Bike Fit
Are you unsure about how your bike should fit, or is it painful to ride? Let one of the experts at Greaserag walk you through what you should check. Part of their mission is creating content “for us by us,” and this walkthrough is just that: instructions on how to fit your bike by a FTW identifying individual for FTW identifying individuals.
Would you rather watch a video on how to fit your bike and resolve issues that may be causing you pain? Professional bike mechanic Arleigh Greenwald with Bike Shop Girl will show you how your bike should fit and provide some tips. Arleigh believes in supporting families in their biking adventures so they can leave the car at home.
Are you worried you weigh too much to ride a bike? Let Marley Blonsky walk you through picking out and fitting a bike. In her words, she is a Seattle based bike-adventurer. Self-identifying as a fat woman, she believes that bikes can be a tool for community building, empowerment, education and fun. She’s an advocate for people of all sizes, genders, races, ages, income levels and abilities to be included and welcomed in the bike community.
Which Bike?
If you haven’t considered at all what kind of bike you want, the League of American Bicyclists has a video with some starter questions.
Considering replacing your car with your bicycle? Let professional bike mechanic Arleigh Greenwald with Bike Shop Girl give you the rundown on cargo bikes. Arleigh believes in supporting families in their biking adventures so they can leave the car at home.
Apparel
Interested in buying some cycling specific clothing? Look at Machines For Freedom for bike wear that is inclusive of all bodies. In their own words, Machines for Freedom was born of necessity. Unable to find a pair of cycling bibs that both functioned well on long rides and didn’t make her feel atrocious, Jenn Kriske knew she needed something more. In 2013 she began designing The Endurance Bib, still the most-loved Machines piece in the line. What started in her living room in Malibu has become a brand grounded in the amazing community of women on bikes all over the world.
See additional body-positive cycling wear resources recommended by Chrissy Carroll, RD MPH, with Very Well Fit.
New Riders
Kristen Bonkoski, a cyclist who started writing content for women because she couldn’t find what she needed, gives a starter guide to bike commuting.
Anne-Marije Rook interviewed Marley Blonsky (self identified fat woman and avid cyclist) about biking regardless of your body type and her “With These Thighs” movement.
Repairs
Self-sufficiency in the shop and on the road: Christina, blogger of City Girl Rides, can take you through the basic bike maintenance she thinks you should know—we wholeheartedly agree! In her words, she is Xicana and a descendant of the Kuwaiisu Tribe of Tejon in Southern California. She says CGR is here to promote diversity in cycling/outdoor spaces where people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented. The blog aims to promote sustainable transit and recreation on bikes and promote equity and access to cycling and the outdoors for all, that includes being body positive and celebrating people of all skill levels and abilities.
Changing a flat on the roadside for the first time is never fun, especially if you have to look up a how-to while you’re there. Let Ayesha McGowan, a professional cyclist and advocate for better representation for POC in the bike industry, teach you in the comfort of your home.
Work smarter not harder! Charlotte Fagan at Greaserag (whose slogan is content “for us by us”) reminds us that you should use leverage to your advantage.
Not sure what to carry? Edurkee from Grease Rag gives a quick summary what they like to carry on a bike ride for potential fixes. Their simplified list is a great place to start if you don’t want to sort through pages and pages of advice.
Wellbeing
Sports Dietitian Lori Nedescu, MS RD CSSD from Pretty. Damned. Fast. has compiled a collection of articles she either wrote or approves of to help you figure out what you should eat in order to meet your riding goals. Their mission is to empower and celebrate the women/trans/femme/non-binary cycling community through storytelling, conversation, and sharing what they’ve learned.
Grease Rag has gathered up their articles on eating well and making sure to take care of yourself while riding in one convenient location. Grease Rag encourages and empowers FTW (Femme/Trans/Women, Non-binary, Two-spirit) cyclists in a collaborative and fun learning environment through rides, discussions, shop nights and educational seminars in a safer space.
Equipment
Arleigh Greenwald with Bike Shop Girl walks you through the four essential things she has been recommending to people for 15 years.
Jes Slavin from Pretty. Damned. Fast. wrote a basic introduction into winter commuting if you want tips for both gear and planning. Their mission is to empower and celebrate the women/trans/femme/non-binary cycling community through storytelling, conversation, and sharing what they’ve learned.
Have you wondered about what makeup is best for biking or how you’re going to fit all of your tampons into your bike bags along with everything else you need? Let Anna Maria Diaz-Balart from Pretty. Damned. Fast walk you through their beauty product hacks.
General Resources
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Please reach us through this form if you’d like to suggest an addition or change. These resources are under continuous development and we want to be able to better support you in your bicycling endeavors.
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