To confirm 60-75%
Yes, 60-75%
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Yeah, that is not a good recipe for Unbound.
As Cory noted, you should not go above FTP for more th a few seconds. The exception to this would be in the beginning of the race when you are sticking with the main group and you hit a few hills. But even then, you gotta know when to cut the rope and just ride your pace.
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Easily. Iāll usually put tires on 1-2 weeks in advance.
Sometimes even the day before a big ride (although on a tire/rim combo I know works from prior experience). Although Iām not recommending this!
Main point is thereās a balance. Not too soon where you wear out the tire; but give enough time to fully seat/seal.
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Thatās fine as long as you take them back off & wait to put them on closer to the race.
You donāt want to DK on thin rubber. Use a fresh tire.
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@ABG Iāve done that ride in regular coure bibs, a coure skinsuit, and a kit I had custom made in Columbia. Comfort-wise there was no difference between any of those for me. If youāre gonna race it youāre gonna be uncomfortable at the end no matter what. ;-D
If youāre a rider who depends on jersey pockets for food/maintenance storage youāll have to pick your skinsuit wisely. Mine had a couple pockets so it was no prob. If I was gonna DK this year Iād do it in my skinsuit. Thereās no downside (for me) and I know from testing itās quite a bit faster than my bibs.
I am thinking about ordering one seems like bioracer, nopinz, castille, ralph make good kits. I like my assos bibs the most but not sure on there skinsuit. Most speed suits have 2 or 3 pockets. I have done one gravel race in a skin suit in the past and it worked out ok.
Minimal gains items
speed suit ā have not pulled the trigger and my skinsuit is good for only about 50 miles velotech
aero helmet - i have
aero socks - i have
aero gloves?
shoe covers - too warm for those
ridley Kanzo fast - i have, only thing I might change is to a sram cassette and through axles, will also run inserts
Sure, why not? You can pick up some velotoze gloves forā¦what? Maybe $30? Iāve got a couple pair of those & theyāre fine but not as much padding as a typical endurance road glove.
If I was going to pick a bike that would be it.
What tires? I ran gravel king SK on that north route but depending on the weather Iād probably go with the slicks.
Iām running to specialize pathfinder pros with inserts
Iām in over my head, there. No experience with (tire) inserts.
That makes two of us
@ABG probably the most important thing you can do for yourself is develop a set of rules for the start of the race. Know ahead of time what the make-or-break data is thatās going to decide whether you try to go with a group or dial it back and join the next group. Pacing that first 20 miles is soooo important.
If youāre gonna race for the whole enchilada then itās simple: do whatever you have to in order to stay with the lead group. Otherwise set a 2min avg HR or 5min avg power bogey so that youāve got an objective number to look at and make the decision. Without something like that itās very difficult to dial back the excitement and let a just-a-bit-to-fast wheel go.
Next most important thing: always be communicating with the riders around you. Gather them up. Get them organized. Itās gonna pay off big. Canāt tell you how many times I said, āWant to ride together? Iām not going to pull you around all day but if you want to work with me letās do it.ā The only guy who ever said ānoā is that gravel cyclist guy. He wonāt ride with me ever! 
If there are three of you convince them to wait for another two. Always askā¦stick with other riders. It will make a big difference. Later in the race when you come up on somebodyās wheel donāt just hang out thereā¦let them know youāre there & ready to pull through when you can. Everybody gets grumpy towards the end so it helps to communicate.
Swapping pulls with 4 other riders is worth 2x the most expensive equipment you can buy, IMO.
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My goal is to build a set of rules for my self in the next 8 weeks. On May 22nd I have a 200k gravel race. This will be my final test prior to Unbound.
This week, I learned that I need to limit time above FTP to be successful. I hope this week to add a 7 hour ride, I am going to limit time above ftp this week and see how I feel.
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Got my race tires today. Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge Endurance Plus, 700x42. Arundel stainless steel bottle cages came as well, Orange Mud Endurance Pack V3.0 in white should be here tomorrow.
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I am looking forward to a solid weekend of training.
Quarq on my race bike is acting up, might have to ship that out to be repaired. Glad I have two gravel bikes.
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Another Saturday, another 100+ miles. 3rd in as many weeks. Happy with how I feel after 126miā¦could have gone longer, but glad I didnāt have to today. IF of .72 and a 16.2MPH avg. Pretty chill day overall, sunny and 60ās. Overfueled at around mile 100, got a bit of race gut but it passed around 110 so then I could try and race the sun home. Wife is making schnitzel and then Iām crashing outā¦recovery ride tomorrow.
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Forgive me for asking ABG, are you in this to try win it? Your training and prep makes you sound legit. Iād never go to the lengths you are so itās interesting to see a winners mindset.
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My main goal is to make the lead group and hang on as long as I can. Iām pretty big at 200lbs, which hurts my ability to compete in something like this. Seeing Ted kings and Dylan Johnsonās numbers from these rides showed me I donāt have āitā
In 2020 I changed my mindset on my approach to a few things. If you Fail to prepare you have prepared to fail. And this has transferred over to this year. With so much energy being put into the event I want to make sure I donāt make some small mistake that will be detrimental that I could have prevented.
Good thing for me, is giving my best will be enough to make me happy.
5am wake up for a 120mile gravel ride today. Going to work on my pacing and limit time above ftp. Also riding with someone who has done unbound a few times so going to ask questions.
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Man I got my ass beat today.
Issues
- Spd pedals need to be loosened. Iām not getting enough float
- Road shoes and mountain shoes are both the same shoe, but have different insole in mountain shoe, have blue and need red.
- That was 4x longer on one ride then I had worn my mountain shoes previously. I have only worn them a few times.
These small issues resulted in IT band tightness and soreness 5 hours into my 8 hour ride today. Will need to ice and take it easy might bump up my recovery week to get 100%. I had a massage Thursday and was feeling great and no issues on Saturday workout, thought I had gotten on top of the issue.
Good
- 120 miles, 8hr, 460tss, IF of .76. 12000ā of climbing
- Pacing was under control until It wasnāt. This route was so hilly half of the 20 hills are 15-20% with loose gravel.
- 5 hours of in my own head time and was ok with it
- Rode 30miles prior to meeting the group and was quickly able to determine pressure was too low at 32f 35r. Bumped it up to 35f 39r, tyrewiz made this very simple to determine.
- Fueling was good. Ran liter bottles with 500cal of homemade mix. Sis gels. Still prob didnāt eat enough.
Frustrated
Itās so hard for me to find a gravel course that isnāt hilly. Todayās gravel had nothing smooth, just beat me up all day. This ride was less tss then last weeks 6hour ride, but my body is sore, my taint is crushed.
Iām up to 8hrs on a training ride and I have 60 days to be ready and 50days till my 200k race, I Feel like Iām track. 5 of my last 6 weeks are minimal of 800tss. All systems are firing, now to work out shoe and pedal issue.
Can I do unbound on a shimano road cleat?
Thank you for this thread. A stretch goal of mine is to finish an Unbound. This has been very enlightening and Iām looking forward to seeing where it goes.