She Learned to Bike at 20. Now She's a Champion.

On May 31, Alexandera Houchin will line up with 66 men and 15 women for the start of the second annual Dirty Kanza Extra Large. The 350-mile, invitation-only, ultra-endurance gravel-cycling challenge may sound benign enough-it's in Kansas, after all-but this year's race climbs more than 15,433 feet through the state's often wind-whipped, mud-soaked Flint Hills. It's masochistic by any cyclist's standards, but Houchin isn't fazed.

"I pretty much only eat Snickers and drink Powerade because these shorter races are a solid push-through," she says. "I don't bring sleeping gear, and I never wear padded shorts. I'll just wear my cutoffs and my boots. I always ride with flat pedals."

https://www.outsideonline.com/2397215/alexandera-houchin-endurance-cycling