OMM BIKE was such a blast again this year!
To everyone who participated, you all did an incredible job.
It was a tough two days under the scorching sun, but I think the reason we were able to finish was largely thanks to our "teammates"—the ones looking at the same map and traveling the same path as us.
This time, we challenged ourselves at OMM as a team of four women!👭👭✨
Some of our members weren't used to long-distance or gravel riding yet, and we felt a little uneasy at first, but we still laughed, struggled, and supported each other with the same map in hand.
It was two days of bringing what we could to the table and working together to cross the finish line.
For me personally, this was the first time since my school days that I’d taken on a challenge by collaborating in an all-female team. It was such a fresh and, above all, fun experience!
Thank you so much to Kee-chan, Mee-chan, and Chan-Mai for riding with me~~🫶
Also, while out in the field, I was reminded once again of the sense of security you get when your bike feels like a part of you. It’s like a “partner” that helps you overcome any challenge you face together.
I competed on my WILDE / Supertramp again this time, and there was a certain “reliability” and “freedom” that I only felt because I was riding this bike.
As it happens, besides me, Kee-chan was the other one riding a WILDE (Rambler SL). Chan-Mai rode a BASSI Rachel, and Mee-chan rode a SURLY STRAGGLER. We each chose different bikes and different ways to ride. But as we traveled the same path, it was fascinating to see how the personalities and responses to the road surface of each bike came through right beside me!
In that mix, I was reminded again and again that for someone as mischievous and laid-back as me, the Supertramp is truly a “partner I can trust and rely on.”
Four bikes, four ways of riding
Based on our stamina and our bikes, we chose routes that pushed us without being unreasonable, hitting checkpoints to rack up points.
Some of the high-point checkpoints had steep hills waiting for us, leading to moments where we were all struggling and gasping for air.
At first, I was determined to “get up there without putting my foot down!”, but Kee-chan on her Rambler SL was just so fast…! Lol
Her own stamina is amazing, of course, but I felt like the differences in the “personalities” of the bikes were even more apparent in moments like that.
(I was too busy trying to get up the hill to get a good photo of it…🙏🏻)
Even then, my partner, the Supertramp, felt like it was always accommodating my pace.
Even when I felt like I was getting tired, whenever I pushed down on the pedals, it responded reliably.
…That said, there were times I had to put my foot down, and I had to push my heavy partner up some of those slopes. Lol
It can be a little high-maintenance on the climbs, but that’s also a point I find endearing🫶
That being said, the Supertramp offers unparalleled peace of mind on the descents. Once you’ve hit a point, you can charge down the hills more confidently and impressively than on any other bike. I was reminded once again that this stability—the way it supports you even in sketchy situations—is the Supertramp’s greatest charm.
It glides right along on pavement, too
On the second day, we rode a route aimed at a checkpoint way out on the edge of the map, while picking up others along the way. It was a route full of comfortable, fun stretches with few traffic lights, mixing straight paved roads with sections of gravel.
In these moments, I was reminded of the depth of the Supertramp’s capabilities.
While it has a strong impression as an off-road bike, it’s actually surprisingly good on the road, too.
The acceleration you get when you shift to a heavier gear and put the power down is better than expected. The smoothness once you’re up to speed is also a joy.
I thought it might be at a clear disadvantage compared to other models, but that wasn't the case at all; if anything, because I could ride at my own rhythm, I was able to keep right on everyone's tail. I feel like my trust in its reliability—no matter the terrain—has deepened even further.
Seeing other people riding WILDEs during the race and at the venue made me happy just by itself. It makes me feel a bit proud to think that the bike I chose has become someone else’s partner, too.
Plus, just because I was riding a WILDE, some people remembered me or struck up a conversation—that kind of interaction is one of the reasons I’m so glad I chose this bike.
The two days reminded me that the connections born from bikes are truly something special.
Spending those two intense days, I feel like my bond with my bike has grown much closer than even the distance we covered. It might struggle a bit on the climbs, but it’s dependable on descents and paved roads, and above all, it sticks right by my pace. I really felt the depth of the Supertramp’s character again.
By the way, the Supertramp we have in the shop that I introduced last month uses the same frame as the one I rode this time.
I’m sure you’ll be able to experience everything I felt over these two days with that bike. If you’re interested, please come by the shop and see it for yourself.
I’m looking forward to passing by someone else’s WILDE on the road again somewhere.
I’m already getting a little excited thinking about what kind of views I’ll get to see with my partner next.
As I soak in the memories of this summer's race, I'm already looking forward to next year's OMM BIKE💭🍉🌻
