand what he’s saying, but saying the racing is “negative” implies that these newer roadie guys are doing something wrong. Especially for folks who don’t understand racing tactics. And the comments I heard almost downplayed the Lachlan/Haga performance by sort of implying that they only won because the roadies were playing roadie games rather than doing an organized chase (which is probably dead on, but not the way to say it at the finish line).
I always look at these guys in the eyes of a sponsor. How is Payson selling more allied bikes or SRAM groupsets by making those comments at the finish line? Just celebrate/congratulate the winners (and his own great result) and then he can talk about the negative racing next week on his podcast. Meh, I like happy finishers. Dylan was over the f-in moon post race with his 10th place, pretty stoked for him.
I’ve been running a redshift stem a couple years now, it’s been a game changer for me on chunky courses. I’ve thought about a fork and have ridden a lauf, but it doesn’t feel that much different than the stem to me (a little more travel, but also a little more bounce). A dampened fork has some appeal over the stem, but not sure it makes sense from a weight/aero standpoint.
While I think the fork would be better in certain scenarios, 99% I will just do the stem. I think as an all-around gravel rig, it’s going to be better for the type of stuff I ride (and, less expensive). Have to keep reminding myself I have a really nice XC Bike and all of these races are just already expensive competitions with myself.
At the same time, trying not to start thinking ahead to the “Unbound 2025” Thread - Need to get through Leadville First 
BROOKLYN MATT 2.0 Hedge · Aerosuit · Men – Gobik…_gaMjEzNTM5NDY3MS4xNzE3MzQ1NzYy*_ga_QD7SEEVSC6*MTcxNzQ1MDYwNC4yLjAuMTcxNzQ1MDYwNC42MC4wLjEwNzUyMjk4OTM.
Worked great all day.
Were those comments Payson made at the finish line?
This was the IG post I was referring to and it doesn’t come across as negative to me…but maybe I missed what he said right after the race.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7uNfz5O6F1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
A pretty good view from the front of the pro race. The bike handling is impressive, no way I’d be comfortable in those rough sections that tight with others. I can see why they have so many flats at the pointy end, there is just no way to pick your line when you are right on someone else’s wheel. I’m also blown away by how big the group was 100 miles into the race. Looks like 50+ guys still there at that point.
Personal opinion, but I think that is more than sufficient for gravel racing / riding.
I’m not convinced that there is a “need” for suspended bikes (i.e. forks) in gravel, but again, when some of the big names start doing it, it is likely a strong indicator that it is coming shortly. I saw more than a few bikes with the Fox forks this weekend.
I have the same exact thoughts.
However I think I need to remember these folks at the point end are going 20mph+ for 200 miles! Suspension might benefit them more than your avg joe (speaking for myself at least). So I am not sure how much of a pro set up I should copy. But no doubt suspension will play a bigger role going fwd.
I am curious to see what happens with tire clearance because it is a lot more complicated than ppl think.
