LOAM began with a simple idea: good stories belong outdoors.

At trailheads. On race mornings. Along quiet roads before the day gets loud.

What started as a coffee project grew into something more. Over time, LOAM became a way to document early starts, gravel parking lots, volunteer crews, and the people building cycling culture from the ground up.

Today, LOAM Cycling Journal is a storytelling platform focused on grassroots race culture.

We cover:

• Pre-race features

• Cultural storytelling

• Small-town cycling events

• The people behind the start line

• The moments before and after the gun goes off

We believe the most important stories in cycling don’t always come from podiums or pro teams (yes, those are important too). They come from local organizers, volunteer crews, rural communities, and riders who show up year after year.

LOAM exists to document that culture and to elevate the races and communities building it.

When a race is documented thoughtfully, it gains legitimacy.

When media outlets pick up the story, sponsors see value.

When communities see themselves reflected in the narrative, momentum builds.

LOAM exists at that intersection … culture, visibility, and place.

LOAM Cycling Journal is led by Sean Benesh … a writer, photographer, and editor with years of experience documenting cycling events, trail culture, and rural communities.

Through Trail Builder Magazine and independent storytelling work, Sean has focused on elevating grassroots cycling and the economic and cultural impact it creates.

LOAM is an extension of that work … grounded in dirt, built around story (BTW, “loam” is dirt).

To document the culture behind grassroots cycling events … and to help the people building them gain the visibility they deserve.