Two Weeks Out: Everything You Need to Know Before Unbound with the Gravel God Matti Rowe

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Summary

In this episode Dave and Matti break down everything you need to know in the final two weeks before Unbound Gravel. Whether this is your first 200 or your fifth, the same mistakes show up every year. This episode is about not making them.

What we cover:

• Why Unbound is still an adventure race, not a controlled event, and why that distinction matters for your expectations
• The mindset shift that separates athletes who have a good day from athletes who have a disaster
• What to do and not do at the expo (hint: stop tasting things and get off your feet)
• Tire selection, lube, and why the best tire is the one that doesn't flat
• Last-minute bike prep: what to replace, what to check, what to carry
• How to handle the mud sections without destroying your drivetrain or yourself
• Pacing: why the first 100 miles will lie to you and how to ride smart anyway
• Nutrition for a 15-plus hour day: the cyborg phase versus the animal phase
• The dark moments that are coming and how to ride through them
• Heat acclimatization tips you can still implement this week
• Why you deserve to be there and how to carry that into race day

Links and references:

• How to pee off the bike
• Kaizen Endurance coaching

If you found this episode useful, share it with someone who is two weeks out and spiraling. It might save their race.