Unbound Gravel 2023

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Have you considered that they're both right and that different people want different things from the race?

The commenter didn't do the race, they're there to troll.

Nobody wants 1-2 hours of hike a bike in a 100/200 mile event. It's not even worth considering. This is a bicycle event, people want to ride their bikes - not hike for hours in the mud destroying their body and equipment.

Here's Strava for a mid-pack rider. An hour of hiking in the mud during a 100 mile race. Nope.

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

Nobody wants 1-2 hours of hike a bike in a 100/200 mile event. It's not even worth considering.

Nobody wants brutal headwinds or rain when they ride either, but that's part of the sport.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

Nobody wants brutal headwinds or rain when they ride either, but that's part of the sport.

Talk about a non-sequitur. Huh?

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

Nobody wants brutal headwinds or rain when they ride either, but that's part of the sport.

A 5k section of mud, that was known to exist, can be routed around.
You can't route around/avoid rain or wind.

That seems like very different circumstances.

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by mstateglfr

A 5k section of mud, that was known to exist, can be routed around.
You can't route around/avoid rain or wind.

That seems like very different circumstances.

It's a gravel race. Difficult conditions are part of the sport.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

It's a gravel race. Difficult conditions are part of the sport.

Promoters delay or modify for rain and wind all the time. Unbound did this very thing in 2018. People have this imagined history of the sport, which most weren't even much aware of 5 years ago, where the intent is to brutalize riders pointlessly.

If a promoter sent riders off into a wind storm so severe it was impossible to ride, or rain so hard it was impossible to ride - they'd be just as wrong as an hour of mud hiking.

Creek crossings are part of the sport; if rains swell the creeks to flood stage, should riders prepare for a 2000yd swim with their bike during Unbound Gravel next year?

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

Creek crossings are part of the sport; if rains swell the creeks to flood stage, should riders prepare for a 2000yd swim with their bike during Unbound Gravel next year?

That would be a safety issue — a stretch of mud isn’t going to put anyone’s life in danger.

[spoonrobot]

Don't just respond to the hyperbole, weigh in on the rest of the post:

Promoters delay or modify for rain and wind all the time. Unbound did this very thing in 2018. People have this imagined history of the sport, which most weren't even much aware of 5 years ago, where the intent is to brutalize riders pointlessly.

If a promoter sent riders off into a wind storm so severe it was impossible to ride, or rain so hard it was impossible to ride - they'd be just as wrong as an hour of mud hiking.

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

Don't just respond to the hyperbole …

That’s destined to be a classic.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Man, Marlboro Reds are expensive these days,.

HA, I thought the same thing...ooopsie, could have been a better pic.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

The commenter didn't do the race, they're there to troll.

Didnt know you had to spend thousands of dollars to have an opinion.

One of the local guys here drove out and did the race - he loved it and would go back, even with the mud show. I've been in similar situations in past rides/races that have destroyed drivetrains/equipment and required a full rebuild on a bike that was just stripped and refreshed - the bike thrashing and "its just the event" of walking for miles is not for me. And both of those can coexist ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

That’s destined to be a classic.

Great, so we've established there is a limit to the acceptable amount of wind, rain, and un-ride-able sections. What is your point again?

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Didnt know you had to spend thousands of dollars to have an opinion.

One of the local guys here drove out and did the race - he loved it and would go back, even with the mud show. I've been in similar situations in past rides/races that have destroyed drivetrains/equipment and required a full rebuild on a bike that was just stripped and refreshed - the bike thrashing and "its just the event" of walking for miles is not for me. And both of those can coexist ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The customer is always right. Someone ranting outside the store who didn't buy the product, isn't going to buy the product - why would you cater to them?

[BumbleBeeDave]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Didnt know you had to spend thousands of dollars to have an opinion.

One of the local guys here drove out and did the race - he loved it and would go back, even with the mud show. I've been in similar situations in past rides/races that have destroyed drivetrains/equipment and required a full rebuild on a bike that was just stripped and refreshed - the bike thrashing and "its just the event" of walking for miles is not for me. And both of those can coexist ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If other people want to do it–and spend the money and pain–then go for it. But I would never do it. Not worth the time, money, or pain, or the feeling of being manipulated by promoters who are trying to puff up a reputation by needlessly putting riders in difficulty.

Different strokes for different folks, as they used to say. (Do they still say that?)

BBD

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

This isn't "epic"

Those people are so clean...