Mega Mid South Tips From the Athletes Who Won It

Have you ever dreamed of tackling 300 miles of Oklahoma red dirt? Or seeing all of the Mid South routes in one shot? The Mega Mid South is your opportunity. This route can be completed as a multi-day bikepacking route or as one continuous ride.

Salsa athletes Britt Mason, Matt Acker, and Jill Martindale rolled out in the grand depart on November 1st, 2025, and boy do they have stories to tell: Matt took the men’s win and Jill set the women’s fastest known time (FKT), while Britt had a strong lead until a technology issue forced the tough decision to scratch at mile 282. Read below for these riders’ best tips and tricks for taking on The Mega Mid South.

Learn more about the Mega Mid South here.

Learn about the bikes that helped keep our riders at the front here.

Britt's tips:

• The ruts are deep in those Oklahoma roads! If you’re riding in the dark, you lose some of your depth perception, and the ruts sneak up on you. I ran my lights at a higher setting than I normally would, so make sure you have plenty of battery life to keep you going safely at the speed you want to ride.

• If you’re riding the Grand Depart for Mega, temperatures can swing quite a bit between the daytime and nighttime hours in the fall. A variety of layers, including shoe covers and spare gloves, will keep you comfortable and motivated to keep moving as the ride stretches on.

• I have done ultras in the mountains, but I find that rolling courses like Mega Midsouth are actually more challenging. You get less recovery because you are pedaling almost the entire time. There is also very little pavement in Mega, and the dirt and gravel roads are often chunky, a mix of loose gravel, rutted tire tracks, and narrow, unmaintained lanes. I would lean towards comfort to keep the body happy for the long haul. Wider tires, thick bar tape, and carbon bars and seatpost buffered a good bit of the road chatter for me. Smooth is fast after all. :)

Matt's tips:

• Prepare to be exposed all of the day(s) while out on course. Whether it's cold, hot, windy, rainy, or otherwise you will be out in the elements with little tree cover or protection. Plan accordingly with your clothing system, sunscreen, lip balm, rain gear, etc.

• The roads in Oklahoma are rough! From sun-baked rutted clay roads to overgrown un-maintained tracks, you and your bike will take a beating. Wide tires, low pressure, extra thick grips/bar tape, suspension, and comfy touch points are key. I was pleased to have a wide tire/rim combo that I could run at low pressure and supple carbon bars with thick tape to protect my hands. I'd go with even wider tires next time around and consider a short-travel suspension fork.

• While there aren't any mountains in Oklahoma, don't let that fool you into thinking there's no climbing. It's death by a thousand cuts when it comes to the rollercoaster terrain, and you'll amass over 17,000 feet of vert when all is said and done. Choose your gearing range wisely with a front chainring that doesn't have you buried in the top of your cassette. I went with the stock 42t chainring and was pleased I did by the end. For the 100-mile Mid South I'd typically size up to a 48t, but I'm glad I left that at home. If you're running single speed I suggest leaving that pie plate at home and spinning to win!

Jill's tips:

• Make a plan for stops and stick to it. I had planned on stopping at miles 96, 166, 242, and 275. Planning these helped me scheme for what I specifically wanted each time I stopped, and to break the 300-mile route up into more mentally manageable chunks. I researched the route to see what c-stores, fast food, and water was available en route to help plan those breaks.

• Riding in the exposed and rutted terrain for miles on end will amplify everything: some stretches will take longer than expected, wind will chill you more than anticipated (especially as you fatigue), you might need to run your lights brighter to navigate technical sections, battery power will get zapped if it's cold, and your body will get rock-tumbled on washboards. Take an extra layer, bring a dependable power bank that allows for multiple charges on devices, and choose supple things for your ride like plush bar tape, carbon bars, and wider tires.

• Do what you've got to do to be comfortable and happy out there. With temps dropping at night, I found myself putting knee warmers on my arms for extra layers and plastic bags on my hands to fend off the wind. I also had chicken nuggets stuffed in my hydration vest pockets and carried a Polaroid of a friend that made me laugh. Collect your little doo-dads and dress unapologetically if it makes things nicer for you!