Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Last December, Old Man Mountain, Silca, and the Robert Axle Project announced open entry for an experimental bikepacking team. After some time deliberating on a slew of applications, they’ve revealed their selects for the five-person team. Meet them here…
In conjunction with Silca and the Robert Axle Project, Old Man Mountain Racks launched an open application for their Experimental Bikepacking Team in late 2024. With the goal of supporting unique personalities set on pushing themselves in some of the hardest ultra bikepacking races out there, 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. Without further ado, here are the selects:
Hannah Simon
Hannah is a queer, femme, ultra-endurance cyclist who began her long-distance riding in 2018. She completed the Texas 4000 that year, a little jaunt from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska. After that experience, she fell in love with traveling absurd distances by bike. The obsession lured her to work with bikes, first as a mechanic and then as general manager at Cycleeast in Austin. She’s now a part-time production assistant at Chumba USA, where she makes bike frames. She’s also a part-time barista, slinging espresso to satiate another of her obsessions: coffee.
Hannah’s ultra endeavors started in 2021 with the East Texas Showdown. Since then, she has competed in some of the largest bikepacking races in the world. In 2023, she completed the Triple Crown of bikepacking: Tour Divide, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail. Her 2024 season included a third-place finish at the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco and 1st place at the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan. Most of her cycling is long-distance racing in remote areas, though it is one of her most social activities when she is back home. Bikes have brought many of her favorite people into her life and taken her to places she never imagined.
Eric House
Eric House, also known as “Housie,” is an ultra-endurance athlete with an unwavering passion for exploration. After a snowboarding accident in November 2020 left him with a broken clavicle and a mound of self-doubt, Eric attempted to rehabilitate his body and remove any fear of becoming sedentary by signing up for his first bike race—a triathlon. That’s when he traded a vintage Peugeot for a steel gravel bike from his LBS, Race Ready Repair.
In addition to getting his body moving again, the bike world introduced him to a broader community of people who have enriched his life beyond what he could have ever imagined. He began working as a ride leader and vibe creator with The Gravel Collective, a non-profit bike group that aims to promote inclusion and generate passion through bikes. These group rides showed the strength and value of community building.
His first ultra in east Texas solidified his love for long-distance, unsupported racing and reinvigorated his love for exploration via bike. In 2022, he began racing short-track XC through the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association and racing ultras. Though he loved long-distance riding, XC is where he developed excitement for competition. Several successes and failures during the year helped boost skills and confidence while keeping him humble and focused. The true bike “glow up” happened in 2023, when he turned to single speed and passion turned into purpose. The shift to single speed provided the simple, raw body-bike connection and reminded Eric of the childlike joy present during his BMX days.
Paola Berber
Paola Berber, also known as “Poli,” is a 32-year-old cyclist born and raised in Mexico City. Her journey into the world of bikepacking began in 2019 when, after completing her master’s degree in environmental management, she leaped into the unknown. A complete rookie, Paola embarked on a life-changing 10-month adventure, bike touring through over 15 countries with a detour to Morocco during Ramadan. The trip opened her eyes to the transformative power of exploration and self-discovery through cycling, sparking a love for adventure that continues to shape her life.
Since then, she’s dedicated herself to mapping routes, offering guidance, and sharing her experiences, hoping to inspire others to explore Mexico’s rich geography and beyond. Paola documents the beauty of her travels through landscape photography, seeking to capture moments that reflect the unique essence of the places. Last year marked her ultra-race debut, an achievement that came after a challenging recovery from a torn ACL and losing her father—her biggest fan and greatest supporter. “His memory inspires me to embrace life, push my limits, and honor the joy of exploration,” said Paola.
She co-founded Morrxs Todo Terreno, one of the first inclusive spaces in Mexico for women, non-binary, and trans cyclists. Through workshops and hosted rides, they connect with the community to empower them to ride off-road confidently and build self-sufficiency. They aim to foster a sense of autonomy and freedom while embracing the joy cycling brings.
In 2025, she plans to focus on completing the Japanese Odyssey, aiming to be one of the few women to finish this challenging endurance race. She also wants to take on Le Tour de Frankie: El Infierno del Sur from CDMX to Puerto Escondido Beach, improve her time from my previous attempt, and participate in the L.A. Tourist Race in California. Additionally, she’ll continue exploring and mapping new off-road routes across Mexico. Alongside these goals, she’ll remain committed to community organizing, working to bring the bike community together and strengthen connections within it.
Stephanie Hall
Nestled in the small town of Bradford, Vermont, Stephanie Hall generally hangs out with her dog, Wyatt, and rides her heart out when she can. Her day-to-day work life involves working alongside a group of talented scientists in benchtop labs. She is also a Type 1 Diabetic, which she feels is important to mention to showcase what’s possible with diabetes. This past year, she has developed a host of community rides, dubbed “Filthy Friday,” that are quite adventurous and hard but supportive.
Stephanie says 2025 is shaping up to be her most adventurous year yet, with fat bike overnights planned and the Hellenic Mountain Race on the horizon. She’s motivated by big, intimidating goals and often humbled by the journey. If their schedule allows it, she’d also love to add a pairs race with her twin sister, Kayla.
Mateo Paez
Mateo Páez started his cycling journey touring the length of California on a single speed in 2012. Once finished, he recognized he didn’t much care for the single-speed life and promptly bought himself a geared bike. Despite the lack of range, he was addicted to life on two wheels. After resolving to prioritize time spent outside, he realized bikepacking was the ticket to maximizing that time.
Mateo then spent the following handful of years jumping into every bike racing imaginable: road, cyclocross, XC short-track, 24-hour, gravel, and alleycats. You name it, he tried it. In March 2022, Mateo entered his first ultra-endurance mountain bike event, which brought him back to his since-forgotten touring mindset and pointed him to racing across continents: through mountains in Morocco, over the lost bohemian borderlands of Poland and Czechia, and through the fjords of Iceland and Norway.
With 14 self-supported bikepacking races completed, Mateo is confident about a challenging race calendar in 2025. Upcoming endeavors include the Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route in January and a second crack at the legendary Tour Divide race in June.
All of us here at BIKEPACKING.com wish the Old Man Mountain Experimental Bikepacking Team the best of luck in their endeavors throughout the upcoming year! We’re glad to see companies like Old Man Mountain, Silca, and the Robert Axle Project provide support to those looking to make their bikepacking dreams come true. Stay tuned for more from this group of riders.
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