Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson, who was shot to death in Austin, Texas on May 11, and the gravel community is still grieving ahead of this weekend’s marquee event, Unbound Gravel. Amy Charity, racer and organist of SBT GRVL, who will be participating in the half-distance Unbound 100, says Wilson’s death has had a profound impact on the gravel community.
Charity was one of the racers who were in the Austin area for Gravel Locos, a 150-mile event in which Wilson was expected to compete, and said riders are still reeling.
“I think we’re still kind of grieving in different ways,” Charity said to Cyclingnews. “It has certainly impacted the gravel community – to people involved that we know how to take somebody like me. processing the event. “
Authorities are still looking for Kaitlin Armstrong, who is wanted on first-degree murder charges. She was the partner of notable gravel racer Colin Strickland, who was also the last person to see Wilson alive, having taken a challenge for an early evening swim and dinner. Strickland, who is not a suspect in the murder, has gone into hiding.
“It’s certainly impacting the tone of the events. [Wilson] “It was the name that was spoken most often when you mentioned gravel – that it is all so layered with tragedy and violence,” Charity said.
At Gravel Locos, just days after Wilson was shot to death, riders rolled out together and only ‘raced’ to beat the heat of a sweltering afternoon. Unbound Gravel in Kansas, but riders are still coping with the loss.
“If there is a safe place to grieve with friends, that was it. process and then think through the tragedy and help everybody grieve. It has a profound effect, and I think it will continue for a while. “
Ian Boswell, defending men’s champion in Unbound 200, Wilson’s honor on Friday morning in Emporia, and Charity says the tributes will continue. “Doing this kind of thing will help honor the best way that everybody can.”
The incident has not slowed the growth of interest in gravel, with many events getting more requests than there is space for and having lotteries for entrants. The trend is an intentional effort by organists like Charity, Michael Marckx of the Belgian Waffle Ride, Rebecca Rusch (Rebecca’s Private Idaho), and other groups like Unbound organisers Life Time.
“We all want to see the sport of cycling grow, and we think it is the way forward with that. Charity said.
Another trend Charity sees as a slight shift away from the ultra-endurance distances to severe but shorter challenges. After three Unbound 200s, Charity is racing the 100-mile course for the first time and is part of that trend.
“We’re watching the SBT numbers and more people doing the blue course, which is the equivalent of the 100 – 100 miles versus our 140 miles.” are doing 100. [1,520 registered for 100 vs 1484 in the 200 as of May 31 – ed] Maybe people are thinking that’s childhood. Or maybe they don’t have time to train. There are probably a lot of reasons for the trend. “
A hundred miles on gravel, especially the chunky, puncture-inducing flint of Unbound, is more than enough of a challenge for Charity this year.
“When I say, ‘I’m only doing the 100’, I catch myself, and say 100 is a long way to go, especially in the Flint Hills.”
The 200-mile route, which takes the fastest men over 10 hours to complete and 12 hours for women, pushes riders to a different place, mentally.
“I think that’s the compelling reason to do the 200 – you just get this completely different, mentally and euphorically at some point. And I don’t think you get there in the 100. of rush. The 100 arguably, you ride faster, because you’re doing half the distance. It’s still outrageously difficult, “she said.
“However, you’re not at that point where you can still drink, or you can forget where you get into some of the interesting mental states in the 200. And at least in my experience in doing 100-mile races, I haven’t reached that same level that I have in Unbound 200. “
A moment of joy in 100 miles
For riders doing the half-distance event, most Charity’s ’10 things to know before racing Unbound’ still apply. “Most of the attention is on the 200-mile race, but I do think that change. There are still some really strong women and men who are doing the 100. it is shorter than the 200 days, “she says, and everyone wants to be in front of the technical sections.
Even at 100 miles, riders still need to be prepared with big tires, ample support and food for fuel. There is only one water feature on the half-distance course but from the official checkpoint, but it is one moment that looks at them, calling them ‘a moment of joy amid the suffering’.
“They’re just complete game-changers in the race. They’ve often had cold towels, cold water, there’s a bit of shade, and they’ve timed them well, at the point in the race where you really need it.”
The gravel races are a small oasis in the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic and Charity says the gathering of so many like-minded people who are passionate about gravel racing is driving its popularity.
“We are seeing that people want to be together and they are excited to get out. results or getting first place, they want to be around other people. “
That also extends to the grieving friends and fellow racers who want to remember Wilson.
“She was such an outstanding woman in the way that she came across this gravel scene and just her whole demeanor – I didn’t know the presence of her and her positive energy.
“And so I think there’s a lot that we can learn from the kind of leadership and example that she has with her spirit and charisma and just her ability to work so hard and become this rising star in gravel.”