I will absolutely quit cycling all together and take up finger painting with my own shit if every frame design comes down to this….

Just saying 

 

Every third year Cat 3

 Masters racing

If U never have….U should

 

 ‘Everything you could ever want’: the 2026 Unbound course strings together greatest hits from 20 years of Flint Hills gravel racing

The world’s marquee gravel race returns May 30 in the Flint Hills of Kansas

Unbound Gravel is turning 20 this year, and celebrates that milestone with a race course that strings together some of the best sectors of 20 years of gravel racing in the Flint Hills.

Headed both south and north of Emporia, Kansas, the 206-mile elite course features infamous sectors like Texaco Hill, Teeter Hill, Kahola dam and the 10-mile Sharpes Creek Road, which was last used in 2015 during the epic 'mud year'.

The official course GPS files were unveiled today, with two weeks left for riders to pre-ride and pray to the weather gods.

As always with Unbound Gravel, the course preview includes ominous descriptors like "chunky," "rocky" and "potentially muddy."

There will be leg-zapping climbs, never steep but always heavy, vast vistas, windblown plains, tire-slicing flint rocks and creek crossing.

in other words, "everything you could ever want in a MMR [minimally maintained road]," race organisers shared in a social media video.

Taking place the last week of May, the race through the Kansas Flint Hills offers five race distances and attracts 5,000 participants to the small town of Emporia, in the middle of the United States.

It was founded with just 34 riders in 2006, and the 200-mile event has since evolved from a niche, self-supported adventure into the world’s premier gravel race that attracts off-road professionals, WorldTour pros and Olympians alongside thousands of amateurs.

Let's dive into the course's key features.

The 200-mile flagship event starts in the early hours of May 30th in front of the Granada Theater in downtown Emporia, Kansas.

The peloton will leave downtown under neutral police escort for 3.3 miles, after which the riders are let loose to justle for position in what surely will be a fast and furious start.

The pack could start breaking up as early as 15 miles into the race on YY road, a five-mile stretch of rolling uphill the locals call "the Towers climb."

The course's first real climb, however, comes quickly after with the approach of the notorious Texaco Hill. It's just 1-1.5 miles in length but steady with a loose and chunky descent on the other side.

At mile 68, another Unbound classic makes its appearance: Teter Hill. This is a prominent, challenging and often decisive climb in the race. It's rocky and steep with grades over 10 percent.

Spirits will be tested on the 10-mile Sharpes Creek Road. It's long, rolling and seemingly endless as you can "see for miles." This was last used in 2015, which was the "year of the mud." Unbound mud is unlike anything else. It bogs down bikes, rips off derailleurs and is even known to break a frame or two.

The 2026 will also feature a brand-new addition: W road, which is a chunky, rocky and grassy road with another fun feature: a creek crossing.

From here it's onto the DD rollers, which race organisers say is "super chunky" and another bad spot for mud in case of rain.

The last big climb comes at 181 miles, the iconic Kahola Hill following the Kahola Lake dam crossing.

Then there's one last little punch on the paved Highland Street, then two quick turns and the finish line will be in sight.

Aid stations and feed zones

A new development in 2026 is that age group and Elite checkpoints have been separated for safety reasons. Amateurs may not use the elite feedzones and vice versa.

There will be neutral mechanics, neutral water and nutrition items at the amateur checkpoints. In addition, the event will provide two neutral Water Oases. Still, organisers warn, riders should prepare to be self-sufficient.

"The Flint Hills region of east-central Kansas is an extremely remote area. Please be aware...if you break down or become injured, it is your responsibility to contact your support crew to come get you. We will not rescue you," the event clearly states.

Age Group Checkpoints & Water Oases

• 432.3 Miles - Checkpoint 1 in downtown Madison
• 61.8 - Water Oasis
• 98.9 - Checkpoint 2 in Matfields
• 160.7 - Checkpoint 3 in Council Grove
• 191.8 - Water Oasis
• Elite Feed Zones

• 43.5 miles - Start of Feed Zone 1 - Madison
• 82.2 - Start of Feed Zone 2 - Sycamore
• 148.9 - Start of Feed Zone 3 - along South 1400 Road

 yodeling in the gulley

 

This looks completely uncomfortable 

Gina Gershon, Elizabeth Berkley

 

 

 

 Just shut up...and ride your bike..you whiny ass lil bitch

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

Local legend status 

 

The doctor is in..

 

First Matej Mohorič, now Spurcycle — are handlebar mirrors no longer a cycling fashion faux-pas?

 Two weeks ago, Grand Tour stage winner and former gravel world champion Matej Mohorič promoted an unexpected item on his Instagram: a rear-view mirror.

Clipped onto sunglasses or tucked into the bar-end of your handlebars, rear-view mirrors allow cyclists to monitor traffic behind them without having to look over their shoulder, helping maintain balance, stability and line of sight while riding. But they’ve long been considered something of a cycling fashion faux-pas, often associated with MAMIL stereotypes alongside hi-viz jerseys and ankle socks.

But are the tides turning?

here’s little doubt the roads are feeling riskier. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cyclist fatalities in the U.S. reached a multi-decade high in recent years, with an average of 19 cyclists killed every week.

At the same time, cyclists have become increasingly comfortable adopting technology in the name of safety. Radar systems like the Garmin Varia have gone from niche gadgets to non-negotiable equipment for many road riders, despite effectively being a high-tech solution to the same problem: seeing what’s happening behind.

The mirror Mohorič is promoting is certainly a far cry from the plasticky mirrors of old that vibrated so violently you could barely make out what was approaching anyway. The sleek Rizoma R21 is marketed as an “invisible rear-view lens”. It weighs just 18g, has reportedly been wind tunnel tested for aerodynamics and is machined from CNC aluminium with an "unbreakable" ZEISS lens. 

It’s also rumoured to cost well north of $200. But, according to Rizoma, Mohorič tested the mirror on the road and described it as a "revolutionary product".

More attainable is today’s launch from Spurcycle. The Oregon brand, best known for its premium bicycle bells, has unveiled its new Pro Mirror, a drop-bar mirror developed with input from the racy end of the gravel and road scenes.

Available in two sizes, the R35 and larger R50, the Pro Mirror aims to make rear visibility feel less like an awkward add-on and more like a seamless part of a modern cockpit setup. Both versions feature a minimalist machined aluminium body, tempered glass optics and a tool-free mounting system designed to install in under a minute. The company also claims the vibration-resistant design maintains image clarity on rough pavement and gravel roads alike.

The mirror fits handlebars with a 14–20mm internal diameter, is fully rebuildable and backed by a lifetime warranty. Pricing starts at $69 USD, which is significantly cheaper than the Rizoma alternative, yet firmly in the premium accessory category.

Spurcycle says the mirror will “l transform your riding experience,” be it for enhanced safety or a “strategic advantage” in competition.

What do you think? Would you use one?

 

when jimmy fallon dies theyre incorporating his ashes into a ben and jerrys limited time flavor

 

People constantly upgrading there shit, should just train properly….

 

Remember when people cared about podiums 

 

 

Your energy is contagious…don’t be a jerk