All Bodies on Bikes to Bring 15 Non-traditional Cyclists to SBT GRVL
All Bodies on Bikes announces a roster of 15 non-traditional riders to start at SBT GRVL, August 12-14
On Friday, August 12, join Mary Blonsky and Ian Boswell as they discuss inclusivity in cycling at the Ice Box Steamboat.
Check out the full All Bodies on Bikes roster here and their schedule of events here.
The All Bodies on Bikes movement began with a goal to create and foster a size-inclusive bicycle community; this summer, the founders are taking it a step further by bringing a roster of 15 non-traditional riders to the start line of SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on August 14.
The riders come from various backgrounds, including triathlon, bikepacking, and paracycling; some are entirely new to cycling. But, they have one thing in common: They all have felt marginalized by the cycling community—and they have all found a new sense of community within the All Bodies on Bikes movement co-founded by Marley Blonsky, a well-known advocate for size inclusion in the cycling industry.
One of the riders on the roster is former Bicycling editor Andrew Bernstein. A former elite racer who was struck by a driver in 2019—a crash that caused numerous life-threatening injuries and spinal cord damage that resulted in permanent paraplegia. Bernstein is finally back to riding with an e-gravel bike. “As a life-long cyclist and accomplished bike racer, there’s a lot that I used to take for granted—bikes and bike clothes would fit me, and I’d have a place at any bike event. After becoming disabled in 2019, I quickly realized that I couldn’t take anything for granted,” he says.
All Bodies on Bikes will have riders in all distances, from the 37-mile course, up to the 144-mile course. Fellow riders include avid cyclist and self-proclaimed “curvy athlete” Tsitsi Merritt, barista and bike commuter Brian Benavente, kinesiology assistant professor Sarah Deemer, triathlete-turned-cyclist Yasmin Boakye, the Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots, Ally Johnson, and plant-powered adventure rider Cathy Ji, among others.
The All Bodies on Bikes Roster:
Tsitsi Merritt
Kate Herrick Madden, Salida, CO
Brian Benavente, Portland, OR
Daniela Ochoa Diaz, Washington, DC
Sarah Deemer, TX
Yasmin Boakye, MD
Tim Buda, Chicago, IL
Maggie Lowe, NC
Andrew Bernstein, CO
Moniera Khan, Squamish, BC, land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation
Sarah Pape, Chico, CA
Ally Johnson, Salt Lake City, UT
Florencia Dumas
Bobby Arispe, Seattle, OR
Cathy Ji, NYC, NY
“Being a part of the All Bodies on Bikes movement has helped me connect with other cyclists who must work harder to create a space in the cycling community,” added Bernstein. “My All Bodies on Bikes teammates have been an incredible inspiration to me this year, as we’ve all been preparing for SBT GRVL, and it’s been motivating to me to share my accomplishments while also seeing everyone else overcome their own challenges. I’m so grateful to Marley for creating this group and giving us the chance to show each other and the broader community that anyone can find a place in cycling and accomplish goals on the bike.” You can learn more about each rider here.
The riders have been training for months for this event, and if you’re planning to be at SBT GRVL, cheer them on and stop by the All Bodies on Bikes tent at the expo. You can also join the riders for a happy hour on Friday, August 12, at Ice Box Steamboat or hear from Blonsky and a panel of fellow athletes, including Ian Boswell, to discuss inclusivity in cycling. There’s also a shake-out ride on Saturday morning, and the riders will take to the course on Sunday for the race. You can check out the whole schedule here.
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