Skip to content
  • BIKES
    • Surveyor
      • Surveyor Frameset
      • Surveyor Dura-Ace Di2
      • Surveyor Ultegra Di2
      • Surveyor Red AXS
      • Surveyor Red XPLR 1x
      • Surveyor Force AXS
      • Surveyor Force XPLR 1x
    • Surveyor Info
      • View All Surveyors
      • Compare All Models
      • All-Road Integrated Fork
      • Integrally Threaded Bottom Bracket
      • Virtual Consultation
      • Deposits
      • Owners Manual
    • Extras
      • Custom Builder
      • Components
      • Second Wheelsets
      • Ready-to-Paint
      • ColorSpan Custom Paint
  • MERCH
    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • MEDIA
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Virtual Consultation
    • Dealers
  • DEALERS
  • BLOG
  • Log in
  • Instagram
  • Vimeo
Cart
Subtotal
$0.00
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes calculated at checkout.
Your cart is currently empty.
ALL COMPLETE SURVEYORS NOW SHIPPING WITH ENVE COMPONENTS
FRAMESETS STARTING AT $5999 CAD
FIND A LOCAL DEALER & RESERVE YOURS NOW
BRIDGE Bike Works BRIDGE Bike Works BRIDGE Bike Works BRIDGE Bike Works
  • BIKES
    Surveyor
    Surveyor Frameset
    Surveyor Dura-Ace Di2
    Surveyor Ultegra Di2
    Surveyor Red AXS
    Surveyor Red XPLR 1x
    Surveyor Force AXS
    Surveyor Force XPLR 1x
    Surveyor Info
    View All Surveyors
    Compare All Models
    All-Road Integrated Fork
    Integrally Threaded Bottom Bracket
    Virtual Consultation
    Deposits
    Owners Manual
    Extras
    Custom Builder
    Components
    Second Wheelsets
    Ready-to-Paint
    ColorSpan Custom Paint
  • MERCH
  • OUR STORY
    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • MEDIA
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Virtual Consultation
    • Dealers
  • DEALERS
  • BLOG
Log in Search Cart
Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
UNBOUND GRAVEL - DAY 3
Events · Surveyor ·Jun 05, 2023

UNBOUND GRAVEL - DAY 3

An account of the day from Nick Diniz, who placed 3rd overall in the open division, 1st in his age category and was 1st Canadian overall.

"The start was much faster than I was expecting (like 45kph), so it was especially important to stay with the lead group. If there was any hesitation, I knew I would be dropped off the back, and might not see the front of the race again.

Unbound Gravel

Since there was rain over night, we were really worried (but prepared) for the mud. It was 17km into the race, so I invested a bit of extra energy making sure I stayed near the front.

The group hit the muddy road, and I was in the top 10 wheels, thinking I’d be able to leverage a bit of my cyclocross skills to stay at the front. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how sticky this mud was and within 20 meters my whole bike was clogged, with my drivetrain and both wheels completely clogged. I didn’t bother running like many others, deciding that it was pointless to stress out. I convinced myself instead of racing today I’d just try to enjoy my ride since it seemed there was no other option than admit defeat. 

Unbound Gravel

Everybody was in the same boat though, and the bike race quickly turned into an army of people marching their bikes through the mud. I walked for about 45 minutes (5km) pushing my bike through wet grass on the side of the road to wash some of the mud off and get the wheels spinning again, using the walk to get as much fuel in me as possible while the stress was low. Once we were back on ridable roads, I was relaxed and my legs felt great, but the leisurely pace through the mud meant there was over 100 riders ahead of me. 

I scraped all the mud off of my bike and got to work, riding a strong pace I knew I could hold all day. Rolled solo for 30 minutes, passing a few groups, and picked up one rider who was really eager to start driving the pace. Around 80km in, my bike started to clog up again, requiring me to use a paint scrapper on my fork and chain stays while rolling, which was a somewhat sketchy experience.

Unbound Gravel

We kept on rolling by groups and picking up strong riders until the first support zone at 127km. After a smooth stop with Evert killing it in the pits and help from the Orange Seal mechanics cleaning my bike we rolled out in a solid group of 7. The vibes were really good in this group, and with 200km still to go we were all eager to ride steady and just keep on reeling in riders ahead. 

It was getting really hot however, and around kilometer 200 I found myself rolling off the front of the group up every climb. With the finish getting closer and my legs still feeling great, I decided to up the pace again and go on solo. This was one of the toughest parts of the course physically, with a handful of steep climbs and really rough gravel, mixed with thunderstorms and heavy rain that had rolled in.

Unbound Gravel

It was absolutely pouring at Aid Station 2, and my moral got another boost getting to see the whole BRIDGE crew. At this point I knew that I’d be able to ride strong to the finish only 70km away, and was mostly focused on riding smoothly to not flat or have any mechanical issues. There was one more muddy road around 50km to go, which required another 15-20minutes of walking. After making sure the drivetrain was clean to avoid mechanicals we ended up rolling with former World Tour pro Nicholas Roche, who drove it on the front for about 30km (which was one of the cooler experiences of my race). We let off the gas for the last 20km, blowing through foot deep puddles (some would call them rivers) on our way into Emporia for the finish. 

Unbound Gravel

We finished the race cruising easy into town, and even though I knew I had a really strong ride, I was still really happy to hear that I finished 3rd in the open race. My Surveyor performed flawlessly all day, and I had no flats or mechanicals, due in large part to the amazing support I had from Jason keeping the bike running smooth all week. I’m super grateful for the experience, and can’t wait for the next one."

- Nick Diniz

Unbound Gravel
Share Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter Pin it Pin on Pinterest

Back to NEWS | INFO | EVENTS | UPDATES

Catch up with what's been going on

View all
BRIDGE FACTORY TOUR
May 15, 2025
BRIDGE FACTORY TOUR
BEN DELANEY SURVEYOR REVIEW
Apr 24, 2025
BEN DELANEY SURVEYOR REVIEW
SEA OTTER 2025
Apr 16, 2025
SEA OTTER 2025
SURVEYOR NOW BUILT WITH ENVE
Mar 11, 2025
SURVEYOR NOW BUILT WITH ENVE
BRIDGE X WOLF TOOTH
Mar 10, 2025
BRIDGE X WOLF TOOTH
BEST BIKE OF 2024
Dec 09, 2024
BEST BIKE OF 2024
TRAINING DAY WITH JULIE TOOLE
Dec 04, 2024
TRAINING DAY WITH JULIE TOOLE
NOW AVAILABLE - RAW CARBON
Nov 01, 2024
NOW AVAILABLE - RAW CARBON

COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE

For the most up-to-date information, follow us on Instagram. We post daily photos & videos from our manufacturing facility and beyond.
Follow us: @BridgeBikeWorks

SIGN UP AND RIDE WITH US

Subscribe for the latest news, special rides, and special offers.

Invalid password
Enter
BRIDGE Bike Works

Bikes

  • Surveyor Frameset
  • Surveyor Completes
  • Compare All Models

About Us

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Media

Info

  • FAQ
  • Warranty
  • Owner's Manual

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • Virtual Consultation
  • Dealers

SIGN UP AND RIDE WITH US

Subscribe for the latest news, special rides, and special offers.

ENTER YOUR EMAIL

  • Instagram
  • Vimeo
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Refund Policy

Copyright © 2025 Bridge Bikeworks | Site by Elevatr Digital

SIGN UP AND RIDE WITH US

Subscribe for the latest news, special events, and offers.