On Sunday, May 19th, I attended the National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s California State Championship mountain bike races in Tehachapi, California. I’m no stranger to a bike race but this was my first time seeing the for high school kids-only mountain bike races, a phenomenon I’ve been aware of since the mid-2000s. The weekend was an illuminating moment, where I was reminded of the joy of racing mountain bikes, and where I witnessed hundreds of kids fiercely battling each other during competition and alternately giving themselves in support of their teammates as well as other competitors. Sunday was full of tears, hugs, smiles, frustration, and joy.
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Just Like Flying
Hope takes us for a ride with Gavin Stanton (11 years old) and Brooke Anderson (12 years old), from Portland, Oregon as they shred their local trails.
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Salsa Cycles: Hello, My Name is Waylon
Salsa brand manager Justin Julian takes his son Waylon out on a ride…
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Black Mountain Bikes Grow With Your Kids
Most parents are wary of buying a bike for their growing child, but what if the bike grows with them? See more at Black Mountain.
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Start ‘Em Young
If you’re a new parent or one that wants to get their kid involved in cycling, videos like this should supply much-needed inspiration to get your child on a bike and out on a ride.
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Skidsville
Welcome to Skidsville. Population, all of us. Nicely done!
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The Ride
Here’s to all the #DadBike families out there. Hopefully more households hold true to the values in this video.
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Konga Bicycles Balance Bike
When Antti from Konga Bicycles‘ daughter wanted to learn to ride a bike he couldn’t just go out and buy her a balance bike he had to make her one. Granted he didn’t have to make her something this beautiful, but as both a builder and a father his creative ability and aesthetic eye got the best of him. This thing looks amazing with the sparkle powedercoat, segmented fork, Chris King and those curvy stays… Check out more photos below.
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Tomii Cycles: Catching Up with Fugo
Remember Fugo and his custom Tomii Cycles bike? Well, Fugo has grown up, as kids do and it was time for him to ditch his 20″ wheels for brand new 24″ wheelset. Remember, the design of Fugo’s bike allows him to upgrade to even a 26″ wheel. Nao, I love this photo and I think everyone here greatly appreciates your documentation of this unique project.
See more at the Tomii Flickr!
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A Father and Son’s Sunset Speedvagen Shred Sled
Yesterday, Jonathan and I rode up to the blacktop in Griffith Park to catch the sunset. As we’re sitting there, talking about life and this transition I’m going through, up rolls Bryan and his son Alden in a Burley trailer, being drug up the crazy steep hill by an older Speedvagen team ‘cross bike. It literally happened in slow motion for me. Maybe it was the light, or the fact that a young human being is having the best introduction to cycling. Whatever it was, I was engaged.
Luckily, I had my camera on me from shooting a few photos of Jonathan for the #HotBoyzofCycling calendar, so I was able to capture this moment in the last seconds of sunlight. I love the logos, especially the EDGE logo which really dates this frame. The asymmetric Paul touring canti is a nice touch as well, but like with all Speedvagens, the paint was so good!
I’ve seen a lot of amazing stuff in Los Angeles, but this just made my day…
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Ornot’s Stem Cap Fundraiser Video for SF Composite and NICA
The North American Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), Paragon Machine Works and Ornot have pulled together a fundraiser to get more kids on bikes. In this video, Ornot features Kurt Wolfgang with SF Composite as he coaches MTB racing to high school students.
If you’d like to support NICA, pick up one of these Paragon Machine Works stem caps at NICA.
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Ride Canyons with 13 Year Old Joey Foresta
13 year old me would have been a huge fanboy of Joey Foresta. Hell, 33 year old me is still stoked on this. Thanks for sharing this video, Erik.
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Nahanni and Sparrow’s Signal Cycles and TykeToter Seat
The city of Portland and its bike-friendly streets need no introduction. People there have adapted their blocks to child-friendly play zones, their streets are lined with green bike lanes and there are even designated bicycle avenues.
Spending the day with your family, on bikes is a fairly common weekend activity. Especially for Benji from Poler and his wife Nahanni, who take their two daughters, Olive and Sparrow out for rides frequently.
While Olive is old enough for her own bike, Sparrow catches a ride with Nahanni on her Signal Cycles step through commuter via a contraption called the TykeToter.
I’ve never seen this product before, but it’s genius. The TykeToter goes on in seconds, can be used on any bike and gives the child an early introduction into balancing a bicycle.
These two women looked so happy scooting around the neighborhood that I had to shoot some photos!
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This 10 Year Old Rips!
I think it’s safe to say that every cyclist who one day wants to have kids hopes they come out as rad as Seth Sherlock. Check it out as he owns the trails of Squamish, B.C.
Well, sorta owns them. Don’t miss the end clip!
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FBM: The Tiniest Gypsy
I don’t have a kid but part of me wants to buy this frame anyway, just so when I do have a kid, they’ll have a piece of American steel to ride around on. If you have a son or a daughter that could fit on this 12″ BMX from FBM, I suggest you pick it up!
See more at FBM.
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I Hope Your Weekend
Is as good as this. Happy Friday.
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Fast Boy Cycles: Building a Bike for Gunnar
This photo was so good that I had to save it for Monday morning. Ezra from Fast Boy Cycles had the fortunate experience of watching his nephew for a week. To help time pass, he built him a bike frame, you know, because there aren’t many offerings for 8 years. Check out the full story at Fast Boy Cycles.