The Loam and Gravel Society Experimental Bikepacking Team has finally been selected. Made up of five people, Old Man Mountain’s Experimental Bikepacking Team won’t necessarily attend all the same races or hang out on a team bus, but they will push themselves to the limit in pursuit of their bikepacking goals.
Second Charter, A.D. 2024
EXPERIMENTAL CYCLING TEAMWe commit to nurturing a lively and inclusive cycling community by focusing on shared experiences and collective joy. We see bikepacking and ultra racing as a means to connect, explore, and grow together while also pushing ourselves further. Our team represents the heart of camaraderie and adventure, engaging in races, community events, supporting fellow riders, and celebrating the journey itself. We want to push what we can do on a bike and through our collaborative spirit, we hope to inspire others to embrace adventure and find joy in every mile. Go beyond the podium.
What is an Experimental Bikepacking Team?
The Loam and Gravel Society is an Experimental Cycling Team. But what does that mean? Well, there is no team bus, they will not be racing a series of races together, they will not even all ride the same bikes. But they will learn from each other, support each other, and develop each others riding and race abilities to preform at their peaks, tackling some of the hardest bikepacking races in the world.
What Races Will the Team Go To?
That is up to the team to decide. Each member of the team will get to choose the races and events they want to participate in and Old Man Mountain will pay up to $2,000 in expenses to help make that happen. Whether it’s flights, race fees, or other costs that come up.
Some members might end up at the same races and others will not. Old Man Mountain wants to support the team member’s goals for bikepacking in 2025.
Who Will Be On The Team?
The Team has 5 members in 2025.
Old Man Mountain wants The Loam & Gravel Society to be a space where personalities, styles, and characters blend, communicate, grow and transform with each other while remaining individual.
So let’s get right down to it, these are the Team Members of The Old Man Mountain Experimental Bikepacking Team:
Hanna
Hannah Simon who just came off a win of the Silk Road Mountain Race. She plans to race the Hellenic Mountain Race, BrightMidnight, and the Alps Divide in 2025!
Mateo
Mateo Paez. He’s previously completed the Tour Divide and Atlas Mountain Race and is currently powering through sloppy mud in Ecuador and Colombia.
Paola
Paola Berber will be riding all over the world from The Japanese Odyssey to bikepacking The High Andes of Peru and Bolivia, The Volcanos of La Vuelta al Valle De Mexico, and Le Tour de Frankie Ultra. She is currently riding La Sierra Mixteca in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Eric
Eric House has a stacked calendar that includes the Atlas Mountain Race, the Hellenic Mountain Race, Stagecoach 400, Bright Midnight, Silk Road Mountain Race, and the Arkansas High Country!
Stephanie
Stephanie Hall will be taking on the Hellenic Mountain Race, Vermont Super 8, Log Drivers Waltz, and more with multiple fat bike adventures in New England!
More news of the The Loam and Gravel Society Experimental Bikepacking Team to come along the journey!
Happy Trails!