Dump Cat
Gotta love how often my timing of rolling into a city lines up with a group ride / bike event / alleycat race. I think the day or two after I got to Phoenix there was an alleycat which was such a wonderful spot to see all my bike friends again and get back into shooting races. Even mid-february it was already 90F+ so we were all hunting for shade and thirsty for aaanything cold. It was an absolute blast hanging out with y'all for a day and it put me in such a goddamn good mood I had to FaceTime my parents and tell em.
PHOENIX
Coming back to Phoenix after nearly four years of being away was one of the best returns to a city that I've ever had. Rolling up to the my old group rides, reconnecting with old crews that have grown and evolved, stripping all the weight off my cargo and SENDING IT, and snapping pics of all the shenanigans. As terrible as this city is...goddamn I missed y'all.
New Bag Day
Choosing a non-traditional bicycle to spend my life on means having to solve a lot of carryshit problems in non-traditional ways. I’d been using an old soft shell cooler as my main front bag for over three years until the welded seams finally failed, leading me to hit up @dyedinthewoolofficial to add a bit of their legendary work to my @omnium. I sent over some measurements, simple diagrams, and a few vague ideas and MY GOODNESS the wizards over there made a bag that truly fits the style of my rig. We used Ultra X for the outer and orange ultra gridstop for the inner, pockets and MOLLE on the sides, removable inner baffles, bungee cords for quick chip bag storage, and added snaps for my favorite @ride_finds BIKE sign up front! Working with DITW to make this custom bag was a great process and they pulled it off better than I ever could have expected. Thanks y’all for everything! I’m glad to have you on board for the next hundred thousand km.
24HOP
Oh my goodness @epicrides 24hopis still the best vibes! Just like last time I was here four years ago, I rolled into the camp town with no plan and immediately found my people. Lots of watching racing, trying to stay hydrated, running around, making new friends and shooting photos, getting heckled to ride cargo down the rock drop, getting a full 8 hours of great sleep, and mostly failing to stay hydrated. Even if you’re not a racer type it’s definitely worth riding out and camping just to experience an event like this that still feels grassroots when so many other races are blowing up into Disneyworld level productions.
RUX
via rux.life: What does it take to ride your bike over 70,000 miles? A lot of grit and even more snacks. We met @truemarmalade this year at @seaotterclassic as he was looking to replace one of his bags. When you spend your days riding from town to town, trusting the gear on your bike means more than anything. We are honored that he went with our 50L Waterproof Tote.
How many snacks can you fit in the 50L wp tote?
"Hah damn uh…right now I have 16 bags of chips, 43 granola/protein/snack bars, 22 fruit roll ups, seven packs of ramen, three tins of tuna, two pounds of chocolate date balls, a dozen or so sachets of instant coffee, five packs of beef jerky, a few pounds of random trail mix, and half a pound of whole coffee beans that I’ll crunch on when I run out of instant. Easily more than 20,000cal of food."
Where are you going from here?
"I’m currently on my way from Monterey to Indianapolis for a wedding/family reunion but in general am always looking for new roads to ride, new people to meet, and new stories to share. "
on film
via: oldsteel.atb @truemarmalade on film.
Shot on Vivitar PS:20 with @fujifilmx_us 400
Developed and Scanned by @imstill.developing
TUCSON
Coming back to Tucson after nearly five years away hit far more emotionally hard than I expected it to. Jumping into the arms of @mr.beniciajosmith again brought a few tears to my eye, both being the gent who built my @omnium as well as being the very first cargo I ever carried! @russetpeach and I had an amazing time group riding, eating all the Sonoran dogs, waking up at @prestacoffee, breakfast by bike with @campfirecycling, marveling at the architecture and foliage, and simply soaking up all the AZ sun that we could before she hopped Amtrak back to Canaananadia. If I didn’t have so much of the city already filled in (damnit Wandrer...) I definitely would’ve stuck around longer.
Mirror selfie
Cargo West part 2
Happy new year
Couple goals
Characters
TOMBSTONE
Slept in the desert
Slept in a bus
Slept under a bridge
Literally an oasis
This spot felt weird, like it was a meetup / camp spot for a bouldering thing nearby but they had a pro-ICE poster on the wall???
Running around on sand dunes
I’m sorry @madronecycles I’ll try and do better next time…
Met the legend @fixed_everywhere halfway across NM
There’s so much good riding between the Sky Islands in AZ
Pink tiddy building
My @silca_velo electrico still going stronggg
Goddamn I do love a full car piece!
At the end of this tunnel a driver stopped on the side of the road blocking the shoulder to get out and yell at @russetpeach and I saying “DID YOU SEE THE GHOST BIKE BACK THERE SOMEONE DIED YOU SHOUDL BE CAREFUL ON THIS ROAD!!!!1”
Fuck yes @prestacoffee
Rarely in a hurry
From @phxfold on Instagram
Spent a Sunday with @truemarmalade , riding through Phoenix on his last Sunday in the city before he continued his journey by bike. We rolled through familiar streets, talked about travel, movement, and the way a bicycle invites people to slow down.
He shared how simply seeing someone move through the city by bike can make others pause, look around, and reconsider their surroundings. There’s something about being bike people that deepens our empathy for community, place, and the rhythm of the street. Moving slower lets us notice more—the textures of a neighborhood, the small interactions, and the details that disappear at car speed. It gives us space to truly appreciate what’s already there.
We also got into skateboarding and how that way of seeing never really leaves you. Even after not skating actively for years, we still pass spots and instantly imagine the possibilities—lines, angles, movement, and what could happen there. That mindset of curiosity and possibility still shapes the way we move through the city.
Felt special to share this last Phoenix ride and conversation before the next chapter of his journey unfolds. Safe travels, my friend—wishing you smooth roads, meaningful encounters, and many beautiful miles ahead.
