Blending Ultra Racing with Bikepacking: Hannah Simon

Hannah Simon has raced ultras in four different continents, but you'd be wrong to assume she is only focused on racing.  She also enjoys strapping gear on her bike and riding through new landscapes.  

This year she chose to combine them all by riding to the start line of three seperate events across Europe. I enjoyed exploring her experience as a photo journalist and how she blends her desire to see the landscapes with the competitiveness it takes to race through them as well.

Her racing pedigree speaks for itself, she has successfully completed  the Triple Crown (Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail) as well as the Triple Nelson (all three mountain races, Atlas, Silk Road and Hellenic).  In 2024 she finished as first woman across the line at the Silk Road Mountain Race, which required her to ride on a pedal spindle for over 400kms due to a mechanical.

But did you know she only learnt how to ride a bike so that she would be able to go horse riding? That her favourite riding food is humous from Lidl and that she enjoyed being humbled by the weather and terrain in Scotland's highlands during the Highland Trail 550?

Be sure to follow Hannah's future adventures via her instagram - @HannahSimon_

Check out the Elkhorn Rack from Old Man Mountain