My Brutal UNBOUND Experience - Mud, Gravel & Carnage

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone - super nice to hear from you all and glad you enjoyed the vid! So cool to be out there and experience this race. Everyone I shared the road with throughout was incredible, so encouraging and happy to be out riding bikes in Kansas - including the absolute hero who saved my race riding a water bottle back down to me. As you saw in the video, I took a bit of a kicking - made a few mistakes and paid for them - but that's half the fun sometimes. I absolutely loved it, definitely want to come back! Thanks for watching all, Conor

That guy that rode back to give you a drink, one hell of a fella. for him it'll probably seem like nothing but for you it literally saved your race. It's a fantastic metaphor for how we can all make a difference to each other in life.

Kudos to dad being an all day mechanic/food guy/cheering department. You know he loved every minute of it.

Lol. As soon as the weather goes "Full Irish Summer" he's absolutely fine.

The guy in the orange jersey is everything I hope cycling continues to be about. I actually teared up at the kindness. Riding so long on gravel and he rode more to get you through.

Connor's dad wearing the Aqua Blue Irish Champs jersey was the highlight for me. Always wanted one but the team collapsed thrusting Connor into the limelight with his bikepacking exploits. It was great to see all the support you got out there.

What a guy who rode back to bring you water! Heart of gold! Amazing job too Conor, quality film too. Thank you for suffering for my enjoyment 😂

Probably most realistic coverage of Unbound 2023 👍

I have to admit that I had a tear in my eye watching this. I’m an Unbound 100 Finisher. I went out for the Unbound 200 a few years ago. It’s ironic that I made it to about the spot you almost had to abandon. In my case, I was at mile 131 with my teammate and had an asthma attack. I took my meds with the intent to ride to the next support stop to recover as you did. Unfortunately, I collapsed off my bike into a ditch near a road intersection in the middle of nowhere . Fortunately for me, my teammate refused to listen to me asking him to help me get back on my bike. I had to call for help/rescue. The good news, is there were two ladies waiting to cheer on their husbands and graciously took me under their care to enable my teammate continue racing. The other really good news is that their care and the fact I wasn’t trying to kill myself riding enabled my asthma meds to actually work as it was almost 45 minutes before I was picked up. My teammate finished his race in about 20 hours. I continue to ride endurance races and actually was on a Race Across America 8 person team in 2021 that finished the 3,007 mile race across the USA (7d 19h) and I also finished the 925 mile Race Across the West on a four man team last summer. Yep, during both of those events, I had asthma attacks too but having a crew and teammates saved the day for me. I never ride without my meds and I’m careful not to ride alone for longer rides. It’s in my DNA but I’m determined to keep moving and pedaling forward.

Like everyone is saying, massive congrats to Connor for what he managed, but also holy moly it's impressive how fast the editors manage to get videos of this quality out

You’re a legend Con! I had tears in my eyes when I saw your smile when you started riding again with that bin bag on. So cool you got to experience this and shared it with us. And that fella that rode back to hand you water should be rewarded with a full on deluxe gcn care package. Nothing but love for this gravel community.

Damn, this is unbelievably good. Conor's Dad is the kindest dude. The water bottle guy should receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and when Conor is excited about bikes his enthusiasm reminds me just a little of Francis Bourgeois.

A stunning film. But it's the kindness of strangers that really warms the heart. The innumerable volunteers who spend all day in the sun and rain to make an event possible.

I can't even put it into words the depth of my respect for Connor finishing after having such a rough episode. Super inspiring. We all have our own limits to push through and being shown such an example....it lights the way. Very happy that man rode back to give you some water. I'd like to flatter myself to think I'd do the same, but it's an easy thing to say from my chair. I hope he sees this video and comments so we can all give him the pat on the back and praise he deserves!

Glad to see that you made it. I'm the guy that gave you the warm quesadilla at the stop in Madison. What a day! Cheers mate.

I have never seen anyone with such an amazing attitude as Conor. He is so positive, so cheerful, and so gracious. Cheers to you Conor.

Man, I was about ready to cry for Connor - he wanted it so badly, and was digging so deep. What a story, thanks Connor for your efforts and fare well!

So glad you made it. I've had a bit of a rough time lately, about 5 years actually. I needed you to finish. You did. Now it's my turn to get up again. Thank you. Be proud.

Great job Conor, I did the 200 as well, and this really captures the heart and soul of Unbound better than all the rest.

Connor had all the symptoms of heat stroke there, that ridiculous mud at the start and the high temperature did a number on him.