The challenge of tackling the UNBOUND Gravel 100 miles all began with a single LINE message from Kenta. With a mix of anxiety and excitement, the big day finally arrived. (Read Part 1 here.)

7｜Excitement and Nerves at the Start Line—Everything Begins Here

Maybe from nerves, I hadn’t slept much, and I woke up at 4 a.m.
It was still dark outside, but my excitement made it impossible to stay still.

I watched the riders attempting the 200-mile category, who had stayed in the same house, head out.Seeing them leave with all their gear, I suddenly felt a lump in my throat.
“Good luck!” slipped out of my mouth without thinking.

It felt just like seeing off upperclassmen at a big tournament back in my school days.

(Note: In Japanese schools, students often join sports clubs called “bukatsu.” Younger members (called kohai) support and look up to senior members (senpai), especially during competitions. Sending off your senpai before a big match is a special, emotional moment.)
With that feeling lingering, Kenta and I headed to the start line ourselves.

The weather was clear. The forecast called for lows around 13°C and highs near 30°C.
It wasn’t too chilly in the morning, but the second half of the day was sure to be hot.

At exactly 6:30 a.m.,
the 200-mile riders set off to massive cheers.
The ground seemed to shake with the energy, and I stood up straighter without thinking.

And then, it was finally our turn.
The 100-mile category started at 7:30 a.m.
As I lined up, I felt my heartbeat speeding up.Even just making eye contact with the strangers beside me felt like sharing a connection.

When the American national anthem began, the whole bustling venue fell perfectly silent.
That moment of silence only made the tension even more intense.

And then—7:30.
Finally, the 100-mile race began!

Surrounded by cheers, all the riders started moving at once.

At that moment, my nerves vanished, and I thought, “If I’ve come this far, I’m going to enjoy this 160%.
There was no point worrying anymore.
I wanted to experience this special race, this atmosphere, with everything I had.
That positive energy pushed me and my bike forward.

My spirits were sky-high—but I knew not to get too carried away.
At the start, everyone rode together in a pack, so I carefully matched the group’s pace until we reached the outskirts.

I focused quietly, always aware of the distance between me and the riders around me.
This unique tension was something you could only feel at a big event like this.

And so, my 160KM journey had truly begun.

8｜Once You Start, There’s No Turning Back—The 100 Miles Begin

After leaving the paved road, about 3 km in, we finally hit the gravel.I’d worried about the rain that had fallen just a week earlier, but thanks to several days of sunshine, the surface was dry.The infamous “peanut butter” mud was nowhere to be seen today.

The course was far from flat, with gentle rolling hills one after another.Looking out at the endless line of hundreds of riders stretched across the open landscape felt like an ocean of gravel.I got goosebumps realizing I was actually part of it.

Once you start, there’s no turning back. This was when the real challenge of UNBOUND GRAVEL began.

Before the race, Kenta had advised me, “Right after the start, the pack will go fast. Don’t push—save your energy for the second half.Sure enough, the American riders around me took off at over 35 km/h from the very start.

I kept to about 30 km/h, staying steady without overexerting.

The ride comfort was unbelievably good.The Panaracer GravelKing (45C) tires were wide and cushioned, absorbing the vibration from the gravel perfectly.

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon’s KingPin suspension made the ride so smooth it hardly felt like gravel.
The rear triangle flexed gently, soaking up small bumps and jolts.It felt as if the entire frame flexed, making long hours much less tiring.
Even on rough sections, impacts on my hips and lower back were minimal, letting me keep going confidently.Even as a novice, I could clearly feel the difference.

On climbs, the supple suspension followed the ground, and combined with the tires’ grip, I never slipped.
Even without strong legs, I felt secure and capable.

A feeling slowly bubbled up: “I might really be able to do this.”

9｜A Surface That Changes Every Moment

From photos, all the gravel might look the same.But once you ride it, it feels completely different.

Each time you crested a hill, the surface changed dramatically.The size and density of the gravel shifted, and in places, the double track ruts were deeply etched.There were many spots where even a small mistake in line choice could throw you off balance.

At one point, we even had to cross a shallow creek.I turned the pedals carefully to avoid soaking my shoes or damaging the bike.

The descents were especially tricky.Downhill gravel was often rough, with sharp rocks and loose stones waiting for you.I saw many riders pulled over, fixing punctures.

I’d pre-filled my GravelKing tires with sealant.It gave me peace of mind knowing small holes would seal themselves.But if I suffered a sidewall tear or major damage, the sealant wouldn’t help.Then I’d have to stop and fix it with a spare tube.

Every time I saw someone fixing a flat, I thought, “I could be next.Nervously, I kept choosing my lines with care.

One more thing that stood out was the number of water bottles littering the descents.
As the speed picked up, bottles would rocket out of cages and bounce away.

UNBOUND GRAVEL isn’t just about riding.You have to keep your senses sharp for every detail, or you won’t finish—The constantly changing surfaces told that story more clearly than words ever could.

10｜They Gave Me Strength! The Panaracer Support Crew

At about 90 km—halfway—I reached Council Grove.

Unlike Japanese fun rides, UNBOUND doesn’t have organizer-provided aid stations with food and drink.Self-support is the rule, and you must arrange everything yourself.

However, if you register in advance, you can pay for a “Crew for Hire” support service prepared by the organizers.These are run by local groups like Payne’s Promise and Camp Alexander, providing peace of mind on race day.

→ For more details, please visit the official UNBOUND website.・About CREW FOR HIRE

We had Panaracer’s support crew waiting for us at this checkpoint.

They had cold drinks, spare food, and—best of all—a cold frappuccino waiting for us.
Normally, it would be too sweet for me, but in that moment, it was perfect.With every sip, I felt it soaking into my whole body.It was like an oasis in the desert.

Because I’d held back in the first half just as Kenta advised, I still felt surprisingly strong.My legs were still turning, and I had plenty of nutrition left.

I took a deep breath and set off into the second half—

11｜Pickles and Cola—Time for One More Push!

The second half of the course kept up with endless little climbs and descents.The temperature climbed over 32°C, and the sun beat down, scorching my skin.
As my fatigue kept building, I suddenly heard a motorcycle engine roaring up behind me.

With a shout of “Make way!” the leaders of the 200-mile category came flying past.

Led by a motorcycle, they zoomed past us at unbelievable speeds.Their crisp pedaling didn’t look like they’d already ridden over 250 km. I was speechless.
More and more 200-mile riders caught up, so I kept checking behind me as I rode.

Near 130 km, by Lake Kahola, I stumbled upon an unexpected unofficial aid station.
Under the tent, a group of enthusiastic volunteer women greeted us.
With big smiles, they called out, “PICKLE STAND!” and handed me a pickle.

I took a bite…and it was so sour!
It was like the American version of a super-sour Japanese umeboshi.
But the tang spread through my overheated body and somehow refreshed me.

(Note: Umeboshi are traditional Japanese pickled plums known for their extremely salty and sour taste. They are often eaten with rice or as a snack, and many Japanese people associate their intense flavor with a sharp, invigorating jolt.)

Then, as if to finish me off, they called, “Hey, want some Coke?” and handed over an ice-cold Coca-Cola!Kenta and I looked at each other, laughed, and toasted silently.

I chugged it down, and it felt like my HP bar filled right back up.
I never expected to find such a miracle aid station here.
UNBOUND GRAVEL really doesn’t pull any punches—

12｜At the Finish, the Best Reward Was Waiting

I stopped at the water station 20 km from the finish.The temperature rose again, and my bottles emptied fast.Topping up here was essential if I wanted to finish.

Then—my legs started cramping.Actually, they were already cramping.
My exhaustion was peaking, and Kenta and I had stopped talking.
We just pedaled in silence.I sipped my water, trying to soothe myself. My throat and my spirit were bone-dry.

I reached into my frame bag and pulled out some Japanese Kaki-no-tane rice crackers I’d brought along.I never thought these little snacks would be my best allies out here in Kansas.The salty taste slowly gave me strength.

After a short rest, I climbed back on the saddle and started rolling again.But now my upper body was nearing its limits too.
My neck and shoulders were so heavy, and I was breathing shallowly.Still,

I couldn’t stop.
I kept stretching, rolling my shoulders and shaking out my arms as I rode.

At last, with 3 km to go, I left the endless gravel behind and hit smooth pavement.
I never knew asphalt could feel this comforting.

Emporia’s town center came into view.The red fences lined the road, leading into the finish chute.

Cheers, clapping, and smiling faces surrounded us.Strangers waved and shouted, “Good job!”
That atmosphere, treating every rider as a hero, was enough to make me tear up.

And then—I crossed the finish line.

I had finished UNBOUND GRAVEL 100 miles.My body was wrecked, but my heart was full.

For the first time in a long while, I believed in the phrase “You can do it if you try.”
There were new sights here that only those who finish could ever see.

Right after finishing, I was handed a finisher’s medal and a commemorative glass.The medal, with its satisfying heft, felt like a true symbol of all the effort I’d put in.The moment they placed it around my neck, I felt a surge of emotion well up inside me.

＜1100-Mile Finish Time: Kenta – 8 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds / Tsucchi – 8 hours 30 minutes 40 seconds
＞

And of course, I couldn’t forget—the finisher’s beer!
With the beer voucher that had been attached to my race number, I headed straight for the beer booth.They handed me a Gravel City Ale brewed locally by Free State Brewing in Kansas.The cold beer soaked into my parched throat.
This was it—this was the ultimate reward for reaching the finish line.

My trusty Cannondale Topstone was trouble-free all the way to the end.And the Panaracer GravelKing tires carried me to the finish without a single puncture.Thanks to them covering for my underpowered engine (that is, me), I made it all the way.

Confidence, comfort, reliability—
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so reassured by my bike and tires before.

After finishing, I couldn’t get up from the bench for a while—I just stared blankly up at the sky.
Slowly, the reality of what I’d done began to sink into my lead-heavy body.

Eventually, I managed to stand and bring my bike over to the Muc-off wash station.
To my surprise, local kids were volunteering, carefully cleaning each mud-covered bike by hand.Their innocent smiles and cheerful “Good job!” felt like they went straight to my heart.

UNBOUND GRAVEL isn’t just a race.Moments like these proved it, right up until the very end.

＜Abe also finished the 200 miles in an impressive 11 hours 1 minute 38 seconds.＞

▼This Ride’s Route

13｜Looking Back—What This Challenge Taught Me in My 40s

This UNBOUND GRAVEL wasn’t quite the same as Discover Ride’s usual “life-sized journeys.”
It all started with a single message from Kenta—and from there, the story began.

In my 40s, I didn’t want to admit my stamina and energy were fading, but deep down, I knew it.Facing that reality, I decided this was the moment—I had to try.

Usually, I’m a mellow rider who loves casual café rides.But to shake up my softening mindset, body, and waistline, I committed to this challenge.

Balancing work and parenting, I relied on my family’s understanding and support from Panaracer and so many others to reach the finish.This was undoubtedly an experience I’ll treasure for life.

It reminded me: you only get one life.And bicycles hold infinite potential to enrich it.

The “life-sized journeys” and the “out-of-the-ordinary challenges” Discover Ride has shared—both are beautiful gifts that bikes can bring.

Nowadays, social media is flooded with breathtaking travel photos, amazing food, and inspiring stories.It can almost feel like you’ve been there yourself.

But—
There’s a world of difference between seeing it on a screen and feeling it with your own body.

Like the sense of triumph after climbing a hill, the wind on your skin, the taste of that drink when you’re dripping sweat—
Those sensations carve themselves into your memory.

Going somewhere, pedaling on your own legs, seeing it with your own eyes, feeling it in your heart—
That’s what makes a real journey that stays with you forever.

That’s why in this age of perfect photos and viral stories, it’s worth seeking out experiences you feel yourself.
I think the value of that will only keep growing.

The awe and discoveries you can’t find in efficient, polished experiences—those live in the “slightly extraordinary” world of a bike journey.

＜Special thanks to everyone at Panaracer who supported this project＞

Sure, this trip to Kansas was an extraordinary adventure—
But even stepping just a little beyond your routine, your bike will show you new horizons.

Far or near—ride on your own legs, see with your own eyes, feel it with your own heart.That’s the true value and real magic of cycling.

At Discover Ride, we’ll keep sharing life-sized journeys—and sometimes we’ll take on extraordinary ones, too.

So, what should I challenge myself with next?

【Here are the tires we used for this ride】