Meet the Navigators: Angry Catfish Bicycle - Swift Industries

Now in its ninth year, Swift Campout is a global call to adventurous spirits, encouraging people to pack up gear and pedal to their favorite camping spot during the summer solstice. The event weaves together communities from all over the world and showcases each communities’ distinctive love affair with cycling. To capture the magic of the event, we’ve called upon a handful of shops and individuals to design an overnighter that takes folks to their favorite local site– those tasked with leading the rides are called, Navigators. Each Navigator will have their own feature that tells a bit about them and their Campout.

Say howdy to Angry Catfish, an adventure-seeking bike shop located in Minneapolis.  

Hi, Angry Catfish! Tell us about your shop!

We’re Not Really Angry Angry Catfish was cultivated by the vibrant Minneapolis bicycle culture that lives on the streets, dirt, gravel, and snow that surround us. We are a collective of individuals with a like mind – bicycles are an amazing form of transportation, recreation, and fitness. And when you add fantastic coffee, well, all the better. Together, we aim to inspire people for their next two-wheeled adventure, whether it be rolling down to the River Bottoms for a communal impromptu drink, heading “West” for a multi-day bike packing expedition, or pedaling your way to the office or school. Stop in and ask us where we’ve been or where we are going. We’re really not all that angry.

What does Swift Campout mean to you?

For one of our ride leaders, a Swift Campout was the first group bike camping trips she did — she had gone out and done trips on her own, and with a partner, but never in a big group of friends and like minded people and loved it. It gave her a view in to the incredible community she was surrounded with, and that this schmidt could be FUN — and was a great way to inspire new folks to get out and camp and ride their bike. This year both ride leaders are stoked to be leading a Swift Campout that is meant to be welcoming to all levels of experience and above all, just a great time.

Can you tell us a bit about your Campout this year? Anything meaningful about your route and why you want to share this with your community?

The route to Carver Park Reserve is both a perfect first bike camping route and an awesome chill one for an experienced rider — it’s sub-1000 feet of elevation, almost entirely on designated bike trail, a perfect mixture of pavement and hard packed crush limestone, shady — what else could you need? There will be a grocery stop in the last ten miles for folks to top off water and food before we get the campsite.