(explosion)
(wilderness)
- [Driver] I might actually jump in behind you.
You seem to have a better idea of where you're going.
- [Announcer] So it's a 30 minute late start for DK200,
the 100, 50, and 25.
- So we just arrived in Emporia.
There's riders coming in from all over the place.
We just found out there's gonna be a 30 minute delay
on the start line, because we're in the middle
of a thunderstorm, which couldn't be more nuts.
So yeah.
A half an hour later at the finish, maybe?
There's absolutely cracking poncho action
going on out there.
I think for now, just trying to shelter
as much as possible.
We've got about three quarters of an hour before the start.
And it's looking very, very wet.
Not what we were expecting or preparing for.
Before we go any further,
you might be wondering why I'm here.
The Dirty Kanza is billed
as the world's premier gravel event,
and probably the longest too.
Don't let the DK200 title fool you,
it's actually 206 miles of gravel and dirt roads,
that the Flint Hills region of Kansas
has in abundance.
So here I am, ready to take on the challenge,
saddled up on the new 3T Explorer Limited,
the thoroughbred of the gravel racing world.
Saying that gives me no excuses about my legs, eh?
I'll be riding amongst former and current pros,
including Sven Nys, Jens Voigt, and Kaitie Keough,
battling it out for the infamous belt buckle,
and the titles of the King and Queen of Dirty Kanza.
Right, now back to the start.
So we're here on the start line at the Dirty Kanza 200.
We've got 10 minutes to go before we set off.
It's been a little bit delayed due to the thunderstorms.
It's taken a lot to get here.
Not just the trans-Atlantic flight,
it's been months and months in the preparation.
I'm, incredibly I'm shaking, actually.
But I just can't wait to get going,
got a massive day ahead,
and I just really, really want to finish,
so, fingers crossed it's gonna be kind to me.
(cheering)
(twangy acoustic music)
Okay, so we're at mile 10.
We've just rolled out of town.
Hit the first dirt road,
so we're really flat to start with.
It's basically like one massive peleton,
because these actual roads,
people are sticking to the lines right over here,
which we're passing, which are a lot smoother.
And of course now we've hit the first hills,
I'm just going backwards, which is lovely.
But, just trying to chill out.
Zone two it, and see how we go.
(upbeat acoustic music)
So here we are, I'm at mile 45.
Just five miles outside of the first checkpoint,
which is pretty exciting.
I haven't actually stepped off my bike
since we left Emporia.
Just trying to keep going nice and steady.
Limit my efforts, especially on the hills.
I've got a 42 tooth cassette on here,
and I am not afraid to use it.
And, it's been great.
People are amazing.
Just trying to make sure that I'm drinking
and eating enough.
This is really the easiest leg.
So, it's maybe a false sense of security,
but so far, so good.
♪ Drop before I even sit down ♪
♪ Go into the sun ♪
Oh, am I glad to see you.
So, just arrived in Madison.
It's the first checkpoint of three,
so it's split up into sort of quarters.
I think I'm sort of lulled
into a false sense of security,
because that was the nicest one.
We've got a bit of a tailwind.
Flat-ish.
It's like rolling, but you can quite nicely
take the momentum.
So the next quarter we've got the hills.
And then in the second half,
we've got all the headwinds.
So that was the easy bit done, I think.
But yeah, it's absolutely fantastic,
and not too hot yet, either, which is great.
At the checkpoint, priorities are focused
on the bike and the rider.
Fluids first, topping up water in hydration taps,
in my camelback and two bottles,
plus taking a drink at the stop,
as well as restocking snack supplies
for the next 50 or so miles.
It's a good chance to have something to eat,
and I soon learn that constant fueling
in the heat of the day can be pretty hard.
(light music)
So we're here at mile 55,
not long after the first feed stop,
and we're hitting the hills.
I'm here with Rob, who is riding a single speed belt drive.
Pretty low maintenance, which is great.
- Yes.
- How are you finding the hills?
- Loving it.
- Yeah?
- [Rob] Loving the hills, loving the flats more.
Wind at the back.
- All I can say is I'm glad I've got a 42 tooth cassette.
Need it on this one.
You missed a snake and a lizard.
- [Rider] And a skunk.
Did you see the skunk?
- Skunk?
- [Rider] Yeah.
- No.
Amazing.
And, I rode through this really deep stream,
that everyone else was getting off on.
And I was like, great.
Whatever happens today, I rode the stream.
I think that's probably world's training for you.
So I just had to stop here to show you this view.
We've just turned onto this road.
We've got a massive tailwind, which is great.
We're at about mile 60, and as you can tell,
this is the hilly part of the route.
So, we are going straight along this road,
with this massive tailwind,
and then you can literally see the road
going up and over the top of those hills.
So wish me luck.
I'll be back in that 42 again.
Even though the views were amazing,
the hilly terrain was starting
to take it's toll on my legs.
Coming into checkpoint two at the halfway mark,
I'd already ran out of water.
I couldn't have been more apprehensive
about the headwind that was coming,
and for the first time, I was starting
to doubt whether I'd make it.
So we're at checkpoint two,
which is amazingly named Eureka.
Just over 100 miles in, so just over half way,
which is ace.
But, what's not so great is that
now we head back north, and the amazing tailwind
that we've had for the last 100 miles
is about to turn into a 20 to 30 mile and hour headwind,
which I'm feeling very, very nervous about,
and I think everybody else is too.
So I think the strategy from here on in,
is just to try and find a big group,
with a similar sort of pace to ride with,
and tuck in as much as possible.
Now this one's upon recommendation,
from some of the comments
under some of the Dirty Kanza stuff
we've been putting out on YouTube.
I'm feeling a bit skeptical,
but I've heard that pickle juice is the one.
If I can get into it, that is.
Well, it's worth a go.
That is disgusting.
It's really salty.
But given how much salt I've lost,
it's probably a good thing.
After 15 minutes at the checkpoint,
and some pickle juice,
I was ready to tackle the second half.
With 60 miles into a headwind,
I knew that making friends to ride with,
and draft behind, was going to be crucial
in keeping spirits high.
- [Rider] Oh, come on.
- I'll make it.
- You're doing great. - Do it.
- It'll be ugly, but I'll make it.
- [Rider] You'll get there.
- It's an actual pickle.
- This is a pickle pocket.
I have no defense.
Nor do I care.
- Basically found someone willing to tow me to Emporia,
so I'm just gonna stick with that.
It's just really hard to eat.
♪ Been a real bad boy ♪
♪ I've got a ton of gravel ♪
♪ In my shoes ♪
♪ Girl on my shoulder ♪
♪ Heart full of blues ♪
♪ Out in the dirt ♪
♪ Down in the dirt ♪
So we're at 140 miles.
We've got 20 miles to the next checkpoint,
and then from there to the end is about 40.
So, what was that?
60 miles to go.
It's pretty slow going at the moment,
into this blockhead wind, which is lovely.
We're hoping it's gonna die down a bit,
as it gets into the evening.
- There's beer at the end. - It'll,
it'll cool down.
- [Host] And there's beer at the end.
- And there's bratwursts
at the next rest stop.
And bananas and clementines.
- A swimming pool?
- Swimming pool, yeah.
We have the river to cross next.
- [Host] Done like a true local.
- Warm pickle juice.
- What more could you want?
I feel like this is some sort
of initiation or something to riding in the States.
Oh.
Oh it's lovely.
It's really nice.
(light music)
This headwind is brutal.
Going like six miles an hour.
Oh my God, look at it.
That's insane.
(light music)
Oh man, I'm shattered.
Called in.
I've been trying to keep my eyes open,
since it's got dark.
I don't know what to say.
That was so hard.
I'm glad it's only 40 miles to go
and that it's flat.
And then it will be over.
Started going a bit Dolally in my head.
I've not really been able to think straight.
It's been a very long day.
Obviously it's dark now.
Struggling a little bit to keep my eyes open,
but I'm hoping that the final run-in will be pretty smooth.
Now the wind's died down a lot as well,
which really helps.
(cheering)
- [Attendee] Hey, you made it.
- Yeah.
- [Attendee] Good job.
- Thank you, just about.
(laughter)
- Good job.
- Well that was a pretty amazing day.
Exhausting, and pretty delirious now,
having ridden quite a few hours through the night.
Pretty hard to keep my eyes open at the end of it.
Was a very long day at like 20 hours or something,
but absolutely awesome.
Kansas gravel is amazing.
And that's a wrap from Dirty Kanza.
Give us a like if you enjoyed this video,
and if you want to check out more about this bike,
which I rode for the challenge, click just down here.
Oh great.
- Cheers.