Beyond the ride

Words by Henrik Rostrup
Photos by Maja Johansson

Maja Johansson and Nathalie Eklund are building a genuine cycling community where both racing and training flourish. They share how cycling became a source of solace later in life and how their collective approach merges competitive drive with everyday passion. Their goal is to capture the real spirit of cycling culture—from the rigors of training routines to the simple, undeniable camaraderie that comes from riding together. And they do it all with a light-hearted twist, proving that serious dedication can be a lot of fun too.

I

So, tell us about 58&Fam—what’s the heart of this project?

Maja: At its core, it’s about inspiring people to start racing and to push their own limits in a way that feels fun, natural, and sustainable. We want to show that cycling, and especially racing, is more accessible than many think.

It’s easy to look at competitive cycling and feel like there’s this massive gap between casual riding and racing. But in reality, the biggest step is just deciding to try. That’s where we come in—to offer that nudge, that support, that sense of belonging.

Nathalie: Exactly. And beyond just racing, we want to encourage people to set bigger goals in all aspects of their cycling—whether that’s competing, tackling their first gravel event, or just pushing themselves a little harder than before. A lot of times, people underestimate what they’re capable of, and our hope is to be that extra bit of motivation they need.

Is 58&Fam more of a club, a team, or a community?

Maja: It’s a bit of everything, really. We’re working on officially launching as a club, so people can race under our name. But the bigger vision is a community that supports all kinds of riders. Some might want to race, others might just want a group to train with, and some might simply be looking for inspiration.

Nathalie: And we don’t want to put anyone in a box. If someone wants to compete in gravel, great. If someone wants to focus on the road, also great. If someone just loves riding and being part of the energy, that’s just as valuable. The idea is to create a welcoming space where people can challenge themselves without pressure.

You both got into racing a little later than most. How did that journey happen?

Maja: I started out playing football, then went all-in on photography, working crazy hours, and honestly just burning myself out. Training was something I completely lost touch with. Then my brother suggested I try cycling—he thought it would be a good way for me to stay active without the impact of running. I had no idea where to start, but I bought a bike, and that was the first step.

A year later, I found Nathalie—through Strava, of all places. She was just this insanely strong cyclist, and I was like, "Wow, I want to be like that!" We finally met, and from there, everything just clicked. She had this way of making things feel possible.

A young woman and an older woman sitting on a brown couch in a room with light green walls. The young woman has red hair, wears a light blue t-shirt and jeans, and white sneakers. The older woman has blonde hair, wears a sleeveless cream top, black pants, white sneakers, and a watch, smiling at the young woman.
A black container of oatmeal with a green spoon inside, a brown medicine bottle, a yellow and black magazine titled 'CYKLISTEN' with a black-and-white photo of cyclists, and a small brown container or capsule on a white surface.

II

What was the turning point that made you both realize you wanted to compete?

Nathalie: I’ve always been someone who sets big goals. I grew up in the world of ballet, training 30 hours a week from the time I was ten. It was all-consuming, and for a long time, that was my entire identity. But as I got older, I started questioning the environment I was in. Eventually, I stepped away and found cycling, which gave me a new kind of challenge.

I think the turning point was realizing that racing isn’t just about being the strongest rider—it’s also about mindset, about strategy, about community. Once I understood that, I knew I wanted to be part of it in a bigger way.

Maja: For me, it was meeting Nathalie. I had always been drawn to racing but never dared to say it out loud. But suddenly, there was someone telling me, “You should try this. You can do this.” That belief, from someone else, changed everything.

It sounds like goal-setting is a huge part of what you do—not just for yourselves, but for the people you want to inspire.

Nathalie: 100%. I work as a coach, and something I see all the time is how differently people approach their goals. Some set the bar sky-high—like, “I’m going to win the World Championships.” Others aim for something they know they can accomplish within a few weeks. There’s nothing wrong with either, but we want to encourage people to dream bigger.

A lot of times, people are afraid to set big goals because they don’t want to fail. But failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of it. If you don’t quite reach a goal, you’ve still come further than if you’d set your sights too low.

A woman wearing a helmet and athletic clothing standing on a dirt trail in a rural landscape.
Woman with a medal around her neck holding a white helmet, after a race, with tents and people in the background.

III

Recently, you raced Unbound Gravel, 325 km across unpredictable Kansas terrain.

Nathalie: Looking back, I now know what it meant to prepare for months for a single race. We said Unbound was about stepping outside our comfort zones — and that’s exactly what it was. 325 km and nearly 11 hours on the bike pushed me more mentally than physically. I’ve never prepared so long-term for anything, and still, just days before, I wasn’t sure if I’d done enough.

But when the race started, I felt calm. Present. Ready.

There were crashes, crosswinds, and moments of panic. I went over the bars early on, couldn’t find my dad in the chaos of the feed zone, and ended up chasing for hours. But I kept going. I felt strong — even when things were falling apart. And when I crossed that finish line, I knew: this was only the beginning.

I’m proud of what I did, but I’m not done. We said we wanted to push into the unknown — and now that I’ve been there, I want more.

Maja: I remember saying I was terrified before Unbound — and I was right to be. My race turned into a flat tire saga, starting already at kilometer 55. I probably stopped 11 times in total. It was frustrating beyond words.

But here’s the thing: despite all the setbacks, I kept going. I chased back, walked, begged for spares, and emptied every CO2 cartridge I had left. My official time was 13:38, far from what I’d hoped for. But weirdly enough, I’m still leaving with motivation — because even though the race didn’t turn out the way I planned, the fire is stronger than ever.

We both went to Unbound terrified — and came out tougher. The goal we talked about months ago might be behind us now, but the story is still being written.

Nathalie: For me, Unbound is about stepping outside my comfort zone. My strengths as a cyclist are in short, explosive efforts. This is the complete opposite of that. But there’s something about pushing yourself into the unknown that’s really exciting.

What kind of riders do you see joining 58&Fam?

Maja: Honestly, it’s a mix. We have riders who are curious about racing but don’t know where to start. We have people who have competed before but lost motivation. And we have those who just want a group to ride with. What connects everyone is that they’re looking for something more—whether that’s progression, community, or just a different kind of experience.

Nathalie: We also love that it’s not just one type of rider. We’re open to all disciplines—gravel, road, mountain biking. We want to be a place where people feel encouraged, no matter where they are in their cycling journey.

Cycling has traditionally been seen as a sport that requires expensive gear. How do you make it more accessible?

Maja: The truth is, you don’t need a super expensive bike to get started. My first bike was a 26 kilo commuter that I used to ride to work. That’s how it began. A few years later, I got a road bike. You can upgrade over time, but the most important thing is to just start.

Nathalie: There’s this idea that you need the best equipment to be competitive, but that’s not true. Strong legs and smart racing will always beat fancy gear. And we want to show people that.

A person riding a bicycle on a gravel road in a rural landscape under a blue sky with clouds.
A woman riding a black Cannondale gravel bike on a gravel road, wearing a helmet, sunglasses, orange gloves, and sporty cycling attire, with green fields and a blue sky with clouds in the background.

IV

What’s next for 58&Fam?

Maja: A lot! We’ll be racing a ton—especially gravel, but also some road. We’ll host group rides, events, and hopefully inspire more people to take that next step.

Nathalie: We also want to grow organically. It’s important to us that we stay true to our values and don’t rush things. But in the long run, we’d love to see this expand beyond Stockholm—maybe even internationally.

And where can people find you if they want to get involved?

Maja: Instagram is the best place for now. That’s where we post about rides, events, and everything happening with 58&Fam. But the real magic happens when people come riding with us.

Nathalie: And if you’re ever unsure about joining—just show up. The hardest part is always taking that first step. After that, it’s just about enjoying the ride.

A woman in a blue cycling helmet and sunglasses is sitting on the ground, exhausted, after a bike race. She is wearing a white cycling jersey with dirt stains.
A wooden wall with a corkboard holding various papers and pins. A white and orange jersey hangs on a hook below the corkboard. The jersey has the number 18 on it, and several papers, including support crew passes and event tickets, are pinned to the corkboard.

SHARE

OTHER STORIES