Tips for Success at Unbound + Our Favorite Things About Race Week

We’re getting amped for @unboundgravel race week! With the big day just around the corner, we’re sharing some of our favorite things about Unbound and what we’re looking forward to in Emporia this year. Also, we have some helpful tips for planning your week out and protecting your energy while still enjoying the buzz and excitement of the event. 

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

In this episode of the FunBound Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Lideen, a powerhouse in the world of gravel and mountain bike racing and truly one of the best human beings out there. In this episode, we take a look back at Taylor’s incredible Unbound journey, including the unforgettable high of winning Unbound XL in 2021, as well as some of the tougher moments that have shaped his path. Taylor brings raw honesty, inspiration, and commitment to the details as he looks ahead to this year’s Unbound, and we couldn’t be more excited to share his stories, insights, and wisdom with you.

Follow Taylor on Instagram here. 

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

It’s Simulation Ride Time!

We’re about four weeks out from Unbound and it’s officially simulation ride time! KP and Nick break down what a “simulation ride” actually means - a full dress rehearsal for race day, tailored to your specific goals and experience level. We dive into five key areas to practice during your next long ride: your pre-race routine, gear setup, nutrition and hydration strategy, support crew planning, and how to structure the ride itself. Whether you’re gunning for a 200-mile haul or dialing in your prep with a shorter effort, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you build confidence and fine-tune every detail before you hit the start line.

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

On this episode Kristen and Nick connect with longtime friend Chris Soden. Chris has 23 years of professional bike fitting experience. Based in Colorado, he has worked with pros, average Jane and Joes, and seen trends come and go. His approach is highly personal, mixing motion-capture tech with intuition and a keen eye.

With winter underway, now is a great time to make changes to your bike fit. Whether you're seeking increased comfort or improved performance, as the engine of your bicycle, working with a qualified bike fitter can have a massive impact on your ride experience. Chris recently started his own venture called Strategic Fitting. More details below:

To schedule with Chris, head to StrategicFitting.com 

You can also find Chris on Instagram. 

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

We have with us today a legend of gravel cycling. Dan Hughes is the only winner of gravel’s unofficial Triple Crown (Unbound, Gravel Worlds, and Trans Iowa). He is a 4-time Unbound 200 winner, including the event’s first winner back in 2006. As such he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. Husband of Paulina Batiz, Dan is also a gifted storyteller and photographer. We are so honored to welcome Dan Hughes!

Links:

• Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame @gravelcyclinghof
• Follow Dan on Instagram

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

Welcome back to the FunBound Podcast!

We’re thrilled to kick off this new season with none other than Amanda Nauman—two-time Unbound Gravel 200 Champion and gravel-racing icon.

With over a decade of experience racing Unbound, Amanda brings invaluable insights and tips for tackling each of the event's distances. She’s taken on nearly every course at Unbound, from the grueling 350 XL to the marquee 200 miler to the challenging 100 and 50-mile events.

Gear up for the Unbound lottery as Amanda shares her expert advice and background knowledge on conquering any distance at Unbound

Follow Amanda on her Instagram account: @amanda_panda_

Also mentioned in the episode: 

• Mammoth Tuff: @mammoth_tuff
• Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame @gravelcyclinghof

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

Prepare to be inspired!

On the latest episode we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Shawn Cheshire and Tim Hornik. Both are blind cyclists who took part in the 2024 Unbound 200.

Shawn rides a solo bike, navigating via headset communication with 2 ride guides and by listening to a speaker mounted on the back her lead guide's bike.

Tim is a 4-time finisher of Unbound 200, including a winning ride in the tandem category in 2017.

Above all, both Shawn and Tim are mindset experts. They both display a resilience and a joy for life that is not only inspiring, it's contagious!

We are so thankful to have gotten to know both of them a little and can't wait to connect at next year's Unbound, if not sooner!

Follow Shawn and Tim on their Instagram accounts. 

Also mentioned in the episode: 

• Operation Second Chance
• Blind AF movie trailer

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

This episode had it all! Goat crossings, key course information, and some time getting to know Unbound Gravel’s new race director, Sean Thurman. With a very successful background in cycling event management, Sean recently joined Life Time as the race director for Unbound, but also for Big Sugar, and Little Sugar.

Based in St. Louis, Sean shares his excitement for the future of the sport and his new role. He also takes listeners through the 2024 Unbound courses, with some key advice and some detailed descriptions of what they’ll face in a few weeks.

You can dive into your Unbound course planning here.
Follow Sean on Instagram

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

Today's episode is with Marley Blonsky, the co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes and a cycling ambassador and advocate. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Marley works to make cycling a more inclusive space, especially for people in larger bodies.

Our conversation ranged from Unbound to e-bikes, clothing to snacks. Marley is an amazing leader in the gravel community and we're sure that you'll gather some valuable take-aways in this episode.

Useful links:
Marley's Instagram 
Marley's personal website
All Bodies on Bikes website
All Bodies on Bikes video

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com

Your hosts, Kristen and Nick Legan, flip the script for episode three. No guest this time. Instead they share insight into who Kristen and Nick are, some of their personal backgrounds, and why they launched a podcast. They also dive into the year ahead and seek input from listeners on who they'd like to hear as a future guest. 

Give the podcast a follow, and if you're really diggin' the vibe, take a few minutes and give the Funbound Gravel Podcast a review to make help the Legans work the algorithm. 

The Fun-Bound Gravel Podcast is hosted by the Legans, Kristen and Nick. With years of Unbound and gravel coaching experience, they share their insights and those of their expert guests to help you have the best time possible at Unbound Gravel. Detailed course previews, equipment suggestions, training tips, and efficient checkpoints are just some of the topics discussed. And of course, you'll get to hear from the top athletes, organizers, and people who make gravel such a special cycling space.

Follow Kristen on Instagram @kplegan
Follow Nick on Instragram @nlegan


Also check out Kristen's coaching services at Rambleur.com