Texan Two-Steppin' at the West Texas Showdown

Texan Two-Steppin' at the West Texas Showdown

Words and experiences by Hannah Simon and Eric House

Photos by Nathan Khalsa

Editor's Note: In this latest addition to the Buffet, bikepacking’s Texan power couple Hannah Simon and Eric House share a conversation about their experience at the inaugural West Texas Showdown in late 2025. Hannah and Eric have both raced very successfully in ultra events all over the world, and their experience informs the conversation. If you have an epic ride report or story you'd like to share on The Buffet reach out to zach.scsw@gmail.com. Let's go!

Eric: Hey everyone, Eric House here.

Hannah: And Hannah Simon.

Eric: Here to chat about the inaugural West Texas Showdown 2025.

Hannah: Yep, in all its glory.

Eric: Yeah, we've come together to maybe ask a few questions of each other on how the race went and different aspects of it.

Hannah: Yep, we've each written three questions that we're gonna ask one another and just see where it goes.

Eric: I wrote, um, more than three.

Hannah: Okay, well mine are three bullet points with a couple of follow-ups, so.

Eric: Okay, mine are six random ones with no bullet points. Um, do you wanna ask first or do you want me to?

Hannah: I'll go first.

Eric: Okay.

Hannah: Okay. My first question for you, Eric, is what does the West Texas desert mean to you?

Eric: Wow. How much time do we have? I love Big Bend. I love West Texas. There's something so magical about the air and the sunsets and the terrain out there. Is it my favorite place on earth? Close. Close to it.

Hannah: Is it your favorite desert?

Eric: Oof. Um, you know, I think it might be. It's definitely the desert that feels like home anytime I'm there.

Hannah: Why do you think that is?

Eric: For one, it's in Texas, right? But I don't know. There's something that is so big and small about Big Bend that just puts my soul at peace when I'm there, especially on bike.

Hannah: Yeah, tell me a little bit more about the terrain, just for the folks who've never been out there before.

Eric: Yeah, I mean, you'd probably know more about it, I think, having actually finished and won the race. It is super rocky, extremely remote, and arid. Arid as all-get-out. So water—that's technically what got me during West Texas, yeah.

Hannah: Just the lack of water availability?

Eric: How would you describe it?

Hannah: I liked what you said about it being a different kind of big. I think because it's so nearby, it feels familial in that way. And we've also, the both of us have been out there several times at this point, and so it's nice to go back to a place that you feel like you know. Yeah, kind of knows you, in a way. And I think even though it can be pretty hostile, you also know what to expect. Like, it doesn't really throw a whole lot of curveballs at you, necessarily. Like, you know it's gonna be rough and rugged and probably hot and sunny and a little bit relentless.

Eric: Yeah.

Hannah: All together gorgeous. And I agree—sunsets are different. Sunrises are such a beautiful 'thank goodness it's finally happening.'

Eric: Yeah, it definitely has, I mean, just like a lot of deserts, all of the extremes.

Hannah: Yeah. Being out there in November too, it was very much like 12 hours of daylight, 12 hours of dark, if not a little bit more on the dark end. So, yeah.

Eric: Yeah. Do you want to trade back and forth?

Hannah: Yeah, you tell me, you ask me a question.

Eric: I guess kind of along that, I'll skip around in my questions—what was one of the most magical moments for you during, before, or after?

Hannah: I'd say, so during, I got to what was kind of advertised as the most beautiful part of the route in the middle of the night. It was a section, I know we love ultra racing, it was a section after Marfa in Palo Pinto Canyon, which is actually private land that Patrick, the race director, got permission to ride through specifically for the race. And I think at first I was upset because I got to Marfa and the sun was setting, and well, I wasn't upset then because sunset in Marfa was pretty magic. Some of the craziest clouds I've ever seen, and like, standing in the Lowe's supermarket parking lot.

Eric: Parking lots at grocery stores always have the best.

Hannah: The best sunsets. You can see so much of the sky. But I knew that I was going to roll out of Marfa and it was going to get dark and it would be dark for the next 12 hours. And I was a little bit bummed about not getting to see the canyon because it's also part of the route that you don't get to just go see whenever you want because we had special permission to be there. But I did the big road section to get to it. And then there's a sign that says Palo Pinto Canyon and you like drop in and the road gets rough again. And you can just feel that the terrain around you is crazy, even though you can't really see it for yourself. And at one point I stopped, I think because I'd also been going downhill for quite a while, so I just needed to give my hands a little bit of a break. And when I stopped, I turned off all my lights and I looked up and the sky was just exploding with stars. And it was nice because I think in a different way, I got to experience the beauty of that canyon, even though I couldn't see it. So it felt kind of magic. And it was nice to reframe a little bit and not be as bummed about missing it and realizing that I wasn't missing it, I was just experiencing it a different way.

Eric: Yeah. Yeah. How many shooting stars do you think you saw?

Hannah: Oh my goodness, countless. And the type that you can, because there's so much sky out there, you can just see it track all the way across.

Eric: Right across the Milky Way.

Hannah: Yeah. Yeah. Okay. You mentioned it very briefly about water availability, but I wondered maybe this time and then also if there have been other times, like how do you know during a race that you've had enough? Like is it a physical limit or mental space thing? Had enough of the race?

Eric: Yeah. I think it depends... It varies. This one specifically, I knew I had had enough when I, just before I made it to Sauceda, the ranger station. I think this year I got a little burnt out from doing so many ultras and events and stuff across the world. Yeah.

Hannah: Specifically which events?

Eric: Yeah. I mean, all three mountain races, Bright Midnight Norway, and then a couple of allycats. I don't think my heart was really in it. I think my heart was in West Texas, but not in the race. And I came to peace with that really early on when I wasn't feeling like racing anymore. And I think West Texas really helps with that because my relationship with it, like you said, we have been out there a few times, just to camp and bike pack. And I was totally in that vibe. And I don't think I could have escaped that if I wanted to. The lack of water also helped. This guy only brought capacity for two and a quarter liters. And minimum out there, lesson learned, would be four.

Hannah: Even with all the water cash?

Eric: Even with all the water cash.

Hannah: It gets hot in the middle of the day.

Eric: Yeah. Yeah, it does. And I felt great during the nights.

Hannah: Yeah.

Eric: Which is usually the case.

Hannah: Yeah.

Eric: But I was just chatting with somebody about this too. The heat tolerance for people. You can acclimate to altitude like anybody can. You just have to practice at it. But I don't know if there's really a way to heat acclimate. I feel like there's a portion of it that's genetic. And I know between you and I, you being so good in the heat, it just feels natural for you maybe?

Hannah: Yeah, I guess. In some cases, it's also just practice, I think too. I grew up in Texas. I raced a ton in Texas before I ever moved to Colorado. And so a lot of my early bike racing was done in just blistering heat. And yeah, I know it's a lot of people's least favorite condition to ride in. But for whatever reason, it just doesn't bother me that much. So I think it's also just exposure, learning how to manage it. I think sometimes too when it's cold, it's really easy to overdress and think that like, oh I'll warm up. It'll be fine. But I think also in the heat, you kind of have to underdress a bit. Sometimes you have to be a little bit uncomfortable earlier on to kind of keep yourself feeling cool all day. Like being willing to start really cold if you think that it's going to warm up. I think the other thing too is just drinking a ton of water. Making sure you're staying really hydrated. West Texas does put out a ton of water cash, so I rarely was empty, which is huge.

Eric: Yeah, I think I was already behind by the first water cache. I guess not in a bad way, but I think I was drinking a little bit too much and not pacing myself in that aspect.

Hannah: Yeah. I think West Texas too, the sun in West Texas is different. It's a different beast because there's no reprieve from it almost ever. Like there's very little tree coverage. You're just out there.

Eric: Yeah.

Hannah: So yeah, I think just yeah, experience and also just being okay in hot weather.

Eric: Yeah. Does your Tejano blood keep you warm or hot or cool? Warm.

Hannah: I mean, maybe, yeah.

Eric: Okay. Cool.

Hannah: Okay, I have a specific question. What does low down, slow down, showdown mean?

Eric: Are you asking me because I messed up the name of the series of races? I think I just flubbed all three. There's East Texas Showdown, which is the low down. There's Caprock Throwdown, which is the slow down. And then there's West Texas Showdown, which is just the showdown.

Hannah: Maybe you should do one-two-three.

Eric: Yeah, that would be easier.

Hannah: Number them.

Eric: Yeah, that would be simpler. But I like the three different identities for them.

Hannah: Yeah, I like the names too. Just, you know, can't mess them up.

Eric: Yeah. I just did though, so.

Hannah: I know. Well, that's why I asked.

Eric: Yeah. Well, I'm also using the terms sort of chronologically in the order that they're staged. East Texas, low down, slow down, showdown is like a build up to an event.

Hannah: Yeah. I see what you're doing there.

Eric: Yeah. And they do get progressively harder, so low down makes sense from an elevation standpoint. East Texas is pretty flat. You slow down a bit for Caprock. There's a few more climbs. And then just showdown. No qualifier.

Hannah: That's pretty good.

Eric: Yeah, should we segue that?

Hannah: What advice would you offer to folks trying to get into racing? And what gave you the confidence to level up from local races to doing things like the mountain races?

Eric: Yeah, I think, and I know we've talked with Patrick pretty extensively on this, East Texas is one of the best sort of intro bikepacking. I think having the low down showdown, low down, slow down, showdown, is really helpful for the folks who are like 400 miles is just way too much. Somewhere around 200 would be a little more acceptable. And I do think they, it's interesting now with West Texas, because they do get progressively more difficult. I can say from experience of scratching CTS two out of the two times that I've tried it, it's pretty tough. And then West Texas of course is arguably the hardest race in Texas right now. So I think it offers a unique perspective in getting started in bikepacking. It's like East Texas has a low barrier to entry. You don't need that much gear, not nearly as much gear as you'd need for something like Silk Road or Atlas Mountain, for example. And the number of resources along the route give you that sense of safety that you won't necessarily get in some of these international races or West Texas for that matter. What was the other part of the question?

Hannah: What gave you the confidence to make the jump?

Eric: What gave me the confidence to make the jump? I think stupidity for one. No, I think completing East Texas the number of years that I have now definitely boosted the confidence, especially in the time that I was able to achieve. I think the first year I did it in like 36 hours and that was my first ever ultra coming off of an Ironman that year. And then I think it was the next summer going and doing most of like North-South Colorado, jumping into Doom. I think one of the, maybe the second year that Andrew was doing it and completing that top 10 was like a huge ego boost for me. And then I think post-gears, moving into the single-speed arena and realizing like my potential for raw strength really made me motivated for this past summer in the mountain races.

Hannah: Yeah. Yeah. You were able to challenge yourself in each step up closer to home.

Eric: Yeah.

Hannah: So then you added all of the other factors that come with traveling across the world with your bike.

Eric: Yeah. And I think most of the fear with traveling internationally was just the actual travel portion and not necessarily the races. Like I remember going into Hellenic this past May and feeling really confident, like not arrogant, but close to it. And I think most of my jitters were just from bringing my brand new Chumba across the world and riding it for the first time in a place I've never been, where I don't know how many people are going to speak my language or understand anything about me. But it worked out. For West Texas and maybe generally in your bikepacking career, what is the most coveted item on your bike and where'd you store it? It doesn't have to be useful.

Hannah: Does it not? Most coveted item on my bike. I mean my answer to this has always been my Leatherman. The irony there is that I lost it in Greece at Hellenic in May. Yeah, that was silly. I'd store it in one of my SCSW Big Lebarski feed bags. Yes, thank you so much. And it's always been super safe there and I liked that it was easy to pull out whenever I needed it and that I could see it so I knew if it was gone. But the reason I lost it in Greece was because I got lost in the woods and was just dragging my bike through some pretty gnarly like downed trees and just quite literally like woods. Which you recall because you did come up behind me and stop me from myself. But I lost it then and didn't have it all summer and worried about it because it was like one of those things that I'd always had with me. Like it was a gift from a friend back in, god, 2020 I guess before I'd ever started racing and it was something that I always carried with me because of how useful it is. So yeah, I didn't have it all summer. I didn't have it for West Texas. I brought a cheap little multi-tool thing instead and now I'm grateful that I'll have another one because it was a wonderful Christmas gift from you this year.

Eric: So sweet.

Hannah: I think even though I didn't have it for a lot of racing this year it is still very much coveted and maybe even more so now that it's personalized.

Eric: Yeah, that's sweet. Anything that's not useful?

Hannah: Anything that's not useful on my bike? I mean I don't decorate the way you decorate.

Eric: That's fair. I don't know if a lot of people do.

Hannah: You want to tell me about yours?

Eric: For West Texas specifically? Yeah, I think on the Sendero I have a few things. My cuties. Those are my little creatures that hang out on my brake levers or brake cables. I have for West Texas I had my kitty cat and an octopus. I also, in cleaning out my frame bag, found four rocks that were not from West Texas. They were imported from I think Greece, Kyrgyzstan, and maybe Norway. Yeah, definitely useless. Provided nothing but additional weight from a logistic standpoint but felt nice to have.

Hannah: Maybe to wrap up a little follow-up question for you unless you've got a bunch more for me.

Eric: No, I've got like one or two more maybe.

Hannah: Okay.

Eric: You want me to throw them or you want to go?

Hannah: I'll go. Okay. I wondered why of all the bag companies out there you choose to rock SouthCity Stitchworks bags?

Eric: It's a great question. I think the main reason is I love Zach. He's just a great person. Good-hearted. Always on top of it. Really sweet. Anytime he's sent me bags or mended bags he always leaves a sweet note in there, personalized, which you can't beat. Also on maybe more of a vain vanity line, I'm a very colorful person and he has, at least for the Sendero, I gave him full autonomy to pick the colors that he thought would choose me and he nailed it and everywhere I went especially across Europe people looked at my bags and were like 'what the hell those are so colorful so vibrant,' especially after I washed them. Yeah, just does it like no other bag maker I know.

Hannah: Yeah, it's definitely the colors that first drew me in for sure. Yeah, it's the most fun I'd seen anybody have making bike bags and yeah, then also quality like I've used the same set of bags since Morocco last year.

Eric: Yeah.

Hannah: So at this point I'm in like the thousands of miles range and I should give them a good wash like you've given yours probably too because I think after West Texas specifically it was a bit of a trail mix mishap.

Eric: Always.

Hannah: It was just a little too warm in West Texas for trail mix with M&M's in it but yeah I think overall getting something that is not only beautiful but also functional and also from a wonderful human, a big, big fan.

Eric: Yeah and the top tube bag that's on my groad bike right now came off of your Salsa, was on my Karate Monkey, and now sits on the Cosmic.

Hannah: Versatile.

Eric: Yeah and I love that thing. Um I have one more.

Hannah: Yeah I'll do one more.

Eric: Yeah um this one's pretty controversial, hot take, we'll see—a West Texas sunset or sunrise and had you seen a more beautiful one of either anywhere?

Hannah: I think for racing purposes, sunrise. There's just something that a sunrise can do for you that nothing else can especially when the nights are that long. But I will say I already mentioned it once and it still will live in my brain for probably ever that sunset in Marfa did feel like magic in the way that I feel like only West Texas really can and I've been to a lot of really beautiful places and seen a lot of really beautiful sunrises and sunsets but I think there's also like a little bit of sentimentality that kind of makes it a lasting experience. I think this definitely had that. It meant a lot to be in a place that I've gotten to enjoy at leisure and then now also challenge myself the way that I love to.

Eric: Yeah and maybe especially doing a race that sort of started out the bikepacking career that you have now?

Hannah: Yeah yeah within the same series definitely feels full circle. What about you, sunrise or sunset?

Eric: I love a good sunset yeah but I also love to ride at night so I think that just it's sort of a signifier that I need to keep my eyes open, drink minimal water and enjoy a beautiful moon overhead. Hopefully. I know West Texas we didn't have quite the moon I wanted, but I think it really lent to opening up the sky to the stars and the Milky Way which is quite beautiful.

Hannah: I love seeing that little fingernail, yeah.

Eric: I think that's good yeah cool, okay, I love you.

Hannah: Hey, I love you okay bye look at that, just that's perfect.