Agree with Damo. Kiwi living in Oz and did Unbound last year in gravel shoes. Did alot of walking in the mud. Would have sucked in road shoes. Also spent about 3 weeks doing 2-3 sessions a week in a sauna. Gets very humid in Emporia and watch out for the storms. Id also consider swapping from a wahoo to a Garmin 1040 solar just incase you have a long day the wahoo may not make the distance. My 1040 lasted 18hrs and stll had 75% when I finally rolled over the finish line. Dont worry to much about the hours on the bike. My longest ride was 160k due to sickness and got through. You have more talent than I ever had so youll be fine. Good luck dude.
Also must haves- tubeless top notch puncture protection wide tyres. Don’t be sucked into fast rolling resistance tyres you will pay big time for it. There is nothing like those flint hills tracks, super rocky and rough. Camel back must have. Don’t rush the feed/water stops. Some treat it like a triathlon change and you get sucked into the crowd excitement and rush on. You’ll pay for it down the road. Don’t be lured into riding hard in a fast group early. Massive mistake and when the heat comes later in the day you’ll be crying for mummy
Toe grabbing is usually an indicator of insufficient arch support or shoes that are too big. If you’ve have those insoles a while, they might have potentially lost a bit of their structure. I’ve also had an issue with the hips misbehaving only on one side (non-dominant) and that was a combination of a saddle being a touch too high, as well as having a slight nose down saddle. Completely level at the front should assist. Best of luck mate!
Did you get a proper bike fit from a good fitter? Your center of mass on the bike looks way too far back, this will close your hip angle (Also your clawing of the toes tell the same story). Is your left and right hip mobility the same? You can try playing around with saddle setback and height on the trainer for a bit. Won't solve the pains, but will help you not damage yourself further.
Did unbound in 2019 and it was over 3500m of climbing. I wouldn’t go with road shoes for the event either. Try and get some heat acclimation in. It wipes a lot of people out of the race
For me it’s a leg length issue and 7mm inserts on the left have helped but still looking for a solution for numbness. I have custom insole as well. Will be watching this video from other comments/suggestions. Thanks!
Some of the pros and others ran Look type road shoes last year. It is not that uncommon. I wouldn't do it in Speedplays unless they were the old Paves. Maybe bring the SPD pedals in case it rains a lot. From what I have heard mud like we had on the south course last year is not common on the north course.
Use the RX-8’s. Road shoes will be too much impact on you. Get your lower back alignment and Discs all checked out. There could be damage there which will show lower down as it’s all linked.
Defo race on like shimano xc902’s… i recently got xc702s and honestly they feel the same as rc7’s… just get big pedals like look’s mtb pedals with a big surface to push on.
Have you tried flats for gravel riding? You can move your feet around during endurance rides. Joe Nation is a good example. Shorter cranks would also help.
Don't take those keytones unless you are already in ketosis due to calorie deficit/diet. They won't give you energy unless your body can fully utilize them.
Agree with Damo. Kiwi living in Oz and did Unbound last year in gravel shoes. Did alot of walking in the mud. Would have sucked in road shoes. Also spent about 3 weeks doing 2-3 sessions a week in a sauna. Gets very humid in Emporia and watch out for the storms. Id also consider swapping from a wahoo to a Garmin 1040 solar just incase you have a long day the wahoo may not make the distance. My 1040 lasted 18hrs and stll had 75% when I finally rolled over the finish line. Dont worry to much about the hours on the bike. My longest ride was 160k due to sickness and got through. You have more talent than I ever had so youll be fine. Good luck dude.
Also must haves- tubeless top notch puncture protection wide tyres. Don’t be sucked into fast rolling resistance tyres you will pay big time for it. There is nothing like those flint hills tracks, super rocky and rough. Camel back must have. Don’t rush the feed/water stops. Some treat it like a triathlon change and you get sucked into the crowd excitement and rush on. You’ll pay for it down the road. Don’t be lured into riding hard in a fast group early. Massive mistake and when the heat comes later in the day you’ll be crying for mummy
Great update mate. Maybe a bike fit would get to the bottom of the problem??
Hope you sort it soon. Keep trucking bud ✌✌
Toe grabbing is usually an indicator of insufficient arch support or shoes that are too big. If you’ve have those insoles a while, they might have potentially lost a bit of their structure.
I’ve also had an issue with the hips misbehaving only on one side (non-dominant) and that was a combination of a saddle being a touch too high, as well as having a slight nose down saddle. Completely level at the front should assist.
Best of luck mate!
Did you get a proper bike fit from a good fitter? Your center of mass on the bike looks way too far back, this will close your hip angle (Also your clawing of the toes tell the same story). Is your left and right hip mobility the same?
You can try playing around with saddle setback and height on the trainer for a bit. Won't solve the pains, but will help you not damage yourself further.
agree with this, 06:49 looks like you're trying to poop over the side of a boat
Did unbound in 2019 and it was over 3500m of climbing. I wouldn’t go with road shoes for the event either. Try and get some heat acclimation in. It wipes a lot of people out of the race
Agreed. Wind has been brutal this year here. 😂
Nice vid Tom. Hope u can get ur problem sorted before leaving for USA
Have you had a Professional bike fit? Great video! NZ looks Fantastic ❤
For me it’s a leg length issue and 7mm inserts on the left have helped but still looking for a solution for numbness. I have custom insole as well. Will be watching this video from other comments/suggestions. Thanks!
Some of the pros and others ran Look type road shoes last year. It is not that uncommon. I wouldn't do it in Speedplays unless they were the old Paves. Maybe bring the SPD pedals in case it rains a lot. From what I have heard mud like we had on the south course last year is not common on the north course.
Use the RX-8’s. Road shoes will be too much impact on you.
Get your lower back alignment and Discs all checked out. There could be damage there which will show lower down as it’s all linked.
Defo race on like shimano xc902’s… i recently got xc702s and honestly they feel the same as rc7’s… just get big pedals like look’s mtb pedals with a big surface to push on.
Have you tried flats for gravel riding? You can move your feet around during endurance rides. Joe Nation is a good example. Shorter cranks would also help.
Those Shimano S-phyre's look like they've had a pretty rough life so far
Osteos and chiros? A medical professional would be a better choice.
My first thought was "Why are you not seeing a physio Tom?"
Don't take those keytones unless you are already in ketosis due to calorie deficit/diet. They won't give you energy unless your body can fully utilize them.
Try changing your seat as well sit bones mite not be sitting on seat properly
sorry but this is just dumb you have pain in your knee and don't imediatly check your cleats
Agree… Would be dumb as well to use road shoes in unbound
Ketoneiq is bs inly people that get it free push it, paying people say no diff all in the head 😂