Welcome to an unique Q&A with long-time First Endurance athlete Rob Britton, the newly topped champion of the grueling Unbound XL 350.
At 40 years previous, Rob’s record-breaking efficiency, the place he accomplished the 358-mile course in an unbelievable 17 hours and 49 minutes, is a testomony to enduring expertise and fierce dedication, significantly as an athlete charging into his third decade {of professional} racing.
Earlier than establishing himself within the burgeoning aggressive gravel world, Rob cast an spectacular profession as an expert street bike owner. For nicely over a decade, he was a fixture within the North American peloton, driving for notable groups like Bissell Professional Biking and Rally Biking. His palmarès boasts important victories, together with general titles at two of North America’s most difficult stage races, the Tour of Utah and twice on the Tour of the Gila.
Extra lately, Rob has embraced the world of mixed-surface racing, discovering renewed enjoyment and problem, significantly within the self-supported, long-distance occasions. He speaks brazenly about looking for out new experiences and the profound moments discovered throughout these epic rides, like witnessing a dawn whereas pushing via the evening.
Past his racing achievements, Rob can be a passionate advocate for the biking group, actively contributing to its development in his house of Victoria, British Columbia.
We’ll dive into the main points of his epic Unbound XL triumph, replicate on his journey from street racing to gravel, and uncover a number of the private motivations and insights that drive this down-to-earth athlete.
First off, thanks for taking day out of your packed coaching and racing schedule to discuss to us, and a large congrats in your unbelievable Unbound XL victory and course document!
Q: You’ve had just a few weeks to hopefully recoup a bit from what was a monumental effort within the Flint Hills of Kansas. Reflecting on it now, what is the first feeling or thought that involves thoughts in regards to the expertise?
A: Thanks! I want I may say I’ve been enjoyable and recovering. I took one weekend off after the XL, however I nonetheless spent that point doing large days on the mountain bike with pals. Since then, I’ve raced Canadian Gravel Nationals, the Oregon Path Gravel Stage Race, and I simply now completed the BC Bike Race, which, mixed with Oregon Path, is essentially the most consecutive days of racing I’ve ever performed. Surprisingly, I’m feeling first rate. Due to the entire shifting round, I’m truly unsure I absolutely stopped to understand what was achieved in Kansas. I do know it was large, however I feel that the size of it’s one thing that I’ll solely be capable of comprehend via hindsight.
Q: You spent a good portion of the race chasing Lachlan Morton. Are you able to describe the psychological recreation that performed out throughout these hours, and what stored you motivated to maintain the bit between your enamel?
A: Something is feasible If you happen to take sufficient PRERACE! To be sincere, I simply sort of did my very own factor; I didn’t count on to catch Lachy (Lachlan Morton) and I wasn’t racing with that in thoughts. I simply had a tempo I wished to trip and set my thoughts to sustaining that. Close to the top of the evening, going into the early hours of morning, they advised me I used to be solely a couple of minute behind him on the ultimate relaxation cease. Even then, you’ve been driving for thus lengthy you’ll be able to’t precisely simply choose up the tempo by 4- 5 mph. I’ve raced my bike so much via the evening, and I feel the largest factor is to remain mentally sharp, and a mix of PRERACE and the caffeinated Kona-Mocha Liquid Shot helped me hold my thoughts targeted, particularly within the latter portion of the race.
Q: What was the hardest second for you, each from a bodily and psychological standpoint, and what kind of “self discuss” was concerned in pushing via the tough patches?
A: The most important factor was convincing myself I truly deserved to win. Lachlan is like Gravel Jesus; he gained the Unbound 200 the 12 months earlier than, and I’ve raced him via my entire profession, so simply getting my thoughts wrapped round the truth that it was anybody’s race after 17 hours was in all probability the largest problem. I feel I simply advised that pessimistic a part of my mind to STFU and targeted on driving my bike.
Q: You talked about after the race that it “solidifies that that is in all probability what I’m good at now.” It appears like maybe this win has shifted your perspective on what your profession and future targets is perhaps?
A: I don’t know if it’s essentially shifted my focus, but it surely has confirmed that my different ultra-distance outcomes weren’t only a fluke. I don’t assume my focus will ever be on anybody kind of racing, whether or not or not it’s ultra-distance gravel or XCO mountain bike races. I need to do stuff that excites me and permits me to have enjoyable. Something that does that may get my consideration. If not, I’ll seemingly battle with motivation, given the place I’m at in my profession.
Q: What number of of these 358 miles do you reckon you have been “solo”?
A: Ha ha! For me, this was truly a comparatively quick period of time. I do know it doesn’t seem to be it, but it surely was underneath 24 hours. I’d estimate it at roughly 270 kilometers (162 miles).
Q: Talking of being solo, XL riders typically share wild tales of hallucinations, profound “non secular” experiences, and broader life reflections whereas on the course. Did you’ve any such moments of “large image” readability?
I’ve gone via all these feelings, however for me it takes about 36 hours to get there, and it’s a reasonably wild trip when you do! The one factor I can say is that I actually loved the day as a entire. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a extremely enjoyable, correct day of motorbike driving and racing, and this simply felt actually particular. I used to be grateful for the expertise, unbiased of the outcome, which was actually simply the cherry on prime.
Q: With it being such a protracted occasion, how did you handle and keep your bodily and psychological power ranges and keep targeted all through the evening and into the essential final push within the morning?
A: Actually good lights make an enormous distinction. I’ve raced via the evening fairly just a few instances and genuinely loved it, so I view it as a time to thrive, not survive. Past that, caffeine! After 10 PM, begin breaking out the caffeine gels and PRERACE, and hold the regular drip coming for the following eight hours or so.
Q: Stroll us via your preliminary race technique and the way it advanced because the race unfolded, significantly once you caught that first glimpse of Lachlan’s taillight within the distance deep into the evening?
A: My technique for ultra-distance races is fairly easy: attempt to not go too exhausting within the first half, however don’t go away the entrance group simply because they’re driving over 300 watts. Past that, as soon as I used to be driving solo, about 270km into the race, I simply did my very own factor. Seeing Lachy’s taillight was motivation for certain, however I’m unsure I’d see a lot of an influence change at that second if I zoomed in on the ability file. Fortunate for me, he was slowing down at a better fee than I used to be dashing up.
Q: Had been there any key tactical selections that in the end led to you catching and pulling away from Morton within the ultimate miles, or was it merely “mano e mano” attrition at that time within the recreation?
A: Undoubtedly the latter; we have been each smashed, however on this present day I used to be just a bit bit much less damaged.
Q: The XL appears to blur the traces between a single-day effort just like the Unbound 200 and the extra basic “bikepacking” kind effort of a number of days, comparable to Colombia’s Transcordilleras. Did you’re taking a particular method to your coaching, or was it roughly enterprise as standard?
A: Truthfully, it was roughly enterprise as standard. I attempted to get a few correct large days in, in addition to one trip the place I used to be at midnight for various hours. That was significantly difficult at the moment of the 12 months in Canada as a result of it required me being out till about midnight. In any other case, coaching was comparatively just like what I might do for the 200, with the one exception being just a few much less high-end race efforts. Nevertheless, as a result of I had different occasions on the schedule post-Unbound, I couldn’t disregard these totally.
Q: Did the rapidly evolving course circumstances—quick and dry, somewhat than moist and muddy—lead you to make any last-minute adjustments or selections with regard to your tools or vitamin?
A: No, it didn’t. There was a second of uncertainty about whether or not to run a slender tire or one thing with roughly tread, however I’ve had actually good experiences with my Schwalbe RX tires. The one modifications I comprised of my standard rig have been to run 45c tires entrance and rear, a Fox Taper-Forged fork, and aero bars.
Q: Vitamin and hydration are particularly crucial in an ultra-endurance occasion. Are you able to share some particulars about your fueling technique in the course of the Unbound XL? Did something change or shock you in the course of the race in that regard?
A: There have been two issues I modified in comparison with different occasions this 12 months: I’ve been having points with cramping, and I feel for me it’s essential to get a better dose of sodium, so I made a concerted effort to get extra in every bottle. As well as, I took in a considerably greater quantity of caffeine than regular for the again half of the race. I feel I had almost 1000 mg of caffeine between 8 PM and eight AM, however scorching rattling, it actually labored, didn’t it? In any other case, I packed plenty of EFS-PRO in order that I may keep on with the gasoline I’m used to once I refilled my bottles.
Q: Had been there any “unconventional” vitamin selections on the market–comfort retailer stops or “discovered” meals?
A: Probably not. Early within the race, after we have been a bunch of about 10, there have been what are referred to as “ path angels.” Basically, they’re only a impartial help station for anyone that comes by, and so they have been offering water and Coke, which was fairly superior. In any other case, the eating regimen was just about liquid sugar. Now that I point out it, I suppose consuming sugar for 18 hours might be fairly unconventional!
Q: Did you’ve particular checkpoints or psychological milestones you have been aiming for all through the 350+ miles?
A: By no means. We went a lot sooner than I anticipated we’d go that any preconceived notions I had went out the window fairly fast.
Q: You opted for entrance suspension in your rig for the XL. How crucial was that, and the way a lot did it contribute to your consolation and efficiency over such a protracted distance?
A: I like my Fox fork. The extra I take advantage of it, the tougher it’s to ever return! It actually saves my physique from taking a beating, and at one thing like Unbound, the burden penalty actually doesn’t matter. I do know this 12 months it was very easy and quick in comparison with earlier years, however when you add up all of the affect you’re taking over 18 hours, a small financial savings makes an enormous distinction.
Q: Aside from your entrance suspension, how completely different was your tools setup for the XL and the way a lot did it differ from once you raced the 200 distance?
A: I truly used the Fox fork for the 200 the earlier 12 months, as nicely. I’m genuinely an enormous fan of how a lot better the bike rides with it. In any other case, I strapped a bunch of baggage to the body and added aero bars, which I’ll say are a gamechanger. Not solely are you able to go so much sooner, it additionally saves your higher physique power.
Q: What was your method for packing and carrying all the required provides within the context of a self-supported occasion just like the XL?
A: I packed sufficient gasoline for 100g of carbs per hour for 18 hours(1800g). After I completed, I had one gel left. I’m not gonna lie, although, that was dumb luck. My technique went out the window once I noticed how a lot fluid Lachlan was carrying, and I ended up stopping at two relaxation stops that didn’t have any meals. Fortunately, “Previous Rob” saved “Future Rob” from cracking someplace in the course of the Flint Hills at midnight.
Reflections and the Future
Q: How does this victory within the XL examine to your different important “milestone” performances in your biking profession over time?
A: Curiously, this outcome has acquired way more consideration than anything in my profession. I do know instances have modified, however even successful one thing just like the Tour of Utah, which I might think about my largest achievement previous to this, didn’t maintain a candle to the quantity of consideration this race acquired. Gravel… it’s large now!
Q: Is there any particular recommendation that you’d give to somebody aspiring to deal with the Unbound XL sooner or later, significantly concerning the bodily preparation and psychological side?
A: The very best recommendation I may give is to deal with it like a marathon. It’s going to be longer than you anticipate, however don’t be afraid to push the tempo slightly bit originally. I’m not saying attempt to set PR’s for the primary 10 minutes, however don’t maintain again simply since you’re scared to push over “X” wattage. Inevitably, you’re going to really feel horrible sooner or later, so that you may as nicely be nearer to the end once you do. Aside from that, a minimum of as soon as earlier than the occasion, observe driving at midnight. Realizing the way you reply to it and the way drained you are feeling pays big dividends in Kansas.
Q: What kind of feelings flooded over you once you crossed the end line in Emporia and realized you had damaged the course document, and by such a big margin?
A: Much like once I gained the Tour of Utah, one of many largest feelings I felt was reduction. Getting a outcome with that degree of notoriety confirms to myself that I’m able to an enormous lead to the sort of racing.
Q: Now that you have conquered Unbound XL, are there every other ultra-endurance races or challenges in your radar?
A: There’s at all times one other one…
Q: Past the race itself, what was essentially the most memorable or stunning second out of your Unbound XL expertise?
A: I used to be driving across the day earlier than the race, and it felt like I used to be seeing Kansas for the primary time. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve by no means been that keen on going to Unbound. However this time, I used to be hit with this loopy feeling of nostalgia for the place I grew up within the Canadian prairies. Regardless that I barely ever rode gravel again then, for no matter motive the grain elevators, rolling hills, and inexperienced fields actually introduced up some previous recollections. That was cool.
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