San Juan Hut to Hut Bikepacking & The Leadville 100 Controversy | Ep. 115

In this episode of ShiftLess, Brad returns from his long-awaited San Juan Hut to Hut expedition—a high-altitude bikepacking journey from Durango toward Moab. We break down the grueling reality of Day 1: 22 miles of Colorado Trail singletrack with over 4,000 feet of climbing, starting at 10,000 feet. From surviving "geyser beers" in the huts to nursing a snake-bitten tire across the rugged San Juan range, Brad shares the raw, unfiltered logistics of ultra endurance unpaved cycling.We also dive deep into the recent Leadville 100 controversy surrounding local favorite Lauren Stevens. We discuss the "Elite Bible," the nuances of aid station rules, and the fine line between an honest mistake and a disqualification in the world of professional gravel racing and mountain bike endurance.As we look ahead to the fall season, we touch on the progress of The USA Trail verification and how Basepacking—leveraging a vehicle as a mobile base camp—is becoming the preferred strategy for scouting the next great American unpaved routes.The San Juan Experience: Navigating the 5-day trek, altitude sickness (HAPE), and the relief of finishing early due to the Deer Creek wildfire.Mechanicals & Repairs: Why a 2.6 tire might have saved Brad’s rim and the life-saving efficacy of tire darts vs. bacon strips in sharp Colorado scree.The Leadville 100 Drama: A breakdown of the Lauren Stevens DQ at Carter Summit. Was the punishment too harsh for a 500ml bottle hand-up?Fueling for Altitude: Brad’s "Jelly Roll" burrito strategy, sea salt hydration, and the mystery of exploding cans at 11,000 feet.The Road to RAT: How high-altitude training has shifted the mental game for the upcoming Race Across Texas (RAT).Gravel cycling, gravel racing, bikepacking, ultra endurance unpaved cycling, The USA Trail, Basepacking, Leadville 100, San Juan Hut to Hut, Durango to Moab, Race Across Texas (RAT), Vittoria Mezcal, Chumba Bikes.“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” — Go ride your bike.In This Episode, We Discuss:Key Logistics & Gear MentionedFeatureDetailsBike SetupChumba with 30T chainring / 52T cassetteTire ChoiceVittoria Mezcal 2.35 (Rear) / 2.6 (Front)Repair TechStan’s NoTubes Darts & Bacon StripsHydration3L Bladder + Tailwind NutritionExport to SheetsKeywords for OptimizationReach out and touch us: [email protected]