DIRTY KANZA 2019 PREVIEW WORDS: ALISON TETRICK
Dirty Kanza can throw everything at you, including the kitchen sink. We have had dry conditions the last few years, but we could be gearing up for some mud this year. Kanza is the ultimate gravel adventure and I need to rely on my Lezyne GPS for navigation, as well as the tools and lights to be able to conquer the course. You need to be prepared for everything out in the Flint Hills. No matter what, it will be a long day on the bike and anything can happen, so I just have to be ready for anything and remind myself that I signed up for this! It gives you a great opportunity to learn about yourself and others and it will be a great challenge regardless. You never know which side of yourself that you will meet out there, and you just have to buckle up and get ready for the ride. https://youtu.be/Egdc00MFz80
ALISON'S BIKE CHECK:
Alison's race machine for this year's DK200 - a brand new Specialized Diverge (See complete details below)
Alison's one piece of gear she absolutely won’t go without during a race: the Mega XL GPS "A lot of these races, the courses aren’t marked. That makes it fun and a little bit of an adventure. Kanza’s not marked. So, I use this Lezyne GPS; you download the map, you get the turn by turn, and you follow the breadcrumbs along the course and hope you don’t get lost in the Flint Hills. For me it’s not so much about my heart rate and power as it was in road racing. This is more like, where am I going and how close is the beer to the finish line?" -Alison Tetrick from a recent
Velonews feature.
Cages that won't let go, a lightweight pump "just in case" and lights for safety (required for all Dirty Kanza riders)
Dirty Kanza is a largely a self-supported race; a seat organizer like the Aero Caddy is critical for bringing the necessities
Alison's view for the 12+ hours of grinding through the Kansas countryside[/caption] Frame: Specialized Diverge, size 56 Drivetrain: SRAM Force AXS 1x Chainring: 44 tooth Cassette: SRAM Eagle 10-50t Handlebar: ZIPP SL70 Ergo Bars Size 40 Wheels: Roval CLX 32 wheels Tires: Specialized Trigger 38mm set up tubeless Tire Pressure: 40-42 psi Pedals: Speedplay SYZR Bottle Cage:
Carbon Cage (X2) GPS:
Mega XL with a
Direct X-Lock Mount System Lights:
Hecto Drive (Front) /
KTV Pro (Rear) Pump:
Carbon Road Drive Seat Bag:
Aero Caddy
