Wahoo‘s Why I Roam series features our buddy Dillon Osleger. Dillon “gets it” and this short video showcases some of the major shortcomings we feel that the bike industry overlooks. Education on the land, its geology, biology, and human history is so important but it’s up to the individual to embark on those journeys. Check out some words by Dillon and photos below!
#California
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Reportage
Fitz Cyclez Shop Visit: NorCal Terroir
During his sojourn to Northern California in April, John Watson wanted to document one framebuilder in particular whose work had caught his eye. John Fitzgerald has been building elegant custom steel bicycles under the name Fitz Cyclez for just under two decades, yet he tends to fly under the radar. He doesn’t attend the big bike shows, and he’s not really interested in marketing his brand. But as anyone who’s seen a Fitz in the wild can attest, his work speaks for itself – and his work is seen often throughout Sonoma County and the greater Bay Area, thanks to Fitz’s popularity within the randonneuring community.
To tell the tale of Fitz Cyclez from the eyes of a local, John Watson tapped Santa Rosa’s own Nicholas Haig-Arack to interview John Fitzgerald. Take a peek into the world of Fitz Cyclez.
Radar
Rapha MTB Common Ground with Isaac Wallen
Common Ground, Rapha’s series where riding crews and filmmakers merge, bringing to life the behind-the-scenes moments that make riding magical. The series’ third film features Isaac Wallen, captured by Russell Holliday, riding his home-town trails in Santa Cruz, California…
Radar
Grasshopper Adventure Series U19 Women’s Mentorship Program
The Low Gap Hopper, which kicks off the Grasshopper Adventure Series season, is a formidable 48-mile mixed surface route with over 6,000 feet of climbing. While many of the girls who participated in this year’s mentoring initiative are part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), races like Low Gap can seem intimidating due to the length, difficulty, and also the race culture. Riding with mentors gives girls on-the-ground support in real-time…
Radar
Race Metal Video Series with Miguel | Pro Bike Fit and the Belgian Waffle Ride
In the latest episode of Race Metal, Miguel Ovalles takes on the Belgian Waffle Ride. While the race didn’t go well on paper, Miguel felt it was a huge success, thanks to one crucial thing…
Many thanks to Cyclologic in Scottsdale for getting Miguel dialed in on his bike fit.
Radar
President Biden Announces San Gabriel National Monument
BIG NEWS! President Biden just announced the designation of two expanded national monuments in California: Molok Luyuk and San Gabriel National Monument. Find out more here.
Radar
Voler: Paint Brush Lightweight Jerseys for Men and Women
California cycling apparel manufactuer Voler just announced a new lightweight line of short and long sleeve jerseys for men and women featuring its new Paint Brush pattern. These jerseys are designed for warm summer riding in the hottest, most grueling conditions in World Cup races. Check out the full Paint Brush line at Voler.
Radar
Inside Line Equipment Shogun Shido Collaboration II
ILE just announced the second collaboration featuring Oakland-based artist Shogun Shido. This line of bags features hand-painted X50 XPAC, which started out as one continuous roll of fabric before being laser cut into panels for each product. The panels were placed at random while maintaining the orientation of the original painting, with drips and splatters cascading down the bags. Each piece is one of a kind, and includes a sewn-in artist label signed by Shido.
Check out the full collection at Inside Line Equipment.
Radar
Bikepacking Roots: Lost Sierra Route
Photo: Jason Fitzgibbon from his Lost Sierra trip years back here on The Radavist
Bikepacking Roots just announced a bike touring route through one of our favorite locales in California: the Lost Sierra. This area is incredibly remote with only a few small towns sprinkled throughout the valleys found between craggy peaks. You’ll encounter steep double track and ripping singletrack, with alpine lakes and plentiful wildflowers.
Check out the full route at Bikepacking Roots.
Reportage
Readers’ Rides: Laura and Tree’s Retrotec Tandem Mountain Bike Named “Joy”
Apologies for the delay in delivering this week’s Readers’ Rides, but as you can see, it’s a special one. Tandems are often called “relationship accelerators,” particularly when it comes to tandem mountain bikes! Laura and Tree had Curtis from Retrotec Cycles build them something special… so let’s get to it.
Radar
Calling in Sick Magazine Issue 11 Preorder
Calling in Sick Issue 11 is now available for pre-order with Underbiking as the theme. This issue is jam packed with reader submissions, photos, rider and bike features, product reviews, and an extended architecture section. Check it out at Calling in Sick Magazine.
Radar
VIDEO: Rivendell February Photo Ride
On Wednesday, February 28 the gang from Rivendell went on a ride to catch the good trail conditions before the next rain and take some fresh photos. They rode 10 minutes to get on the trail then about 10 miles in 4 hours. Talk about a leisurely pace!
Radar
The Radavist 2024 Calendar: March
“Palo Verde Oasis” is the third layout of the Radavist 2024 Calendar. It was shot with a Canon R5 and a Canon f2.8 24-70, in the Mojave Desert of CA. Photographed by John Watson.
“While Palo verde trees (Parkinsonia aculeata) don’t thrive in the northern reaches of the Mojave Desert, there are stragglers present thanks to migratory birds passing the seeds. On a recent trip out to Los Angeles, Cari and John came across this beautiful scene…”
For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper*, right-click and save link as – The Radavist 2024 – March. 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 from the same evening. Click here to download March’s Mobile Wallpaper.
Radar
VIDEO: The Rock Cobbler 2024
Check out this recap video from the 11th edition of The Rock Cobbler gravel event. Despite looming mud threats, riders experienced near-perfect conditions for one of the toughest editions yet. Check out what it’s like, along the Pebbler route, spanning 60 miles with over 5,000 feet of climbs through Bakersfield’s rolling hills…
Radar
VIDEO: Paul Component Engineering – Cruising Around Chico With John’s 1984 Mountain Goat
John sent his 1984 Mountain Goat Whiskeytown Racer over to the team at Paul Component Engineering to let it taste the dirt of its homeland. Travis, Patrick, and Paul took it on a history ride of Chico! Paul decided to take you to the place it was built, the bike shop that sold it, and the first place it was ridden, so come along for the ride!
Radar
The 2024 Downieville Classic Registration is Open!
You don’t have to race to enjoy the weekend at the Downieville Classic, but you will be missing out on one of the most stunning MTB races in the Lower 48. Registration is now open at Bike Reg, so get on it! Want to see what the Downieville Classic is all about? Check out our Reportage below!
Leave it All on the Trail and Go Baroque: the 2019 Downieville Classic
Gold Amidst the Dust: A Hardtail Gallery from the 2019 Downieville Classic
Radar
VIDEO: Rivendell Bicycle Works and Brooks England
“I think if nobody cared about being a cool cat racer-type, or everybody rode five to 25 miles a day to town and around ponds on rolling roads while pedaling in fairly natural and upright positions, taking care of business, shopping, or getting out there for extremely tolerable and maybe even thrilling exercise; and if money were no object, and nobody was vegan, and if Brooks could make enough of them, then the Brooks B68 would be the most popular bicycle saddle on spaceship earth.”
– Grant Petersen, Rivendell Bicycle Works Founder
Take a look inside and out of the Rivendell shop in Walnut Creek.
Radar
VIDEO: 2023 Rapha Yomp Rally
Rapha Films is excited to announce the launch of a new film documenting the inaugural Rapha Yomp Rally, which took place in Santa Barbara, California in May 2023.