The Radavist

Kristen Smith – Co-Founder of The Elevated Alpine – and Brooke Goudy – Co-Leader of Black Girls Do Bike Denver – recently organized a trail-building retreat for women, non-binary, and femme individuals in Nederland, Colorado. She Digs brought over fifty riders together to shape new trails and become advocates for trail building.

We’re pleased to share a wonderful video and photos recapping the event. Check it out below!

Logo by Sam Scipio

While it was the most violent in Illinois history, the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 still remains widely unknown to many. The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Route Campaign honors the centennial of the riot in 2019 and is a collaboration between PeopleForBikes, Ride Spot, Newberry Library . The CRR1919 Commemoration Project to educate riders about a bitter piece of Chicago’s past while supporting a better future through Blackstone Bicycle Works’ efforts with youth on Chicago’s South Side.

-The goal is to inspire 300 riders to complete the CRR1919 route before Oct 31.
-If we succeed in activating riders and sell all of the CRR1919 Guidebooks, we will raise $7500 for Blackstone Bicycle Works, a non-profit program to expanding the educational and vocational opportunities of BIPOC youth on Chicago’s South Side and contribute to the CRR1919 Public Art Commemoration Project.

This year, riders can follow that same route thanks to Ride Spot. By downloading the mobile app and joining the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Route challenge, riders will be guided by turn-by-turn directions to each stop along the route.

They can also download or stream an audio tour or purchase a limited edition  1919 CRR Route Guidebook for $10 with 100% of the proceeds donated to Blackstone Bicycle Works and The CRR1919 Commemoration Public Art Project.

To learn more, see the route and access the companion guides, visit CRR1919.COM.

I know everyone has fundraiser fatigue these days but give this one a watch and if you feel moved enough to donate, then you can do so at Cycles of Change:

“Cycles of Change’s in-person programs, the bulk of which take place in Alameda County public schools, are deeply impacted by COVID-19. Activities we do now, support our essential organizational work for the remainder of the year. Like other small grassroots organizations, the cancellation of our programs has had a massive impact on our fiscal stability. However, we are committed to our mission of supporting community access to bikes. We believe that access to just mobility and transportation is an essential human right.

Our mission and work support the directive of the Alameda County Public Health Department that trips should be reduced to only essentials and the need for fresh air and exercise. Bicycles are a key resource for this situation since they are low-cost and low-risk for transmission of COVID-19. Through these challenging times, we continue to provide bicycle education and access to low-cost and free bikes in our community.”

The Hawes Trail System, located in Phoenix, Arizona’s East Valley, is quickly becoming one of metro Phoenix’s more popular mountain biking destinations for both tourists and locals. Situated in the Mesa Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest, the zone is known for spectacular views and around 25 miles of designated trails that range from easy to very difficult; featuring bermed corners, steep climbs, and chunky rock drops.

There has been a lot of strife over cyclist safety across cities worldwide and Phil Gaimon pulled together a heartfelt video about this very subject matter.

It’s that time of year again! After last year’s Ante Up For Trails campaign, put on by the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, it returns, this time with an Ibis being the grand prize. Enter at MBOSC and read the full press-release below!

Portland is a great cycling city, yet if you love to ride singletrack, you’ve gotta drive an hour outside of town. The Dirt Lab at Gateway Green is looking to change that. If you can, donate to help them reach their $100,000 goal, or just spread the word to your colleagues and friends. If their fundraising is successful, they’ll break ground this fall!

Photo by Adrian Marcoux

Continuing his in-depth series looking into the history and discourse of cyclists’ access to Wilderness Areas, Vernon Felton digs in yet again. As with the introductory article, this is another good read about a topic hits home for many of us. Check it out at Pinkbike.

Amsterdam, Copenhagen and other European cities have it all figured out, especially when compared to most North American cities. This video investigates the condition of streets being thoroughfares, not occupiable spaces…

Thanks for sticking your neck out for us cyclists…

This Indiegogo campaign looks like a worthy share:

“Bicyclists of Baltimore started out as a social media project to celebrate the diversity of bicyclists in Baltimore City. After experiencing the uprising in Baltimore this past May we wanted to contribute something even greater to the unification of our community. By creating a documentary film we not only celebrate individuals, but bring them together in a visually compelling narrative that transcends social and economic barriers.

We follow the lives of bicyclists from all corners of Baltimore exploring how the increase in cycling in Baltimore helps to shape the city as a whole, and strengthen our different communities. We examine the ways in which Baltimore, a city with deep socio-economic and racial divides, can become united through the use of a human-powered vehicle.”

See more at the Bicyclists of Baltimore campaign!

Public works like this can be a lot of fun:

“The new Van Gogh-Roosegaarde bicycle path is made of thousands glowing stones inspired by ‘Starry Night’. It charges at daytime and gives light at night. The path combines innovation with cultural heritage in the city of Nuenen NL, the place where Van Gogh lived in 1883.

This is the second Smart Highway Project which are interactive and sustainable roads of tomorrow by designer Daan Roosegaarde and Heijmans Infrastructure. The goal is to make smart roads by using light, energy and road signs that interact with the traffic situation.”

See more at Studio Roosegaarde.

Hey Minneapolis, I love you. In fact, your river bottoms are a lot of fun. If you’re a local, head over to this Vimeo page for details as to how you can help preserve one of the best places to ride bikes in America’s #1 city for cycling…

Thanks for sharing Jeff!

No matter how often we complain about drivers or our roads, always remember, there are some with it much worse.

I know there are a lot of balleur bicycles posted here at the Radavist, and while they’re pretty to look at, they’re still just bikes. At the other side of the cycle spectrum, shops like Second Life Bikes are doing something much more important to the future of cycling – and cyclists – in America. Getting people to ride and work on bikes is of the utmost importance and I love watching videos like this. Well done guys!

… but we knew that already, right? This is a great video!

We live in a world where big brother is out to get you. The government wants to strap a helmet on your head, make you register your bike and throw you in prison anytime you disobey. Right? Wrong… The world, as a cyclist, isn’t that bad. Sure, there are hiccups once and while and maybe yes, the average US driver doesn’t like you, the cyclist, taking up their road but come on, we really have it pretty good overall.

Everyone got so pissy when Strava began “selling” your data that no one stopped to think about how important that data can be to improving your city’s cycling infrastructure. Yes, just think, maybe there’s a way to further separate you from those fat, lazy, stinky, smelly motorists that want all the road for themselves…

There is! But cities need essential data. Data that would cost the local government thousands of research funds. Or, they could just buy it from Strava. Seriously, they can have all my PRs, KOMs (oh wait) and routes, just improve my city too!

Wired Magazine wrote an exceptional piece on this very subject. I suggest you head over and read it.