- The 200-mile Kansas gravel race, previously known as Dirty Kanza, has officially changed its name to Unbound Gravel.
- A petition to change the name circulated in April of this year, encouraging the race to change the name, because it was offensive to the Indigenous peoples of the area.
- This change comes a few months after co-founder and Chief Gravel Officer Jim Cummins was fired after publicly posting a racist comment.
- The race is currently scheduled to be held June 5, 2021.
The iconic and popular gravel race previously known as Dirty Kanza, or DK200, has officially changed its name to Unbound Gravel. Often referred to as World’s Premier Gravel Event, the race and its management have undergone a lot of scrutiny in the past few months.
In April, a petition circulated urging the event to change its name. “Kanza” is a word used to refer to the Kaw Nation, a Native American tribe in Oklahoma and Kansas—so “Dirty Kanza” paints a harmful picture of an already severely oppressed people. Though the petition garnered over 1,300 signatures, Life Time initially vetoed the idea. They released a statement in conjunction with the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma saying that both entities supported keeping the name as is.
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In June, Jim Cummins—the co-founder of the race and former Life Time Chief Gravel Officer—was fired after he posted on Facebook calling the murder of Rayshard Brooks “Justified.”
Further investigation following Cummins’s firing revealed that the statement in April wasn’t the whole truth, and that Cummins had downplayed the efforts of the Kaw Nation and their allies to get the name of the race changed.
Bicycling’s reporting in June showed that Cummins received a forwarded email from the Life Time COO on November 9, 2018, signed by 45 members of the Kaw Nation, along with academics, advocates, and allies. That showed that he and Life Time corporate were aware that the name was offensive to many people in or associated with the Kaw Nation, even as they sought the permission and support to keep the name.
Life Time Fitness released a statement on October 29 announcing the change, and thanked members of the cycling community for their patience. According to the release, members of the Unbound Gravel events team visited Kaw Nation, Oklahoma to meet with members of the Tribal Council to openly discuss the renaming of the event and share other future plans, and race employees seem hopeful about the new start.
Unbound Gravel Marketing Manager Kristi Mohn said in the release that they aim “to embrace the history of the land on which we ride. We hope that each time riders touch the gravel roads in the Flint Hills, they take a moment to remember what has been.”
It’s a step in the right direction for sure, and we love to see it. The Unbound Gravel race is currently scheduled to be held June 5, 2021.
3 Super-Gravel Bikes for Your Next Adventure
Steel frame with options that include clearance for up to 2.25-inch tires and an S&S coupler that lets you split the bike in two for easier travel. Price: $3,495 and up.
Columbus-steel frame, lots of mounts, a 2x10 drivetrain (28/32 low gear), and clearance for 2.1-inch tires—this value-priced super-gravel has it all. Price: $2,200
A lightweight carbon frame, massive mud clearance, and mucho mounts make the Cutthroat the ultimate adventure bike. Price: $2,699 and up.
Riley is a writer and outdoor adventure guide currently based in Tucson, Arizona where she leads mountain bike rides, rock climbing, and hiking trips. In her spare time, she writes stories and reviews outdoor and fitness gear. Find her writing in publications including Outside, Lonely Planet, SHAPE, Bicycling, Runner’s World, and others. When she’s not playing in the mountains, she’s probably laying down somewhere or eating (or both).
