Cycling wise, I've not been doing too well. Only averaging around 100 miles/week. But, I am offsetting this with a lot of running, so my aerobic fitness is good. I know this is inadequate for a race like Unbound so I am trying to do more cycling moving forward. Hoping to get in a few century rides and also back to back (ie, Saturday and Sunday) long rides. This is similar to what I did for SBT GRVL. Not the same race distance 200mi vs 142mi) but it sufficed. It's not the best but it is what it is.

I just sent my withdrawal/postpone email (typing 1-handed) since I've spent the last two months with either a brace or cast on my wrist and couldn't even ride the trainer. I had wrist surgery last week so who knows when I can ride again. But I will be there to spectate and help out with whatever EricW needs for the expo.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Aww sorry to hear that. Hope you can try again next year

It's interesting that Lifetime has started a waitlist for this event. Not sure I can recall Unbound/DK ever having a waitlist. I always thought their policy was you get in via lottery (or camp) and there's no transferring entries and no waitlist. And now, all of a sudden, for 2024 there is.

Do you think they are seeing a lot of people either withdrawing or postponing their entry until next year? Or were there not as many applicants, in the lottery, and combined with a large number of deferrals/drops, the number of participants is not as high as usual? Any impact of the mud disaster from last year on participant's interest level (and thus the need for a waitlist)?

That is interesting. They have a pretty generous refund/deferral policy, would guess more people than normal taking advantage.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

I'll probably be a deferral or straight up refund option. Can't make it out this year and expecting a child late this year so training and having support for the 200 next year would be questionable at best since my support was going to be just my wife.

Anyone know if they'd allow a deferral from the 200 to the 100? I could probably manage the 100 without support outside of an emergency bailout if needed.

We are heading out with the SLOWTWITCH GOODLIFE Racing Team. Huge presence. Stop by the booth and say hello

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E-DUB
Chief Janitor @Slowtwitch
Life is short. Dont be mad all the time.

Yes, they will allow people to move down from the 200 to 100 miler. Email Treva Worrell at
unboundgravel@ltevents.zendesk.com
I believe you can also change onsite, but I wouldn't wait until then.

Anyone know if this event always falls on the first Saturday of June or any other pattern?

I had to defer my entry this year to 2025 and am trying to book a hotel as far out as possible in Emporia for 2025, but obviously want to make sure I pick the right weekend.

Wasn't sure if they'd do a race on Saturday May 31st or if they'd hold it the following weekend and on Saturday June 7th in 2025.

Just replying to bump this thread.

Think things are going well. CTL getting close to 90. Had 5 (soon to hopefully be 6) 1000 TSS weeks. So hay is mostly in the barn. Through Sunday is my last hard week. Mostly long zone 3 stuff outside and zwift races to get some intensity. Nothing fancy.

Weight is down. FTP is up. So hard to argue with that.

Think I have my gear and nutrition sorted. Using a small hydration pack with water and 2 bottles of UCAN that I can fill/swap out at the checkpoints. Some homemade bars in my pockets. Got one of those new Silca Granita saddle bags and it's been great. Can fit everything I could plausibly need in there. Messed around with tires and wheels a lot. Settled on 2.1" Schwalbe G-One Bite on 27.5" wheels. That wheelset is a lot lighter than my 700c wheelsets, even with the bigger tires, doesn't seem like I'm giving up much speed and it is a lot more comfortable on really chunky stuff. No inserts, but pretty generous with the stans race sealant.

Interested in hearing how others are doing.

Andy

I'm pretty happy with my training to date. I've still been swimming and running and that along with the biking had my total volume ~26 hrs last week. Sunday's ride was a century with over 6K of climbing. Unfortunately, I popped at mile 90 and limped home. It was in the 80's with a clear sky and I think that along with the prior week's load slayed me. Plan is to go easy this week, hard next, then taper the last.

Sunday's ride made me realize I have 0 heat acclimatization so far this spring. I did this race in '19 and it was really warm if not hot and now that has me worried. Hopefully we'll get some heat in the next two weeks to get a feel for it.

I just sent an email asking if I can do the 100 instead of the 200. I've been doing a lot of 80 mile rides, with 5,000+ ft of gain, but I don't feel like that is adequate to cover the 200 distance, especially when I've seen anywhere from 10,500 to almost 12,000ft elevation gain listed for the new 200 route.

As far as the 100 goes, the Unbound site says something like 3,800ft elevation gain. Someone in the FB group rode the route over the weekend and had 5,000+ ft of gain.

That's an epic 2024!!

December looks light though...I think u need to add IMNZ70.3WC and then u have the full Monty of epicness

Your training sounds adequate to finish the 200 if we have a decent weather day. We're doing the same route I did in '19 and I checked my Garmin and it was 9K. Ton of rolling hills and a few grinders. I think there were two spots I had to get off and push the bike up mostly due to no traction and steep grade. The last 50 miles were fast and flat to downhill (maybe even tailwind).

I've only ridden that part of the country once and I thought it was really beautiful out there. Of course, the weather will play a big role in how enjoyable it will be.

I'm looking at as a challenge, not a race, and I plan to use the entire morning, day, and night to finish it. Not sure what your goal is but I'd encourage you to stick with the 200. Nothing makes you feel more alive than surviving a near death experience :)

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yeah, I'm having a real battle in my head debating what to do. I feel very confident I can finish the 100 (barring some crazy mechanical or crash, of course). With the 200, it's just so much more potential for something to go wrong.

Interesting, but not surprising, to see demographics of start lists...

https://www.webscorer.com/...646866&et_attr1=

M50-59 representing big time in the 100 and 200.

I'm in for 200. And well, I'm 53.

I was looking at the start list too and then it hit me that @60 they change to 10 year age groups. That doesn’t seem fair in that just a few years at that age has a much greater difference then in the younger age groups. A 69 year old competing against a 60 year has a big disadvantage. Age discrimination 😀