This past weekend, I had the chance to serve coffee at the Gorge Gravel race for the very first time — and let me just say, it was an unforgettable experience.
From the moment I rolled up with Nacho the Van, I knew it was going to be a special day. The energy was electric, the community was welcoming, and the winds… well, let’s just say they added a little extra adventure to the day! Majorkudos to every racer who braved those crazy gusts and powered through. Gravel events are always about grit and perseverance, and this weekend definitely delivered on both fronts.
When choosing a mountain bike destination or gravel riding route, the trails or gravel roads are only part of the picture. The true essence of these places lies in the local businesses—especially coffee shops—that serve as community hubs. Whether you’re in a quiet town along a bikepacking route or stopping for a mid-ride espresso during a gravel adventure, coffee spots play a key role in connecting riders and supporting the spirit of exploration.
Nacho the van has come a long way from being an 11-passenger van used to carry collegiate athletes to games all over the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, there’s still a LONG way to go. Since I bought the van from the university where I teach, many students know its backstory as they see it sitting in the school parking lot. Some joke, saying, “Yeah … it still looks a little sketchy.”
So, what is the latest on the Nacho conversion process?
When I started Loam Coffee in 2015, I was only focused on roasting and selling bags of coffee. That was it. But things change. Businesses grow and evolve over time. Loam Coffee is going through an evolution right now.
Coffee. Photography. Why not bring them together?
It’s that time of the year… race season is here! Whether you’re racing DH, enduro, XC, gravel, or road, weekends are filling up with racing! That means you need fuel for optimal performance. Who needs energy drinks and fancy gels with electrolytes when you can pound a 10oz cup of naturally processed Ethiopian coffee before you hop on the saddle to race?
Wait, you don’t or wouldn’t? All joking aside, we’re gearing up for race season here in Portland with Nacho the Van
