Saddle Up, It's Bike Season! A Sea Otter Recap & More
If you’ve ever felt totally stoked and totally overwhelmed at the same time, welcome to Sea Otter—one of the biggest cycling festivals in the country. In this episode of Tarin It Up, Amber and I unpack what it was really like attending as a media newb, first-time gravel rider, and fully immersed into the bike universe.
We talk about everything from gear and grit to period underwear and shammy-free riding, because yeah—we went there. Sea Otter was a full-on immersion into the cycling community, and this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos, connection, and personal growth that came with it.
🎧 Listen now:
What Sea Otter Actually Feels Like
They call it “Bike-chella” for a reason. The scale of the event is wild—aisles of vendors, nonstop racing, new product drops, and people you’ve only ever met through the interwebs standing in front of you. It was exciting. It was disorienting. And it was a crash course in showing up imperfectly but fully.
"I am just so fucking ready to bike now."
Let’s Talk Gear, Chammies & Saddle Sores
Amber and I do not hold back. From my very first real gravel ride to the great shammy vs. no shammy debate, we talk about what’s working, what’s not, and what we wish more people were saying out loud—especially when it comes to women’s health and hygiene on multi-day rides.
Enter: BRANWYN—the wool underwear I now can’t shut up about. Game-changer.
Camping at a Bike Fest = A Whole Other Adventure
We also get into the highs and lows of camping during Sea Otter. Sometimes it’s magical. Sometimes it’s…not, and loud and your neighbor's tent is four inches from your face. Either way, the shared experience makes it memorable.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
✅ Sea Otter is massive, chaotic, and full of opportunity
✅ First gravel rides can be both terrifying and empowering
✅ Saddle sores don’t care if you wear a chammy or not
✅ Hygiene matters—and we should be talking about it more
✅ The outdoor industry is full of good people doing rad things
✅ Storytelling connects us—whether we’re talking gear, growth, or growing pains
✅ You’re allowed to be overwhelmed and still belong
Let’s Keep the Conversation Rolling
This episode is for the riders, the wanderers, and the women figuring it out as they go. Whether you were at Sea Otter or just bike-curious, I hope it makes you laugh, reflect, and feel a little more seen.
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Featured Mention:
🩲 BRANWYN – the wool undies I was raving about
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