After a monumental response, Previous Man Mountain (OMM) has picked the ultimate members of its inaugural Experimental Bikepacking Staff. OMM says it was a particularly powerful alternative, however they need to attain out and thank everybody who utilized.
The workforce is sponsored by Silca and the Robert Axle Mission. Though OMM says that the aim of this experiment isn’t about chasing podiums, they’re “positively not going to be fearful of them.”
With bikepacking races celebrating solo efforts, independence, and solitude, OMM needs to see the outcomes of getting ready and rising collectively. Which in flip may strengthen folks’s potential to “go it alone” when the large departure arrives.
OMM expects the Experimental Bikepacking Staff to characterize the “coronary heart of camaraderie and journey, partaking in races, supporting fellow riders, and celebrating the journey. We need to push what we will do on a motorbike and thru our collaborative spirit past the rostrum.”
All year long, OMM shall be sharing what the workforce is as much as, and what they’re studying from each other. OMM is worked up to see what number of comply with alongside as they discover this idea. So, with out additional ado…
Let’s Meet the Staff!
Hanna Simon
Hannah is a queer, femme, ultra-endurance bicycle owner who started her long-distance using in 2018. She accomplished the Texas 4000 that yr, a brief, little jaunt from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK. After that have, she fell completely in love with touring absurd distances by bike. The obsession lured her into working with bikes, first as a mechanic after which as Basic Supervisor at Cycleeast in Austin TX.
She’s now a part-time manufacturing assistant, making bike frames, at Chumba USA. She’s additionally a part-time barista slinging espresso to satiate one other of her obsessions: espresso.
Hannah’s extremely race endeavors began in 2021 with East Texas Showdown. Since then, she has competed in a number of the largest bikepacking races on this planet. In 2023, she accomplished the Triple Crown of bikepacking: Tour Divide, Colorado Path, and Arizona Path. Her 2024 season included a third place end at Atlas Mountain Race, in Morocco and 1st place at Silk Street Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan.
Most of her biking is long-distance racing in distant areas, although when she is again house it’s one in all her most social actions. Bikes have introduced a lot of her favourite folks into her life and brought her to locations she by no means imagined she’d go.
What’s your favourite path snack if you’re in too deep & want a pick-me-up?
“Nothing hits fairly like Tater Increase!!”
Eric Home (Housie)
Eric Home (housie), is an ultra-endurance athlete with an unwavering pleasure for exploration. His passion changed into a ardour in 2021, following a snowboarding accident in November 2020 that left him with a damaged clavicle and a mound of self-doubt. To rehabilitate and take away any concern of changing into sedentary, Eric dedicated to his first race: a triathlon (don’t choose an excessive amount of). That is when he traded a classic Peugeot for a metal gravel bike from his LBS, Race Prepared Restore.
Along with getting my physique transferring once more, the bike world launched him to a broader neighborhood of oldsters which have enriched his life past what he may have imagined. He started working as a journey chief and vibe creator with The Gravel Collective, a non-profit bike group with the aim of inclusion and producing ardour via bikes. These group rides confirmed the power and worth of neighborhood constructing.
Loving Lengthy Distance
His first extremely in east Texas solidified his love for long-distance, unsupported bikepack racing and reinvigorated his love for exploration through bike. In 2022 he started racing brief observe XC via the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Affiliation along with racing ultras. Although he beloved long-distance using, XC is the place he developed pleasure for competitors. There have been a number of successes and failures throughout the yr that helped increase abilities and confidence whereas retaining him humble and centered. The true bike “Glow Up” occurred in 2023 when he turned to single velocity. That is when ardour turns into goal. The shift to single velocity offered the easy, uncooked body-bike connection, and that childlike pleasure from his BMX days rising up
2024 has been a yr of motion. Housie raced, toured, and gained a larger appreciation for the wonders and achievement the bike can carry. “Bikes have at all times felt like a instrument of exploration, and now, as an grownup, I get the privilege to journey… nearly anyplace!
What’s your favourite path snack if you’re in too deep & want a pick-me-up?
“Nerd clusters & peanut butter after I want a fast decide me up. Ice cream on a stick, if I discover a gasoline station!”
Paola Berber
Paola Berber, often known as Poli, is a 32-year-old bicycle owner born and raised in Mexico Metropolis. Her journey into the world of bikepacking started in 2019, after finishing her grasp’s diploma in Environmental Administration she leaped into the unknown. A whole rookie, Paola launched into a 10-month, life-changing journey, bike-touring via over 15 nations—from Portugal to Armenia—with a detour to Morocco throughout Ramadan. That journey opened her eyes to the transformative energy of exploration and self-discovery via biking, sparking a love for journey that continues to form Paola’s life.
Mapping Routes
Paola has since devoted herself to mapping routes, providing steering, and sharing her experiences. Hoping to encourage others to discover Mexico’s wealthy geography and past. Paola paperwork the great thing about her travels via panorama images, searching for to seize moments that mirror the distinctive essence of the locations.
2024 marked her ultra-race debut, an achievement that got here after a difficult restoration from a torn ACL and the lack of her father; her greatest fan and best supporter. “His reminiscence conjures up me to embrace life, push my limits, and honor the enjoyment of exploration,” mentioned Paola.
She co-founded Morrxs Todo Terreno, one of many first inclusive areas in Mexico for girls, non-binary, and trans cyclists. By workshops and hosted rides, they join with the neighborhood to empower them to journey off-road confidently and construct self-sufficiency. They purpose to foster a way of autonomy and freedom whereas embracing the enjoyment biking brings.
In 2025, she plans to deal with finishing the Japanese Odyssey, aiming to be one of many few ladies to complete this difficult endurance race. She additionally needs to tackle Le Tour de Frankie: El Infierno del Sur from CDMX to Puerto Escondido Seashore, enhance her time from my earlier try, and take part within the L.A. Vacationer Race in California. Moreover, she’ll proceed exploring and mapping new off-road routes throughout Mexico. Alongside these objectives, she’ll stay dedicated to neighborhood organizing, working to carry the bike neighborhood collectively and strengthen connections inside it.
What’s your favourite path snack if you’re in too deep & want a pick-me-up?
“Banana bread and dates. I at all times discover banana bread comforting and energizing, good for these longer rides. And the dates? They supply that much-needed burst of sweetness to fight fatigue“.
Stephanie Corridor
Stephanie is nestled within the small city of Bradford, Vermont. It’s quiet and chilly proper now, but, a possibility for ample adventures from her door. You’ll find her hanging out along with her (largely) good fuzzy boy Wyatt, and using her coronary heart out when she will be able to! Her day-to-day work life is crammed with working alongside a bunch of proficient scientists doing benchtop lab work. She can be a Sort 1 Diabetic which she feels is essential to say to showcase what’s doable with diabetes.
This previous yr she has constructed up a bunch of “filthy Friday” neighborhood rides which can be aimed toward being fairly adventurous, exhausting, however supportive. Stephanie loves nerding out on maps and finding out routes for means longer than mandatory.
”Wanting into 2025, it’s shaping as much as be my most adventurous yr but, with fats bike overnights deliberate and the Hellenic Mountain Race on the horizon. I’m motivated by huge, intimidating objectives, and humbled by the journey typically!
I’d love so as to add a pairs race with my twin sister, Kayla Corridor, remark if you happen to’ve acquired a race we should always do!
What’s your favourite path snack if you’re in too deep & want a pick-me-up?
“Ooof! Exhausting query. It positively relies on the temper. Maplefields (New England gasoline station) sells complete private pizzas which can be dang good. Extra typically talking; lotions or ice cream cones at all times decide me up!”
Mateo Páez
Mateo’s a 33-year-old wandering bikepacker, racer and total outdoors-person.
He began this journey by touring the size of California on a single velocity in 2012. After he made it and promptly purchased himself an actual bike (sorry housie!). He was addicted.
Prioritizing time spent outdoors, bikepacking was the ticket to maximizing that point.
The next handful of years had been spent leaping into each sort of bike racing conceivable. Street, cyclocross, XC brief observe, 24-hour, gravel, alleycats, you identify it…he tried it.
In March of 2022, Mateo entered his first ultra-endurance mountain bike occasion and it introduced him again to that touring mindset that he’d forgotten about and pointed him to the place he’s now; racing throughout continents, via mountains in Morocco, over the misplaced bohemian borderlands of Poland and Czechia and the fjords of Iceland and Norway.
With 14 self-supported bikepacking races completed, and but a number of the most difficult nonetheless on the upcoming calendar, Mateo has confidence heading into 2025.
Upcoming endeavors embrace the Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route in January and a 2nd crack on the legendary Tour Divide race in June.
“Onward!”
The workforce over right here at Bikerumor needs to congratulate all the new members of the workforce. We’re excited to see what the yr has in retailer for this superior new workforce!