Skip to content
COHORT 2 IS OPEN8 hours left
APPLY

PEAK PHASE · 4 WEEKS OUT

UNBOUND GRAVEL — 4 WEEKS OUT

Event-specific sharpening. Volume drops, quality rises. Built around the 320km / 2,800m profile of the Unbound in USA.

320 km·2,800 m climbing·12-20 hours·June

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

SHARPEN FOR THE DATE.

Four weeks out, you stop building and start sharpening. Volume drops 15-20%. Intensity gets very specific to your event. Long rides mimic race pacing. The goal is to arrive fresh, not fitter — if you're still building now, you peaked wrong.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

EVENT SIMULATION

One 3-hour ride that mimics the first 3 hours of your target event. Same pace, same fueling, same kit. If your event has a big early climb, include one. Your legs learn what race pace feels like.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 4 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Protect recovery aggressively now.

Tuesday

THRESHOLD (3X10MIN)

Shorter, sharper threshold reps.

Wednesday

60MIN Z2

Just keeping the legs open.

Thursday

RACE-PACE INTERVALS (5X5MIN)

At your target sportive pace.

Friday

REST

Full rest — no bike.

Saturday

3H EVENT SIMULATION

Dial in pacing + fueling + kit.

Sunday

90MIN Z2

Easy, social.

DON'T DO THIS

The peak phase is when amateurs panic-train. Resist. Extra volume here creates fatigue that sits in your legs on race day. Trust the base.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE UNBOUND ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Unbound Gravel is the world's biggest gravel event — 320km (200mi) across the Flint Hills of Kansas on rocky unpaved roads. Lottery entry, professional field mixed with amateurs, 100mi + 50mi options. Mud years and dust years both exist.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓320km (200mi) flagship + 100mi + 50mi options
  • ✓Flint Hills rocks destroy tyres, wheels, and souls
  • ✓Mud years (historic): bike-carrying, abandonments, DNFs at 50%
  • ✓Kansas heat: 25-35°C with no shade
  • ✓Self-navigated (GPS) after the first 20km

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Running tyres under 40mm — Unbound shreds light tyres
  • ✕Trying to ride from a sportive background without ultra pacing
  • ✕Underfueling because 'it's just bikes, not running' — 12-20 hours is ultra territory

PACING

Unbound is an ultra with a drop bag. Pace at 55-60% of your 4-hour FTP as a realistic all-day ceiling. The rocks force constant micro-adjustments; you don't hold steady power like on road. Drop bag at checkpoints 2 and 3 — strategise what's in each bag before the start.

FUELLING

80-100g carbs/hour for 12+ hours. Aid stations are official but crowded — own supply between them is faster. Heat means electrolytes dominate. Solid food at checkpoints, gels + bars between. Texan rule: if you're not peeing every 2 hours you're underfuelling.

KIT

Gravel bike with 42-45mm tyres, reinforced sidewalls (Panaracer GravelKing SK+, Challenge Gravine Race, Rene Herse Stampede Pass). Tubeless mandatory. 2-3 tyre plugs + CO2 + spare tube. Mudguards optional (but essential in mud years). Hydration pack optional but helps in heat.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

Not Done Yet is the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for Not Done YetHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 4 WEEKS OUT

Is 4 weeks enough to train for the Unbound Gravel?+

Yes, if you already have a reasonable aerobic base. 4 weeks out means peak and taper — we can sharpen and refine, but we can't build new aerobic fitness from scratch. If you're starting from zero now, aim for finishing rather than personal bests.

What's the hardest part of the Unbound Gravel?+

320km (200mi) flagship + 100mi + 50mi options. running tyres under 40mm — Unbound shreds light tyres — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Unbound is an ultra with a drop bag.

How many hours a week should I train at 4 weeks out from the Unbound Gravel?+

Reduce to 8-10 hours with rising intensity quality. This is the peak phase — fewer, sharper sessions. Long weekend ride stays but drops slightly (3-4 hours with event-specific work). Weekday sessions are shorter and more intense.

Do I need a coach to train for the Unbound Gravel?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Unbound Gravel runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Unbound Gravel?+

Gravel bike with 42-45mm tyres, reinforced sidewalls (Panaracer GravelKing SK+, Challenge Gravine Race, Rene Herse Stampede Pass). Tubeless mandatory. 2-3 tyre plugs + CO2 + spare tube. Mudguards optional (but essential in mud years). Hydration pack optional but helps in heat.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE UNBOUND

Earlier phase ← 8 weeks out

BUILD PHASE

Later phase → 2 weeks out

TAPER