GearJunkie/YogaSlackers team racer Chelsey Magness set a record on North Dakota’s renowned Maah Daah Hey Trail this month, completing the 105-mile route in 14 hours and 30 minutes. Here are a few pieces of equipment that helped her along the way.
Text below by Chelsey Magness:
Ellsworth Truth — I never get tired of riding the Ellsworth Truth bike. It has the best full-suspension system of any bike that I have been on, and I needed it on the Maah Daah Hey Trail and in this race. The Ellsworth linkage design allows the suspension to stay completely open when climbing and descending without sacrificing pedal efficiency. The rear wheel has such good hookup because of this, and I found myself making serious technical climbs in the last 30 miles despite major fatigue near the end.
Ergon Grips — I will never ride another bike without these “ergo” handle grips. In the race, I had to take off my gloves due to the extreme heat, so I was nervous riding 100+ miles with bare hands. But I had no numbness in the hands at all.
2XU Compression Bike Shorts — I brought multiple pair of shorts thinking I’d have to change mid-race. But the Chamois in these 2XU shorts held up the whole 14 hours with no issues. The compression features helped to keep my legs pumping those last 25 miles.
Pearl Izumi X-Road Fuel Shoes — These lace-up SPD bike shoes have a sole that accommodates walking or pushing the bike. That’s a nice feature on the Maah Daah Hey, where I forded multiple creeks (and one major river) and pushed my bike up rugged hills before hoping back on to ride. A nylon plate keeps them rigid as a plank while pedaling.
Fenix BT-20 Bike Light — A tiny, handlebar-mounted bike light, the BT-20 blasts up to 750 lumens to ignite a trail. Bonus: This light costs only $99, which is a steal compared to many bike lights out there. It was essential for riding fast during the predawn section of the race.
Ibex Biking Top — I wore the Rim Half Zip Shirt, a merino wool piece with a snug fit from Ibex. It does not have jersey pockets on back, which is perfect for riding when you’re carrying a pack. The wool helped regulate my temp all day, no matter how hot the trail got.
Switch Sunglasses — Super easy to change lenses from clear to tinted as the sun comes up. The Switch glasses use tiny magnets, and lenses simply pop off and on. Love these shades.
Tailwind Nutrition —During the ride, 90 percent of my calories came from this drink mix. It has calories, carbs, and electrolytes. Tailwind is my high-intensity fuel of choice, over and over again on events around the world.
—Chelsey Magness writes in detail about her Maah Daah Hey experience on the YogaSlackers blog.
