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FULL LENGTH FILM RELEASE! Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking

We are delighted to launch our first feature-length documentary film, Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking. It profiles Wende’s work and its lasting impact on the cycling industry. Photographer Wende Cragg has been a pillar of the cycling community since she began documenting road, cyclocross, and the early days of mountain biking in Marin County, California, and throughout the United States over 50 years ago.

Continue reading below for all the details!

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*Feature Film and Photobook Announcement* Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking

Photographer Wende Cragg has been a pillar of the cycling community since she began documenting road, cyclocross, and the early days of mountain biking in Marin County, California, and throughout the United States over 50 years ago. We are delighted to launch the trailer for our first feature-length documentary film, Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking. It profiles Wende’s work and its lasting impact on the cycling industry.

We’re also unveiling a book and merch pre-order, as well as the beginning of a growing list of film screenings, which kicks off with the world premiere at the Marin Museum of Bicycling on August 16th & 17th and another at MADE’s movie night on August 23rd. There’s exclusive early viewing access, pre-orders for an epic photobook featuring Wende’s work, and an associated throwback merchandise run.

Continue reading below for all the details!

Like a Fine Wine: Wende Cragg’s Custom 1983 Breezer Series III

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Like a Fine Wine: Wende Cragg’s Custom 1983 Breezer Series III

Wende Cragg’s contributions to cycling and her documentation of the sport over the years are unquantifiable. And here at The Radavist, we’ve been fortunate to have her sharing snapshots of that history, from her moving piece about the origins of mountain biking, to her return to Crested Butte last year for the Pearl Pass Tour after a forty-two-year hiatus.

Wende is back today to share another special story we think you’ll thoroughly enjoy. This time, Wende pens an ode to her custom 1983 Breezer Series III built for her after multiple ill-fitting predecessors (including one of the ten original Breezer Series I). To top it off, she enlisted Joe Breeze to share a few insights about her one-of-a-kind bike and the general evolution of early Breezers. Let’s get right to it below!

I Learned to Fly… On A Mountain Bike: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking

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I Learned to Fly… On A Mountain Bike: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking

As a kid, I wanted to fly. Like Superman. The recurring dream never materialized but the fantasy took flight when I met the mountain bike. The history of the early mountain bike is often seen through the lens of a handful of guys who modified their old Schwinns back in the mid-1970s. However, as the lone woman participating in those early riding adventures, I snapped a few photographs along the way, capturing the age of innocence often associated with those seminal days. A small group of trailblazers, pioneering a new course of action riding these old relics, would soon change the future of cycling.

The Radavist’s Top Ten Articles of 2024

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The Radavist’s Top Ten Articles of 2024

Read on for The Radavist’s Top Ten Articles of 2024, ranked in ascending order and based on views. We’re more than just Beautiful Bicycles over here; year after year, the articles that our authors publish draw the biggest crowds. From our Dust-Up op-eds to the first look at brands’ future showcases, clever hacks, and new this year, our Radavist Documentary brought in the page views. As we look back across twelve months of content, ten articles in particular stand out.

The Radavist’s Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2024 and Handmade Showcase Awards

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The Radavist’s Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2024 and Handmade Showcase Awards

For the Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2024 we looked at pageviews, comments, and social media chatter from twelve months of content to determine what bikes best represent a calendar year at The Radavist. Then, to up the ante this year, we’ve included our Handmade Showcase Awards, featuring bikes from the OZ/US MADE Bike Show and UK/DE Bespoked. Let’s get to it!

Josh’s Favorite Products, Experiences, and More from 2024

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Josh’s Favorite Products, Experiences, and More from 2024

Next up in our year-end recaps, Josh shares a list of his favorite products that span an eclectic range from cycling components and apparel to car camping creature comforts and even laundry detergent. He also reflects on a career-defining project, his approach to reigniting creative sparks in response to waning social media interest, and shares some pivotal music and books that inspired him along the way. Read on below for Josh’s favorites…

Casey’s Manzanita Cycles Rigid 29er Klunker MTB, aka the Klunquazita

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Casey’s Manzanita Cycles Rigid 29er Klunker MTB, aka the Klunquazita

Teased in the Campandgoslow Shop Visit and Trout Tape post, John got to shoot Casey’s delicious rigid 29er klunker Manzanita Cycles mountain bike while visiting Great Basin Pottery in the foothills of the Easter Sierra. This bike is a perfect mix of vintage throwback and modern mixed-terrain sensibilities. Check out a detailed photo gallery below with words from the bar tape/potter Hemmingway, Casey himself, along with a Q&A with Nick from Manzanita…

An Afternoon with Artist Chris McNally and Jessica Chan of Tunitas Creative

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An Afternoon with Artist Chris McNally and Jessica Chan of Tunitas Creative

On his way to last month’s MADE bike show in Portland, OR, following a weekend in Fairfax, CA, for our premier of the Camera Corner documentary, Josh spent an afternoon with long-time friends of the site – artist Chris McNally and designer Jessica Chan of Tunitas Creative – and documented their collaboration on this month’s Group Ride giveaway item.

Below, get to know the San Francisco-based artist/designers and take a detailed look at making one-of-a-kind Day Totes up for grabs this month for Group Ride subscribers, as well as $150 gift cards from our friends at Ripton.

REMINDER! Camera Corner Tickets For August 16th and 17th at the Marin Museum of Bicycling on Sale Now!

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REMINDER! Camera Corner Tickets For August 16th and 17th at the Marin Museum of Bicycling on Sale Now!

Join us on Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17th, 2024, for the screening of Camera Corner, a feature-length documentary by The Radavist showcasing photographer Wende Cragg’s influential documentation during the genesis of mountain biking.

Friday’s fundraiser event (doors at 6:30, film starts at 7:30 both nights) is now open to all. Guests are invited to attend Wende’s post-movie “Chewin’ the Fat” discussion with mountain bike pioneers like Joe Breeze, Charlie Kelly, Otis Guy, and more.

On Saturday, August 17th, we repeat the fundraiser with another viewing of Camera Corner, then stick around for round two of “Chewin’ the Fat” with Wende and local legends.

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

Proceeds go to supporting the Marin Museum of Bicycling.

The Marin Museum of Bicycling is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to illuminating and celebrating cycling’s past, present, and future. Fundraisers like this make its exhibitions and programs possible so thank you for the support!

The Radavist 2024 Calendar: August

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The Radavist 2024 Calendar: August

“Camera Corner” is the eighth layout of the Radavist 2024 Calendar. It was shot with a Nikkormat 35mm film camera, in Marin County, California. Photographed by Wende Cragg.

Camera Corner is a feature-length documentary by The Radavist showcasing Wende Cragg’s influential documentation during the genesis of mountain biking. Find out more here. We’re commemorating its release with a special edition Radavist Calendar from one of Wende’s iconic photographs…”

For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper*, right-click and save link as – The Radavist 2024 – August. Please, this photo is for personal use only!
(*set background to white and center for optimal coverage)

The mobile background this month is a vertical crop of the action! Click here to download August’s Mobile Wallpaper.

Monē Bikes SB2 Review: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

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Monē Bikes SB2 Review: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

We talk a lot about the early klunkers, from Breezers to Cunninghams and Ritcheys, but what about the very first MTBs in the US, the coaster cruisers, aka mountain cruisers? These esoteric singlespeeds rely on a coaster brake hub to control their speed and were adapted from old Schwinn newspaper bikes.

Read on as John reviews his coaster cruiser, a Monē Bikes Small Batch Straight Bar, aka the SB2. These bikes are the simplest mountain bike you can ride: No hand brakes. No gears. Big bars. Balloon tires. This is peak coaster cruiser!

Wearing the Pants: Dovetail Is Making Workwear for Women, By Women

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Wearing the Pants: Dovetail Is Making Workwear for Women, By Women

Started in 2018 by the two owners of a landscaping business in Oregon, Dovetail Workwear aim to make “top-to-toe, all-season, all-reason” utility apparel for women. Hailey Moore stumbled upon their work pants at her local hardware store and wanted to know more. Read on for her review of Dovetail’s workwear and thoughts on how the brand’s mission is having an impact beyond the retail space.

Rolling Back the Years: The 2023 Annual Pearl Pass Tour

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Rolling Back the Years: The 2023 Annual Pearl Pass Tour

First held in 1976, the annual Pearl Pass Tour continues to take riders on one of the earliest organized mountain bike challenges: riding (and pushing) bikes to the top of Pearl Pass (12,705′) from Crested Butte, Colorado. Inspired to ride new terrain and get to know the burgeoning mountain biking community in Crested Butte, Wende Cragg and a band of Californians loaded up their klunkers and made the trip out to take part in several early editions of the now-iconic event.

Following a forty-two year hiatus, Wende Cragg returned to Crested Butte for this year’s ride. Read on for her tales from Pearl Pass, past and present…

A Titanium Chariot: Esker Cycles Hayduke LVS Longtail Review

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A Titanium Chariot: Esker Cycles Hayduke LVS Longtail Review

Announced at this year’s Moab Outerbike, the Esker Cycles Hayduke LVS –available as a frame ($2,950) or a complete ($4,950)–is a hardtail mountain bike with 600-millimeter chainstays and touring accouterments aplenty. Esker even developed a specialty rack for this bike, dubbed the Molle Rackwald ($300.) Needless to say, it’s a unique offering from the brand.

John was able to ride one for a bit, including on an overnighter with the Esker Cycles team and Sincere Cycles in Santa Fe, so read on for an in-depth look at this rare and funky bike!