Welcome to Allover Diaries, where we get to know the inspiring people who wear our overalls and the adventures they take in them.
For this edition, we chatted with An-Mei Ellisor, a competitive mountain biker whose new philosophy is all about not being afraid to take risks and find playful ways to reconnect with the outdoors.
Tell us a little about why you are who you are today.
I’ve raced competitively for a long time, starting with running and eventually participating in triathlons. But when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, it was the cycling community that got me through. I was very much in denial about how that diagnosis was going to affect me and was not going to let it stop me, and a lot of people actually didn’t know until many years later because I did my best to withhold it. But the bike community knew—they became my safe space.
That’s when I started dedicating more time to biking and racing. I came out to Durango because of bikes. I wanted to go pro, and that’s where all the pros live. I also was just not content for the South, where I grew up in Alabama. Moving to Durango opened up my world to so many other outdoor sports—snowboarding, climbing, etc.—that I never had the opportunity to participate in prior.
So, during my freshman year at Fort Louis College, I joined the racing team and wound up being the only freshman girl to make it to nationals. The next year, I decided to branch out and race for myself, and I won the title at Nationals, which was hosted in my hometown, so it felt very full circle. But then I realized I needed to take a step back from racing, so I took the summer to bikepack around Europe.
No way. That is so cool. What drove you to take on an adventure like this?
Looking back, it’s clear that I was very lost. I knew I just needed to ride my bike and discover myself.
I started in Portugal and learned how to surf. Then I biked the coast over to Spain, and I learned a lot on that leg. It taught me that not everything goes according to plan. I make it to Amsterdam and meet the most amazing soul. We had a life-changing conversation that helped me accept that I love who I am, and I’m so grateful for how I got to where I am. I found that I was finally able to embrace the fact that all of the hard stuff I’ve been through, especially cancer, did change and shape me. I carried that conversation with me to the Alps. I rode from Munich, Germany, across Austria and into Switzerland and, finally, France, where I rode the actual route for the Tour de France.
When you’re traveling like that, you find you’re never alone. Mother Nature is all around you. What was wild was that this specific species of birds seemed to keep finding me on my rides, and I found that very comforting. That whole trip helped me fall in love with the leisure of biking.
Outside of cycling through the Alps, describe to me your perfect day from start to finish.
What I’m doing right now—road-tripping and finding adventure without plans. On my bikepacking trip, I got a lot better at accepting when things don’t go according to plan and just rolling with the punches. That’s the beauty of life. Going with the wave of the moment eliminates expectations and allows you to see things and meet people you would have never expected, and that’s the beauty of life.
When I’m not traveling, my standard ideal day looks like releasing dopamine through exercise, enjoying the atmosphere of a coffee shop to get work done, and then spending as much time outside as I can—climbing or biking—and then to top it off… I’ve gotten really into dancing. It’s such a beautiful way to express your body and move with the flow of energy. It’s the best way to finish my day.
Who are the people who inspire you most?
My friends and family, easily. My best friend, who I’m growing through life with and supports me to tackle challenges, and my mom and dad, who love me unconditionally and encourage me to take on all of my wildest dreams. And then all of the people I meet traveling. I couldn’t even name names, but I remember the words they shared with me. The conversations you have with people on the road expand your worldview.
What do you love most about your Allovers?
The pee zipper! It’s the best thing ever. I love not having to get fully undressed to go to the bathroom. They’re also so lightweight and durable. I knew they were high-quality when I went climbing on rough rock, and they didn’t rip, tear, or scratch at all.
