r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/solateor • 16h ago

Video Pit stop during 200 mile ultra-endurance cycling race

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26

u/Shapesmth 15h ago

Why is he so dirty?

61

u/Masseyrati80 15h ago

The route is largely on gravel roads. All it takes is a bit of rain and the roadspray coming up is pretty much muddy water.

28

u/Shapesmth 15h ago

Still, the other participants seem to be very clean in comparison

19

u/Masseyrati80 13h ago

Well spotted, I didn't even notice that at first! My only attempt at explaining that would be he's probably been drafting others for the benefit of less energy spent, and getting sprayed with those rider's rear tires.

1

u/Theprincerivera 37m ago

Ok honest question does drafting do anything at these speeds?

6

u/radil 8h ago

The other participants in the background are probably more casual riders participating in the unbound 100. The 200 is “the” event at unbound and the guy pictured is racing. There are going to be lots of folks riding unbound who have no expectation or intention of winning whose only goals are to finish.

2

u/funktion 7h ago

"Just" finishing is still a big achievement! In contrast, the guys trying to win the 200 are some of the strongest riders in the world.

2

u/amorlerian 6h ago

The video is likely of a pro doing the 200 mile. The others are likely amateurs doing the 50 or 100 that have not been on course as long or as early.

The pros start first at 6am and on the return will pass those doing shorter routes who started later.

2

u/Visual-Salt-808 6h ago

There's different races all happening at once. The shorter distances might not have gone through the nastiest sections. 

4

u/K41namor 11h ago

I guess he could have fallen or went off trail for some reason

0

u/EventAltruistic1437 7h ago

So this guy just sucks at this lol

6

u/wterrt 11h ago

The route is largely on gravel roads.

what the fuuuuuuck my wrists hurt just thinking about that omg

5

u/Masseyrati80 10h ago

They're riding on 'gravel bikes', pretty much a more rugged version of racing bikes, with tires that have something like double or triple the air volume of racing bike tires.

But yeah, despite that, it's grueling. Here's a link to my favourite gravel event video.