
Gnar Nasty aka Brandon Bettes: A Season of Epic Races, Major Setbacks & Hard Lessons #64
✨ Support the Podcast ✨https://linktr.ee/theendurancestudio In this episode of The Endurance Studio, I'm joined by Brandon Bettes, better known in the bikepacking world as Gnar Nasty. Brandon has had one hell of a year, taking on an ambitious lineup of endurance events, including the Stagecoach 400, Pinyons and Pines, Colorado Trail Race, AZT 800, and AZT 300. We get into the highs and lows of an unforgettable racing season, including a devastating crash on the Colorado Trail Race, a serious medical situation during his first AZT 800 attempt, and his return to the Arizona Trail for a redemption ride on the AZT 300. Brandon shares his experience with hyponatremia, the importance of understanding your individual sodium needs, and what he changed between his AZT 800 and AZT 300 attempts. We also discuss the physical toll of ultra-endurance racing, avoiding burnout, and finding a sustainable balance between chasing big adventures and staying healthy enough to keep doing them. We also get into the details that make bikepacking conversations fun: single-speed setups, broken spokes, custom high handlebars, water carries, emergency bivy experiences, lightning storms, bear encounters, navigation mistakes, and the gear that makes a difference out on the trail. And, of course, we finish with some rapid-fire questions and a few stories you won't want to miss. ---------------- https://www.instagram.com/gnar_nasty/ ---------------- (00:00:00) - Podcast Introduction and Back Pain (00:03:16) - Pars Defect, Surgery, and Peptide Options (00:11:19) - Gnar Nasty: Origin Story and Race Background (00:16:45) - Colorado Trail Race Crash and Recovery (00:22:23) - Balancing Training, Work, and Family (00:27:58) - AZT 800 and Hospital Treatment (00:34:50) - Hyponatremia, Sodium, and Electrolyte Strategies (00:38:28) - Bike Mechanics, Frame Damage, and Custom Components (00:42:43) - Grand Loop: Fatigue, Motivation, and Sleep Deprivation (00:48:11) - Navigation Mistakes and Unexpected Situations (00:50:36) - Camping, Weather, and Emergency Bivy Experiences (01:06:34) - Water Management and Hydration Logistics (01:09:59) - Sodium Preloading and Endurance Performance (01:16:04) - AZT 300 Mechanical Issues and Spoke Repairs (01:25:51) - Bike Components, Geometry, and Hand Health (01:28:48) - Advice to His Younger Self: Avoiding Burnout (01:31:02) - From Motorcycles to Bikepacking (01:42:19) - AZT 300: Expectations, Challenges, and Lessons (01:45:26) - Lighting Systems and Headlamp Options (01:48:47) - Bear Encounters, Motivation, and Future Races (01:53:59) - Dogs, Inspiration, and Future Race Concepts (01:59:23) - Coros Dura and Garmin InReach Review (02:15:48) - Hospital Visits, Support, and Bikepacking Camaraderie (02:20:23) - Essential Gear and Rapid-Fire Questions (02:24:08) - Camper Encounters, Resupply, and Wildlife (02:31:52) - Closing Remarks ---------------- #endurance #bikepacking


















