Get to know Analog’s founders:
Gabrielle Lehnert
Q: Where are you from and where are you based?
A: I was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. Now, I’m based in Atlanta, GA after going to school here and graduating in 2024. Atlanta was never somewhere I expected to end up being from the Pacific Northwest, but it’s grown into a place and community I love!
Q: What has life been like for you the last several years?
A: Busy! but full of wonderful things. I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design this year with my BFA in Fashion Design. It was a very intense program, but working on and completing my thesis collection was one of my favorite things I have done. On top of that, I have been racing professionally for a few years now which has meant balancing school with training and traveling. It was definitely overwhelming and stress inducing at times, but I am so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that have come my way both through racing and fashion design; they’ve helped shape me into the person I am.
Q: What have you been up to outside of school and racing?
A: Honestly, not much. There hasn’t been time for a lot other than that in the last few years. Fortunately, being creative and being an athlete are two of the things I love the most so having my days dominated by them is not a problem. That being said, I am enjoying starting this new post-school chapter of life where I can slow down a bit, stay in one place for longer, spend more time with friends, and work (at my own pace) on whatever creative projects are inspiring me.
Q: Why are you co-founding this team?
A: There are so many reasons! I think the core of it though is wanting to try and create a team that I believe in in every way, a team that is an expression of joy and creativity, and a team that treats athletes as inherently valuable, not as results-getting machines. I believe that creating a positive environment and continuing to foster a love of riding in our athletes not only makes for enjoyable life experiences, but also yields fast racers as a byproduct. I’ve always felt an underlying sentiment in the pro peloton that you can’t have it all in one team, but as Analog Racing is coming together, it’s made me think, “why not?”. I want to find out :)
Q: What are you excited about for 2025?
A: My work at design school and professional racing have often felt like very separate worlds (and in many ways are), but I am so excited about the ways they are coming together in creating this team. I’m excited to have my worlds combine and be on a team where my creativity and love of racing are equally important in shaping the environment. I’m excited to see what opportunities, adventures, and stories unfold by taking on a season of professional racing in a new way.
elizabeth vaags
Q: Where are you from and where are you based?
A: I was born in Nepal (my parents were working there), and then moved to BC, Canada, when I was a kid. Since starting university I’ve been living in Vancouver.
Q: What has life been like for you the last several years?
A: In the spring/summers I have been racing road bikes in North America and Europe. I got to race five ish years on Continental teams and was team captain for two of those years. In the fall/winters I have been going to school full time and recently wrapped up my Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at UBC.
Q: What have you been up to outside of school and racing?
During Covid, with races cancelled, I had tons of flexibility and explored the BC backcountry via foot, gravel bike and kayak. Since then, I worked on getting a women’s community house off the ground. More recently I’ve been building a community for BC-based women of color interested in gravel riding. Other than that I garden a lot and got married last summer, so I hang out with my husband Eric.
Q: Why are you co-founding this team?
A: Ultimately I just really care about the wellbeing of my fellow racers. My faith is very central to who I am, and it felt like God was preparing me (and the people involved in Analog) to create a space where female racers can thrive. I am hoping Analog shifts the way that teams are created and run into more sustainable models that dignify and celebrate who athletes are as people.
Q: What are you excited about for 2025?
A: I haven’t felt this excited about racing in a long time. I think the 2025 season is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to create also! I absolutely love working with my hands and I am excited to make some beautiful artifacts from the stories we live next year.
