{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 207 ~ Kyle & Hannah - West Texas Showdown, 1st & 2nd Overall","description":" For the past five years, the Texas Showdown Series has been slowly, inevitably, drifting west. We started in the dense, pine-soaked forests of East Texas, moved through the rugged limestone of the Hill Country, but the destination was always clear: Big Bend. Few landscapes in the world capture the heart and soul the way West Texas does. For those willing to push themselves to the edge, something different waits out there\u2014something ancient, indifferent, and extraordinary. In the world of ultra-cycling, that \u201csomething\u201d takes the shape of the West Texas Showdown. The WTS doesn\u2019t just test riders. It strips them down. It pushes them to their limits and then, without apology or sympathy, asks for more. Out there, the desert becomes your only companion\u2014its silence broken only by your groans, your breathing, and the steady reminder that you are very far from comfort. And the numbers tell the story: only 32% of the field finished the course. In the Showdown category, the desert claimed all but three riders. Fifteen started. Three rolled into Terlingua. Despite the brutality of the route, the racing was electric and equally unrelenting. A small but mighty group battled back and forth across the miles, creating genuine, edge-of-your-seat dot-watching. It wasn\u2019t clear who would take the win until the final stretch, and by then everyone\u2014riders, spectators, and the desert itself\u2014had given everything they had. When the dust settled, here\u2019s who was left standing: 1st \u2014 Kyle Gilbert \u2014 2d 5h 44m 2nd \u2014 Hannah Simon \u2014 2d 16h 17m 3rd (DFL) \u2014 Robert Shine \u2014 2d 19h 33m These three deserve every ounce of praise and recognition\u2014not just for surviving the desert, but for putting on one hell of a race. Everyone who was out there knows how hard they had to fight, and they earned the respect of the entire field. On today\u2019s episode, I sat down with Kyle and Hannah in the back of DogSpeed Cycling in Austin, TX to talk all things WTS. At this point, they are the leading experts on the event, and we went deep: strategy, equipment, tire choice, water management, drop bags, preparation\u2014you name it. Whether you're thinking about tackling WTS or you just want to hear two incredible humans break down an unforgettable ride, this episode is for you. On a personal note, hosting both Kyle and Hannah at their very first ultra-cycling race back at ETS 2021 was one of the highlights of my time in this community. Seeing them return nearly five years later\u2014stronger, wiser, and standing atop the WTS podium\u2014was a full-circle moment that I\u2019ll never forget. I couldn\u2019t be prouder of these two, and I have no doubt they\u2019ll keep pushing boundaries and inspiring others along the way. --------- The party starts again at the 6th Edition of East Texas Showdown at the Bullet Grill in Point Blank, TX. Need to know: - March 27th-29th, 2026 - Registration Open now - Showdown (395 miles), Slowdown (275 miles), Lowdown (160 miles) - NEW FOR 2026 we're introducing a Grav\u00e9l option. Please say "hi" to the 69 miles Grav\u00e9l Throwdown. This is a unique race format that introduces another opportunity for others to get in on the action over the weekend, but it also presents a new challenge for the ultra-cylists - anyone who finishes the Showdown or Slowdown before Sunday at 7am can enter the Throwdown for free. Should make for a really dynamic race...a battle between gravel racers and ultra-cyclists - its the Grav\u00e9l Throwdown y'all! - more info can be found at TexasShowdownSeries.com Thanks to our newest Patrons!!! Dustin Mareth Indiana Shulz Manuel Busse Dave Milam  Borja G Join them won't you?! - Patreon.com\/bikesordeath   ","author_name":"Bikes or Death","author_url":"https:\/\/bikesordeath.com\/","html":"