Hey everybody, welcome to King of the Ride podcast. Ted King here, and here I am in Emporia, Kansas, home of unbound gravel.

We wrapped up a terrific gravel locos down in Hico, Texas last weekend, made the trip in the van to Kansas last week,

that basically saved us a flight back home to Vermont and near immediate flight back to Kansas, even though we haven't

been home to Vermont in a very long time. Honestly, this was the right choice and it has been

downright peaceful. We are enjoying this, this civility ahead of the scrum that is unbound.

The calm before the storm, if you will.

Our time here has been great.

And coincidentally, our guest today is on a similar program.

Paige Onweller is our guest today.

She's been kicking around the town of Emporia for the better part of a month,

learning the intricacies of the Flint Hills, characteristic of the area,

learning the course, acclimatizing herself to the weather. Now, you've likely heard her name

before, as she's often at the sharp end of the race, but only within the past year. She really

put her name into the ring as a contender in this gravel scene by winning Big Sugar, 2022. And what else she has done is she makes the transition to gravel is

downright impressive. It is bold. It is daring. So is Paige. She's a name to keep on your radar

going into Unbound this year and for the rest of the season.

It is so much fun to have these opportunities like here in Emporia to meet new folks,

to talk to the people who are making up this fledgling gravel scene.

I appreciate the time.

And as much as this time in Emporia is peaceful, I'm also prepping for Unbound XL myself.

Additionally, I am prepping for Tour Divide, which starts less than one week after the XL.

Business is a thing, to put it lightly.

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