Ah, the great glowing orb in the sky! We hope it has warmed your cockles this weekend. I (Hannah) spent all of Saturday doing some pretty heavy duty gardening, which was not the best preparation for Sunday’s ride. A step through bike would have been useful. Riding did happen, but photographs did not, because sometimes it is possible to ride and eat and exist without taking photographs or getting out your phone (check out the Digital Detox feature in the latest mag for more on this).
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The joy of the sunny weekend has been slightly tempered by the discovery of a slightly leaking pipe (while on the search for the source of suspected dead rodent smell). Happily, it is still sunny outside, allowing avoidance of said smell by hiding outdoors while bringing you this round up of good vibes:
Collaborative Bike Design with Thom Dawley
Many of you loved the T16 that Thom showed at Bespoked last year. He’s got a little side project going where he’s going to see if he can make a 170mm(ish) travel enduro bike that still has the (lush) Dawley aesthetic. Not so much a ‘here’s a new bike I’m going to make’ as an interesting experiment in collaborative design. He’s inviting you all to chip in with ideas, or follow along and build your own version (he’s going to make the files available). The first step is to give it a name. Head to his Instagram stories to follow the progress and make your suggestions.
Crankworx – Round One, Rotorua
No spoilers here, head here if you want that sort of thing. If you want to watch the action yourself, you can watch free replays of the four events.
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Faranak Partoazar – Riding Beyond Limits
What does it take to become a mountain biker if you’re a woman from Iran?
Faranak Partoazar, 36, hails from Shiraz in southern Iran, where she grew up and continues to live. She set out on a path that wasn’t made for women, driven by a big dream and an even stronger will. Although a successful career as a structural engineer offered her a far more conventional and secure path, Faranak chose to follow the uncharted trail of a cycling career. Despite the many unspoken barriers that lay ahead, she kept riding—not only for herself but for the generations of women who would follow in her tracks.
“All these years, when many wanted me to stop, one thing kept me going through the breaking points, knowing that somewhere in Iran, there’s another young Faranak hoping to follow her passion and experience the freedom and joy of riding a bike without fear. And I believe the greatest reward for my medals and success is creating this ray of hope and a path in someone else’s life. So I keep grinding because I want to see where the limits are.” — Faranak Partoazar.
From learning to ride in secret at 21 to standing on the podium 14 years later at the 2023 Asian Games—the world’s second-largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics—her journey is a powerful testament to courage, determination, and an unwavering belief that cycling belongs to everyone. For Faranak, riding a bike was never just about sport—it was about freedom. Growing up in Iran, she faced barriers most of us can’t even imagine. Cycling wasn’t seen as something women should do, but that didn’t stop her.
In the quiet moments of stolen rides, she found something powerful: a love for the sport that would shape the rest of her life. She didn’t just ride—she fought. She fought against expectations, against the voices that told her to stop, against the limitations placed on her and so many other women. And she kept going, proving that strength isn’t just about physical endurance—it’s about refusing to let go of what moves you.
In 2023, Faranak made history, winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games. But this wasn’t just a personal victory. It was a moment that sent ripples through Iranian sport, showing young girls back home that they, too, have a place in cycling. That they, too, can chase dreams others told them were impossible.
This short documentary, premiering on International Women’s Day, is more than a film—it’s a tribute to the women who refuse to be held back. To those who push forward, even when the world tells them no. To those who inspire the next generation to ride, race, and rise. Faranak’s story is a testament to the power of sport to change lives. She didn’t just pave the way for herself—she opened doors for countless young women who will follow in her tracks. This video serves as a reminder that no matter where you come from, no matter the obstacles in your path—dreams are worth chasing.
Reframing MTB
The weekend’s Reframing MTB event, which looks at how mountain biking might change to be more inclusive, accessible and sustainable, was attended by people from more than 70 organisations. Fi Spotswood, from Project FIAS and who helped organise the event said:
A highlight for me was the incredible mix of people in each of the workshop discussions. Tables were carefully planned by the organisers (!) and we had media rubbing shoulders with trail activists, adaptive riders, landowners and elite racers. I heard repeatedly “I haven’t had such inspiring and engaging conversation for ages” and “the roundtables were so engaging, I can’t wait to pick up these conversations next week. I’ve made friends and contacts I would never make otherwise” and more like that.
The Friday included conversations about inclusivity, sustainability, and collaboration. Expert speakers like Dom Ferris (Trash Free Trails), Manon Carpenter, Harry Brook (Patagonia), Ben Billet (ENOS), Bex Baraona and Chloe Taylor (Gowaan Mtb) energised and inspired, and then the round tables did the real work – moving towards the big question ‘so what can we do differently or better as a sector to promote change’.
The Saturday was a mtb extravaganza with 5 organised rides heading out on the trails. The first, led by Fi Spotswood from Project FIAS and Scott Cornish from Perform Unbound, was a workshop and ride focused on ‘difficult questions about inclusivity’. The 30 attendees rode the beautiful blue swoopy trails of Ashton Court and discussed social class, neurodivergence, non binary and other marginalised genders and more.
Other rides included a Bristol ‘showcase’ of local trails. Half the riders who showed up were women – testament to the regular women only rides held by Ride Bristol trail association. The Trash Cat ride with Bristol Shredders kids club attracted 60 people (around 35 families). The Reframing team and delegates decamped to Forest of Dean on the Sunday for more sunny rides on their neighbours’ trails, and discussions of adaptive riding and trails.
Natural Selection Bike
Although the event took place in February, the broadcast only took place last week. Props to Kirsten Van Horne for an epic mid-run recovery.
Wine In A Can
Sunny days may encourage thoughts of picnics. Here is a cautionary note for those considering such things.
And Finally…
An ambient track for those of you who have fancy headphones and like to feel like the sounds are walking through your brain:
