AK Cycle Chic Community Blog

2025 Soggy Bottom 100

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:47:02 GMT

Soggy Results and Recap

The 2025 Soggy Bottom 100 was indeed soggy. The morning of the race while waiting for racers to arrive in Hope, Carlos retold the story of how the race came to be...it was a wet and rainy day just like it was today, and he decided he was going to have some FUN. He rode the course and concluded at the end that this would be an annual challenge he would promote and name it The Soggy Bottom. See the above photo and you don't have to imagine why that name came to be.

Check out the Soggy Bottom Facebook page for more photos!

Solo Racer Results on top and Team Results below.

100 Miles on the Denali Highway

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 23:48:09 GMT

Tangle Lakes to Cantwell - a celebration of life and health

I have been dreaming of riding the Denali Highway for a long time (maybe since 2016/17). It actually came about as I was dreaming riding the Oregon Timber Trail, and someone suggested to tackle something closer, less risky. Insert starting a business and these kind of dreams are put on hold.

Earlier this Spring of 2024 I was planning summer events for the shop and looking at dates and eyeing the July 4 weekend….Hmmmmm that’s a long weekend that I could plan a big adventure! And the plan was put in motion to close the shop for a few extra days to finally tackle my Denali Highway dream. At one point early in the planning I realized that my mom would be turning 100 years old this summer if she were alive. And my brain suddenly shifted to ‘I’m going to ride 100 miles to celebrate her’. I put this out to my three sisters to join me and my sister Marlene and her husband Larry immediately joined in on the adventure. The initial plan was to meet up at the Tangle Lakes Boat Launch/Campground on July 4, camp for the night and then start pedaling on the 5th. It was to be myself and Larry pedaling and the goal was 30+ miles each day to put in 100-ish miles.

July 4, 11:43am…after the second trip back to the house for important gear, we’re off! Passing the miles with a super awesome audiobook 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing', by Matthew Perry on the speakers and we're making good time…until Glacierview….miles and miles of cars and people on both sides of the road to watch vehicles launch into the air and crash hundreds of feet below. Gotta admit…sorta frustrating that this is slowing me down. We hit Glenallen to refuel and re-energize with caffeine and 'hell no!' I’m not using those restrooms!

July 4, 5:24pm… We turn onto the Denali Highway from Paxson and my excitement is building. My eyes keep going from the road to the vast vistas around us. Meanwhile the weather has changed from needing sunglasses to feeling like I need to turn a lamp on to make it brighter outside. But it’s not really raining. Just a sprinkle or mist…and it’s gonna get better right?!

July 4, 6:06pm… We pull into the Tangle Lakes campground fully expecting all the camp spots to be full…

And yet a camper has just left and a spot is open?! What?! If you have never stayed at this campground put it on your list…it’s beautiful and the facilities are sparkling! The rest of the night is filled with setting up camp and eating good food and laughing and talking about what the next few days holds for us.

July 5, 9:41am… My riding partner, Larry (my oldest brother in law, I was 10 months old when he married my sister, so he’s known me my entire life), and I set out for Day 1. The goal is 30+ miles which includes the Maclaren Summit! Oh…and it’s raining with a headwind. I started out with my rain gear on and took one loop around the campground and immediately took the rain gear off and sacrificed being dry for comfort, knowing I would be able to change into dry clothes at the Maclaren Lodge.

I can’t go on with the details of the trip without introducing the support team…my husband Joel and my sister Marlene. They were rockstars! Literal heroes of the trip. Here’s a prime example…

They hang back and tear down camp each morning, no small feet and usually in the rain, and then catch up to us in the climb up to the Summit. Their enthusiasm matched our own as we climbed yet another hill. And then suddenly I see the van approaching the opposite direction…’You did it!…you’re there!’ WHAT?! ‘You reached the Summit and you have a long downhill to the lodge!’ What seemed almost too simple and enjoyable was matched by extreme rain and wind…it was 43° and we were wet and cold. We stopped at the Summit, ate a snack and immediately set out to get hot water and coffee at the Maclaren Lodge. And what a sweet downhill ride that was! We opened the door to the lodge and there’s live music playing and someone asked if we were here for the BBQ, which would be ready in 30 minutes. Our support crew, Joel and Marlene, were like ‘heck yeah’. Larry and I were like ‘we have miles to go before we camp and eat big food’. Pretty sure they hung back and had some BBQ but they'll never tell. Larry and I set out.about 45 minutes later. It's 10 miles to Clearwater Creek to set up camp. And we have this!

July 5, 2:31pm….We pull into Clearwater Creek Wayside. It looks like a sweet place to rest my head after a long day in the saddle. The support crew has options for us… 1) camp here, but not sure it’s legal (and who the hell is enforcing this, I ask, cuz I’m pretty damn tired and done). 2) there’s a sweet spot down by the creek but some fishermen just came in and not moving. 3) about a mile up the road there’s a pullout and it’s tight but doable. 4) about 4 miles up the road there’s a really sweet spot with a view of a lake and it’s off the road, but there’s evidence of bear in the area, etc…

‘Hey Krys, do you have any strong thoughts about any of this…’ ‘Yeah, I have strong thoughts about four more miles’!

Ultimately we decide to go four more miles and of course I declined to put my bike in the truck. I’m riding them FFS! But when the argument was ‘is it on the left side of the road, or the right’ I interjected with ‘YOU GUYS HAVE ONE JOB’!

I realize now, and the support crew does as well, I was tired, wet, and hungry. And they were gracious to me.

Four miles later, we found them in the sweetest camp spot ever! Later after a yummy dinner of BBQ pulled pork and red beans and rice, and fresh coleslaw, Marlene and I went for a walk and found an established outhouse…which we utilized of course! We turned in early under somewhat clear skies hopeful that the next day would be sunshine and smooth riding!

Later that night….it started to pour rain and did not let up. Joel and I emerged out of the tent in the morning and made a run for the warm van for shelter to have coffee and breakfast. We huddled there for a few hours until it was inevitable that we had to start riding…regardless of the rain.

July 6, 11:45am…Larry and I start to ride in the rain…it’s not terrible. But to set the stage…the day before I had my rain gear on to start and completely disrobed the rain gear for comfort. Today, I was fully engaged with the rain gear. I was actually really impressed with how good I was feeling after being so tired the night before. And despite my lack of comfortable rain gear, I was completely enjoying the ride. The flow of the road between miles 60-80 were incomparable to any other!

SO. MUCH. FUN.

Mile 80…the Big Susitna River crossing. Despite how good I was feeling and how much fun the riding was, it’s pouring rain and I’m feeling the water drip down the back of my legs. My rain gear has failed miserably. We stop at a large pullout after the bridge on the Cantwell side. And I knew I had to call it for the day. I had dry clothes to change into but if I got those wet I had nothing dry to put on later. I was so disappointed. But I knew it was the right call…

End of riding Day 2,Big Su River….Needless to say, I was really disappointed to have to stop riding. I was miserably wet. I’m not sure about Larry, but I’m pretty sure he could have ridden further. When I called it for the day, changed into dry-ish clothes, the drive out of that valley was tough on me mentally. My mind went from ‘is this it…am I done?’ to ‘we just need to drive out if this rain and tomorrow will be better’ to ‘we’re lucky to live here and this road will always be here, I can come back’. I kept looking at the road and the vistas and was not ready to be done. Joel suggested we drive home….and I was like ‘No way…I want to camp tonight…I don’t care if it’s the Denali Highway or the Parks…we’re camping!’ At this point the rain had lifted and we could see the mountain range across the wide valley. Joel spotted a sweet camp spot and pulled in. L+M followed. The two men conversed and surveyed the land/campsite. The skies were not promising anything but they weren’t threatening either. Ultimately we decided to camp at this spot. There was a breeze and immediately the wet clothes were strewn across the landscape. Tents went up and food options were discussed. Spirits were lifted! We dined on beef tips and noodles with fresh broccoli, + wine and dark beer. And rhubarb crisp for dessert. The conversation was infused with laughter, plans for the morning, and insurance-related stories, but if you know Joel, they were not boring.

‘It was a good path to a good end’. And the dream/goal is still alive.

This evening was a gift and I will cherish it as such.

Riding Day 3…I don’t even know what day it is..

The prior evening was so great and I had high hopes to wear the tank top I had packed the next day. (Side bar…That tank top is still buried in my bag, probably damp from all my other wet clothes that I still haven’t unpacked yet. If I unzip my bag and unload it all that means it’s over. If I let it simmer in the damp bag I can still feel like I’m out on the trail. I’ll give it one more day. Don’t judge me.) We woke to really low clouds again. But little rain. I was hopeful and did not put on my rain gear to start. We had 40 miles to go. And I was feeling good!

Within 5 miles I put on my rain jacket. The light sprinkles turned into a solid rain. Knowing this was the last day and I would finish in Cantwell I was stopping often and trying to snap photos. The tangled rivers and streams were a visible manifestation of the enormous land that was out there and beyond the reach of our vision. It was beautiful and I wanted to capture every moment in my memory. The support crew broke down camp one last time and caught up to us in a fantastic downhill in that braided river/stream aesthetic. We were once again in a dark rainy place and the goal was to get to Mile 128 where we would be 10 miles out from the ultimate goal of 100 miles.

(Another side bar…I am just now realizing that Larry, my riding buddy, and Joel had the miles worked out for me to meet my goal. I had lost track along the road just pedaling. They kept me on track and I did not even realize it…until later. Just wait….)

I gotta admit…the next slightly <10 miles were really uncomfortable. I’ll get to that in the next post about reflections and gear. We made it to the next checkpoint and warmed up with hot liquids and food. I made necessary modifications to my ‘kit’ and we started out again. Larry had warned me when we stopped that there was yet another hill.

Prior to our rest stop we had a ‘stop the bike and laugh out loud moment’ when we joked that the builders of this road had sent the survey crew home and got drunk the night before and built what should have been an 8% grade to a f’ing 10%! Woof!

Turns out it was one of two final climbs before descending into Cantwell and I’m pretty delirious with excitement and exhaustion and just being pretty damn proud that I don’t care.

The journey is the destination….and in this case the destination was 100 miles and the Parks & Denali Highway convergence. And every moment of those pedaling miles was memorable. Because we’re off the grid there is sweet opportunity to get lost in my thoughts as I just kept pedaling.

The milepost signs became lifeposts - reminders of the year or numbers of years,

MP 30…I remember turning 30 - not that long ago.

MP 53…the age I am now. It’s remarkable for me to realize that my mom was still alive at age 53, but had a 7 year old child(me) at that age.

MP 59…the age she was when she died.

(It was between MP 59 & 60 that we stopped to camp after the first day riding…we had gone further than I anticipated and I was tired. But I kept thinking ‘my body can do this and I’m so grateful’)

MP 66…the year my family moved to AK

MP 69…missing of course

MP 70…the beginning of a super fun downhill and also the year I was born.

MP 80…I was 10 yo in 1980 and my dad had just been elected to the state legislature. It was also the bridge of the Big Su and the place I had to call it for not continuing to ride that day

MP 81-98…so much life happening in those years/miles…and in my mental/emotional status both in the years and mileposts as we drive past them way too easily

MP 100…I’m on my bike again and I think of a birthday celebration for my mom. What would that look like? I’d love to tell her happy birthday.

MP 101…I’m thinking of Violet, my mom’s dear friend, who just celebrated her 101st birthday . She is a precious gift.

The rest of the miles and mileposts were blurred…somewhat because of a bad chammy, and somewhat because I knew I was close to the end and just wanted to finish so I could get out of the bad chammy.

Insights and wisdom from my riding buddy...(Note: these might not be exact quotes, most likely due to my delirious recollection)

* Take whatever the wind gives you (this is where I’m going to tell you the only tailwind we had was the last 1.5 miles)

* Find your rhythm

* Stop. Get off the saddle before this uphill and rest two minutes. Then get back on and feel how strong your legs are.

* You can dream it, think it, plan for it, fantasize about it, but nothing compares to doing it

*You gotta ‘Luke 6 that’…when I said I have words for those trucks passing me at 50mph 1.5 feet away kicking up mud and rocks

*He started to tell me about November 30,1959 when he wrestled with his twin brother out of the womb…and then I dropped wayyyy back and never got the end of that story.

I am so grateful for my riding buddy. He graciously waited for me at the top of hills that I crawled up. I nicknamed him ‘Beacon’ because I could always see him up ahead of me…except when I would smoke him on some downhill sections…and if I couldn’t see him, I knew he was there because I saw his line.

Just as I was at MP80 with water dripping down the back of me legs, soaked to the core, calling it for the day, I gotta draw this long story to a close. We pulled up to the Parks Highway and realized we still needed 3 miles to reach the goal of 100 miles. So we crossed the Parks and continued to the end of the Denali Highway. It was only when we turned around and headed back to the Parks that we felt our first tailwind. And by felt, we only knew it was there because we no longer felt it on our face or blowing us sideways.

Thanks for joining me on this journey...And Happy Birthday Mom!

The Good, Bad, and the UGLY of the gear, and lessons I learned...

*I packed way too light and I didn't need to

*I underestimated how cold it could and would get

*My rain gear failed miserable. It was old and was not bike specific.

*I'm a mountain biker at heart, and my gear and bike accessories reflect it - Fenders would have been a GREAT idea!

*The chammies I used on Day 1 and 2 (two different ones) were excellent! And I carry them in the shop. In fact, I'm in the process of restocking them!

*Day 3 chammy was not so good. Not to fear, I don't carry it in the shop. I was field testing it, and it did not pass my test for a 40 mile gravel ride.

What I wore while riding...

*Alpine Fit Rendezvous Ridge top - I had two, and switched between them during the entire trip. I even slept in them.

*Smartwool sports bra.

*Wild Rye's Alyssa Chammy (Day 1), and Eleanor Chammy (Day 2), and well we won't mention the other one, because like I said I don't carry it. Let's just say I used a lot of HuHa cream and Deep Blue!

*Shredly pants and Alpine Fit Bushwhacker leggings

*Old and outdated and not technical rain gear - Fail!

*Full finger gloves (should have brought two!)

*Alpine Fit merino wool hat - my favorite!

What I wore at camp...

*Alpine Fit Backcountry Baselayer bottoms

*Versa Outfitters fleece pants and top (I actually slept in the top as well - it's so cozy around your neck and shoulders)

*Alpine Fit merino wool hat - I never took it off

What I wish I had...

*Another pair of riding gloves

*A warm pair of gloves to put on at camp

*A down puffy jacket - I actually looked at my Skhoop 600-fill poncho before I left the house and thought 'there's no way I'll need that'! I so wish I had it.

*A better Day 3 chammy

All in All, I loved every moment of this journey. I would go back again tomorrow, a whole lot smarter and with better rain gear!

What Mother's Day Means to Me

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Wed, 01 May 2024 21:52:01 GMT

Let's just honor each other everyday...

Mother’s Day for me is a day to remind me of everything I’ve missed out on with not having a mom for 40 years. I didn’t realize how painful it was until I became a mom 28+ years ago. Though it was pretty tough in the beginning, the pain has graciously diminished over time. In the beginning a typical mother’s day would be spent by me running away alone for the day or weekend. I cherished those weekends away alone - and processed many thoughts and feelings during those days, often walking on a beach in Homer at low tide, or writing or reading while holed up in a hotel room. It was brought to my attention more than once that I may be robbing my kids of honoring their mom on Mother’s Day. I wanted them to understand that 1. There’s no need to feel pressure to make this day special for me; and 2. Mom’s should be honored everyday, not just one day of the year.

More recently, and since I started the business and it’s become harder to run away, I have noticed I don’t have the “need” to escape as I did in my younger mom days. A new tradition has been born in the last few years, one that I look forward to very much - three of my friends and I get together somewhere along Turnagain Arm starting ~9am and have “brunch”. Brunch consists of a little bit of food and a whole lot of bubbles! Later in the afternoon I’ll go on a bike ride or hike, and then my kids join me for dinner - just as they do almost every Sunday evening.

What does Mother’s Day mean to you? And how do you like to spend it? I’d love to know! Share your thoughts with me…

April First Friday!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 21:45:47 GMT

Join us on Friday, April 5, 5-7pm

Artist Scott Clendaniel of Real Art is Better will be joining us in the Gallery, and The Jake Legs will provide live music while you sip and shop and enjoy the art and music with your friends.

December Events!

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:23:37 GMT

Sparkling Sip 'n' Shop

Join us Friday, December 1, 3-7pm as we kick off the Holiday shopping season with a sparkling sip'n'shop! We will have sparkling beverages and mulled wine, as well as our sparkling personalities! Jana Latham of Blue Sky Brushworks will be displaying her amazing digital artwork.

November Events

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:45:18 GMT

Save the Dates!

November Happenings....

Friday, November 3, 5-7pm - First Friday with artist Hailey Thompson of WatercolorWoods, and music by Pepper Kit.

Sundays in November - New open hours, 12-4! There will be Mystery Bag giveaways with a minimum purchase.

Wednesday, November 22 - Women Led Wednesday - This annual holiday encourages YOU and all your friends to shop from women-led brands. It occurs annually on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Many of the brands represented at AK Cycle Chic are women-led brands - Alpine Fit, Skhoop, Wild Rye, Youer, Krimson Klover, Swoop - just to name a few.

Thursday, November 23 - Happy Thanksgiving

Friday, November 24 - Black Friday - Watch for special deals posted later in the month.

Saturday, November 25 - Small Business Saturday - Shop small and support your local small business. Watch for special deals posted later in the month.

Winter Cycling Tips & Tricks

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:20:47 GMT

Demystify the process for better enjoyment of our winter trails

Janice Tower has compiled this list for winter fat tire riding. I have added a few of my thoughts in italics (Krystal)

EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE:

Fat tire bicycle with 4" or 5" wide tires - anything less is not great for maintaining great trail conditions
Pre-season tune up - get your bike in now!
Lube your chain for easier pedaling and flawless shifting
Bike bags
Frame - holds extra layers, tire pump, tools
Handlebar/Stem - holds water bottle (turn upside to prevent freezing!)
Gas tank/Seat - holds SNACKS!
Helmet

GEAR & CLOTHING - Layer for optimum cold management

Feet
Thin wool base layer sock
Heavy wool sock
Toe warmers - on top or bottom OR both!
Warm boots - oversize two sizes for warmest toes - allows for wiggle room
Hands
Gloves to match your furnace
Handwarmers
Pogies
Head
Thin merino wool or fleece headband or hat - Alpine Fit's merino wool hat fits perfectly under a helmet!
Helmet
The Bottom Half
Chamois
Wool baselayers (long john/underwear)
Depending on temps, fleece mid layer if colder temps
Wind/weather resistant over pant/shell
The Top Half
Wool baselayer
Wool or fleece mid-layer
Wind/weather resistant jacket - preferably with pit zips
Accessories
Buff or neck gaiter
Face mask for frigid days

RIDING TIPS

Tire pressure "If in doubt, let air out"
Stay relaxed, loose grip, loosen your hips, look ahead, let it flow! (Think 38 Special "Hold on loosely, but don't let go, if you cling to tightly, your're gonna lose control")

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

Uphill rider has the right of way
Stay off ski-only and dog mushing trails
Wait until snow firms up after snowfall - better yet, get out and pack them down with snowshoes or skis
Night riders - dim your lights

NUTRITION & HYDRATION

Hydration in winter is just as important in summer - hypothermia is worse with dehydration
Start with warm/hot water, tea, sport drink in your water bottle
Drink every half hour
Eat a balanced pre-ride meal - pizza for breakfast is not out of the question!
Pack snacks that won't freeze solid - Reeses peanut butter cups!
Consume about 200 calories per hour to keep from bonking (if planning a longer ride, like a glacier ride)

October First Friday!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:37:09 GMT

Friday, October 6, 5-7pm

With Alaskan Chick Artist Rhonda Scott, and Musician Melissa Mitchell

Join us for First Friday as we host Alaskan Chick Artist Rhonda Scott, and Melissa Mitchell of Hope Social Club!
Rhonda creates bright, fun paintings reflecting the Alaskan spirit of celebration in every season and circumstance.
Melissa’s music will draw you in with her powerful lyrics and melodies.
It’s going to be a great night!

Anchorage By Bike

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:24:58 GMT

Guest Blogger Pam Burd describes her family's choice to use bikes as their primary mode of transportation in Anchorage.

A note from Pam ~ I had signed up for the bike packing and photography class at AK Cycle Chic awhile back. This is where I met Krystal, the fabulous owner of the shop. Before my arrival I had sent an email asking if I would be able to bring my bike inside. She was very accommodating to my needs, namely the need to not have my bike stolen! She commented that it was awesome of me to ride in. With a sigh, I explained my situation to her. She was fascinated by it. This was the first time that I had felt a sense of achievement from my struggle. I am indebted to her for this opportunity to tell my story, from what grinds my gears to a pushing tailwind.

This is an epic tale about how my family and I came to embrace a car liberated lifestyle. The highs and lows, the fast and the very slow, the good and the exhausting struggle forward. They say change is constant, but they say a lot of things. I say that our choosing to change was one of the best and hardest things we ever did. I would love to blow smoke up your ass about how it's been sunshine and roses everyday, but it hasn’t. Watching people go past you in their climate controlled automobiles while you struggle your way home with groceries or the looks that you get from people driving by while you wait for a bus that isn’t on time is not a pleasant experience. Many times I was waiting for my knight in a shiny vehicle to pick me up, buy me a coffee, and take me home. The lessons learned through the struggle and the pain have been the most powerful teachers in the world. I learned way more about myself and I’ve benefited from my life slowing down to a walking pace.

When I am asked about how I commute, there is always a sharp inhale and exhale before my answer. I guess that’s just a way to stop myself from saying “it sucks!” My mind goes immediately to all the downsides of this choice. I don’t consider myself a pessimist, though. In actuality, it hasn’t been all bad. There have been many positives to this choice. Choice is going to be a major theme in this lifestyle, so much so that it's almost a daily mantra. It’s a choice to see the silver lining where it isn’t easily visible. It’s a choice to dance in the rain or get soaked. It’s a choice to order a pizza or eat whatever is in the fridge for dinner.

I cut my teeth on two wheels. My Dad taught me how to ride a bike on a ball field near our house. He got me some girly pink bike with a banana seat. (Yes, I’m that old.) He wanted a partner to ride some sweet Rail to Trail trails in Pennsylvania. We had some fun rides together. Ah! To be young again, to ride blindly into a pitch black tunnel without a care in sight. Even into my teen years, I rode my bike, but this time a sweet black and purple Diamondback Topanga. Fully rigid to boot! One winter I took her out in a blizzard to get to the corner convenience store for some pop. Those two-inch tires in several inches of snow and harsh winds didn’t stand a chance. I didn’t know it at the time, but I needed a much fatter tire, then I would have my ice cold pop. Tons of fond memories later, I gave it all up for a car that my Aunt sold to me for $1 - back when that dollar could buy you a gallon of gas. It wasn’t fancy but I could now go with friends and get to my destination way faster. When I say it wasn’t fancy it had one speaker in the dash and no power steering or power brakes. My arms ache just thinking about it. My bike was placed in the garage and I never saw her again. I’m looking for a Topanga frame so if you know anybody with one, hook me up, size medium would be perfect.

Let’s fast forward to March 2020, shall we? As Anchorage and the world was shutting down, so was our family’s Ford Expedition. This vehicle, aka Scrooge, had a grocery list of issues and several hefty bills to get it all fixed. As our money pit was slowly crawling home from the store, we knew this was it. Our bank account thanked us as we both made the decision that we were done. Felt like a million bucks when that monkey was off our back. That elation was short lived, however, replaced with “WTH now?” We had just returned from the store, so we had provisions for a while. We sat down to a family meeting, informed our two teens that we would be without a car for a bit, and included a moment of silence for dead Scrooge. (This, of course, went over like a lead balloon with them.) My husband worked from home, kids were doing school at home, and me, well that left me open to be the pack mule. I can be a real arse at times, so it made sense.

I had a 42-liter backpack that I used for hiking trips. “This will be the same” I thought to myself. That first trip felt like an adventure. I was never any good at Tetris, so trying to fit everything in the bag took some time. When I got home the kids helped put the groceries away and I told them all about my journey like I had just taken the ring to Mordor. I may not have crossed paths with orcs, but I did cross Jewel Lake Road and Dimond Boulevard safely. Believe me, it’s roughly the same. As a pedestrian, the danger is crossing streets. Even as a novice, I made it back in one piece! I was looking forward to making more trips. Not only was I doing my part, I also had some free time to myself. I could listen to explicit songs and curse loudly as the traffic rushed past.

Several months and countless trips later, the novelty of carrying crap back from the store wore off. It seemed like everything hurt on my body. It’s not easy, when on the wrong side of 40, to muster the get up and go energy this takes. I should note that I was exclusively walking everywhere. I find riding a bike with a full backpack to be awful. “But Pam I’ve seen you riding with a small backpack on?” Yep, I do. It’s light and was a gift from my best friend. Honestly, at this point I feel naked without something on my back. As the days grew longer and the sun grew warmer, it made the pain go away. Heck yeah, an Alaskan summer!! I had a new spring in my step and ice cream that I am pretty sure was melting way too fast in my backpack. (Pro tip, buy ice cream in the early morning or late at night. Actually better yet, walk or ride to an ice cream shop and eat it there. This way you get the added bonus of some exercise, so get some jimmies and whipped cream.) When summer turned to fall for two weeks, I was on cloud nine again. I have always loved fall, the leaves changing, the breeze turning cold, and Halloween. Pumpkin spice is everywhere. Now my husband would call me crazy, but the smell of the season changing is a perfume that I will never stop savoring. This is where my soul belongs.

As hoodies were put away for winter jackets, and shoes turned into boots with cleats, my problem of ice cream melting was gone. What took its place was even worse, slipping and falling on ice and snow. This new lifestyle that I was fully embracing comes with problems that can be solved in simple ways. Altering times of the day grocery runs take place, keeping things warm by putting them inside your jacket, or learning to live without. I’ll give you a perfect example, when you want to make lasagna and forgot to buy the noodles, but you did buy chicken, flatten out the chicken and use it in place of the noodles. Voila! This isn’t a new life-changing recipe but when you just can’t just drive back to the store to grab what you forgot, it kind of is. Walking is great for your health, but when you’re physically exhausted and beating yourself up mentally because how could you forget the noodles, the dam will break at some point. We are lucky that we live a 2-mile round trip from Carrs and Fred Meyers, and it’s a 4-mile round trip to Costco. Now let’s talk about our precious toilet paper! It is 2020 after all! Winter is of course the best time of year to use our ice fishing sled to drag it home. Besides, I don’t know how to fit that amount of TP into the backpack, and I’m not strapping it to my back like a turtle shell. I can imagine the looks from the motorist watching me cross the street, and saying “damn that lady really needs to go!” Actually if you ever had the pleasure of seeing me walk back from Costco, you wouldn’t see the T.P. I use a sheet to cover the top of the sled, its tie-dyed, a relic from college with a sun on it… you know the type.

I don’t consider myself high maintenance, but there are two things where I draw the line. One: I won’t go camping without a decent sleeping pad. I need my beauty sleep. Two: I will not defrost a turkey. It's a fresh turkey or no turkey! I have to backtrack on this, September 1st of 2020, I received the best gift that my teenage-self screamed for so many years ago, a Trek Farley 7 fat tire bike. Oh My Darlin’! She has all the bells and whistles, 4.5” winter tires (Gnarwhals that I studded myself), a 1 X 12 Sram NX Eagle drivetrain, and an air-cushioned Mastodon fork. Go ahead and look, she’s sexy as hell. Her name is Clementine. Clementine and I both classify as PHAT, pretty hot and tempting. Every ride is like the first time. Now, back to fresh turkeys. Natural Pantry has fresh (or at least not frozen) turkeys, so this involves one of my kids or husband to ride with me. One paper, rock, scissors later and my daughter is riding with me. Before heading home, I put the main attraction for dinner in the backpack. This 15 pound succulent bird is pulling at my shoulders and sucking my soul away on the trip back home. I’m sweating like a sinner in church because it’s a bit warm this Wednesday before Thanksgiving. My mind wanders to “great I’m cooking my bird on my back” so I take off the jacket and roll my pant legs up. The turkey makes it home in its cool condition and so do I. Thus began our annual turkey ‘trot’, but I eventually ditched the backpack for panniers. Best decision ever! I have considered making this ride in a turkey costume. I haven’t found one so I just wear the same worn out pants. Totally lame, but whatever. My husband has panniers now too, so maybe this year I can give him the bird.

My family and I love a good laugh, so it makes complete sense that we chose April fool’s day as our car liberation day. No one can remember the exact day the car died anyway. It seems fitting. We were fools thinking we would be car-less for just a few months. As it stands now, we’ll be celebrating four years in 2024. The ups and downs of being without a car are the same as having a car. Oil changes are now lubricating bike chains, new tires are new shoes, and car washes are the soaking we receive when motorists drive through puddles. (Just kidding!) In my case, gas money is coffee money. Knowing a good mechanic is the same with a bike as it is with a vehicle. My mechanic’s place takes good care of Clementine and me. I always have a rental bike waiting for me, they swap out saddles too. I was even handed an orange when I came back to pick up Clementine. (A touching gesture that made me tear up.) It's thoughtful gestures like this that keeps me coming back. It would be neat to see more businesses embracing cyclists. I recognize all the good work people in this cycling community are doing to make Anchorage move past training wheels. Thank you!

As someone who uses an alternative method of travel, I often don’t feel seen by cars. I have had several dozen near misses and two of those were particularly traumatizing. Broad daylight, too. If this happens to you, it's okay to break down on the corner or sidewalk in a safe spot, I did. This isn’t easy by any means physically or mentally. You have to make sure the driver sees you, or you may have to wait another light cycle to cross safely. This does take more time and on inclement days it sucks. Jay-walking can be a safe option in my humble opinion, but that changes in the winter. Grocery store runs take at least an hour. I get allergy shots at Providence Hospital, which requires two buses each way. This whole trip takes three hours from my door and back again. Nothing about this is fast, quick, or be back in a second. I can be forgetful, having to walk back for my wallet, often in the worst weather possible. I have fallen on my knees more times than I care to admit. I have cried and screamed at the state of sidewalks in the winter. You know when the plows push all that lovely fresh road snow on the sidewalk, making it a nightmare for anyone to get through. It’s atrocious. A usually walkable sidewalk instantly turns into a struggle fest with the RingWraiths. Your choices are limited to crappy options. Walking in the roadway is by far the most dangerous of them all. This past winter, we all can agree, was horrendous. It’s frustrating and dehumanizing to say the least possible about it. But, then again, it’s not hurricanes and tornadoes, am I right? My day’s journey can be considered a success if I make it in one piece. I don’t ask anyone to understand why I’m a pedestrian, but I do ask for patience, please. Everyone should take the time to read the Anchorage Municipal Code of Ordinances 9.14.040.A.1a . and 9.20.020 , which defines pedestrian rights-of-way at intersections and crosswalks. It is a quick read, by the way. Motorist and pedestrian familiarity with these codes leads to more responsible users and safer facilities. Anchorage can be a walkable and rideable city but it takes effort by everyone to make it that way.

I love Alaska and want to see all of it. I want to go dip netting on the Kasilof. I want to be lulled asleep by the melodic sound of the ocean on the Homer spit. I want to go to walk myself into a stupor around the state fair. (Why no buses to Palmer for this? The train used to run this way, but sadly it doesn’t anymore.) Experience a summer solstice above the Arctic circle. Fly fish Tangle lakes? Yes please! Bike the Haul Road. Wonder if it would be possible to ride through the tunnel to get to Whittier? That would be like being a kid again. Basically, I want to spend as much time as I can outside the Municipality of Anchorage. My heart has longed to do it all, but I just can’t get anywhere without a car. I have had people let me borrow their cars and I am forever grateful to them. We just can’t afford a car right now. Rental cars are spendy AF. If there are other options then I’m just not aware. When the wanderlust is irrefutable, I ride out to the bench just past Earthquake park and I sit. This puts me square with all points North. Maybe if I’m lucky Denali will be visible. When my heart longs for a more southern vista, the bench at Campbell Creek Estuary is the spot. Now I’ve thought about using Clementine as a makeshift raft, but it's probably not a good idea. I consider myself a strong rider but I’m not sure I’m brave enough for the Seward Highway, either. This sucks and I’m just stuck. I don’t blame anyone for my choice. I’ll live with the consequences. I sit beside myself and let Mother Nature work her magic. It’s the kind of enchantment that you have to sit quietly and let your mind go to understand. So expect the unexpected and relax. Something will snap me out of my funk. Nature reminds me that I may not be where I want to be, but where I am is pretty good too. My heart shifts to gratitude again. My mind is content with the thought of “I’ll get there soon enough.”

This lifestyle isn’t for everyone to stick with. It has many benefits, but it has a lot of challenges too. Money saved on gas is just money that is used somewhere else. This blog isn’t about changing anyone’s mind. This is how my family and I have played the cards that we were dealt. Results will vary. I don’t consider myself an environmental activist, I’m just trying to take care of my family the only way I can. There is no high horse in my driveway or parked in my garage. (There are some sweet bikes in there though.) So if you want to see what this is like give it a try. Make it something that has a reward at the end, like lunch or coffee with a friend. Try it both on ‘good’ and ‘bad’ weather/mood days, see which one you like better. You may be surprised or learn something about yourself that you didn’t know. You can determine what constitutes a good or bad day for yourself. There is no right or wrong way to do this. There is also no failing at this. Take a loved one with you or don’t and enjoy the alone time. So no need to go balls to the wall and sell your car. There isn’t the perfect bike for this either, work with what you currently have. Do not feel that you need to walk across town to prove anything to anybody. Whichever way you go, go with a light pack.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Pam has lived in Alaska with her husband and two kids for the past 14 years. When not out riding or walking, she enjoys fiber arts, fly fishing, and writing.

Share your thoughts: akcyclechic@gmail.com

Downhills without Droppers

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:58:22 GMT

Get Your Behind Behind

Lowering your seat for downhills gets your weight back and prevents endos and face plants. Dropper posts let you drop and raise you seat the instant you need it. You simply lower your seat as you approach the downhill then pop it back up when you’re ready for power.

Don’t have a dropper? Use your butt instead. Stand on your pedals and get your behind behind the seat. Use your thighs to squeeze the seat for control. When you need power again, slide back onto the seat.

This can be a little tricky if you get way back and have a lot of seat post to get back up and over or baggy shorts that catch the seat on your way back up. (This is one of the many reasons I love my Zoic shorts from AK Cycle Chic; they’re super comfy but not baggy enough to catch on my seat.)

Experiment on gentle hills to perfect your technique…or drop some dough for a nice dropper post.

Notes on "No Drop" Rides

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:06:42 GMT

Leading and Watching Your "Behind"

“No Drop” rides are social group rides on which no rider is to be left behind – or left at an intersection wondering which way the others went. If you’re riding with pals, chances are you already know each others’ riding style and can set the pace accordingly. On organized group rides, it’s the leader’s responsibility to set the right pace – and divide large gatherings into (self-selected) groups of similar speeds and abilities. The goal is for everyone to have fun!

Everyone: Watch Your Behind!

A great way to keep everyone together is for everyone to watch, listen for, keep tabs on, and ride at the pace of the rider behind you. The rider ahead of you will do the same and viola - you're all riding together.

Helpful Tips:

Keep listening for the bear bell behind you. (Looking behind while pedaling can be tricky!)
Keep talking. It helps everyone keep tabs on their peeps and helps build lung capacity, too!
At every intersection and every possible decision point, make visual contact with the rider behind you to confirm they know which way to go. (They’ll do the same for the rider behind them.)
If you lose contact with the rider behind at any time, slow your pace. This forces the rider(s) ahead of you to do the same.
If slowing doesn’t work in a few seconds, stop and wait. When they catch up, be sure to check in – they may need your help or simply to catch their breath.
If they don’t catch up in a minute or two, ride back slowly to see if there’s a problem, being mindful that you might be going the wrong way on a one-way trail and that your pal may have veered off the trail, fallen down an embankment and plunged into the brambles. Just sayin’.
If you’re the leader, group up periodically. Someone may have forgotten to wait for someone else and it’s a chance to check in with each other – anyone need water, bike adjustments, snacks, a slower pace or a longer break?

Ultimately it’s the leader’s responsibility to make sure the group stays together but it’s super helpful, especially in large groups or when out on a wilderness ride, when everyone takes responsibility for the rider in back of them.

Parallel Universe

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:41:55 GMT

What just happened?!

So you’re coasting along, relaxed and enjoying the woods, when BAM! You’re on the ground with nobody to blame but that unseen rock, root or @#$%*! obstacle on the trail. If only you’d been riding with your feet parallel, you would’ve glided over that puppy without incident.

It’s natural to want to relax with a leg straight, but this reduces your foot clearance by quite a bit, leaving you just a couple inches from disaster. Riding with your feet parallel is safer and also gives you the ability to quickly raise a pedal to avoid something big and/or to switch power feet when one side is jammed.

So the next time you’re gliding along on a trail enjoying the universe, make sure it’s a parallel universe.

How to Overcome Fear of (Seat) heights

KATIE@KT-CREATIVE.COM (Katie Hickey) — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:33:51 GMT

Trying to get kids to raise their seats to a more efficient height?

I finally figured out why mine refused to do so – fear of not being able to put both feet down while seated. Doh!

Many adults have seats way too low, too! This is a problem because it robs you of power and efficiency. You won’t be able to keep up with your pals. And if you’re like me, it’ll kill your knees! (And cause all sorts of muscle aches.)

The solution?

Learn to mount and dismount without sitting...

1. Instead of swinging a leg over and sitting on the seat to start, swing that leg past the seat (or step through) and stand in front of the seat over the cross bar.

2. From here, put the pedal in the power position, step up on it (starting your roll), then step on the other pedal and sit down on the seat. Now you can enjoy full extension and get a nice power stroke with your legs.

3. To stop or dismount, do the reverse. As you’re slowing, slide forward off the seat, putting all your weight on one or both of the pedals. When the bike stops, simply put a foot down. Easy!

Give it a go…and really go!

How high should the seat be?

With the ball of our foot on the pedal at the downstroke, your leg should be almost all the way extended. Usually, that’s about hip-high when you’re standing next to your bike (in your bike shoes). Once you get it close, experiment with different adjustments till you feel the power.

September Second Friday!!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:52:31 GMT

Kicking off the First Friday Season! Mark Your Calendar!

Friday, September 8, 5-7pm - We are kicking off the Fall First Friday season on September 8 (yes, we know it's the second Friday) with artist and badass biker Larisa Hennessy. Larisa has been living in Belgium where she continues to create and ride bikes - the most recent adventure has been bikepacking through Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. A well-known cyclist and all around beloved human here in Alaska, Larisa will be visiting for a few short weeks and we have the pleasure of showcasing her art while she's here.
Music by Hwy9 will entertain us as we explore Larisa's creative work. And of course, refreshments will be served! Join us!

Find more information here

Two Years!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:57:53 GMT

Celebrating Two Years of Chic'ness

I’m probably breaking all the business rules here, but if you know me you know I don’t like rules anyway. I’m going to be very vulnerable in this post that marks the two year anniversary of AK Cycle Chic opening its doors in Anchorage.

Many of you ask me “how’s business”. I feel the same way about that question as a senior in high school who is asked the question of “what are you going to do after you graduate?” The reason I struggle with that question is not because I don’t want to answer it, or be honest. The reason I struggle with that question is because it will take me so long to tell you exactly how business really is. So I serve up the general answer as “it’s good” - with a side of body language that may or may not reveal whether that’s true at that moment.

So here’s a State of the Chic address - Year Two. And the reason I’m sharing this with you is because I believe you have invested in this business with your support of all kinds - whether it be as a customer, a social media follower/fan/sharer, an artist that trusts me to be a steward of your work, a musician who entertains on First Fridays, a First Friday participant that’s just here for free (some would say s**tty) beer, a friend who stops by to say hello (and a sip of my wine collection) and offers encouraging words, a small business peer that recognizes the work/life balance, a maker and creator of awesome merchandise, pretty much all of you.

Here we go. Business is...are you ready for this…good. And by “good” I mean it’s a dichotomy of really hard days, sleepless nights, slow sales days versus really awesome days, sleepless nights, and high sales days. If I listed all the struggles, I could fill a page. I could also fill a page of wins. That doesn’t really give you specifics, and it is not my intention to give you a full financial report, but I will give you a few takeaways on how you can support AK Cycle Chic and all local businesses (also, this is not an exclusive list):

Shop and buy local first - this creates a ripple effect for the success of your community
Social Media - Follow your favorite local shops. This helps keep your finger on the pulse of what's going on at your favorite places.
Add yourself to email lists and read them, share them, and engage with them. I know I know I can hear you saying, ‘who has time for more email’. But if something catches your eye in the subject field and you’ve read more than a few lines, then share and engage. Most business emails give you an “out”, so if you really no longer want to receive them, give it a second thought, and then kindly let them know. (Then see 1 & 2)

A few highlights of this past year:

Alpine Fit setting up a Shop in Shop inside AK Cycle Chic. They are awesome people, make an awesome team, and create awesome products. You can shop them local at AK Cycle Chic, at their warehouse at 600 W 41st Ave, Ste B , or online . Have I mentioned they’re awesome?!
I broke my ankle in early December. How is this a highlight? It’s not, it’s just a memory of the past year, and reminds me that I can get through hard things with determination and the help of many friends.
AK Cycle Chic was able to support roughly 15 local non-profit organizations - whether by volunteering for events or as a monetary sponsor.
AK Cycle Chic hosted over 20 events, including First Fridays with fresh artist’s work and live musicians, Sip ‘n Shops, and clinics.
Everyday interaction with YOU!

A few things AK Cycle Chic is looking forward to in the year ahead:

Cleaning the windows. It’s true, my outside windows are in desperate need of a good cleaning. Told ya I was gonna be vulnerable.
The possibility of actually hiring an employee. Or hiring an actual employee. However you want to look at it. (submit your desire to work but not make a living wage and resume here)
The possibility of including menswear, more than the current drawer they already have. (feedback welcome here - write small)
Broadening my online shop, which means broadening the scope of my reach outside Southcentral and Alaska.
More events, and celebrations, and First Fridays, and MORE OF YOU - because I can’t do any of this without YOU!

I'll see you soon,

Krystal

If I Didn't Live Here Already, I'd Move Here

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 16 May 2023 20:09:42 GMT

AK Cycle Chic featured in blog post by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage

Read it here https://www.redfin.com/blog/places-in-anchorage/

April First Friday

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:37:24 GMT

Featuring Artist Scott Clendaniel & Music by HWY9

Join us for April First Friday as we host artist Scott Clendaniel and live music with Chris & Alex of HWY9!
Many of Scott's paintings are inspired by the astounding natural beauty in Alaska, but his niche is paintings of beer. And we all know beer pairs nicely with bikes! HWY9 is back to entertain us with their high energy originals and re-imagined covers
@realartisbetter
@hwy9_ak

December Events

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 20:58:44 GMT

Don't miss all the things going on in December!

What's coming up....

Friday, December 2, 5-7pm - Join us for First Friday this December with Artist Julie Greene Graham
and Vocal Musician Karrie Pavish Anderson w/Alex Culver on the keyboard.
Julie's art theme 'Cycling Through the Seasons' features a melodious combination of adventure, biking, and friends.
Karrie's Cold-Brewed Alaska Soul music is inspired by her natural surroundings, and a deep, rich, and real life.

Saturday, December 3, 1-3pm - Jessica Cherry will be joining us at AK Cycle Chic to sign Wheels on Ice - Stories of Cycling in Alaska. A great gift idea for the winter cyclist(s) on your list.

Wheels on Ice reveals Alaska's key role in bicycling both as a mode of travel and as an endurance sport, as well as its special allure for those seeking the proverbial struggle against nature. This collection opens with the first bicycle boom and the advent of the safety bicycle in the late 1800s, at approximately the same time gold was discovered in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. As bicycles evolved, Alaskans were among the first to innovate: the fatbike, for example, evolved from the mountain bike in the late 1980s into a wider-framed bike with fatter tires, making snow biking more accessible and giving birth to the Iditabike race. Finally, we hear honest and inspiring stories from the ultra-endurance bikepackers to the urban commuters of today.

Jessica Cherry is a geoscientist, writer, and commercial airplane pilot living in Anchorage, Alaska.

Thursday, December 8, 6-8pm - Paint Night with Julie Greene-Graham . Create 4 Northern Light tiles using alcohol inks and your creative spark. Add a bike stencil or not. Tiles will have cork backings so they can be used as coasters. All supplies will be provided.
Class is limited to 10 people.
$30.00 per person paid onsite on 12/8.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/LKkiJzZyXPCfk4QL6

Find Your Limits, Destroy Them

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 21:28:31 GMT

Guest Blogger Laura Kruger

I grew up in a small rural town of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Ishpeming, an Ojibwe term for “heaven” or “way up there in the sky”. The town and surrounding areas are rich in mining history. In fact, Ishpeming only exists because vast deposits of iron ore were discovered in the area in the 1800’s. Local prospectors, guided by an Ojibwe man named Marji Gesick, were led to a mountain of ore that is known to this day as Jasper Knob. Upon this discovery, the town grew and thrived on mining. To this day, iron ore mines still operate and ore from this region is shipped through the Great Lakes on large freighters to processing plants in other states. I am a product of a family of miners and also have experience working at an iron ore mine. During the summer of 2000 I drove a 170- ton dump truck (yep, it was bigger than my house) hauling endless loads of ore.

You are probably wondering why the heck you’re reading about iron ore mining on the AK Cycle Chic page….well, let me introduce you to the Marji Gesick 100/50/25 endurance race, coined the “hardest single day mountain bike race in America”. A race honoring the history of the region, challenging all who attempt it to find their limits and destroy them.

The Marji wasn’t really on my radar until a couple years ago when I saw a facebook post from a high school friend who had just completed the race. I did some google searching on the Marji and came to the conclusion that this friend is certifiably crazy! Who does a race that had a DNF rate of 70% in 2017? Turns out a lot people….and here’s the thing with the Marji: once you start reading about the race and delving into people’s written experiences, you can’t stop thinking about it. Next thing you know, you talk yourself into registering for it.

I am by no means a “serious” mountain biker, let alone an endurance athlete. I started out fat tire biking in 2012 and did a few races like the Little Su and Frosty Bottom, I often would bike out to Knik and Spencer glaciers and did other adventurous winter riding. Come summer, I would ride my fat bike on the local trails and just enjoyed being on my bike. I eventually got involved with the Chugach Mountain Bike Riders (a local non-profit building trails in Mirror Lake, AK) and started riding more in the summer. For me, biking has always been about getting outside and soaking in the natural world around me and it turns out I was “ok” at it, too.

I don’t recall what quite shifted in my sanity, but one September afternoon I happened to catch registration for the 2022 Marji was opening on 9/15/21. Holy shit, that’s tomorrow! Should I do it? Can I do it? By now you’ve perhaps interrupted reading this post to google the Marji. If you have, then you’ve quickly found out that the first obstacle of this race is registering and getting a spot. 666 spots sell-out in less than 5 minutes. Registration day I sat at my work desk listening to my shoulder “angel” telling me I can DO the Marji argue with my shoulder “demon” telling me there’s no way in hell I can do the Marji. I brushed off the demon and told myself, “Self, you are capable of doing hard shit, let’s do this”. Pretty sure I hit my web browser refresh button about 10,000 times 5 minutes before registration opened and it worked. I did it. I got it into the 50 mile race! Oh f*%! what did I just do???

I won’t bore you with the details of the next year of Marji “training”. Let’s face reality, I wasn’t an endurance athlete, just a mom of two five year olds trying to find the time to just ride my bike on top of a full-time job and well, life. Days turned into months and the next thing I know it’s July, two months before the Marji. I procrastinated buying a plane ticket “home”, often listening to that damn demon on my shoulder. I even contemplated many times selling my spot. But one day while surfing the Marji facebook world, my shoulder angel appeared in the form of Todd Poquette, one of the Marji race founders/directors. His post went something like this: “so what if nothing went to plan - just show up and get ‘er done or give ‘er your best shot. That is what Marji is all about. FINISH WHAT YOU START”. Good riddance shoulder demon! I’m doing this race, I’m going to finish what I started.

Flash forward to 9/16/22, the day before the race and bib pick-up. Shit was getting real. The #Quitter phone number on the race bib seemed to be staring back at me, laughing in my face. I just kept telling myself I can do this, it’ll just be a fun day of riding my bike. Haha. I’ll break the 50 mile race down to three, 20 mile segments. That’s right. If you did the math just now, you determined this race was indeed not 50 miles, but more like 60 miles. We found this tid-bit of information out a few days before the race when they released the GPS file. That’s what the Marji is about, pushing your limits, finding them, and hopefully destroying them. So what’s another 10 miles after you’ve already done 50? Race morning was beautifully calm, kind of rare for the shores of Lake Superior. My dad got me to the start line just in time to hear “Master of Puppets” by Metallica echo through downtown. I line up towards the back of the 50 milers and pray to the powers that be that I just finish.

3, 2, 1 and we are off down the street! For me, the first 20 miles were pretty good. I made it up the first big climb, Mt. Marquette road, and had fun on the flowy Noquamenon single track. I did some bike pushing, but was able to ride most of it. I biked past old landmarks of my youth, remnants of iron mining, and I was actually enjoying the ride. I rolled into the first check-point at Jackson Park feeling pretty good, despite the almost 80 degree temperature and suffocating humidity. I fueled up, refilled my water and set out on the next 20 miles. The next 20 miles were brutally, soul crushingly hard. It was A LOT of technical riding, roots and rocks everywhere, short, steep ascents/descents…there was even a set of old concrete stairs one with the skills could ride down. Pretty sure I cried a few times and I had talked myself into quitting once I reached the Jackson Park check-point again. 40 miles, that’s honorable. I can live with that. I still had probably 10 miles to go before reaching the check-point and I randomly ran into a high school friend I hadn’t seen in year who was out supporting someone who was running the 50 mile course. I stopped and said hi, sat in one of her chairs and told her my plan of quitting. She gave some pretzels and having done the race last year she said to me: “Laura, you are not going to want to come back and do this race again. You have to finish and keep going. Oh by the way, the next few miles suck, but it gets better after that, I promise.” Haha. Ok, I kept going, choking back my emotions. It was around this point I also started jumping trail positions with another lady, Valerie. She was in town from Minnesota for the race and was attempting the 50 mile after an unfinished attempt at the 100 mile the year before. We talked and encouraged each other along, often seeing each other in different spots. As I pushed forward, swearing at the course became therapeutic for me. It was hard. I was pushing more than I was riding. I was ready to be done and I was still in Ishpeming knowing I had some miles to cover to get back to Jackson Park in Negaunee. I had just come off a hard section of single track and was relieved to be on a section of paved path through town. A few people passed me going really fast, and I quickly realized it was the front pack of the 100 mile racers! Amazing! It gave me a burst of energy and I kept going through Ishpeming. By this time it was mid-afternoon and it was hot and humid. My water was low and I was bonking.

The incredible thing about the Marji , the thing that keeps most racers going, is the community of support along the course. It was at one of my lowest points that I came across a group of ladies on the side of the trail with coolers, food, and a massage table! They offered me some water and pulled out a cold cloth from a cooler for me to put around my neck. Oh it was glorious and it gave me another burst of energy to keep going. I thanked them profusely and made my way to Jackson Park, check point 2. I did it. 40 miles. My dad along with my dear friend and her family were all there to greet me. It was so wonderful to see familiar people that I just about lost it. I still wanted to quit, but they wouldn’t let me. Valerie also rolled into Jackson Park at about the same time and came over offering to ride with me and finish the last 20 miles together. Ok, I’ll keep going. I fueled up on a grilled cheese, refilled water, grabbed my lights, and changed into dry clothes. I felt like a new person!

20ish more miles to go , I keep over-hearing people say they are the hardest of the race. They weren’t kidding. Valerie and I set-off and right out of the park we are already off our bikes climbing a big steep hill. I was really regretting my life choices at this moment. The next 10 miles are kind of a blur. I was so thankful Valerie stuck with me. I would not have been able to keep going with out her encouragement and new-found friendship. Somewhere along the way, we picked up another couple ladies, Katie and Emilee. We all decided to finish this damn race together in the dark. There was A LOT of bike pushing, a few crashes, and even some puking. Again, the one thing that kept us going was the incredible community support, even late into the night. My friend Josh and his son met us at a road crossing, saving us all with a sour patch kid hand-out. We eventually rolled into the infamous Lake Minnie, where there was a crew cooking grilled cheese, handing out pop (soda to all you non-midwesterners), and a raging bonfire. Ok, we can do this, we just have to keep going. By now we are almost done, down to the last 10 miles.

I swear if I have to climb one more hill, I’m going to chuck my bike off the side and just walk to the finish….well, pretty sure we climbed like 50 more hills, still pushing our bikes, talking about life, laughing, swearing, just trying to keep going. We could see bike lights ahead of us at times, oh great, looks like they are climbing up yet another hill. I reach the top of a steep climb and wait for the others. I’m pleasantly surprised to hear a Barred owl calling, and then a screech owl (yes, I’m a total nature nerd)! I took this as a good omen, they were telling us to keep going. Occasionally, we’d also see eyes glowing back at us. Deer, it’s just deer. Keep going. We are down to the last couple miles, riding down a street in Ishpeming, knowing we have one more climb: Jasper Knob. We got this, we’re going to f*^%$@! finish! Pushing our bikes up the last little bit, we reach the top of Jasper Knob and grab our last token.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the tokens. There are tokens along the race route that you need to grab and bring to the finish line. They don’t tell you how many and if you don’t have all the tokens at the finish line, you either DQ or go back and get your damn missing tokens. So the whole race, you’re asking everyone how many tokens they have, hoping you have the same number.

We roll into downtown Ispheming and can see the finish line. It’s dark, it’s 3am, but there’s still an amazing crowd of people cheering us on, including my dad and good friend, Josh. We cross the line together. We did it, we are #FINISHERS of the Marji Gesick 50 miler. Holy shit. Todd himself was at the finish line to congratulate us and make sure we had all our tokens. We did and it was the best feeling in the world. I had finished what I started. According to my watch it took us 18 hours 13 minutes 47 seconds, total distance of 65 miles, with a total ascent of 8,215 feet (who knew you could experience that much elevation change in the U.P. of MI).

You get 25 hours to get to the finish line and we did it. It wasn’t the fastest time in the world, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was we kept going, we all finished what we started and met some amazing people along the way. I will never forget the friendship gained on the trail with Valerie, Katie and Emilee. We are forever bonded by the “misery loves company” of the Marji Gesick. I will also never forget the community of support surrounding this race. You could feel the energy and encouragement of everyone you passed, whether they were fellow racers or support crew. The community surrounding the Marji is truly something unique and special. The Marji changed me. I finished what I started, found my limits, and destroyed them. I can indeed do hard shit and you know what? You can too. Is the Marji Gesick in your future? It should be, because you too can be a #Finisher.

Side bar: The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a premier location for mid-west mountain biking. If you don’t do the Marji, at least plan a visit to do some riding. You also can’t beat the beautiful sandy beaches along Lake Superior, local breweries, and kindness of Yoopers. Alaska is my home for now, but the U.P. is always calling me back.

Some links of interest:

https://marjigesick.com/

https://www.facebook.com/marjigesick/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/662647564185936/

https://theradavist.com/mino-giizhigad-maazhi-giizhigadthe-marji-gesick/

https://www.rambatrails.com/

https://noquetrails.org/

https://www.travelmarquette.com/

About the Author: Laura Kruger has called Alaska home since 2009. She is a mother of 2 five-year-olds, and is Operations Manager at the Eagle River Nature Center. And is one bad-ass Marji Gesick #Finisher.

November First Friday

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 22:00:56 GMT

Friday, November 4, 5-7pm

Join us for First Friday on November 4, featuring artist Erica Olson Malouf @art.by.erica.rae and music by Mud Spring.

As an artist Erica is enlivened by the bright colors and contrast found in the outdoors and in the stories that nature tells.

Mud Spring is traditional fiddle and banjo tunes, with FTP cadence tempos sure to make you feel good and get you over the next climb!

Winter Cycling for Beginners

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:49:20 GMT

Wednesday, October 19, 6-8pm @ AK Cycle Chic

Take the mystery out of riding a bike through the snow by spending an evening with Janice Tower! Janice will flatten the learning curve by showing you how to prepare for your winter biking adventures. Covered topics include equipment, how to dress, and how to fuel and hydrate for comfortable and fun winter riding.

Janice Tower was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She grew up ski racing on the slopes of Alyeska, and was an avid kayaker and windsurfer before turning her attention to cycling. She has raced in all disciplines of cycling including mountain and road, but her passion is long distance fatbiking. Janice has participated in the Iditarod Trail Invitational to McGrath 6 times, as well as 10 Susitna 100 races. Janice is a Level 1 certified cycling coach and has worked with athletes to help them achieve their goals for 18 years.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/89ft4JgX1n8cHSvj7

October First Friday

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:28:39 GMT

Friday, October 7, 5-7pm

Join us for First Friday, Oct 7, 5-7pm.

Featuring….

Artist Jenny Glenn. Jenny Glenn Art is inspired by her time spent outdoors hiking, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking all over AK, the Lower 48, and Nepal.

Singer/Songwriter Melissa Mitchell of Hope Social Club will be sharing her art through her music!

You’re not going to want to miss it!

https://www.facebook.com/events/805187020801616

BIPOC Cyclist Gathering

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 19:04:55 GMT

Sunday, October 2, 4-7pm

Join us in a gathering centered around BIPOC cyclists! Click here to let us know you will join us: https://fb.me/e/25nveTm8f

Develop deeper connections, enjoy delicious food in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and learn more about future affinity rides and info sessions!

Food will be provided but feel free to BYOB (beverage and/or bowl).

This is an affinity space, designed to prioritize and elevate BIPOC voices. No one will be turned away, however the purpose of our gathering will be honored with respect for all attendees.

Folks who cycle, folks who used to cycle, and folks who are interested in cycling in the future, you're invited!

For questions or concerns reach out to Oliviah Franke: oliviah.franke@gmail.com

September Events!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 21:48:35 GMT

Check out what is happening in September!

Fall is one of my favorite time of year. Even as the leaves are falling and summer is ending, Fall marks the beginning and rebirth of events that have been on hold for the busyness of summer activities. I'm listing out the events going on with the shop so you have time to sign up and participate!

Friday, September 2, 3 - 9pm - Queens of the Hill - Shred Maiden and Hilltop are joining forces to put on a ladies-only biking event to celebrate the ever-so-epic females of Alaska! This event is meant to encourage ALL Alaskan women and girls to come increase your confidence on your bike, or maybe try something you've never done before. Not to mention, it's a great place to come and meet other epic queens or princesses of the hill!

We will have...

BOGO FREE lift tickets (in-person) for women & girls when they bring a
friend (or meet one in the parking lot )
Tour de Hilltop (Guided laps on beginner trails by Hilltop Bike School coaches. Starting times: 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm - $20 per person)
A Live DJ from 6-9PM
Awesome Outdoor/MTB themed Vendors (ShredMaiden, AK Cycle Chic , Powderhound Bike Shop, and more)
Finn’s Kitchen open for food and bev's
And of course, Mountain Biking!

Bike Lift Ticket Cost: $28 Adult, $25 Student/Military, $20 Child

Thursday, September 8, 6 - 8pm - As the Bicycle Turns - Cycling and Your Pelvic Floor @ AK Cycle Chic -

Join Melissa Sundberg, PT - Pelvic Physical Therapist for a unique, FUN, and educational event to learn about the how to improve pelvic health and overall wellness in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where we can easily laugh and learn; and all the questions you've always wanted to ask; from the bathroom to the bedroom.

Women tend to think of the pelvic floor with regard to sex and continence, but you may not realize your pelvic floor muscles play a major role in core stabilization and injury prevention.

A strong and functional pelvic floor, along with an understanding of how our deep core works together will literally make you feel stronger from the inside out! Sign up here

Thursday, September 15, 6 - 8pm - Bike Chain Repair Workshop in collaboration with She Jumps Far North -

Susan Skvorc will show you how a bicycle chain is put together and how it works. Better yet, she will show you how to choose a chain, replace a chain, repair a chain, clean a chain, and keep it working smoothly. Nothing ends a ride quicker than a broken chain! It’s a greasy job, so bring latex or nitrile gloves if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, because this will be a hands on session! Sign up here

One Year Later

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 23:59:42 GMT

Gratitude, Pride, and Joy

Today dawned quietly, a rather gloomy day compared to the bright warm sun we've had for weeks. As I went about my day the date eventually dawned on me that it has been one year since the doors of AK Cycle Chic opened up to the public. I immediately got teary - so much has happened this past year, and the year prior to launching this business, and there's still so much to do. They were tears of joy, sadness, and pride, all mixed together. Mostly I'm pretty damn proud of what has been accomplished and so excited for the future. And mostly that has everything to do with this amazing supportive community in which we live. YOU have welcomed this local business into your shopping routines, You have promoted it by word of mouth and social media sites. THANK YOU! I really can't thank you enough. And please keep doing what you're doing to keep this place thriving!

A few of the things I'm especially proud of...

The shop has been able to give monetarily to local non-profits and support and sponsor local events for all ages, including: GRIT (Girls Riding Into Tomorrow), Challenge AK, Gold Nugget Triathlon, Arctic Bike Club (MTB for Women, and racing divisions for Posies and MTB), Ski 4 Women, Ben's Bike Playground (Chugach Mountain Bike Riders), and Bike Anchorage.
Art Gallery and First Fridays - Coming out of a pandemic, hosting First Fridays was important to bring the community back together to support local artists and musicians, as well as to be able to do it safely. And It gave artists an opportunity to showcase their art they had been working on in solitude for months. Also! you guys like hanging out around here!
Broadened depth of recognition - AK Cycle Chic is more than just a cycling boutique for women. The original business plan was thrown out and the shop is becoming known for an inclusive place to shop for women in Anchorage.
I'm smarter and wiser than I was a year ago. I still reserve the right to make mistakes, and learn from them. But as I'm learning retail as a second language, I now know margins are more than what borders a Word Document. (I actually knew that beforehand, but you get the picture)
More and more people are learning that 'chic', is pronounced "sheek"
The disco ball - I love the disco ball! As one young lady said "you can have a party whenever you want to" :)

Probably the one thing that brings the most pride and joy to me is when I see you on the trails or at the park or at a concert or in an airplane - anywhere - sporting the logo or something chic you purchased at the shop.

Cheers to You and Year Two!

Krystal

May First Friday & Celebrating Women Event

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Mon, 02 May 2022 22:04:15 GMT

Friday, May 6, 5-7pm & Saturday, May 7, 12-4pm

Join us on Friday, May 6 for First Friday, featuring Art by Hailey Morgan, and live music by solo cellist Dr. John Lutterman.

Inspired by wild Alaska, Hailey's imaginative art displays nurture, nature, curiosity, and joy.
Dr. John Lutterman is professor of music at UAA and has given solo performances in Vienna, Salzburg, Belfast, Munich, among other places of notoriety, including AK Cycle Chic!

Then on Saturday, May 7, 12-4pm , we will be celebrating ALL women with Swoop intimate apparel and Annie's Arts & Follies! What makes a woman feel beautiful - fun, sexy underwear and jewelry, among other things and we have those too!
Oh, and a sparkly beverage!

Midtown Discover & Shop!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 19:53:27 GMT

Friday, April 22, 4-7pm - over 20 stores participating!

We are so excited to participate in the first Midtown Discover & Shop, with over 20 shops in Midtown Anchorage! Visit us to view new spring and summer items - ALL merchandise will be 10% off, if not already marked down (not including consignment/art). We will have wine tasting with clean crafted Scout & Cellar wine.

For a list of all Shops and an online map, click here

Our Fascination, Your Opportunity

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:25:17 GMT

An Inspiring group of women biking the Iditarod Trail Invitational

You are invited.... to Inspiration Point! What drives someone to want to ride their bike, or push their bike, through miles of ice, snow, wind, overflow, blizzards? Find out in this series of in-person and online events about women who have taken adventure to a level that is anything but safety and security.

Thursday, February 17 - Kim Riggs shared her experiences on the trail, as well as her training and preparation to ride the ITI 350 three times, and her latest adventure 1000-mile adventure to Nome in 2019. My takeaways were many. Here are a few on immediate recall: Butter in coffee is a thing! Eat every hour - set your timer.

Thursday, February 24, 4-6pm AKST - Fat Thursday: A round table discussion about training and racing the ITI -

Join us for a discussion and Q & A about endurance winter riding with a fat group of Alaskan (and one honorary Alaskan) women. Panelists have all raced the ITI, among other feats, and include Heather Best, Amy Breen, Kara Lackey, Kathi Merchant, Tracey Petervary, Missy Schwartz, Bobette Rowe, and Janice Tower. Three of the women have raced both the 350 and 1000 mile events, and two of the women are current record holders. Three of the fat women will race the 350 mile event in 2022 and you can follow their pink dots live via Trackleaders and cheer them on beginning February 27. Find out who did what on February’s Fat Thursday at Alaska Cycle Chic. Join the Zoom link here

Saturday, February 26, 1-3pm - 'Into the North Wind' - Book signing and meet & greet with author, and adventure enthusiast Jill Homer. Get a copy of the book, and have it signed by Jill.

Sunday, February 27, 2pm - At the Knik Bar - Join us as we cheer on all of this year's racers as they start their journeys!

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 22:29:34 GMT

A message from Nancy

True confessions: I’m a tiny bit mirror-phobic. I’ve become practically an expert at avoiding my

reflection. Mirrors don’t lie, and that’s the problem. A white lie would be nice, FFS!

But one fateful morning, I caught a glimpse of myself. My stomach to be specific.

OHMYGODISTHATME??? After I recovered from the shock, I wondered, what happened to

me?! Ok, I’m 61 years old, but I’m in decent shape! I bike a lot and work on my core, do

crunches and all that, but biology is working against me. I’m doomed. The jiggle is real!!

I’ve never had a flat stomach. I grew up at the beach, and I never wore bikinis when I was

younger - too self conscious. If only I could turn back time! I’d prance around in a bikini without

hesitation if I knew what was coming later in life! ( And don’t get me started about my neck!)

Everything I eat sticks to my stomach. I’ve got a puffy belly, it’s true. I can’t try on clothes right

after I’ve eaten - I go up a size - but this is normal, apparently - yay! The stomach expands to

hold food, and it’s distributed to the rest of the body in time. My body doesn’t seem to get it,

because my belly doesn’t shrink some days!

Mainstream society has taught us in order to be beautiful and healthy, we need to have flat

stomachs. We’ve all seen unlikely models used to sell bikes or bike clothing, and it’s pretty

ridiculous. They have perfect bodies, perfect hair (no helmet) and a perfect smile. Makes me

roll my eyes.

Miraculous (AKA sketchy) ways to shed belly fat are everywhere! I mute the TV or turn the

page. I’d rather spend my money on something real - like a new bike! But when you’re

constantly exposed to something, no matter how unrealistic, it starts to feel real.

NEWS FLASH!! Women aren’t actually supposed to have flat stomachs. Well, ok then!

Hallelujah and yippee ki-yay! Wait - really???

Yes. And here’s why: Women need padding to protect their reproductive organs. Starting at

adolescence, women store fat cells in the stomach area to prepare for childbearing later on.

And don’t forget the stomach, liver and intestines that are all stuffed in there in that general

area. Vital organs need space and extra padding for protection.

Genetics play a part in all of this, as well. All women are NOT biologically built for a flat

stomach. And when you get right down to it, is a perfect body really what we want? Well, yes,

of course it is, but it’s unrealistic! And variety is the spice of life.

Women with all types of bodies ride bikes, and it’s a beautiful thing!

And yes - I know - we’re supposed to be happy with what we have, celebrating the aging

process and not worrying so much about appearances. It’s what’s inside that matters, right??

Right. Now excuse me while I smash my mirror.

*For more, read this:

https://www.makeitgrateful.com/wellness/health/flat-stomach-myths/

January Happenings

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:47:42 GMT

Join us for First Friday and Clinics this month!

Here's the scoop for January:

Friday, January 7, 5 - 7pm - First Friday @ AKCC with photographer Cameron Sanders displaying "Badass Women Bikepacking: candid trailside moments from Alaska, Oregon, & Baja". PLUS live music by HWY9.

**********************************************************************************************************************

We ask that you please RSVP here for the clinics you plan to attend. All clinics will run 6:15-8:15pm, and we are suggesting a $10 donation for each one to show our appreciation for the professionals who have offered to instruct us.

Thursday, January 13, 6:15 - 8:15pm - Introduction to Cycling Photography w/Cameron Sanders. A decade's worth of tips and tricks snapping photos from the saddle synthesized into one evening. Whether you're exclusively a cell phone photographer or looking to carry your fancy new mirrorless DSLR into the backcountry, this clinic has juicy tidbits for all experience levels of both cyclist and photographer. From gear, to composition, to camera settings, "what is .raw anyways?" and editing, we'll briefly hit on a number of topics to up your photo game. We may dive more deeply into certain topic areas depending on group interests and dynamics. Be sure to bring the camera you intend to use while cycling. We plan on getting hands-on. Learn more about Cameron here .

Thursday, January 20, 6:15 - 8:15pm - Healthy Trail Treats w/Winona Benson. Winona will be showing you how to create some healthy snacks for fueling up before a big ride, replenishing nutrients after a workout, and eating for continued energy and health. PLUS! There will be samples for tasting!

Winona is the owner and founder of Nourished Health Coaching Services. Learn more about Winona and Nourished here .

Thursday, January 27, 6:15 - 8:15pm - Finding Flow States w/Kellie Okonek. What if there was a way to improve your riding, have more fun, and consistently basque in a post-ride euphoria? Otherwise known as being “in the zone,” flow is when we feel our best and perform our best. Arguably, it’s the experience we’re after when we get on our bikes. And, we can use flow triggers to help be in flow each time we ride. What we learn on the bike translates super well to life, so we can do better and have more fun there too! Kellie is the founder of Iron Lady: Coaching & Adventures. Learn more about Kellie here .

Taking Up Space

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 22:55:18 GMT

Meet Lei... Determined to 'unapologetically take up space on the trail'

A few years ago I came across a blog post written by a woman for Renaissance Cyclis t , whose words spoke directly to my soul. She was writing about her weekend experience with a group of women who were spending the weekend mountain biking through the rugged and remote Alaska trails. This is an excerpt from the blog post...

"As a female rider who primarily hits the trail with men, I didn’t realize how rewarding an experience mountain biking with a large boisterous group of gals would be. There were so many voices uttering words of encouragement, of shared joy, words meant to bolster. I left the trail recognizing my fierceness."

"I was especially proud of the part I play in shaking up the status quo of a mountainbiker as I stood shoulder to shoulder with a group of strong female cyclists who ranged in age from mid-20s to late 50s, eager to explore some Alaskan backcountry by bike, on a rainy summer day.

After a glorious day of biking filled with fireweed, stream crossings and several bee stings, a pony keg of Cynosure IPA sat chilling in the river awaiting our return, 2 boxes of wine, along with a case of Alaska Cider Works, and ½ gallon of whiskey. Around the campfire that evening, raucous laughter filled the air punctuating the meaningful stories shared.

Before the cider, I stepped away to write down my impressions and was struck by a familiar phrase that I’d heard uttered repeatedly, ‘I’m sorry’. As I wrote this story I struggled with the proper lens. I’m not used to writing stories like this, where other folks participated and may have entirely different takeaways but ultimately I’ve got the keyboard. I don’t have a dramatic call to action.. I can only attest to the fact that I recently became aware of how often I apologize while on the trail compared to my male riding companions. With this in mind, I’ve made a point to unapologetically take up space on the trail from this day forth and I hope other female riders unapologetically take up space on their trails too."

I hope you'll take Lei's words to heart, as I did. If you feel like you're not up for the group ride because in your mind everyone else is better, faster, more fit than you, understand that all the group wants is for you to enjoy the ride, and unapologetically take up space on the trail with them.

About Lei: Lei has lived in Alaska on and off since 2013, and learned how to mountain bike on the trails of the Kenai Peninsula. These days Lei calls Anchorage home base, which she shares with partner Cameron. She can often be found enjoying coffee among her ever growing plant collection, romping on the local trails, or working at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill where she is the Assistant General Manager.

November First Friday!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 23:23:39 GMT

Friday, November 5, 5 -7pm

Join us as artist Julie Greene-Graham shares her love of the outdoors in her art, along with many other artisans on display. Also! Our beloved biker babe Becky Kotter will be providing live music! You don't want to miss it!

October First Friday!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:38:44 GMT

Featuring artist Becky Kotter

Join us on October 1, 4-7pm.

You may know Becky from the trails or the music stage. But did you know she was an artist as well? We will be featuring this multi-talented woman's art for the month of October.

We will also have Peter from Paramount Cycles performing with his band The Jake Legs. It will be a fun evening you won't want to miss!

September Happenings!

akcyclechic@gmail.com — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:39:43 GMT

September Clinics & Events - FREE!

As promised, we have scheduled some FREE basic bike maintenance clinics! Save the dates and sign up here !

We ask that you please RSVP for the clinics you plan to attend. All clinics will run 6:15-8:00pm.

The Basics w/Viper McGnarly (9/9) . There's nothing vanilla about the basics, or Viper. Nancy will explain the basics - the how to and why bother - of cleaning your bike, your chain, and what to carry on your bike for every ride.

SHOCKing and SUSPENSion w/Cameron Sanders (9/16) . In his colorful style, Cameron will reveal the basics of front and rear suspension. How does it work, how to add pressure, and when to service your shocks before they demand it!

Two TIREd w/Christina Grande (9/30). Grande will demonstrate how to change a tire, explain the difference between tube and tubeless, and the proper tire pressure for conditions.

Additionally, on Friday, 9/17 , we will be hosting a book signing with Kelly Willet , a local avid cyclist and outdoorswoman. Kelly wrote a beginner's guide to mountain, fat, and gravel biking. We are so excited to see it in print and share it with you hot off the press!

Grand Opening Celebration!

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 23:27:22 GMT

Thursday, August 5, 4-7pm

Join us on Thursday, August 5, 4-7pm. Music, food, drinks, fun and festivities. Our art gallery will be open, along with lots of new merchandise! We are so excited to celebrate with you!

It's Opening Day!

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 21:41:32 GMT

Welcome to the shop!

It's real! Come see us and our bikeafied shop, starting tonight - Tuesday - from 4-7p. Thank you to everyone who donated parts, helped hang bikes, created cool stuff, and/or otherwise helped bring our dream to fruition!

The Highs & Lows of #girlboss Life (And their wine pairings)

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 18:03:55 GMT

A little over a year ago, deep in the heart of a pandemic, I started this journey to #girlboss life, while still working for the University of Alaska. As a mom of two boys, motherhood propelled me to work with and around my kids’ ambitions, which eventually brought me to UAA. Upon their successful completion I realized I could focus on my own dreams and aspirations. Around that same time, UAA started its own journey to cull their workforce even more, this time with the focus on Administration and those with administrative/financial job duties, in which category I fell. I could see the writing on the wall and began working on my exit plan in earnest. My mantra became “just keep taking another step until you absolutely can’t take another”. That was July 2020.

Today is July 13, 2021. And it's opening day!

So here’s a sample of some highs and lows and lessons learned along the way:

The highs are so high. Celebrate each win! (Champagne Bubbles, of course!)
The lows are so low. Feel it. And do not give up no matter how low it feels. (Kirkland Cardboardeux - because last month was a great year)
Surround yourself with people who celebrate the highs and mourn the lows with you. (Share the bubbles or the dark red)
I thought I worked hard before this. Nope! Not even close. I remember telling my former UAA supervisor after I was laid off: ‘I haven’t worked this hard in a year!’ (unwinding wine: merlot)
The work is so satisfying when you realize it is work that is making the dream come alive. (state of satisfaction wine: Sauvignon Blanc)
The work is sometimes slow, but always moving, and perspective is a key element to the process. (ponder with Pinot Noir)
Accept the fact that mistakes will be made, and they might be expensive. Learn from them. (Meursault white or red, because sometimes you might need to get away, if only in your mind)
You can’t do this alone. Join forces. (My force happens to be Nancy, look out! Also, she prefers beer)
Some things move so fast, and concurrently, it’s hard to keep up. (Get wild with a Syrah, and/or bubbles)
Sacrifices will have to be made – I haven’t been on my bike for a significant amount of time. And I’ve had to cancel a few bikepacking trips. (Brooding wine: Cabernet Sauvignon)
I have bruises from pinching myself that this is REAL! (Back to the bubbles!)
I have never been happier. (Happy wine: full glass of any of the above, except the Cardboardeux)

You too can kick this root ball’s butt!

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:47:40 GMT

The next time you approach a gnarly obstacle like this one on the Hillside STA trails, we encourage you to “clinic” it with these tips:

Momentum

Momentum is your friend. Going up, don’t let the crack between the boards freak you out. Just pedal hard.

Time Your Shift

You’re pedaling hard but right before you stress your gears on the climb, shift down so you can keep pedaling up that puppy .

Spread Your Weight Evenly

Lean forward so you don’t pop a wheelie, but keep enough weight over your back tire to get a good grip as you climb .

Choose Your Route

Whenever you can, hit roots straight on instead of at an angle. This isn’t always possible of course but keep up your momentum to help your tires cross cleanly instead of slipping off to the side.

Keep Pedaling

It may take a few tries to be confident to pedal instead of putting your foot down. And some days the roots are just too slick or the mojo just isn’t there. That’s okay! Keep trying and pretty soon you’ll be kicking its butt instead of the other way around!

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Welcome to the shop!

The Highs & Lows of #girlboss Life (And their wine pairings)

You too can kick this root ball’s butt!

With Alaskan Chick Artist Rhonda Scott, and Musician Melissa Mitchell