Joining me for today’s conversation is none other than Jen Swartout. Jen lives in Bella Vista, AR and, in March of this year, completed the daunting DESPAIR course as part of Ozark Gravel DOOM.

Jen’s story and overall perspective is an intriguing one. Jen’s been riding bikes as a hobby cyclist for almost 20 years but really didn’t start her journey into bikepacking and ultra-distance events until recently. Jen is also a ride leader for Femmes Gravel in Northwest Arkansas which is a community of female-identifying riders with a mission of empowering, inspiring, and training women to achieve their first 100 mile bike ride. 

As a quote/unquote beginner bikepacker, Jen has served as an inspiration and role model for other women who are interested in joining the sport. In this conversation Jen and I reminisce about her entrance into bikepacking and what aspects of the community resonated with her, we chat about her involvement with Femmes Gravel, her experience during the torturous but rewarding Ozark Gravel DESPAIR course, and finally we chat about the ‘Women of the High Country’ and Jen’s plans to tackle the 430 mile Central Loop of the Arkansas High Country Race this October.

I truly enjoyed catching up with Jen, listening to her story of transformation by bike, and getting excited for her adventure coming up this fall.