Garmin Unbound Gravel Magazine by The Emporia Gazette

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INSIDE 7

WELCOME TO EMPORIA

RACE WEEKEND IS HERE!

RACING FOR MORE THAN A PRIZE

PRO CYCLIST ALISON TETRICK RAISES MONEY TO HELP EMPORIA YOUTH.

PAVING THE WAY ON GRAVEL

CYCLISTS WORK TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN SPORT

GRAVEL HALL OF FAME

GRAVEL HALL OF FAME WILL BE LOCATED IN EMPORIA WITH THE FIRST CLASS INDUCTED.

INTERNATIONAL RIDERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES PREPARING FOR A RACE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY IN A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN.

THE RACE IS ON FOR 60 CYCLISTS COMPETING FOR A SHARE OF $250,000 PRIZE PURSE

COMING TO AMERICA

LIFE TIME GRAND PRIX

PINTS AND PEDALS

MEET THE MAN BEHIND UNBOUND’S SPECIAL RACE BREW

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

EDITOR Ashley Walker ADVERTISING Bri Julo Molly Mills ART DIRECTOR & DESIGN EDITOR Gisela Swift Mark Swift CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ashley Walker Chris Walker Richard Burkhard PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Mohn Dan Hughes ADVERTISING DESIGN Dan Ferrell Margie McHaley COVER DESIGN Shawn Honea UNBOUND Gravel Magazine is produced by the White Corporation. All content is copyrighted. No part, features, or look and feel of the magazine can be copied or duplicated without prior authorization.

For more information send certified mail to: UNBOUND Gravel Magazine, 517 Merchant, Emporia, KS 66801

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Emporia! Welcome to Emporia and Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 2022 presented by Craft — the world’s premier gravel event in the world’s premier gravel destination. Can you feel that UNBOUND energy? That contagious buzz that encapsulates our beloved little town and infuses every chunk of that world-class, sun-baked gravel? That’s just the beginning of all our team at Life Time has in store for your epic adventure in the Flint Hills. First, Emporia. Take a moment to soak up every rolling hill of the Kansas prairie that surrounds our uniquely cozy community. Don’t leave without exploring all the natural beauty, local shops and stunning scenery Emporia has to offer! Second, UNBOUND. From 34 riders in 2006 to today’s full weekend of good food, great conversation, All Things Gravel Expo, and miles and miles of tire-shredding gravel, you’ll quickly learn why the Flint Hills are best explored on two wheels. During your time in Emporia, make sure to lean into the full experience — hop on a community ride, get the kids involved, enjoy the finish fest and uncover a new, UNBOUND version of yourself on the other side. Finally, Life Time. The world’s premier healthy lifestyle brand has pulled out all the stops to give you a one-of-a-kind off-road experience. UNBOUND is the second stop on North America’s newest off-road cycling series: the 2022 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Don’t miss the action as 60 of the nation’s best cyclists pedal toward their share of the $250,000 prize! We know all the hard work and hours you invested to get to Emporia this weekend. Now, it’s finally here. Hop back in that saddle, breathe in the beauty and enjoy the ride. Your UNBOUND Gravel Team UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

RACING

FOR MORE THAN A PRIZE 8

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

By Chris Walker

Alison Tetrick may be best known for her record: the fastest woman to complete UNBOUND at 11:41:40. So, at her fifth UNBOUND race, what could she possibly want to accomplish this year? Race for another win? No. Set another course record? No. Instead, Alison is giving back to the Emporia community this year in ways that may not gain her a medal, but will certainly do a lot of good for cycling. She will not only be helping to raise funds for an Emporia youth biking program, NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), but she will also act as a pace-setter for those in the race who want to “beat the sun.” “I will not be racing for the win this year,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to making it a special day. Less pressure about racing and more about how I can give back to this community.” Alison’s love for Emporia and the people drove her decision this year to give back. “I really love Emporia and the community,” she said. “And during the pandemic, I was looking at ways that I could give back to the community. I don’t take for granted this career of cycling.” Alison learned about the Emporia NICA team, Coyote Composites, from Dan Hughes, 4-time firstplace finisher of UNBOUND. In Emporia, NICA is in its second year and has 20 participants locally and 140 participants in the NICA league across the state. NICA’s mission is to put more kids on bikes for children from ages 6 to 12. NICA participants compete in mountain bike races around the state, and the organization provides training and adventure for youth. »

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Ryan Balkenhol of Emporia who helps lead Emporia’s Coyote Composites is excited about Alison’s mission this year. “Having someone like Alison who has a national reputation and resources to help our two-year-old team in its infancy is just huge,” he said. “I am stoked to have that kind of help.” NICA has seen its numbers double every year, Ryan said. However, biking can be an expensive sport so it can be a barrier for kids taking part, which makes support from cyclists like Alison to be very important. “Cycling is more expensive than traditional sports like soccer, baseball, or basketball with the cost of

bikes, helmets, apparel, and repairs.” Ryan said. The organization has relied on local donations and support from people like Alison to help keep the program growing. The money raised helps offer scholarships and provide bikes and supplies to children who need help. “We want to have everything from tires, chains, and tubes so if something breaks at a race we can keep them going as long as we can,” he said. So, how can people help? It’s as simple as buying a bandana. Already a staple in Alison’s wardrobe, she is using the square piece of fabric for more than just something cute to wear. continued on page 13 »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

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UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

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“I love wearing bandanas ….not only do they keep the dust out of my face when gravel riding, they also pair well with boots and your latest fashion statement,” she writes on her website, saga-ventures.myshopify.com Proceeds from the sales of these one-of-a-kind bandanas will go to the Coyote Composites team. As an added incentive to purchase a bandana, for those participating in UNBOUND, anyone who wants to “beat the sun” can follow Alison, who will be a pacesetter on race-day. »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

“Many people blow themselves up early so I will help them set a pace if beating the sun is a goal they want to achieve,” she said. To order a bandana online go to https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com. The bandanas, selling for $25 each, will also be available at the UNBOUND Expo. UG

LEARN MORE: alisontetrick.com facebook.com/EmporiaNICA kansasmtb.org nationalmtb.org

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

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CANADA BRITISH COLUMBIA

EMPORIA

COMING TO

AMERICA COMING TO

UNBOUND Getting to the start line of UNBOUND is not an easy feat for most participants, but for those traveling from abroad, there are even more challenges. Of the 4,000 riders taking part in UNBOUND this year, 355 of them will have traveled by planes, trains, or automobiles from countries far and wide to have a chance to ride in one of Life Time’s biggest races of the year. On the following pages, a few international riders share their experiences preparing for a race thousands of miles away in a country that is not their own. 16

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

An Olympic Cyclist

By Richard Burkard and Chris Walker

CANADA

INDONESIA

When Olympic-cyclist Annie Foreman-Mackey lines up on the UNBOUND start line she won't be competing for a gold medal as much as for the love of a new adventure. This will be the Canadian’s first visit to Kansas. She says Emporia has been “playing in the background” of her mind for a long time. As an Olympic cyclist, she didn’t have time to take on this adventure. Foreman-Mackey retired from competitive cycling after being part of the Canadian team pursuit squad which finished fourth in the Olympics and is now in transition to medical school. »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

“The timing just worked out to be able to do the race.” ForemanMackey said. “I've had my eye on UNBOUND for years. You hear about it in the grapevine.” For this race, she will not have strict training schedules or a team of people helping her to the finish line. She will just go out and do it with a couple of friends. But gravel racing can be a very different challenge – especially the 200-mile event she's entering. “My longest ride is 300K,” Foreman-Mackey said. That's close to the UNBOUND distance, at 186 miles. But when she tried 300 kilometers on

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

gravel as a birthday challenge, things did not go well. “Unfortunately, I crashed at 220K and got a concussion,” she said. The Kingston, Ontario native knows pacing is important, so you aren't “wrecking yourself too early in the day.” She has to plan for “hour eight, when you're exhausted.” But how hard will ForemanMackey go? It may depend on what her entourage does. Three friends from Ontario are joining her on the course, along with a mentor whom she may allow to zip away early, she said. “I'm someone who loves to race,” Foreman-Mackey said. But she's also taken a more leisurely pace with friends on a gravel bike packing trip across British Columbia. On UNBOUND race day the bike Foreman-Mackey will be riding will still be fairly new to her. Built especially for her and especially for UNBOUND, she will only have had a couple of rides on it before hitting the Flint Hills gravel. “It's a retirement present-slashthank you for continuing to help the team,” she said. For Foreman-Mackey and many other riders, UNBOUND Gravel is a race they want to do at least once in a lifetime. It's an opportunity to experience new landscapes. “You hear about the dust,” she noted. But beyond that, “I think it's just one of those races that is quite iconic.”

INDONESIA

By Arzul Ananda

Once In Life

ADVENTURE UNBOUND talked with Arzul Ananda, from Indonesia, about his preparations and plans to race 200 miles on Kansas gravel: Where are you from and how long have you been riding?

I am from Surabaya, Indonesia. I have been riding bikes since 2011. A bad right knee injury from playing soccer a few years earlier prevented me from doing most sports. Cycling is my escape. I fell in love with road cycling immediately because of the speed, the tinkering of bikes, and —most importantly— the health benefits.

Do you have gravel where you live or what is the type of riding you do?

I am a roadie. Almost exclusively riding road bikes. We have a lot of mountains in Indonesia so the challenge here is always climbing. When the gravel thing took off, Indonesia was slow to pick-up since we have no network of gravel country roads like in the US or our neighbor Australia. Gravel riding, for us, is using »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Has it been hard to train for a race where you are not familiar with the terrain or environment?

some of the MTB routes or trails in combination with normal paved roads. But our road conditions are not great, so we like to joke that our daily rides are gravel rides!

Superhard. Especially for choosing tires. And we have to import the tires as well since most are not available here in Indonesia. We learned a lot from last year though.

What interested you in competing in UNBOUND? How many years have you been following the event?

I have been following UNBOUND (Dirty Kanza) for a long time. For the past five years, I have been talking to friends about doing the event. We did many big cycling events in the world, doing the routes of Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana, and doing world class grand fondos such as Maratona Dolomiti in Italy. We are interested in doing something different, and UNBOUND is number one on our bucket list. In 2019, we decided to do it. Three of us, my friends, John Boemihardjo and Raymond Siarta (nickname: Johnny Ray), and I joined the lottery and got accepted: John and me for the 200, Ray for the 100. However, the pandemic hit and we had to wait until 2021 to do it. Although we are experienced cyclists, we were totally inexperienced in real gravel riding. Our first real gravel ride was the week before the event when we arrived in the US. John became the first Indonesian to finish the 200 in over 16 hours, I bonked out at mile 126 at the water station, and Ray barely finished the 100. This year, we are motivated to return and do a lot better!

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

How much planning have you had to put into just getting to the race? Has it been hard or easier than you thought? What distance are you racing this year?

This year, all three of us will be doing the 200. And we are bringing friends and family to do 100 and 50. We will have a group of nine doing the UNBOUND this year: four doing the 200, three doing the 100, and two doing the 50 (including my wife). What do you think the race will be like?

Any event for 200 miles is never easy. We are used to it on the road, but we struggled last year on the gravel since we don't have the routes to train on here in Indonesia. There are similar roads, but nowhere near the length, and definitely not on flint rocks! This year we are planning to arrive in Kansas earlier, and do more training rides before the event on June 4th. We need to get used to riding the roads, learning tire setups, etc. We are super excited, the race will be super exciting for us! What do you think will be the hardest part of the race?

For me, the most important is planning for the nutrition.

I went relatively quick on the first third last year, and thought the rest of the race will be okay. I was wrong big time. I need to make sure to plan for the food and water well. In Indonesia, even in the villages, convenient shops and food stalls are everywhere. In Flint Hills, when you are out of food, you are out of food, unless you want to eat grass! That's what happened to my friends and me last year. The heat and humidity are not our problems (we are tropical people), but the strategy and planning for food is the biggest challenge for us. We are much more experienced and ready for this year! How have you been training?

Last year, because of the pandemic situation, our training was not super ideal. This year, we have been putting on the miles. Doing lots of 8-10 hours of riding. We know it is not on gravel, but that's the best we can do. And we simulate the nutrition plan like in the Flint Hills, ignoring the shops and food stalls along the road.

Good thing the lottery is in January. So we can do planning better this year. For the visas to enter the U.S., training, and travel necessities. But this year the hardest is getting accommodations, especially for a group of nine like ours. Have you done races in other countries before or is this your first international race?

John Boemihardo, Johnny Ray, and myself are experienced in traveling and riding around the world. We did the routes of Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana, Tour Down Under Australia. We also did many events around the world such as Maratona Dolomiti and A Grand Fondo in Italy. But UNBOUND, by far, is the hardest event we ever joined, and for some reason, we always wanted to return. What else would you like people to know about you?

My family is in the media business, running one of the biggest media groups in Indonesia. I spent 17 years running the media company before moving on to the sports industry. continued on page 22 »

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UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

I am currently the CEO/President of Persebaya (@officialpersebaya), one of the biggest professional soccer teams in Indonesia. I am also running the biggest student basketball competition in Indonesia

(@dblindonesiaofficial). And every year we send our best high school players (boys and girls) to train in the US. We also organized sporting events, including cycling. We organized the Bromo KOM Challenge, the biggest

Weekend

and most happening cycling event in Indonesia right now. I am an American graduate. I started as an exchange student in 1993 and spent a year of high school in Ellinwood, Kansas.

By Richard Burkard and Chris Walker

WARRIOR From Lyon County paths to crowded cities in Asia and Africa, people around the world ride bicycles. And for some avid cyclists outside the U.S., Emporia has become a must-do. “It just got into my head somehow,” Canadian Kelly Servinski said. “Kansas wasn't the first sort of thought that would have come to my head.” But when Sirvinski's eyes looked at pictures of downtown Emporia, he was intrigued. “It reminded me of where I grew up, in the prairies,” the Saskatchewan native said. “You can ride gravel almost anywhere... Why can't the world's premier gravel event be in Kansas?” So a 2,000-mile trip from Sirvinski's current home in British Columbia to UNBOUND Gravel will feel like a “homecoming,” as continued on page 24 »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Then I continued my education at California State University Sacramento and graduated with a marketing degree in 1999. After that, I returned to Indonesia.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Tutti Gravel Inn for your next Gravel Adventure

he put it.Sirvinski, who turns 50 this year, grew up riding dirt bikes. But a crash at age 15 left him with several broken bones and a cast for almost four months. Of all people, it was a bone specialist who suggested he switch to a different definition of riding a bike. “It's low impact, it'll get mobility going, get blood flow going through your legs,” Sirvinski remembered. That led him to spend $200 on the least expensive bicycle he could find – one that he says has “taken me all around the world.” That includes several cycling events in Europe. But UNBOUND Gravel will be different. For one thing, it's the only race Sirvinski is entering this year. And by his own admission, he's a “weekend warrior,” not a professional. “I've got some cramming to do,” Sirvinski admitted. To prepare for the 200-mile race, his preparation will be random: working out 100 miles one day, 50 the next, maybe 200 after that. “It'll be here, there and everywhere,” Sirvinski said.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

But he hopes his race will not be – as in off the course. Sirvinski thinks this will be the first time he has to rely on a GPS device to find his way through the Flint Hills properly. “I know the race will be harder than some people think it might be,” Sirvinski said. “Rolling hill after rolling hill after rolling hill — that's going to wear you down.” Sirvinski is not one to compare countries when it comes to cycling. Whether Canadian or American, in his words, gravel is gravel. “Both places are demanding. Both places are hard to ride,” he added. Sirvinski isn't making the trip from western Canada by himself. His wife, Erin, will join him, along with a red 1973 Fiat classic car. They've reserved booth space at the UNBOUND Gravel expo. “We're a team, right?” Sirvinski said. Even if he's not the winning team, Saskatchewan's Sirvinski is ready to enjoy a taste of U.S. prairie life. “Riding bikes is an equalizer,” he said. “It doesn't matter where you're from – it's all about having fun.”

Just as Kelly Sirvinski shared his journey getting to UNBOUND he hopes cyclists from around the world will explore his little corner of British Columbia and learn about the amazing gravel they have. Kelly owns a bike motel in Canada and the focus for guests is riding gravel. “We have a rugged diverse terrain. You can ride in three different micro climates in a day and that blows people away.” Kelly said. The area was featured in a video called Path Less Paved that was produced by Shimano. “We've always wanted to have a bike hotel, after going to Europe so many times to stay over there and cycle,” Kelly said. He and wife Erin have owned one for two years. The Tutti Gravel Inn is in Clinton, a town of 600 about halfway between Vancouver and Prince George. The Sirvinskis refurbished a 1940s-era home to have two rental suites. Clinton is promoted as a big gravel cycling area with amazing gravel. “We want gravel riders to come experience our area.” Kelly said. To learn more about gravel riding in Canada or the Tutti Gravel Inn you can visit Kelly at the Expo or visit his website at www.tuttigravelinn.com UG

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UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

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Paving the way on

gravel: Cyclists work to increase diversity in sport

By Ashley Walker

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Mitchell Williams stood at what he called a “really dark place” in his life. Then, in his mid-50s, he climbed aboard a bicycle, and all that started to change. “I wanted a new way of life,” the former smoker and recovering addict said. And cycling, something he hadn’t done since he was a kid, became a lifeline for him. It quickly became a big part of his life as it helped him stay healthy and develop good lifestyle habits. His enthusiasm for cycling eventually landed him as the first Black president of the Kansas City Bicycle Club (now known as Cycling KC), one of the city’s biggest bike nonprofits. But it didn’t take long for him to notice that he was in the minority. And despite efforts to invite more people of color (and women) to club rides, he wasn’t having much success. “There weren't very many people of color at those rides,” he said. “And not a whole lot of women.” What Williams was seeing in the sport wasn’t unusual. Historically, cycling has been a White male–dominated sport. According to a recent report by USA Cycling, 86 percent of its membership is White, 83 percent male, and 50 percent middle-aged. Kristi Mohn, Marketing Manager for Life Time has seen it in gravel racing as well. “Gravel has been a pretty welcoming space for just about anyone interested in riding a bike from the get-go,” Mohn said. “What has changed the most over the last several years is the realization that just because everyone was invited, it didn’t mean that they felt welcome.” Williams decided to try to change that perspective. So, In 2004 he helped form the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Kansas City with one goal in mind: to provide an entry point into cycling for people of color. It worked.

For almost 20 years the club has been hosting Monday night rides for anyone with a bike and a helmet. “We're not the fastest club,” the 67-year-old cyclist chuckled. “I mean, we’re not known for speed.” But the riders still come. “Because they like being with us.” And why does Williams keep at it? “I like helping people to achieve their goals, seeing them become fulfilled, and that makes me happy,” Williams said. “So that's why I do this.” For the second year in a row, Major Taylor will bring many of its members to compete in UNBOUND. Life Time is excited to make space available for them. »

What has changed the most over the last several years is the realization that just because everyone was invited, it didn’t mean that they felt welcome.” — Kristi Mohn, Marketing Manager for Life Time UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

“UNBOUND Gravel is a huge platform in the gravel discipline,” Mohn said. “Extending this to the Major Taylor Club is important to foster relationships and provide access.” UNBOUND offered the club 65 spots per year for two years. Last year they used 62, allowing riders from as far away as California to participate. This year 75 will be racing. Look for their cream and olive-colored jerseys on race weekend.

For The Women Denesha Snell, a member of Major Taylor, who, like Williams, also started cycling for its health benefits, is doing her part to encourage more Black women to try the sport. For a variety of reasons, there is still a hesitation there, she said. It isn’t common to see Black women cyclists on TV, in races, or even biking around town. And when it comes to helmets and hairstyles, that’s sometimes a hurdle that Black women have to overcome, she said.

But things seem to be changing, thanks to initiatives that cyclists, like Snell, are making in their own communities. “I think that we are making moves to try to get people more involved,” she said. There’s a myth that black women don’t care about being fit or exercising, she said. But every Sunday in downtown Kansas City, Snell, and other members of her cycling club, STARS (Sisters that

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Are Riding Strong) meet for a 10-mile ride. And the women cyclists are seeing the benefits of riding. Thanks to STARS and races like UNBOUND that take the initiative to welcome more diversity in its riders, women of color are reaping the benefits of cycling. “Cycling has made me stronger,” Snell said. It has also helped her and the other riders deal with two common health problems black people

often face: obesity and type 2 diabetes. She appreciates what UNBOUND has done to make space for more Black women to participate: “UNBOUND has shown us a lot of love, and we have nothing but positive things to say about them,” she said. “People were nice to us. They were welcoming... It's really fun and exciting.” And for the 45-yearold, UNBOUND is another opportunity to » UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

break the idea that gravel cycling isn't something Black people do. “I'm Black. I ride. So it's Black now, right?” she said. “As far as I'm concerned, it's a Black sport.” UG

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Major Taylor

(1878-1932) was an American bicycle racer and the world’s first Black sports superstar. He was world cycling champion in 1899, American sprint champion in 1900, and set numerous track cycling records. Nicknamed “Major” in his youth in Indianapolis and later known as “the Worcester Whirlwind” after his adopted hometown in Massachusetts, he was the second African-American world champion in any sport (after Canadian-born bantamweight boxer George Dixon of Boston won his title in 1891). In the Jim Crow era of strict racial segregation, Taylor had to fight prejudice just to get on the starting line. He faced closed doors and open hostility with remarkable dignity. The Major Taylor Cycling Club of Kansas City welcomes people of all cycling abilities. It is a "no-drop" club, meaning no one is left behind on a ride. To join all a rider needs is a safe and working bike, a proper cycling helmet, spare tubes, your own food and drink, and a good attitude. For more information about MTCCKC go to: https://www.facebook.com/mtcckc

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GRAVEL CYCLING

HALL OF FAME UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Created to Honor the Sport With Emporia hosting one of the largest gravel cycling events in the world it seemed to make sense that the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame should also call the Midwestern town “home.”

In February an announcement was made that a Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame had been formed and that the first members were set to be inducted this year on June 3 during the UNBOUND race weekend in Emporia. The founding committee and advisory board of the Hall of Fame is comprised of longtime gravel enthusiasts, race promoters, and racers: LeLan Dains, Tobie DePauw, Kristen Legan, Neil Shirley, and Steve Driscoll. Organizers felt that as the sport of gravel cycling continues to expand into the future, a group needed to be working to preserve its history with the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is established to recognize and celebrate those who explore, endure, overcome, and inspire in the sport of gravel cycling. “It is the community of riders that make gravel cycling so special, so we’re excited to present an opportunity for that community to lift up and celebrate the people who have led the way,” said Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame advisory board member LeLan Dains. Six categories were established to serve as a guide for the types of riders and community members who should be considered for nomination (some nominees may fall into more than one category): Promoters, Athletes, Innovators, Volunteers, Routers, and Storytellers. This year nominations for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame were open to the public and submissions were accepted from January 11 through March 1. All submissions were reviewed, and an election committee of more than thirty cycling industry and media representatives, event organizers, and gravel enthusiasts made the final selections on inductees. The first class of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame was announced April 4, with their induction ceremony to follow in June. The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame received a founding sponsorship from Shimano and is seeking additional industry sponsors and personal donors. Donations are used to help honor the 2022 class of inductees and establish a physical museum space in Emporia, Kansas dedicated to showcasing the history and innovation of gravel cycling. Individuals are welcome to donate online and donations of $250 or more will receive two tickets to the induction banquet on June 3. »

2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Corey Godfrey Founder of Gravel Worlds Dan Hughes 4x Winner of UNBOUND, Gravel Worlds Champion, Trans Iowa Champion Kristi Mohn Former owner of UNBOUND Rebecca Rusch Founder of Rebecca’s Private Idaho, 5x winner at UNBOUND, Gravel Worlds Champion Chris Skogen Founder of Almanzo 100 Mark Stevenson Founder of Trans Iowa

Corey Godfrey Founder of Gravel Worlds

Bobby Wintle Founder of Mid South

Kristi Mohn Former owner of UNBOUND

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Dan Hughes 4x Winner of UNBOUND, Gravel Worlds Champion, Trans Iowa Champion

Rebecca Rusch Founder of Rebecca’s Private Idaho, 5x winner at UNBOUND, Gravel Worlds Champion

Mark Stevenson Founder of Trans Iowa

Bobby Wintle Founder of Mid South

Chris Skogen Founder of Almanzo 100

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Sales Hours Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Service & Parts Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

We Service All Makes & Models clintbowyerauto.com • 620-343-6723

2815 W. Hwy 50 Emporia, KS

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620-342-3342

2715 Candlewood Dr • 620-343-1660

807 Commercial • www.emporiagranada.com UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

A Digital Experience Unlike Any Other Life Time’s offerings encompass more than UNBOUND Gravel and its other owned Athletic Events. At a 30,000 ft. view, it’s an ecosystem of services that together make up one Healthy Way of Life brand. Over the past two years, Life Time has developed different and innovative offerings to help athletes and members make progress toward their health and fitness goals – which all fit right in your pocket. The new Life Time Digital experience brings the company’s best people and programs to you, wherever you are, wherever you need it. Taught by Life Time’s highly trained and motivating performers, Life Time’s most popular classes are available in both livestream and on-demand format—on your preferred device or cast to your TV—with new classes added regularly. Cycle classes include three formats: AMP, EDG, and PWR. AMP is a heart-pumping, calorie-burning, high-energy cycle workout that’s fueled by the beat of the latest music. EDG blends metrics-based heart-rate training with motivational music for a fun and results-oriented cycle workout. PWR is a structured cycle training class designed for the cycling enthusiast or triathlete.

Other benefits of the Life Time Digital membership include: •

Specialty, proven training and weight loss programs designed by Life Time’s master trainers and nutrition experts to guide you toward a specific goal from sustainable weight loss to a nutritional reboot.

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Guided meditations ranging from three to 20 minutes designed to help you’re athletic and personal performance, de-stress, improve mental power, open yourself up to gratitude, be mindful in movement, and drift off to more restful sleep.

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The Life Time Talks podcast, which dives deep into different health and wellness topics, featuring conversations and tangible advice from experts from the Life Time family and beyond.

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Ability to shop high-quality supplements, workout equipment, wearable technology and apparel through the Life Time Health Store.

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Complimentary Apple Fitness+ access with 10 styles of workouts to enjoy featuring music from top artists.

Learn more at www.lifetime.life/join/digital-membership

Gnarly Fuel2O “In Unbound XL 2021, I started my ride with two bottles of limeade Fuel2O & drank them dry before the first gas station.” Gnarly Nutrition Athlete Lael Wilcox, Unbound XL Winner!

Get 20% off your first bag of Fuel2O here! 

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

School Of

Going the Distance Emporia State University is where futures begin. With 200+ academic programs, our students get the skills they need for their successful future, whatever path they take. Not to mention, all the great ways to engage on campus and in the community. From supporting local events like UNBOUND to taking advantage of the great gravel just outside our doors, Hornets leave campus with so much more than a degree. If you’re interested in advancing your career, check out our wide-range of graduate degree programs. Learn more at emporia.edu

UNBOUND is the second race of the LIFE TIME NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CYCLING RACE SERIES Elite cyclists competing for $250,000

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

With one race down and five to go, the competition is heating up as 60 elite cyclists are competing for a $250,000 prize purse in the Life Time Grand Prix. UNBOUND is the second race in the Grand Prix, a series of off-road races announced in November 2021 for elite cyclists. » UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Following the first event, the standings are: Women’s division: Moriah Wilson: 30 points Sofia Gomez-Villafane: 29 points Alexis Skarda: 28 points

BIG SUGAR GRAVEL

SEA OTTER CLASSIC

“Life Time is proud to play a part in the changing landscape of professional and recreational cycling in the US. After many years of declining participation, we’re experiencing a groundswell of growth, in both amateur and professional field sizes,

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

especially in our gravel and mountain bike events,” said Kimo Seymour, President of Media and Events at Life Time. “Through the Life Time Grand Prix, we are excited to offer an opportunity for professional cyclists to achieve their potential

domestically, and for fans of cycling to be able to engage with those athletes.” Earlier this year cyclists applied to be part of the elite series and 60 cyclists were selected. The Prize money will be awarded up to tenth place, based on a points system. At the conclusion of the Life Time Grand Prix, the five best finishes from the six possible events will be tallied, giving the competitors a choice to skip an event or ride all six and take the points from their best performances. The riders with the most points at the end of the series will be the winners. The series kicked off on April 8 at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. “There’s wonderful energy here and the athletes put on a great show,” said Seymour. “Sea Otter is back to where it was pre-pandemic and the event proved to be the perfect place to kick off the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Moriah and Keegan are inspiring athletes and put forth huge efforts. It’s going to be hard to wait almost two months until the next round.” UG

Men’s division: Keegan Swenson: 30 points Russell Finsterwald: 29 points Alex Wild: 28 points All Life Time Grand Prix events are being streamed live and on-demand on FloBikes, part of the FloSports network. To learn more go to https:// www.flobikes.com/

The 2022 Life Time Grand Prix Series Lineup includes:

April 7-10: Marathon Mountain bike race at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif. June 4: 200-mile UNBOUND Gravel in Emporia, Kan. July 9: 70-mile Crusher in the Tushar in Beaver, Utah August 13: Leadville Trail 100 MTB in Leadville, Colo. September 17: 40-mile Chequamegon MTB in Cable, Wis. October 22: 100-mile Big Sugar Gravel in Bentonville, Ark.

Offering in-demand programs in arts, health, information technology and industry technology, Flint Hills Technical College can help you engage in an education that will transform your future. Visit our website, schedule a campus tour and find out more about the benefits of a technical education from FHTC.

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PINTS AND PEDALS: BY CHRIS WALKER

PHOTOS BY DAN HUGHES

Brewery creates unique beer for UNBOUND “I love beer.” Geoff Deman said. “I love all kinds of beer.” That’s why when people come to UNBOUND and try the UNBOUND beer, Geoff hopes they will love it. »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Geoff is the head brewer for Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence, Kansas, and for ten years the brewery has created a special beer for the UNBOUND race. “Our owner, Chuck Magerl, is an avid cycling fan and so am I so it has been a fun project to be part of,” Geoff said. This year more than 1,500 gallons will be made of the UNBOUND beer that is called Gravel City Kolsch-Style Ale and it will take several months to make the special batch. The beer style has changed over the years. “The first year the organizers wanted something “hoppy,” so I came up with a black or brown IPA that would emulate the dirt color,” Geoff said. “In retrospect, it was probably not the most thirst-quenching beer for riders after a race and a challenge for the vast majority of consumers.” In subsequent years we switched gears to Kolsch-style ale. “It’s refreshing and crisp. It hits all the hallmarks of something you would want to drink after a long ride.” Geoff said. »

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

Every year we make minor adjustments to the recipe in the Kolsch style. “We use a lager head yeast but we ferment it at warmer temperatures than a lager so it takes on some of the fruitier aspects that you would have in ale,” Geoff said. Another adjustment to this year’s brew is that it will be served in cans instead of bottles. Geoff is one of the longest-tenured brewers in the state with more than 20 years experience in brewing beer. He graduated from KU and moved to Seattle to get his start in the brewing industry, then in 2002 he moved back from Seattle and got his start at Free State Brewing. Geoff enjoys the challenge of brewing and while Free State produces thousands of gallons of beer year-round he looks forward every year to the UNBOUND batch. “As cool as an event UNBOUND is, I’m more than happy to create a special beer. I'm excited to do it.” Geoff said. The UNBOUND beer will be available for a limited time at Emporia area liquor stores as well as on tap at local establishments. You can also purchase the beer at Free State Brewing in Lawrence. UG

To learn more: www.freestatebrewing.com/

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022

AN ECLECTIC

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE

10.08.22 3 DISTANCES 165 | 99 | 38

@theraddirt THERADDIRT.COM

11 Pine, Inc.

Free State Beer

3T Bike

Full Speed Ahead

7mesh

Garmin

AIRWAAV

Gnarly Sports Nutrition

Allied Cycle Works

goodr

Altangle Cycling

Graveling for Prostate Cancer Awareness

American Classic Apidura Atom Composites Berd Spokes BikeExchange | Kitzuma BikeFlights Bivo BMC Switzerland BOLLE Boyd Cycling Bridge Bike Works, Inc. Brooks England Burro Bikes Cane Creek Cycling Components

Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) Red Shift Sports Ride or Die Collective Rotor America Rudy Project Safety Skin, Inc.

GU Energy Labs

Sage Titanium Bikes

Handup

SANS Meal Bar

Hayes Bicycle Group

Schwalbe Bicycle Tires

HED Cycling Products

SCOTT Sports USA

Honeybutt Chamois Cream

Shimano

Hydrapak Industry Nine Jamis Bikes Jojé Bar Julbo Eyewear Kenda Tire Kinekt Suspension Components

SILCA Skratch Labs SOS Hydration Southeast Gravel Race Series Specialized Bicycle Components Speedsleev Spinergy

Kona Bicycles

SRAM

Küat

Stan's NoTubes

Lauf Cycling

Storyteller Overland

Life Time Foundation

SunHeist Eyewear

Challenge Tires

Litespeed Titanium Bicycles

Sweet Protection

Chamois Butt'r

LOOK Cycle

Champion System USA

Louis Garneau

Charlotte's Web

Lynskey

City of Emporia

Maxxis Tires

CORE

Mazda

CRAFT

Momentous/Amp Human

Crud Cloth

MOOTS

CTS - Carmichael Training Systems

Muc-Off

Canyon Bicycles Celsius CeramicSpeed Cervelo

Cycle Force Group Dialed Health DIMOND Bikes Easton Cycling Eliel Cycling Emporia State University Endura ENVE FasCat Coaching Felt Bicycles fizik Framed Bikes

Obed Bikes Orange Seal Orange Mud Otso Cycles

Tailwind Nutrition The Cycling House Togs Trek Tutti Gravel Inn UNDRBUDR UnTapped Vandoit Ventum Vittoria Tires Voler Apparel Wolf Tooth Components WTB

OtterBox

Zealios

Panaracer Corp

Zwift

Pandora Pinarello Pink Gravel Pirelli Tires Pivot Cycles POC Proud Source Pure Gravel

Aye aye, what’s this? Another ‘gravel specific’ product range when my road gear will do just fine thanks? Not so fast doubters, we didn’t do this by chance. Two words - pockets and fabrics. Pleasingly, there’s pockets galore, so you’ve got oodles of places to stash your gravel essentials, like layers, food, tools… and a can of beer. And we’ve applied 25 years’ worth of knowledge and craftmanship into engineering performance fabrics to ensure maximum breathability, critical reinforcement for all those scuff-hungry obstacles you simply don’t find on the asphalt, supreme warmth for the cold, and killer waterproofing for the rain. So yeah, it’s gravel specific. And we stand by that, come rain, shine, rock or tree.

GV500. Get your gravel on.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2022