INDEPENDENT STORYTELLING PLATFORM DOCUMENTING GRASSROOTS RACE CULTURE AND THE COMMUNITIES BEHIND IT
Race season is well underway. Whether we’re talking about local races sponsored by the area bike shop or international race series sponsored by Red Bull, riders all over the world are grinding away to not only make the podium, but to see their dreams come true. We catch up with Loam Coffee Team Rider Malene Degn and get the scoop on the latest in her world as she is in the throes of her race season. We hear more about her new team, her new bike, and what is before her this season.
Life has a way of throwing curves at you. Most often these unintended intrusions end up being enormous shaping influences on our lives. An illness … cancer … a disability … a job loss. These are all pivotal moments in our lives. As we emerge from them we’re simply not the same. No longer can we view life and the world around us the same way. The same goes for me, mountain biking, and sustainability.
If I was in a band … I wouldn’t be. I’d be a solo artist. I’d be Justin Timberlake instead of *NSYNC or Beyoncé rather than Destiny’s Child. It’s not that I don’t want to be in a band it’s just that my schedule doesn’t always work out. But we’re talking about mountain biking and not singing. (BTW, I can’t sing … or dance).
I know, not the “normal” kind of article written by a coffee roasting company. You’d think we’d spend more time writing about dialing in brew methods, coffee roasting geekdom, the process of sourcing green beans, and the like. While those are fun conversations … what people are most interested are finished products or results. Meaning, what can coffee do for you? That’s a similar conversation with frame builders. Sure, they could post endless articles about the specific processes of making carbon frames, welding techniques on aluminum frames, and the like … but what we really care about is how the bike performs while descending a steep chute or how well it climbs without compromising suspension travel.
My earliest experiences in trail maintenance and stewardship began around 15-16 years ago. I wasn’t part of any local trail advocacy group nor even knew of any. A local chapter might have existed but I had no connection. Instead, the trail network that I used regularly was my focal point. Every now and then myself with another mountain biking guide would go out and trim back branches and work on trails that were being washed out by the rain. The trails we rode and used were not built by mountain bikers, instead they were trails first cut by cattle and horseback riders. Erosion was a constant but I didn’t know any different as we worked to maintain the trails.
Below is an interview that I (Sean Benesh) did with another mountain bike brand a few months ago. I’ve long been hesitant to talk about me or feature me because I want all attention and focus to be on Loam Coffee. I’m out to build a brand, not my own platform. With that said, the interview will give you more context and background about Loam Coffee. Even more, there will be deeper connection to the voice you hear once our podcast is launched. Hope you enjoy …
