Ultra Endurance Unconventional: Flat Pedals, 200-Mile FKTs, and Unbound XL Prep with Justin Cary #44

In this episode of ShiftLess, Kevin and Brad sit down with the "King of Unconventional," Justin Cary. In less than ten years, Justin has transitioned from a broken Walmart bike to a Leadville 100 finisher and the reigning 200-mile FKT (Fastest Known Time) champion of the Denton loop.If you are a fan of gravel cycling, gravel racing, or bikepacking, this deep dive explores the gear, nutrition, and mental grit required to survive 15+ hours in the saddle. Justin breaks down his highly non-traditional setup, including why he swears by flat pedals for ultra endurance unpaved cycling and how he customized his Trek Checkpoint with a suspension fork and DIY aluminum plates for his aerobars.In this episode, we discuss:The Science of Cheap Nutrition: How Justin uses Maltodextrin, Fructose, and sodium citrate to create high-carb cycling nutrition for pennies on the dollar.The Gear Hack: A technical look at the Trek Checkpoint/Fox Step-Cast 50mm hybrid and the importance of multiple hand positions for preventing nerve damage during gravel racing.Mental Fortitude: Drawing inspiration from David Goggins to defeat the "quit monsters" during 350-mile efforts.Training for the Unknown: Balancing high-mileage road rides with CrossFit strength training and the reality of heat acclimation in the Texas sun.The Future of Adventure: Justin’s upcoming Unbound XL attempt and his thoughts on getting kids started on e-bikes early.The Unpaved Ecosystem: How scouting segments for The USA Trail and perfecting a Basepacking strategy (using vehicles as mobile hubs) is opening new doors for the modern adventure cyclist.Whether you're a "weight weenie" or an "everyday man" looking for a sense of freedom, this episode provides a raw and insightful look at the culture that defines the unpaved world.Gravel cycling, bikepacking, gravel racing, ultra endurance unpaved cycling, The USA Trail, Basepacking, Leadville 100, Unbound XL, cycling nutrition, FKT, flat pedals on gravel, ShiftLess Podcast.“You can go a lot farther than you think you can, you just don’t want to make the jump too quick.” — Go ride your bike.Key Highlights & LogisticsFeatureJustin's Unconventional ApproachPedal SystemOneUp Aluminum Flat PedalsGravel SuspensionFox Factory Step-Cast (50mm Travel)Hydration70oz Bladder + Fidlock Bottle RotationFKT RecordDenton 200 (12 Hours, 24 Minutes)Fueling100g Carbs/Hour (DIY Liquid Mix)Export to SheetsKeywords for OptimizationReach out and touch us: [email protected]