Unbound Gravel Stories: Chris Fowler – Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Location: Littleton, Colorado

Instagram: @chris_fowler_co

Unbound 200

Words James Ion - Photography courtesy of Chris Fowler

Six years ago, Chris Fowler shattered his left heel in a freak accident. In the ER, the doctor told him plainly: “This is a life-changing injury. You’ll never be the same.”

He wasn’t wrong, but not in the way he meant.

At first, life post-injury was bleak. Chronic pain, limited mobility, and a downward spiral in both physical and mental health. But one day, on a whim, Chris tried getting on a bike. It didn’t just work—it gave him a way forward. Since then, cycling has been his personal rebuild project. Gravel riding, which he stumbled into while looking for a new bike, has become his proving ground.

After completing the 100-mile route in 2023 and pulling out of the 200 in 2024, Chris is back in 2025 with unfinished business. Inspired by the perseverance of English Channel swimmer Gertrude Ederle, he’s returning not just to ride, but to finish.

Training through a mild Colorado winter has helped him stay outdoors, where he’s focused on building speed, riding cleaner lines, and balancing steady Zone 2 efforts with hard intervals. “Whatever my training has been, it hasn’t been enough,” he jokes. “But it’s all about improving. And wheels on dirt.”

His steed of choice is a 2023 Santa Cruz Stigmata AXS Force 1x, affectionately nicknamed Evil Stig. He’s recently dialed in his fit with 42cm bars, dropped the dropper post, and added a Wolf Tooth oval chainring for efficiency. His go-to tires? Specialized Pathfinder Pro 42s—dependable, fast, and versatile.

More than anything, Chris is excited for the atmosphere. “Walking through Emporia, doing the shakeout ride, standing in the chute... it all energizes me,” he says. “What scares me is forgetting something that could affect my day—or falling over in the chute.”

His race goal is simple: finish. Midnight would be a bonus, but it’s the finish line that matters most.

What keeps him going in the tough moments? The people. His wife (who’s riding her first 100), his dad, his mother-in-law, and friends who tracked his GPS last year and texted him encouragement when they saw he’d stopped. “I didn’t even know they were following me. That meant everything,” he says.

But above all, Chris rides to remind himself just how far he’s come. “Unbound is a demonstration of the life I’ve rebuilt,” he says. “I’ll never forget that.”