FHU Tour 2025!

GRAND DEPART 2026 is MAY 22nd!!

The Ultra Story - 2025

May 24th - Day One

The 2025 FHU Tour started off rough. The forecast for Saturday, the Grand Depart was beautiful but the next three days called for rain and storms. The riders started off in a no nonsense, we need to get rolling, manner.

We had 5 riders begin the FHU Full Tour and 1 rider begin the FHU - North route.

Day one - the bridge

As the promoter and Route Designer I take great pride in the routes I create. Each year I try to get out and see how the static route is holding up. In 2025 I got busy with life and took the route for granted. I was nervous and once again showed why you can't do that as a promoter. Within 7 hours I got a phone call from the lead rider, Logan Kasper, the Kansas River bridge was uncrossable. No panic because the reroute was obvious, easy and would have happened the same had I known about the bridge out...I just should have known. All riders were contacted and given the easy but unfortunate 12 mile reroute on a day they were racing the weather.

Day one - The rain

My riders got beat to death. Complete downpour with the wind to back it up. The route is beautiful but rain can and will derail most FKT attempts. In ALL cases, riders can work their way over to a HWY but it's hard to know where the mud is and isn't. When it rains like this, it's best to reevaluate and remember "it's an adventure". The Flint Hills can be dangerous during storms. Dry creeks can turn into 12 foot wide rivers and it only takes a moment for tragedy to occur. Luckily all the riders were able to find high ground and or made it into a town the first night.

Day two - The mud

Sadly Day Two was defined by mud and walking. Hours upon hours of determined, "I refuse to leave the Route" walking. The temps never rose above the 60's on day 2. The 60's in May in Kansas. The riders were thoroughly soaked and believe it or not, cold became an issue. The sun never came out. By the end of Day two, only TWO riders remained moving forward. The Flint Hills decimated the roads. Preston and Logan continued forward. Andy, Alan and the Novaks opted for warmer days.

Day three - No relief

Rain. Rain. Rain. Logan spent the day headed back to Emporia. He has a week of Unbound Gravel planned ahead of him and the weather just did not cooperate this year!

300 miles down and the last rider pedaling is Preston! Absolutely brutal year for the Grand Depart! Preston rolled into Council Grove last night cold, throughly soaked, dead battery charger and dead phone. He warmed up last night and rolled out early today headed south!

Day Four - A helluva day of fun

Todays mileage was tough BUT amazing. So many great roads in the stretch south of Council Grove and Cottonwood Falls. Kahola's DD Hills, Coyne Creek Rd, Sharps Creek Rd, Madison Rd, Texaco Hill AND River Rd!!! A climb up Teter Hill and of course a date with The Beeeeeetch. Eureka Kansas was the reward today.

I received a no word, picture only test today that absolutely MADE MY DAY!!

Day Five - Oklahoma

Ark City to Pawhuska! Honestly he's ready to round the curve and head back north after today. Today was southern Kansas Flint Hills and the northern Oklahoma Osage Hills. Pawhuska is a great stopover town before riding through the beautful bison preserve north of town. HE"S GONNA DO THIS!!!

Great pic and surprise meet up with Trisha and Tayla! Trisha holds the womens FKT from year one!

Day SIX - The bison

The mighty Bison. imagine riding your bike past small packs of animals bigger than you are!

The roads aren't easy from here to home BUT the end of the route is northbound! My family lives down around Caney Kansas and my mom is a dot watcher. She had to drive out and find him!

Will he sleep tonight up near Madison or trudge on through to Emporia?!

Day Seven - family time

1070 miles

7 Days 21 Hours 17 Minutes

7:21:17

Rain. Mud. Rain. Mud. Sunshine. Wind. Bison. Hills and hills. 60 degrees and shivering. 90 degrees and pond swimming.

The Flint Hills never fail to deliver. Congrats Preston!!!! Amazing young man!!!

Q&A with Preston Williams

Q1 What made you decide to ride 1050 miles? Whats the longest distance you rode before the FHUTour?

The longest race that I had done was Arkansas High Country, 1000 miles. From the moment I heard about FHU, I knew that I would do it. I am a child of Kansas, and I love my state very much.

Q2 DETAILS!! For us bike nerds. Bike setup. Bag choices. Hydration options. Clothing selection.

I decided to go with 34X16, I think a lot about gear ratio, choose, and then never think about it again. Maxis Rambler 50's have been my go to for anything less than a mountain bike tire. My frame bag, top tube bag, and bar bags are all custom from South City Stichworks. The new addition was a Tailfin Aero Pack along with a Wolf Tooth dropper post. I used 3 one liter bottles. I wore cargo bibs with the pad cut out, merino boxers, socks, jersey, and long sleeve shirt.

Q3 What pre ride research did you do on the route itself? The towns. The lodging. The roads. The area.

Bobby sent me a spreadsheet with lodging and services. I added my own research, and had everything laminated. I know Kansas roads quite well.

Q4 Did food/liquid strategy change during the ride from planning?

For the most part, it did not. I had maple syrup and LMNT in my main bottle throughout the race. I started with a little more than 3 days worth of maple syrup. Once my supply got low, I started filling a coke bottle with the finest maple syrup I could find. Anything goes with solid food, I eat what sounds good. My stomach decided to be done on the last day, and I had to settle for liquid calories for the duration.

Q5 Did you sleep when you felt you needed to or did you have a specific strategy?

The only plan I had was to make Marysville for my first sleep. I would start to think about a goal destination for the day in the early afternoon. The mud often forced itself into a heavy plan changing factor.

Q6 What would you add to your bike or remove from your bike if doing a similar multi day event? Gear, storage, electronics, clothing, etc.

METAL BRAKE PADS!

Q7 Biggest high point and deepest low point of the event? The low...how did you bounce back?

The biggest high point was seeing Bison without a fence between us.

I let the mud win for a moment. My bike was caked, and nothing would roll. There was no ditch, and I was dragging my bike through the mud. I slammed my bike to the ground, and threw a fit. I then decided that my temper tantrum did me no good. I picked up my bike, threw the mud from my handlebar, and decided to be positive again.

Q8 Deep in the middle of nowhere was there any place or time you truly felt unsafe on your own?

Never

Q9 What was the first thing to start hurting and what was still sore the day after?

My hands were the most painful part of my body, both during and after the race.

Q10 Did you ever run completely out of hydration or nutrition? Were there any panic moments getting to a small town and maybe nothing was there for services?

I was moving very slowly, and taking a lot of naps on Saturday afternoon on my way to Madison. I was getting low on water, and struggling with the heat. A motorcyclist gave me some water, and told me to go jump in the Madison City Lake.

Q11 Would you ever ride the Flint Hills Ultra again and if so, would you have the same goals or do something different?

I definitely would do it again, and I likely will. My goal would be to get a personal best time.

Q12 Final question: What are your walk away thoughts after completing the 1050 miles? The Flint Hills really that special?

I am more in love with Kansas than I ever have been. The route is truly great, and I really appreciate the work that Bobby put into it. I was also moved by the kindness that I received from people connected to the race, and people that had never heard of the race. I was blessed with kindness from the beginning to the end of my journey, and I am very grateful.