Unbound Stories: Amanda Nauman
As the Unbound racers head into the Flint Hills of Kansas—with the exception of the XL riders, who’ve already spent the night on the road—we continue our celebration of Unbound with gravel pioneer Amanda Nauman, winner of the 200-mile race in 2015 and 2016.
Jan: How did you get into cycling, and what attracted you to gravel racing in the first place?
Amanda: I got into cycling because I was a swimmer who dabbled in triathlons. I quickly discovered that I enjoyed cycling the most. That lead me to a job at Felt Bicycles right out of college. This is where I was introduced to cyclocross and mountain bike racing. Gravel wasn’t a household discipline yet, so I just happened to be in the right place in SoCal to experience events like Belgian Waffle Ride and Rock Cobbler, which eventually segued into exploring Midwest back roads at a little event in Kansas. I happened to be part of the offshoot of the cyclocross community that was curious about epic endurance events during the off-season. That curiosity parlayed into the early days of gravel racing.
Jan: Why Unbound—what made it special back when ‘gravel’ wasn’t on anybody’s radar yet?
Amanda: David (my then-partner and now-husband) went in 2014 and called me from the dorm rooms in Emporia to tell me how amazing it was, and how he thought I could win the event. Fast-forward a year later, I mustered up the courage to see if I could even finish 200 miles in one go and fortuitously won the thing, like David had predicted. The ‘why’ in the beginning was always David’s belief. We never could have predicted it would become the most important race of the global gravel calendar.
Jan: Obviously, Unbound has changed over the years. Tell us how it’s different, and what hasn’t changed!
Amanda: Unbound has changed in many ways since those days, but the core of it has remained the same. It’s always been about the pursuit of a challenge, pushing your limits, and going on an adventure. Whether there are 50 people on the line attempting 200 miles or 4,000 people tackling multiple distances, the story will always be about pursuit of self-actualization.
Jan: Unbound is always unpredictable. 200 miles is a long way, especially with the punchy terrain and the famously sharp rocks of the Flint Hills. And then there’s the weather—if it rains, the course turns into a mudbath. You won in 2015, aka ‘The Year of the Mud.’ What was that like? What other memorable experiences did you have (good and bad)?
Amanda: 2015 as ‘The Mud Year’ will live in infamy for many years to come. There were several factors that contributed to its legendary status: We were all on cyclocross bikes, there was limited media coverage from the day, and the storytelling from riders was exceptional. Eleven years removed from the day, I can say my biggest takeaway now is the beauty of riding into the unknown with a bunch of folks willing to do the same. The equipment, resources, and learning experiences available to riders in 2026 attempt to answer some of these ‘unknowns,’ but the elements and Mother Nature will always have the last laugh. The fondest memories I have in the Flint Hills come from the adversity with Mother Nature, and I’m happy this will always be fundamental to everyone’s Unbound experience. That’s the most important part of Unbound, and it won’t change.
Jan: You’ve also done the XL—in fact, you came second in 2021, right behind Lael Wilcox. In 2024, you did the 100-miler. I think you must have done all distances by now. How do the different races compare?
Amanda: That’s right, in 2025, I became the first person to complete every distance that Unbound has to offer, by completing the 25-mile event just a week after getting the FKT on the Mega Mid South. I realized this was possible after I had done the 50-mile with my mom in 2024 and the 100-mile in 2023. Each distance has something unique to offer riders, no matter where they are at in life, in fitness, or in mental capacity.
Jan: Women make up a relatively small portion of gravel racers—but the racing isn’t any less competitive. What is your experience of racing as a woman?
Amanda: My experience is so different from the professional women’s field today. The advocacy for separate women’s starts and rules against drafting was inspired by an accumulation of frustrating experiences (which I had many). Today’s races are a far cry from how I raced them. I enjoy watching the front of the women race through a media lens, when I do coverage now, and I know the women enjoy having their own race as well. Down the road, I hope this continues to inspire more women at all ages and categories to take on gravel events and their own adventures, because they can see that there is space for them.
Jan: You are back in Emporia right now, but you’re not lining up to race…
Amanda: This is the first year I’m not riding any distance! I’m on the advisory board for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, and I am part of Shimano’s Gravel Alliance, so my pre-event responsibilities have grown. I am hosting the second year of a networking event with brands and racers that I hope will continue as an avenue to foster relationships and keep racing economics healthy for future riders. I’ve worked in the bike industry, I’ve raced, I’ve put on my own gravel event (Mammoth Tuff), and my long-term goal is to see gravel stay as a healthy discipline. I’ve been around long enough to see the ebbs and flows of other cycling disciplines I love, so I want to advocate and bring as many to the gravel table as I can.
Jan: Let’s talk equipment. You’re an engineer, and you used to race here on cyclocross bikes. What are you riding these days? And what is the perfect bike for Unbound? And what tires would you choose if you were to race this year?
Amanda: There is no perfect bike for Unbound, just the perfect bike for you. Whatever your goals are, you can build a bike within a budget to help you achieve this with today’s technology. I am lucky enough to have Niner’s ORE 9 RDO frame presently built with Shimano’s One-By Di2 GRX drivetrain and Rene Herse 700×44 Corkscrew Climb tires. I’ve been riding this set-up for the past year, and it’s served me well from the Flint Hills to champagne gravel in Steamboat to the volcanic roads in Mammoth. The Corkscrew Climb tires give me a perfect blend of the speed of the slicks with the traction of the knobbies, the best of both worlds in my years of riding Rene Herse tires. I opt for the Endurance Plus casing even it sacrifices some suppleness, because I lean towards the side of ultimate sidewall protection. The 44 mm width leaves me wiggle room for mud clearance.
Jan: With all your experience, other racers are looking to you for advice. What do you recommend, in terms of strategy and also mental outlook, to other racers, especially first-timers and women?
Amanda: With everything I’ve just written out here, I think the theme of my advice these days is to embrace the unknown and ride the adventure that’s presented to you. Information overload is so easy these days that sometimes I see riders get paralyzed when the ride isn’t going according to a perfect plan. You can do as much or as little homework as you want to prepare, but don’t forget the mental game. The more willing you are to pivot and tackle whatever challenges come your way, the better the memories you’ll have. And what’s the point if not for banking the memories?
Jan: Thank you, Amanda!
