Into the Wilderness: Charlotte’s Prep for the Ozark Doom
- Charlotte Backus
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
The start line is shifting, but the mission remains the same.
Due to severe weather across the Ozarks—specifically, high winds and localized flooding—the 2024 edition of Ozark Doom has been pushed to April 6th. And while the storm may have delayed the start, it hasn’t dampened the fire. For Charlotte Backus Turner and Matthew Turner, this extra time means a deeper breath, one more gear check, and a sharpened focus on what lies ahead: 408 miles, 44,000 feet of climbing, and an unrelenting adventure through the wild.
Here’s a deep dive into what makes this event so extraordinary—and how Charlotte has built her dream setup to meet it head-on.
🏔️ What Is the Ozark Doom?
Forget support crews, feed zones, or friendly finish-line parties. Ozark Doom is a test of survival disguised as a gravel/MTB race.
Spanning over 408 self-supported miles, this event drops riders deep into the remote, rocky terrain of the Arkansas Ozarks, climbing a staggering 44,000 feet along the way. Doom throws everything at you: chunky descents, overgrown trail, surprise creek crossings, steep hike-a-bike sections, and long stretches of complete solitude.
You carry what you need. You solve your own problems. You pedal until you finish—or you don’t.
🚴♀️ Charlotte’s Ride: The Dream Bike Setup
Charlotte is bringing a fully customized machine to Doom, purpose-built for multi-day, all-conditions performance with the perfect blend of power, comfort, and control.
BIKE: Spry Hydra Drop-Bar MTB
Her weapon of choice is a Spry Hydra drop-bar mountain bike, offering the best of both gravel responsiveness and MTB capability. With chunky terrain expected, this rig strikes a balance between endurance geometry and rugged versatility.
Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle — wireless shifting with 12-speed range for climbing the steepest walls and descending with confidence.
Tires: Vittoria Mezcal — grippy, fast-rolling, and built for multi-surface traction.
Fork: SID Rock Shox, 110mm travel — built to soak up technical descents and reduce fatigue on rough terrain.
Saddle: Velo Senso Special Edition — hours in the saddle demand comfort and durability, and this one delivers.
🎒 Bags + Storage Strategy
Charlotte is running a lightweight, balanced bag setup focused on accessibility, aerodynamics, and reliability:
Topeak bags handle the essentials with smart compartmentalization for quick-access tools and food.
Tailfin Rack System provides a stable, rattle-free solution for bulkier items like her sleep system and extra layers, without compromising ride feel or handling.
🔦 Lights + Navigation: Night-Ready and Route-Smart
The Ozarks don’t sleep — and neither will Charlotte, at least not much. That means reliable lighting and backup navigation are non-negotiable.
Handlebar Light: Outbound Lighting Portal, using pass-through charging for continuous runtime during night segments.
Helmet Light: Fenix BC26R — powerful, rechargeable, and easy to angle based on trail conditions.
Dual GPS Head Units: iGPSPORT + Wahoo Roam — because redundancy matters. If one fails, the other keeps the mission alive.
🎥 Capturing the Ride
Charlotte’s bringing along her Insta360 camera to film raw moments from the trail — from sunrises over remote ridgelines to late-night bike maintenance and everything in between. These clips will eventually be turned into a mini-documentary to share the reality of solo ultra-endurance racing.
🧃 Nutrition + Hydration: Fuel for the Wild
You can’t ride 400+ miles through wild terrain without dialing in your fueling strategy. Charlotte’s bringing a well-researched blend of real food, fuel science, and gut-friendly support.
Calorie Strategy: Over 8,000 calories onboard, with dense options like nut butters, rice cakes, and performance bars to minimize bonking risk.
Supplemental Fuel: 8 servings of ketones to support cognition and endurance during mentally demanding hours.
Hydration: USE hydration pack, filled and refilled strategically with electrolytes and hydration tablets.
Favorite Fuel Partner: Neversecond, trusted for consistent energy and easy digestion.
🎒 Charlotte’s “Doom Kit” – The Secret Stash
Every endurance athlete has their toolkit of comfort and resilience. Here’s Charlotte’s fun-but-critical lineup of go-to items for when the going gets really tough:
TUMS (for stomach flare-ups)
Gin Gin ginger candies (anti-nausea + morale boost)
Cough drops (for dry, dusty air)
Chapstick (can’t overpack this)
Chamois butter (ride-saving on long days)
Creatine gummies (for strength + muscle endurance)
Digestive enzymes + probiotics (to keep the system running smoothly)
👕 Clothing & Layers: Function Meets Form
Temperatures in the Ozarks can swing wildly — warm by day, freezing by night. Charlotte’s clothing system is layered, adaptable, and designed for comfort on and off the bike.
Base Kit: Jelenew drop bibs — form-fitting, breathable, and incredibly comfortable over long hours.
Outer Layers:
Puffy jacket
Windbreaker (also Jelenew)
Leg warmers
Long drop bib leggings for extra insulation during cold nights
Helmet: Limar — lightweight and secure
Sunglasses: Photochromatic lenses — perfect for changing light conditions from forest shade to open climbs
🧭 Final Prep + Tracking the Ride
The start may be delayed, but Charlotte is ready. The extra days have been spent checking bolts, syncing devices, fine-tuning bag weights, and getting into the mental zone.
You can track Charlotte and Matthew’s live progress during the Ozark Doom
Here:
This isn’t a partnered race — each rider goes solo, managing their own time, energy, and route decisions. The terrain is wild. The stakes are real. And the journey will be unforgettable.
📲 Follow along on Instagram:
@charlottebackus
@pedalturner
🎥 Mini-doc coming soon. Until then... wish the Pedal Turners luck.
Doom is calling.
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