We went to Emporia, Kansas, to learn how the pros are setting up their bikes for whatever might come from the biggest gravel race in the world, Unbound Gravel.
This gallery pulls from our first video in our Unbound Gravel video series. We got into the nuts and bolts with Alexey Vermeulen, Keegan Swenson, Hannah Otto, and Petr Vakoc to figure out how they’re preparing for what is one of the most chaotic bike races in the world. Some are bringing three bikes to the race, while others have cases and cases of tires. And some? They’re going for it regardless.
There is a whole lot more to come from Unbound. Big tires, big bike checks, and a whole lot more on the way!
Keegan Swenson’s size M Santa Cruz Stigmata, sized up from the size S he’s used in years prior. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Swenson uses Enve SES Aero bars on his bike with SRAM Red AXS levers. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Plenty of tire clearance around that 45 mm Maxxis tire. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Keegan will use the Rockshox Rudy fork rain or shine (or mud, maybe). (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)All Santa Cruz htSQD riders will use these Better Bolts in bronze across the bike. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Blink-182 style bottles, baby, courtesy of Keegan Swenson. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Keegan’s continuing to use a 48T chainring with 160 mm cranks. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)10-46t cassette is the only choice in SRAM Red XPLR AXS, but Keegan says he’s a fan. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)As before, Keegan will use a Wolf Tooth chain keeper. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)(Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Keegan will use Maxxis Reaver 45 mm wide tires in the latest Hyper-X casing. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Plenty of clearance here, but Swenson says he’ll still go narrower if muddy conditions persist. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
Petr Vakoc
Here’s Petr Vakoc’s Canyon Grizl gravel bike, which he chose over the Grail for its greater mud clearance. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Vakoc has the latest generation Canyon Grail handlebars compatible with a 1 1/8″ steerer tube. The Grizl comes with a 1 1/4″ steerer and external cables. What gives? (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Vakoc prefers the Grail handlebar for its overall stiffness over a comparable two-piece handlebar and stem. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Schwalbe G-One RX Pro tires in a 50 mm width are found front and rear. Should there be too much mud, Vakoc might swap down to a 45 mm tire. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Petr says he appreciates the new Zipp built-in tire pressure sensor on the 303 SW wheels, which allows him to find out if there’s a slow leak as he’s riding. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Petr’s well-used crank length of choice? 172.5 mm, which he tells us on video is actually proportional to his leg length. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Petr uses a custom 3D-printed Posedla saddle. The best part of it is the small ‘Vaky’ on the inside of the saddle cutout. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)160 mm rotors front and rear for Vaky. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
Hannah Otto
Hannah Otto is racing a 2024 Scott Addict Gravel RC. Why’s that? “They don’t have my size XS,” says Otto. “But honestly, I love this paint scheme so its all good.” (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Otto will use the Syncros Creston IC SL X handlebar, and is effectively hoarding this ESI bar tape that’s out of production. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Otto uses the Coros Dura bike computer. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Gearing comes from a 50/34T 2x chainrings with a 4iii power meter, and an 11-34t cassette out back. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)165 mm cranks for Hannah Otto, a full 5 mm shorter than the 170 mm cranks she used last year. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Otto has opted for the shallower 30 mm depth DT Swiss GRC 1100 Dicut wheels, featuring a 24 mm depth. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Otto will use either a 40 or 45 mm tire for race day. However, her rear tire will be a prototype of the recently-released Kenda Crusher that she says has more robust sidewall protection. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Not too much space out back for this 45 mm tire. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
