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2022partners-NEW

rambleride

Purveyor of adventure. Partnered with @u.s.forestservice. Powered by @rideshimano & @ibiscycles #rambleride #rideshimano #ibiscycles

The Women’s Ramble 2022 is just over a month away June 22-25 and hopefully the Ambassador posts over the past couple of weeks have inspired you to join us! What makes this Ramble better than the rest is that its all about the LADIES!!! Sure hanging with the guys for a weekend ride can be fun, but imagine the joy of riding casually (or not so casually!) through the beautiful Colorado gravel roads with new friends then sitting around the fire at night sharing a beer and telling stories of the days ride with a group of inspiring women who all share a passion for getting out there to camp and ride.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for new riding buddies and I’ve been so inspired learning about the other Ambassadors that I can’t wait to meet them and the rest of the Ramblers this year. There’s nothing better than completely unplugging for 4 days and just thinking about eating, sleeping and riding your bike.

So grab a friend or join us solo, we’d love to hit the trails with you!

Registration link in the bio!

#rideyouradventure

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

@michelleh_CO here again to share with you my history of 3 very different Rambles! 2019 was my first Ramble and we had a HUGE group of over 80 rides which was so fun to always have someone new to ride with or chat to around camp. I met some many amazing people coming from such different cycling backgrounds proving that the Ramble is for anyone and everyone as long as you love riding your bike!

Ramble number 2 was in July 2020 and provided a much needed break from the lockdown of COVID. We were a smaller but mighty group starting in various cohorts to keep us all safe. Peter and his team did an amazing job sticking to key protocols but enabling us to mingle and still feel the joy of a Ramble.

And finally last year I joined the longer Ramble with 5 fantastic days of riding with a smaller group through some tough, cold, rainy conditions.
So what does this year’s Women’s Ramble have in store? You’ll have to join us to find out but I can guaranteed you there will be amazing foot, beautiful campsites, lots of laughter around the campfire and of course fantastic miles on your bike! I hope you will join us!

#rideyouradventure

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Hi Ramblers! @knuffer was just kidding about being the last Women's Ramble Ride Ambassador doing an IG takeover… I’m @michelleh_CO and now officially the last IG takeover. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed all of the inspiration stories and information about the Rambles! If you’re not yet convinced to join us hopefully I can give you the last little nudge.
About me… I’m a mom to 2 furry four legged labs and my partner and I spend as much time as we can travelling to amazing places to ride our bikes. My passion for cycling started as a long distance triathlete, much preferring to ride over swimming and running. After 10 years of racing Ironmans, I began dabbling in gravel in 2018 and now spend as much time as I can riding dirt on gravel, mountain and everything in between. Over the past few years I’ve raced Unbound 200, Rebecca’s Private Idaho Stage Race, SBT Gravel Black, Oregon Trail and Leadville 100 stage race. This year I’m diving headfirst into bikepacking with plans to ride the Great Divide in July and August. The Ramble will be my last chance to test all of my camping gear before hitting the trail.
I’ve ridden 3 Rambles and loved every minute of them, even the cold, wet days and nights last August. Stay tuned over the next few days as I share my thoughts on the Ramble!
#rideyouradventure

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Last post here from @knuffer. Here’s a shot in Utah from a four day bikepacking trip I did with a friend in 2020. Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. Come create some memories and friendships on the Women’s Ramble in June. I promise you won’t regret it.
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#rideyouradventure   #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Ramble 2021 provided such a needed reprieve from the dark cloud of covid lockdown. I was so grateful to get to spend four days just riding my bike.

Really, that’s all you have to do. Ride, eat, sleep, repeat. The unplugging and unwinding can be the most challenging part of taking a vacation. Spending time on roads with few cars, eating amazing, home cooked food, and sleeping under the stars can be just what we need as an antidote to the bustle and demands of daily life.

Just do it. You deserve it, and your body and mind will thank you! Women’s Ramble. June 22-25. Registration link in bio!
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#rideyouradventure   #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Flashback to 2019, the very first Women’s Ramble. @knuffer here sharing a few photos from what was four days of epic weather, including rain and SNOW! I was a volunteer at this Ramble and didn’t take that many pictures because I was working hard to help keep these brave women warm, half way dry, and fed. Peter cleaned out the little hardware store’s supply of propane heaters and tarps. Christine and I navigated the box truck and trailer through tight spaces and mud. For once, I have to say I was happy to be in the truck rather than on my bike braving the torrential rains. I did get to ride into FoCo with the group on the last day which was a nice treat. Experiencing the other side of the Ramble, as a volunteer, really helped me appreciate how much love, sweat, and grit goes into pulling off a Ramble Ride. Come join us next month! I can’t promise great weather, but I can promise you’ll have a great time!
#rideyouradventure

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Howdy! I’m @knuffer and I’m last up for the Women’s Ramble Ride Ambassador IG takeover! I hope we’ve convinced a few of you to join us on the Women’s Ramble next month because it will, I promise, be an amazing experience. About me: I am a mom of two young adult kids, three rescue pups, and four chickens. I met my husband when he sold me my first road bike at REI 25 years ago. Since getting that bike, I’ve raced road, track, MTB, cyclocross, and gravel winning 7 national championships on the track, podium spots at MTB XC and road nationals, DK200, Mid South, and The Crusher. My latest love on two wheels is bikepacking, and the last two years of Covid actually provided the perfect backdrop to really enjoy the solitude and self reliance that comes with bikepacking. When I’m not outside on my bike or gardening, or inside cooking or sewing, I am a psychotherapist (LCSW) in private practice. I’ve ridden three Rambles and volunteered at the first ever Women’s Ramble! Stay tuned for a few days of my thoughts on the Ramble rides and whatever else comes to mind…

#rideyouradventure

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

🙏 Thanks for hanging with me - @gingervangirl and @ConfluenceCoach - for the past week!

I hope you’ve all been convinced to join us on The Ramble this summer…🎉

The people you’ll meet, trails you’ll ride, food you’ll eat, and starts you’ll sleep under are second-to-none. 🤸‍♂️

You will have fun, be challenged, and have so much support by all of us (your friendly ambassadors!) and your co-riders.❤️

Pack your bags (easy peasy with the packing lists we’ve shared and that are on the Ramble website) and make your way to the start party!

Just remember: “Someday” is not a day of the week 😘

See you soon! @ConfluenceCoach

#somedayisnotadayoftheweek #rideyouradventure #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado #panaracer #ibiscycles

Back to the Basics.

Ride. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

There’s nothing like it!

How often have you found yourself answering emails late at night, scrolling SM mindlessly, or reading the news and feeling your blood pressure rising?

Well, The Ramble is the cure-all to that! This is where we UNPLUG.

Unplugging not only from emails, texts, social media, news, and the clutter of today’s world in our ears and brains, but also unplugging from our normal routines.

When I head out bikepacking or in the van, I am always amazed at how INSIGNIFICANT showers, clean clothes every day, spotless shoes, and makeup become 

Messy hair, dirty body, hairy arms and legs, muddy bikes – it feels so good to get back to the basics of life, and clean your soul and spirit!

Food, water, sleep, a working bike, and a working body. And maybe a lake to wash off in. This is really all we have to think about when we’re out in nature. It’s WONDERFULLY simple and true.

You’ll go back home freshly rejuvenated, renewed, energized, and with a new outlook on life. Heck, you may even make a big decision you’ve been wanting to make while out on the Ramble roads!

#rideyouradventure #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado #panaracer #ibiscycles #groad #gravel #girlsridebikes #rambleride #eatsleepriderepeat

Are you a SOLO traveler? 🙋‍♀️

Don’t let that stop you from joining our Ramble Rides!

I do a LOT of traveling solo: in my Sprinter van, overseas, even around my hometown of Boulder, Colorado.

Bikes bring people together and being a solo traveler with a bike is the BEST way to travel!

Here are some pics of my solo travels, and those where I happened upon some incredible people who took me in with open arms! Italy, Malibu, Telluride, and everywhere in between.

In every town I visit while pedaling, we all speak the same language of BIKE. 🚴
Jumping into a group ride in a new town, or happening upon other riders when I’m out riding solo, we all connect immediately through the language of BIKES.

I went to my Ramble knowing only 2 other people on the ride - I'm talking to you @knuffer and @noahschabacher ❤️. But EVERYONE was so friendly and PSYCHED to be Rambling! I loved experiencing the Ramble with my 2 friends, and also meeting a boatload of new friends! 👩‍👧‍👦

The evening chats and laughs around dinner were so fun, and many nights I would crawl into my tent still laughing about the shenanigans and jokes and stories shared. The Ramblers were from all over the US, and all walks of life - it was such a varied and diverse group and I loved hearing everyone’s stories.

There was still time for solo riding during the day if you want some quiet time, or choose to ride with friends, or choose to ride with strangers who will quickly become your NEW friends!
👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

No matter how I felt pedaling, there was always someone ahead & someone behind, sharing snacks & encouraging riders.

SO if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, solo or coming with friends, the Ramble will be a perfect experience for you!

#rideyouradventure #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

🍕 Let’s talk FOOD! 🍪

Most bike-packing trips require lots of research on where to get food, whether the gas station will be open, where to get water, if the river/lake/pond will be flowing, if your water filtration system will remain intact, did you bring enough fuel for the stove, do you need a bear bag, etc etc.

But the beauty of the Ramble Ride is that ALL this is taken off the table! Ramble Rides have the BEST food. A few different chefs have worked the Rambles, but when I did mine it was an outdoor camp chef who made a MASTERPIECE of every meal!

Ramble Rides are one of the only events that caters to meals for vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and other allergies. Woohoo!! Being vegan 🌱 and being a nutrition coach (@ConfluenceCoach), I LOVE this…

The food is fresh and made either at camp, or just prior to departure with an emphasis on whole foods, limited processed foods, and minimal packaging. I felt so nourished and fueled after every meal on my Ramble! 💃

✅ We get a delicious full breakfast and have items at camp to grab for the road.

✅ On the route, there are awesome snacks at aid stations.

✅ Lunch is real, fresh, nourishing food and a great way to get ready for the second half of the day. You won’t find a table full of packaged ride food, orange slices, and high-sugar items. I remember we made sandwiches out of pickles, potato chips, and M-n-M’s😂#sweetandsalty

The only thing not provided are eating utensils, so bring your spork and collapsible bowl!

And the final dinner is a grand party: more food and libations to help celebrate your achievement! 🌈

Ride to eat, eat to ride! You will definitely do this on the Ramble Ride.

#rideyouradventure #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

🚴‍♀️ Hey y’all! Day 2 of this IG Takeover, and let’s talk about BIKES: what kind do you have? Need? Want?

To be honest, you can do the Ramble Ride on almost ANY bike! ❤️ The beauty of bike packing and riding Ramble-esque rides is that a solid bike that’s not expensive is the best bike!

Here are a few things that would make your ride stellar:
• It doesn’t have to be a ‘gravel bike’ – it can be a mtb, road bike with wider tires, cyclocross bike, or even a Walmart bike! Just make sure that it fits you well (no backaches, no numb hands or feet, no neck pain)
• Tires that are over 35mm in width (mine are 40), and maybe have some knobs on them, but if you have slicks you can just ride a little slower!
• Some way to carry your stuff: frame bags are all the rage, but you can easily use panniers and racks, backpack or camelpack, and handlebar baskets!
• Pro-Tip: load your bike up and go ride it around your neighborhood a few times. Or better yet do a longer ride on gravel with it all loaded up. Or even do a little overnighter in your local park! #staycation 😊

Keep it simple, ‘cause bikes are beautifully simple machines. Don’t be intimidated by all the media hype of bike ‘stuff’ that you ‘need’.

If you have any questions, send ‘em our way!

#rideyouradventure #rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer #ibiscycles

Hey Ramble Ladies!

Thanks to @clint_yeastwood and @cyclist_lawyer for the awesome posts these past few weeks! I’m takin’ over this regularly-scheduled program for a few days 🎉

Good to IG-meet you all, and hoping to meet y’all in person on bikes and on dirt this June! 😎

I keep my posts short-&-sweet ‘cause I’m a scientist and like bullet points 🤓

Life Facts:
~started life as a dancer in New York
~switched to neuroscience when I was told I was too small for Broadway
~got a PhD in neuro and ran a research lab at Harvard Med
~moved to San Fran in 2000 to develop treatments for Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s
~moved to Boulder in 2007 since Outside Magazine kept calling it ‘the outdoor mecca’~
~consulted for 40 biotech startups in Boulder
~became CEO of wearable sensors company in 2010
~resigned from CEO gig in 2017 to launch a mtb tour guide company called @PEDALMTB – it’s so super fun to run this business!
~launched a nutrition, fitness and sleep coaching company in 2021 called @ConfluenceCoach – it’s so super fulfilling to run this business!
~working with @FasCatCoaching in my ‘spare time’ (biiiiig news coming from FasCat this summer…!)

Bike Facts:
~didn’t start riding bikes til age 27 (old!)
~raced mtbs, then cyclocross, a bit of road, some fat biking, and now gravel events
~my “15 minutes of fame” was winning a bronze medal at Worlds Mtb when I was 33 (old!)
~won a few podium spots at cyclocross nationals over the years
~am insanely in love with cycling even though I try new sports every year!
~LOVED my Ramble experience with Peter a few years ago – have done a few bikepacking trips since but want to do MORE! Who’s with me?!

Random Facts:
~climbed Mt Rainer and was super scared!
~white-water kayaked the salmon river with no prior kayak experience and was super scared!
~I feel we all must do something every year that makes us super scared! 💯
~I travel solo several months a year around the country in my sprinter van The Beast, connecting with people in every town through the magic of bikes!

That’s a lil about me - I’ll post something each day this week to inspire you to come on our ramble adventure in June! 💃

@cyclist_lawyer here, with my last IG takeover post and here’s what I’ll leave you with: just do it.
Just sign up for a @rambleride this year and do it. Stop debating and perseverating… sign up. If money is holding you back, sign up to volunteer for a ramble and earn yourself a ride spot for a future trip ! It’s such an awesome shot at seeing some of the best parts of Colorado.

I didn’t grow up in a camping family and I don’t have off-road bike adventuring in my 🧬… I got my first tent just weeks before my second Ramble in 2021. I am not a pro bike packer at ALL. Whether the novice or the seasoned veteran in the group, there are always things to be scared of or apprehensive about on a new big adventure like this.

Do it anyways.

They’ve got the dates set for you. Campsites are reserved. You just need to block four days off on your 📅 and take the time off work.
Do it now- before “someday” becomes never.
If Covid and lockdowns taught us nothing, it’s to seize opportunities for connection and travel. Try something new.
Want to be inspired? Here are two 📕 I love: “Vagabonding” (foreword by @timferriss ) and @jedidiahjenkins “to shake the sleeping self.”

Hope to see you this summer 👋🏻 thx for following along with me these last six days. 🙏🏼
Sincerely, @cyclist_lawyer ✌️

Okayyyyyy you still with me ?! @cyclist_lawyer here, still on the IG takeover and today is about packing. And snacking 😊 🥙
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What to bring? Well you can see what I packed 👆🏼 for the ‘21 Ramble in photos one & 2, above. And despite the concise and succinct-looking layout, I STILL brought too much; several items went unused !

One mistake I made: don’t bring flip flops. Bring crocs or some similar sandal you can slide on WITH socks on. Trust me on this one. Also my sleeping bag wasn’t warm enough even at a -30 temp rating. I’m upgrading to a new @bigagnes_ bag before the ‘22 ramble. 🥶 the @thermarest helped keep me off the cold ground which was huge. (But yes I was the girl sleeping in her puffy jacket, beanie, full outfit, socks, and still sooo cold).

For me, a clean chamois each day is key to my happiness. Maybe TMI but in all my years of riding, hand washing a chamois and wearing it the next day has only ever resulted in saddle sores. So I’ll happily wear the same stinky jersey each day but fresh shorts is 🔑. The puffy jacket and beanie are nice to have at night when the temps drop- srsly don’t underestimate how chilly it gets at altitude even in the summer. My 🏕 amazed me during the afternoon rainstorms. How can something so lightweight work so well ?! You’ll have to ask @bigagnes_ that question 😊

For on the 🚲 snacks and beverages, I use @craftedenergy bars, @skratch mix for my bottles & chews, @athleticgreens to start my day with some vitamins/minerals + savory snacks too, like mixed nuts or granola bars. The RR crew feeds us well on the ride so you don’t need to bring the kitchen sink- or fridge.

To 🎥 my adventures I use a @gopro and I also carry a @garmin in-reach with me which serves as a sat-phone option to connect with my people when there’s no 📱 signal. (One of the best parts of the ramble = lack of signal out there). The inreach isn’t for scrolling or emails- it’s just to check in and say, “i’m good.” 👍

As you can see in the pic above, the Ramble meals including 🥞 are the BOMB. Yes there are vegan and GF options too ! You’ll eat and drink well, i promise.

Have you signed up yet ?!?

@cyclist_lawyer here for day 4 of the IG takeover and this brings me to my second @rambleride - last summer, July 2021.
In the years between my Rambles, @peterdiscoe & his crew had really refined a lot and now offered 🚐 service to carry our bags so we could ride our bikes without being weighed down! The breakfast and dinner meals were fantastic 👩‍🍳 as were the midway stops out on the roads. 🍔 🌭 🥤
I got my first ever tent and practiced setting it up in my backyard first (see video above for demo of my new @bigagnes_ tent 🏕 ) and got really good at it during the course of the ride.

One night I even enjoyed “beachfront” life when I set my 🏕 up right on the edge of our campsite lake. Dreamy, I tell you!

The evening chats and laughs around the 🔥 were wonderful - I didn’t know anyone when I started the trip, and when I went home I had a bunch of new friends ! The riders were from all over the US, it was such a varied and diverse group and I loved hearing everyone’s stories. 🙏🏼 We enjoyed great weather, lovely sunsets, a full-on cattle drive and lake soaks for our tired legs.

Once again I learned a lot about myself - including just how doggone cold I get at night even with a thermal sleeping bag!
It was a delightful mental reset after a very grief-filled spring; our dear friend Gwen Inglis was hit and killed on her bike in May.
In fact some of those emotions finally had a chance to catch up to me on this trip and I found myself having a couple cathartic cries in my tent and while talking to others on the ride. It felt good to weep out there in the woods. That’s what nature does- it holds us. 💕 🌱 Grounding is a thing; sleeping on the ground is restorative in its own special way. Dirty hair, dirty bike, fresh outlook on life … that’s what being out there does for us. It doesn’t have to be weeks and weeks, just 3-4 days will wash your spirits clean and put you back into your world renewed. That was my experience anyways 💕 🙏🏼

Hey! It’s still me, @cyclist_lawyer , and it’s day 3 of my IG takeover ! So—- Let’s talk RAMBLE!! My first @rambleride was THE FIRST ramble! It was 2016 & I have no idea how i learned of the ride, as bike packing wasn’t in my wheelhouse back then. 🤔 But something made me say HELL YES and thankfully my adventure partner in crime @greenmtbgirl said YES, too. ( I didn’t even own a 🏕 then and she was willing to let me share hers, thankfully). 😊 We departed @newbelgium_foco with fully-loaded bikes and bags, and over several days made our way to Walden and eventually to @mootscycles HQ in Steamboat.

It was SUCH an adventure. Back then I was still having a hard time shutting off my “racer-brain” so I probably raced through the days a little too much and stopped to smell the sights and sounds not-nearly-enough. I got so so so lost. I ran out of water multiple times. But then I got myself found again. And hydrated. And fed. And after those hard days I slept like a 🪨 in our 🏕 ! We ate amazing healthy meals by @zanderault & @hidebythefentz (now known as @thecyclistsmenu !) and we drank 🍻 around the 🔥 and it was amazing- way beyond my limits - amazing.

I learned that I didn’t need many of the things that I’d packed and brought along. **Less really is more. I learned getting myself from point A to B as my ONLY job for the day, is really satisfying and enjoyable. There’s nowhere else to be, nothing else needs to be done. I learned patience. I rode some stuff that was more technical than I’d expected and it turned out just fine. I was stoked to have my hardtail instead of a gravel bike- as it was more forgiving with the front suspension. I met Rad humans. And saw parts of Colorado I’d never seen before. I think we all learned something new about ourselves out there. It was my first ramble, but not my last. I was hooked on bike packing.
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#rideyouradventure
#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado #panaracer #ibiscycles

Day 2 of my (@cyclist_lawyer ) IG takeover and let’s talk about me & bikes (some more) 😊 I was born in South Dakota, raised in Omaha, Nebraska (middle school through law school); it was there that I found my love of 🚴‍♀️ my third year of law school (@creighton_law ). I came to bikes the way most of us do— via running 😂. I ran track/XC in high school, ran a few marathons in college and then dabbled in triathlon. I quickly realized just the 🚲 part was fun 😉 and so my love affair with 🚲 was born- 20+years ago, now.

These days I split my time between Golden CO & 🚐/AZ, both amazing places to 🚲. Can’t imagine life any other way. 🙏🏼

I ❤️ the simplicity of the 🚲 and the fact that I can power myself to amazing destinations just with leg and 🫁 power … you can throw a pair of 🩴 and your credit card on a 🚲 and 🗺 are limitless. Plus we cover more ground on 🚲 then we do 🏃‍♀️ and the body doesn’t break down as much! I’ve met the most amazing people because of 🚲 . My happiest moments have involved 🚲 . My most satisfying and character-building experiences have been on the 🚲 . It’s been part of my life’s work and mission. It’s how I exercise, how I commute and transport myself most days. I believe so strongly in the power of the 🚲 to change lives and communities I will preach what I call “the 🚲 gospel” to anyone and everyone I meet. My favorite convos tend to be with 🚘 drivers sitting at red lights next to me or people at grocery stores who comment about me wearing my ⛑ as I shop (#safetyfirst).

The 🚲 has taught me a LOT. I tackled early fears about how to change a flat tire and do my own bike maintenance. How to clip into the pedals, to handle myself in a group ride **especially when I have often been the only female there. How to take strong pulls at the front. Echelon. Crash. How to win bike races and race on the velodrome without brakes. How to ride 206 miles of kansas gravel on a singlespeed…. How to outrun a dog chasing me, ride through a cattle herd, to navigate in traffic, to carry heavy loads of groceries or even- to tow my 150# of dogs (Phoenix and Ramsey) in a burley for 100 miles from golden to COS 💕.
I owe much to the 🚲. 🙏🏼

Hellooooooo ramblers !!!! How RAD were @clint_yeastwood ‘s posts ?! I am so inspired!! Can’t wait to ride with her on the June women’s ramble! 😊
So hey 👋🏻 Megan Hottman here, your 2nd ambassador taking over the Ramble account for a few days; I’m here to BRING THE STOKE !! 🚀

I started racing 🚲 my 3rd year of law school… it’s hard to be a baby lawyer and an aspiring pro bike racer wanna-be but I walked that line for years, becoming an elite cat 1 road/track racer, nabbing some CO state championships and one national championship on the track. All the while I was teaching spin classes and building my bike community with teams I led and coached. After a few gnarly crashes in 2011, I moved away from road racing and tried out CX racing for a few years which led to fat bike racing, gravel racing at the big events like @gravel_worlds @unboundgravel and more (often on a singlespeed because why not ?!) … and that of course led me to bike packing. And mtn biking.

I’ll share my Ramble experiences in a future post. But for now…. Here are ten photos that show my many faces /facets of bike-love. 👆🏼 In 2005 I won the NVGP best amateur jersey award as a solo rider, one of my proudest race moments. In 2019 I led a group of 24 cyclists in breaking the world record for longest cycling class (28 hours)!

Oh- and I forgot to mention, I became a lawyer focused on cycling cases and advocacy. That’s why i am known as @cyclist_lawyer 😉

I ride my ebike everywhere and try to drive my 🚗 as little as possible. These days the only real driving I do is in my 🚐 for van adventures. #ridemoredriveless is my life mantra and I believe with all my ❤️ and soul that 🚲 can save us if we’ll let them.

On that note- a ramble ride can save you, too, if you’re in need of an unplug, a Regrounding, a reconnection to nature and the sound of your lungs breathing hard up a gravel climb. More on those thoughts to come in future posts as well. 🤔 💡
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#rideyouradventure
#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking#adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling#rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado#panaracer
Pic 10 photo cred: @natalierstarr