Unbound Gravel 2021 is almost here.
Final preparations are underway, including setup of the All Things Gravel Expo. Race Director Ben Sachs says there will be a lot on hand to set the stage for the races and other activities.
The expo opens from 3-8 pm Thursday, the same time rider check-in for all distances will begin at the Lyon County History Center. Check-in continues at the History Center on Friday, with Unbound XL, 25- and 50-mile riders taking off at different times of the day. The annual rider meeting for 100-mile and 200-mile riders will start at 4 pm in the 700 block of Mechanic. On Saturday, the 200-mile race begins at 6 am and the 100-mile race begins at 7 am. The finish line block party starts at 11 am, shortly before live coverage of the afternoon’s activities begins around noon through www.FloBikes.com. The main awards ceremony will be from 8-9 am Sunday in the 700 block of Mechanic.
The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center is alerting residents of some changes in traffic flow for parts of the event, whether through street closures, parking adjustments or heavier-than-normal bike traffic.
Mechanic Street is already closed between Sixth and Ninth to accommodate the All Gravel Expo. Also closed are the 10 blocks of West Seventh and West Eighth.
Downtown traffic will see temporary changes in parking policy, notably for Commercial Street between Sixth and 12th and for Mechanic Street between Seventh and Ninth. Those areas will remain closed Saturday, so vehicles parked in these areas after 2 am Saturday will be towed.
Near downtown, the Interstate 35 Merchant Street exit will likely have high numbers of cyclists starting Wednesday and continuing through at least Friday. Highland Street may see heavy bike traffic Friday through Sunday.
Elsewhere, Americus Main Street and nearby areas will have heavy bike traffic starting Thursday.
Severe weather is not expected, but Emporia Presbyterian Church at 802 Commercial and St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 828 Commercial will serve as officially-designated shelters if the need arises.
KVOE will broadcast from the check-in activities at the Lyon County History Center from 10 am to 12:30 pm Friday. KVOE will also broadcast from the launch of the 100-mile and 200-mile races Saturday morning as well as from the finish line from 4-7 pm Saturday evening.
