Meet Dylan Johnson – the racer who won his first National Championship at 21 and refuses to let tradition dictate training when the data says otherwise.
At just 30 years old, Dylan Johnson has already claimed victory in the National Ultra Endurance Series three times, first winning at the remarkable age of 21 – making him the youngest winner in the series’ history.
But his palmarès tell only part of the story. What sets this North Carolina-based athlete apart isn’t just his ability to suffer through 100-mile mountain bike races or conquer gravel epics – it’s his unwavering commitment to letting science guide every aspect of his training and racing.
The Making of a Multi-Dimensional Athlete
Dylan discovered his talent for ultra-endurance racing early, tackling 100-mile races by age 15 after starting to chase his father around singletrack at 12. This early embrace of suffering would define his career trajectory.
Dylan graduated from Brevard College in 2017 with a degree in exercise physiology. He didn’t single-mindedly pursue racing – he dove headfirst into understanding the why behind performance.
While many athletes focus solely on competition, Dylan took an unconventional path. His YouTube channel has reached 198,000 subscribers and over 12 million total views, focusing on “science-based cycling coaching, tech and gear related videos and race reports.”
He’s the first to admit when he doesn’t know something and can “immediately rattle off the times when he learned he was wrong,” citing examples like cadence drills, stretching protocols and optimal carbohydrate intake.
Testing Tradition Against Data
What truly sets Dylan apart is his willingness to challenge cycling’s sacred cows through rigorous testing and data analysis. He’s built a reputation for taking contrarian positions when the research supports them, regardless of what conventional wisdom or tradition might dictate.
His non-exhaustive list of topics where he’s “changed his mind because of the research” includes fundamental questions: “Should cyclists lift? How many carbs should cyclists eat? Should cyclists do intensity in the offseason? Does stretching improve performance? Do cadence drills improve performance?”
This isn’t academic curiosity – Dylan applies these insights directly to his racing. When data contradicts tradition, he follows the data, even if it means training or racing differently from his competitors. In a sport where deep-rooted culture often overrules evidence, Dylan turns to the research.
Simple Science
Dylan’s philosophy mirrors his racing approach: “follow the best available balance of evidence” and keep things straightforward. He bases decisions on research rather than assumptions, creating simple training plans without complicated fluff.
Dylan believes “a lot of training is overly complicated for no good reason” and consistently advises to “keep it simple” – a refreshing perspective in a sport often obsessed with marginal gains and complex schemes.
The Lone Wolf Mentality
Perhaps most telling about Dylan’s character is his preference for solitude on the bike.
“I prefer to ride alone with no team support. I prefer to do my own thing on the bike.” This isn’t antisocial behavior – it’s the mindset of someone who genuinely loves not just the competition, but also the solitude, the experiences the bike affords him, and just being out there.
This self-reliant approach has served him well in ultra-endurance racing, where mental fortitude often matters more than pure physical ability.
Racing Excellence and Content Creation
Dylan’s competitive resume spans both mountain biking and gravel racing at the elite level. He now runs a successful coaching business and YouTube channel, hosts two different cycling-related podcasts and races gravel and mountain bikes professionally.
His early tolerance for sustained suffering led to “around a dozen wins and countless high placings in endurance races on flat bars and drop bars alike”. The pattern is clear: “If it’s off-road and it’s long, then he’s probably ridden it, and he’s probably won it”.
Fueled by The Feed
As a member of The Feed’s High Performance Team, Dylan represents the perfect intersection of athletic excellence and scientific rigor. His approach to nutrition mirrors his training philosophy – evidence-based, practical and focused on what moves the needle.
The Feed is proud to support Dylan as an HPT athlete. He’s not just a successful competitor. He willingly and freely shares his hard-earned knowledge to educate and inspire others. His light-hearted approach to hard science helps countless athletes understand complex fueling, training, racing and equipment strategies.
In fact, we have a special Dylan Johnson Pack to share some of his favorite fueling. From the special edition Dylan Johnson Flow Formulas to some of his favorite gels, this pack is curated by DJ himself.
The Complete Package
What makes Dylan Johnson special isn’t just his ability to win races – though becoming the youngest National Ultra Endurance Series winner at 21 certainly demands respect. It’s his unique combination of competitive excellence, scientific curiosity and genuine desire to share knowledge that sets him apart.
Whether he’s grinding through mile 80 of a 100-mile mountain bike race, breaking down the latest training research on YouTube or helping athletes optimize their fueling strategies, Dylan approaches everything with the same methodical, evidence-based mindset that has made him one of ultra-endurance cycling’s most compelling figures.
In a sport where athletes often rely on tradition and gut instinct, Dylan Johnson represents the future: where science informs strategy, simplicity trumps complexity and sharing knowledge matters as much as crossing finish lines first.
