What Do I Need?

You Can Do This

If you're planning to do Unbound (or a similar event), you can do it.  It's okay to be nervous.  It's okay to get frustrated.  And.  You.  Can.  Do.  It.  I know you can.  And you'll know you can too.

What do you need?

To ride 100+ miles on gravel you need some gear:

• A bike that is comfortable to ride for between 8 and 20 hours 
• Your bike should fit tires that are at least 40mm wide
• Clothing that will be comfortable for that distance
• Front and rear lights (depending on how dark you expect it to be, you'll want to make decisions about how bright that front light needs to be)
• A hydration pack/bladder that will carry at least 50 ounces of water
• Nutrition to fuel you for however long you expect to be out there
• A GPS unit capable of downloading a map and guiding you along a route
• A basic repair kit to keep yourself rolling in the event of minor mechanical problems

"This doesn't seem very specific," you might say.  You're right!  But you can fill in the specifics and what you read here will help you do that.  I have a lot of opinions about gear.  I'll share my experiences and recommendations.  You'll probably read a whole lot about gear elsewhere too.

You also need to be prepared:

You obviously can't go out and ride without getting your body and mind ready.  You can have the best mental preparation, but if your body isn't strong enough to carry you for eight or 10 or 15 or 20 hours, you're not going to finish.  And you can be physically strong, but there are going to be times when you feel down.  Or when you have to deal with an setback--maybe a flat tire, mud, or cramps.  You might be able to get away with less physical preparation, but you'll have a much harder time without the mental preparation.

And you need a plan:

Where will you get more water and food?  What type of food?  How fast do you need to ride?  What do you do if it's really hot?  What do you do if it's rainy?

We'll answer these questions and more.

What don't you need?

Don't confuse the difference between need and want.  A lot of the gear that I'll talk about here falls into the want pile.  You don't need a carbon bike/wheels/handlebars/etc.  You don't need clipless pedals if you're comfortable in sneakers.  You probably don't need a fancy indoor trainer.

Money and time are two big constraints in life.  Use them first for experience and preparation.  If you're lucky enough to have extra money, then you can buy some accessories.