For many, cycling 350 miles in gravel seems like an impossible feat. But for those who know David Ax, it sounded achievable for the local cycling phenom — and he proved them right at the Unbound Gravel 350-mile race this past May. 

David grew up an active kid but never considered himself an athlete. He eventually ran to stay fit throughout college. After moving to Richmond in 2015, David injured his Achilles running. He bought his first hybrid bike and was instantly hooked on cycling. He started doing shorter rides, eventually working up to his first 50-mile ride, which felt like a massive undertaking and a huge accomplishment at the time. 

In 2018, David and his wife Renae moved to Memphis, and his love for riding bikes continued to grow. During the pandemic, David rode two hours daily and eventually borrowed an extra road bike and cycling gear from a friend who encouraged him to try his first group ride. David completed an 80-mile group ride and, shortly after, bought his own road bike as he became interested in the world of bike racing. In Fall 2020, he joined the 901 Racing team, and his passion for the sport and involvement in the community only grew. “Bike racing is a perfect way to stay fit and get away from work, tap into my mental health, and feel connected to the community,” David says. 

While he loved riding with his community, David enjoyed embarking on long rides alone, riding for hours by himself before meeting up with a group ride. His friends recognized his passion for distance riding and suggested he try the Unbound Gravel 350-mile race, the country’s most popular distance gravel race. He applied in late 2023 and was accepted through the lottery system shortly thereafter. 

David spent the next five months following his training plan from BPC Performance, Inc. and building his dream gravel racing bike with Latting Speed Shop. “One of my goals was to make the experience fun and enjoy the process regardless of the race outcome. Working with my friends to prepare my body and bike made the training experience very enjoyable,” David remembers. 

On May 31 at 3 pm, David embarked on what would be a 24-hour and 20-minute, 350-mile gravel race. After encountering several obstacles — a crash, a shifter malfunction, a two-mile mud patch, and missing a vital aid station — David crossed the finish line as the 15th finisher out of 170. “I was amazed that my body made it through such a long distance, especially with all the challenges, but my training and bike helped me make it through and reach my goal of finishing in the top 20,” he says. 

Though it took his body a few weeks to recover from the race, David is already planning to put his training to the test again at the 300-mile Gravel Worlds Race in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Keep up with David and 901 Racing on Instagram at @901racing. You can also check out his trainer, @bpcperformance, and his favorite local bike shop, @lattingspeedshop. 

By Zoe Harrison 

Photo by Tindall Stephens