All Bodies on Bikes

Iresha is the founder and ride leader for Black Girl Joy Bike Ride, a bicycle accessibility group for Black Women in Philadelphia. The ride just made Philly magazine’s “Best of Philly” for 2024.

We talk to Iresha about how rides build community, the challenges and joys of leading a group ride, building purposefully inclusive and protected spaces, and her successful application to join the All Bodies on Bikes team at Mid-South Gravel next spring!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Follow Iresha @ireshadahoodtherapist on Instagram

Email Iresha at iresha.picot at gmail.com 

Watch the joy-filled video from Philadelphia Inquirer

Full article on The Philadelphia Inquirer: This bike riding group for Black women goes at its own pace

Iresha’s co-authored book, The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narrative

Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia donation link: https://bicyclecoalition.org/get-involved/giving/ 

Marley’s Cycling Weekly op-ed on climbing: I’m a fat cyclist and here’s how I made peace with climbing

And as always

Follow @allbodiesonbikes on Instagram

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.allbodiesonbikes.com

All Bodies on Bikes is back from summer break and feeling refreshed. This season Marley Blonskey is joined by new co-host Ellen Schwartze for interviews with the cycling scene's ground breakers and world changers.

This episode introduces Ellen, and takes a moment to re-introduce new listeners to Marley. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a thing!

Show references:

• Former host Maggie Lowe was selected to perform their music at Charlotte Pride this summer. Congrats, Maggie!!
• Previous episode: Advocating for Active Transportation with Michael, Lauren, and Amber from BikeWalkKC
• The Manatee Cycling Club sweatshirt that Ellen wore when she officially met Marley
• WaPo article: They call themselves ‘fat cyclists’ — and they want to get more people, of all sizes, on bikes (Paywall, sorry!!)
• Article: Cycling while on your period
• Marley's interview on The Adventure 'Stache with Payson McElveen

Today, we’re diving into one of the most exciting events in the gravel cycling world and an event that has been pivotal to ABOB programming and growth: SBT GRVL. Held in the stunning landscape of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, SBT GRVL is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of community, inclusivity, and the joy of cycling. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or new to gravel, SBT GRVL offers something for everyone, with routes that challenge the pros and welcome newcomers alike. The event has quickly become a must-do in the gravel calendar, not just for the epic terrain but for the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes every rider feel like they belong. 

Joining us today are the Race Director Amy Charity and Greer Van Dyck, the Director of Community Relations, who will share insights into what makes SBT GRVL so special and how they’re working to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has a place at the start line.

Amy Charity is a Colorado native, born in Fort Collins. At the age of 34, she left the financial industry to pursue her passion and a career in professional bike racing. Amy raced all over the world and at the highest level of the sport. She was a member of the US National Team, holds a national title in the Team Time Trial and raced in the World Championships. She now directs and owns SBT GRVL while competing on gravel.

Greer Van Dyckis the Community Relations Director for SBT GRVL and was born in Georgia but was built for the mountains. At the age of 20, she hit the road from Athens, Georgia and made her way to Boulder, CO. At the beginning of 2020, she started her own business providing leadership development trainings and coaching for organizations. Community engagement and riding bikes are also two of her greatest passions, and loves how her work with SBT GRVL combines the two so naturally. She loves to trail run, mountain bike, and gravel ride in the warmer months, and backcountry ski through the Winter. She lives in Steamboat Springs, CO with her husband and two pups!

SBT GRVL

This week is another Road Trip Edition of the All Bodies on Bikes Podcast, this time as a Live Recording from Joyride in Tygh Valley, Oregon. Joining us this week are Lisa Congdon and Kelsey Long, for a conversation about inclusion, how it’s never too late to ride, being an accomplice, and our bike origin stories. 

Lisa Congdon is an internationally known artist and illustrator. She makes art for clients around the globe, including The Library of Congress, Target, Warby Parker, and REI, among many others, including numerous cycling brands and causes. 

Lisa's happy place is the sweet spot at the intersection between art, activism and bikes. In 2021, she was named “One of the 50 Most Inspiring People and Companies According to Industry Creatives” published by AdWeek. When she's not making art, you can find her racing her bike around Oregon, mostly on gravel. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon with her wife and her dog Milkshake. 

Kelsey Long is a proud member of the Navajo Nation and currently lives on the Choctaw reservation in Southeast Oklahoma. She can be found on the trails running but has recently been spending more time in the saddle. She started riding in 2017 and most recently completed her longest distance at Midsouth this past March. 

Links:

Lisa Congdon’s Website

Lisa’s Instagram

Kelsey’s Instagram

We Run Long

Tune in this week as Marley kicks off our special Road Trip Series of the All Bodies on Bikes podcast, with Queer+ Bikes! 

Queer+ Bikes is a Northern Colorado based queer-centered cycling and community group, started by Bethel "B" Steele & Lauren Mehl in the Fall of 2022. Making friends as an adult can be difficult, and Lauren and B wanted to find a way to create a space for truly welcoming group rides in a social environment. Queer+ Bikes invites queer folks and allies who are committed to upholding safe space and welcomes all bodies, experiences, and genders on bikes! 

Queer+ Bikes strives to reduce barriers to cycling through our free gear closet, community events, resource sharing, educational opportunity, and monthly multi-surface (bike path, pavement, and gravel) no-drop group rides. We value creating community just as much as we love riding bikes. 

Queer+ Bikes rides on Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ute, and Ochethi Sakowin territories.

Follow us on Instagram:

@allbodiesonbikes

@feisty_media

All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com

Concrete Trails is the evolution of Todd Nisbet as an adventure cyclist and bikepacker based in New York City.

He has worked in the fashion business since his early 20s, which has been 20 years now. Primarily, he has been involved in fashion sales, but he has been a creative throughout this time as well. His work has ranged from photography to wardrobe styling and creative direction for many brands, artists, and fashion projects.

Once he began as a commuter cyclist in NYC in his late 30s, he quickly discovered bikepacking, which is essentially a modern-day term for bike touring and bike camping.

As time passed and he engaged in bike camping more frequently, it became evident that fashion had found its way into his new healthy habit of cycling—in the best way possible, of course.

Concrete Revolt

Concrete Trails

Follow us on Instagram:

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All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

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Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com

What does it take to instill confidence and courage in young riders? This week, Marley and Maggie sit down with the Executive Director of El Grupo Youth Cycling, a Tuscon based nonprofit that is empowering youth through bicycles.

Denise brings 10+ years of nonprofit experience in sport based youth development, with 3 years as a collegiate rowing coach and 3 years as a middle school rowing coach. All of her work is grounded in socio-economic accessibility and racial equity, eliminating financial barriers to the transformative power of sport. 

Her 2022 work was featured in the Boston Globe, Sport Gazette (UK), World Rowing, and NLRoei (Netherlands Rowing). In the same year, her podcast was nominated by Diversity in Aquatics.

Denise holds a Master’s Degree in Youth Studies (focusing on youth development), and is a proud daughter of Philippine immigrants. She is proud to call herself a queer, woman of color, so that all youth, regardless of identity, can feel they can take up space and experience the transformative power of sports.

Having joined El Grupo in June 2023, she looks forward to growing El Grupo while grounding it in its mission - to empower youth through bicycles.

El Groupo Youth Cycling

Follow us on Instagram:

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All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

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Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com

A Peek Behind the ABOB Curtain

Kailey Kornhauser is currently serving as the All Bodies on Bikes Board President, steering the proverbial ABOB Ship. Marley sits down with Kailey this week to chat about the history of the organization and what the future holds

Events: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/events

Strategic Plan

Follow us on Instagram:

@allbodiesonbikes

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All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com

Follow us on Instagram:

@allbodiesonbikes

@feisty_media

All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com

Sebastien Sutherland (they/them) is a cyclist, consultant, community activist and drag king originally from Scotland based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

They’ve been cycling for over 10 years and advocate for better representation, diversity and access in cycling. They believe getting on a bike can change people’s lives for the better and that everyone should feel welcome to cycling and be a cyclist. 

An active member in their local community, they have been the founder of new initiatives that push change locally and further. They founded one of the first LGBTQIA+ cycling clubs in the Netherlands (Queer Wheels), run one of the largest Pride Ride’s in Europe. They’re also an inclusion consultant and actively support brands, local sports organizations and events to educate, guide and create frameworks which support more people in cycling. 

They strongly identify with ‘all Bodies on bikes’ and believe there’s still a lot to do in cycling for equity in the industry. They believe that now is the time for cycling to change and grow. 

Sebastien’s Instagram

Thane-Aylwin Consultancy 

Linkedin

Queer Wheels

We Are Queer Gym

Not Ordinary Women Cycling Club

The Equality Index

Project Fearless

Federico Vandone Dell'Acqua

RAAMWERK

Follow us on Instagram:

@allbodiesonbikes

@feisty_media

All Bodies on Bikes Website: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Tifosi: Use the code FM20 to get 20% off your order at tifosioptics.com

Fierce Hazel: Use code is allbodies for 30% off at fiercehazel.com