UNBOUND HAPPENED

+SPEEDCLUB MEDIA
This past weekend two of our SpeedClub warriors took on the legendary beast that is Unbound Gravel.  Unbound is the world’s premier gravel race, a 200-mile gravel gauntlet famous for its brutal length and unforgiving terrain. Representing SpeedClub, we had Dr. Allen and MG toeing the line, ready for battle. 

MG, our resident pro, has been hulk-smashing through everything in his way this Spring. However, it seems the gravel gods were not impressed by his prowess of raw speed and aggression. MG found Unbound’s mileage a very different experience. His hopes were high for the day, but as the miles dragged on, so did MG’s legs. Let’s just say Michael's experience was an eye-opener on what it takes to balance a diverse calendar of speed and distance. See more below.  

MGR CORNER
I’m leaving Kansas without what I was hoping for in terms of performance, but I’m taking home another year of experience as we learn through this incredibly diverse calendar of racing. The Spring was phenomenal, with tons of results and I was certainly riding high. 

My prep for Unbound, well, let’s just say it was a bit underestimated. I did believe I could tackle this 200-mile beast even with such a packed Spring. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. The race was faster than ever, with a peloton of over 80 guys still remaining through mile 100. 

I eventually came off the group, knowing my body wasn’t on the best of days, and shortly had to shift from race mode to finish mode. There were moments where I questioned my sanity, myself, and why on earth I ever thought this was a good idea. But I kept pushing, because that's what we do. We’ve all been there.  

Sure, the race didn’t go as planned, but not every race is a highlight reel. I’m here to learn through this calendar, to represent, and to carry the countless lessons forward into the coming years. 

I'm writing this as I make my way to Oklahoma for Tulsa Tough. I love the ups and downs of life as a cyclist. Last weekend felt like an eternity of suffering, and now I’ve got a red-hot fire burning to race FULL GAS this weekend. I’m so excited to be back in my comfort zone- the heated arena that is crit racing. My BMC Teammachine SLR01 now has special upgrades from our friends at CeramicSpeed - a new OSPW RS ALPHA and CeramicSpeed BB86 BB. The Teammachine is being transported in the safety of a new indestructible Buxumbox travel case - available for Members to use (we have two in the Studio now).  We are leaving nothing to chance. 

Look for me in the new HOT CORAL kit, you can’t miss it!

Happy riding, 

MG