Where are we from?
We’re a bunch of bike geeks who like to go on adventures.
We come from a wide range of experiences, from bikepacking to ultra-endurance racing, urban commuting, and pump track shenanigans.
We eat a lot of tacos and often have long discussions about the famous “green salsa” at our local taco truck.
Lucky for us, we are headquartered in Bend, Oregon, where we have hundreds of miles of singletrack, dirt roads, and lonely pavement to spin the wheels.
Who are we?
Keep scrolling to find out more about the folks behind the brand.
Co-Founder
Chris Kratsch
Chris worked in the outdoor industry in sales and customer service for most of his life, so he is meticulously obsessive about making great products and providing great service. Growing up in Southern California, he spent days shredding his BMX bike through the hills behind his house. He’s built more than a few trails in Central Oregon and still loves to put the hammer down riding single track. He’s personally used Old Man Mountain racks on his bikes since 1999 and he’s more than stoked to now own the brand.
Co-Founder
Katy Bryce
Katy is the wordsmith and adult in the room attempting to corral the chaos when needed. She heads up all strategery, administration, and financial oversight duties and makes the taco runs when needed. She digs being way out in the woods with her bike, a few Snickers bars, and her friends. At 5 feet tall, she’s tiny but mighty, and her favorite pastime is taking pictures with really tall people in Europe.
She’s also a writer and published guidebook author. Check out her bestselling book – a guidebook for mountain biking in Bend, Oregon.
The Crew
It takes a lot more than two folks to run Old Man Mountain.
From sales and marketing, to product development and production, to packaging and customer service, our crew is the true force that makes it all possible.
We’re small but mighty. We get a lot done, and have fun while we’re at it. When the weekend hits, you'll see most of us loading up our bikes and heading for the hills around Bend.
How did we get here?
1981
The Mountain Bike is Born
Specialized begins mass producing mountain bikes, pointing the trajectory of the sport from total obscurity towards the mainstream relevance it enjoys today.
1991
Time for the Gnar
The first mountain bikes with front suspension forks become available for purchase. V-brakes, 26" wheels, tires as hard as plastic, it was an exciting time to ride off road.
1996
Old Man Mountain is Born
Old Man Mountain is born when avid mountain biker, Channing Hammond, gets a new mountain bike with a full suspension fork. He designs a way to attach cargo racks to the center of the wheel so he can have overnight mountain biking adventures in the mountains near Santa Barbara.
2021
Chris and Katy go for a Bike Tour
Before we called it bikepacking, Chris and Katy loaded up their bikes with Old Man Mountain racks and heading into the unknown, exploring Mexico, Guatamala, and Belize on an extended bike tour.
2003
The Great Divide Ride
Nearly twenty year prior to taking over the company, Chris and Katy head out for another bike tour. This time targeting the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route stretching from Canada to Mexico along the spine of the United States.
2012
A New Standard
Decades of innovation and engineering improvements lead to the Thru Axle becoming standard on mountain bikes.
2013
The Robert Axle Project
The Robert Axle Project is our sister brand. Born in a garage in Bend, Oregon when Chris and Katy needed to attach a BOB trailer to a thru axle bike.
2015
Universes Collide
The Robert Axle Project starts partnering with Old Man Mountain to supply thru axles that work with OMM racks. The two brands share a booth at Interbike for the first time.
2019
Continuing the Legacy
Chris and Katy take over ownership of Old Man Mountain, continuing to serve the needs of bikepackers and adventure cyclists worldwide.
Today
The Future of Old Man Mountain
We continue to bring our 30+ years of bikepacking, manufacturing, and cycling experience to the forefront of what's possible. Stick around to see what we come up with next.