Now in it’s 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 All Bodies on Bikes, a grass-roots organization working to make cycling more inclusive.
Hi, All Bodies on Bikes! Can you tell us a little about your organization?
All Bodies on Bikes is thrilled to collaborate with Swift Industries for this year’s global Swift Campout. Founded by Marley Blonsky and Kailey Kornhauser, All Bodies on Bikes is a non-profit organization on a mission to create body-size inclusive cycling communities while helping educate and change the cycling industry to ensure safe and comfortable biking equipment. All Bodies on Bikes is growing this celebration of joyful movement, launching 11 chapters across the United States. The regional chapters have led 15 group rides in 10 cities with over 1500 participants. On the competitive cycling side, All Bodies on Bikes is partnering with SBT GRVL for the second year, bringing 14 non-traditional athletes to the world-class gravel race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Bike camping is an activity close to Marley and Kailey’s hearts as it builds this connection and community among the group of adventures. Whether it’s a challenging multi-day route or an overnight to a local state park, bike camping is a great way to explore your world and make lifelong friends under the stars and around a campfire. For this year’s Swift Campout, six All Bodies on Bikes leaders are joining as Swift Campout Navigators, hosting trips in their communities. These groups are focused on overnight bike camping trips designed to be inclusive, creating a positive and encouraging environment.
Let’s meet this year’s All Bodies on Bikes Swift Campout Navigators:
Western Massachusetts
Jacob Sheppard-Saidel (they/them) is the chapter leader in gorgeous Western Massachusetts. Jacob runs a non-profit community bike shop in Hartford, CT, where they teach bike maintenance skills and provide access to bicycles as a low-cost and sustainable form of transportation. Their campout will have 60 and 40-mile route options (over 2 days), featuring stunning views, exhilarating gravel roads, and picturesque New England farm scenes. Routes will leave Easthampton and Westhampton and camp in the DAR state forest in Goshen, MA. For more information, follow @allbodiesonbikes_westernmass on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/allbodiesonbikes_westernmass/
Western Washington
Bobby Arispe (he/him) is an All Bodies on Bikes board member based in Seattle, WA. In 2022 he was selected to be on the All Bodies on Bike cohort for SBT GRVL; from that experience, he formed life-long friendships and is helping to grow the organization. He frequently rides with a camera in one hand, capturing his friends’ adventures. Bobby is partnering with Swift Adventure Co. for the campout. Three speeds of group rides will be headed out to Tolt-MacDonald Park in Carnation, WA. Bobby will lead a social pace stay-together group out of Issaquah. The 20-mile route will follow paved and gravel bike paths and into the rolling farmlands of the Snoqualmie Valley. Sign up for the All Bodies on Bikes group on the Swift Adventure Co. website.
Northern New Mexico
Eli Kosko (they/them) is an All Bodies On Bikes board member and the chapter leader in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Eli works as a mechanic in a local bike shop and can often be spotted along the Bosque trails with their bike and/or dogs. Their campout will take place July 1st-2nd and will leave from Tingley Beach. The route heads north along the Rio Grande River; riders can take pavement, gravel, or trail as we head 22 miles through the beautiful shaded bosque out of Albuquerque and into Bernalillo. We’ll camp along the river at Coronado Campground and have the option of popping into Bosque Brewery for drinks and dinner. For more information, follow @allbodiesonbikes_albuquerque on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/allbodiesonbikes_albuquerque/
Kansas City
AC (he/him) and Sarah (she/her) are the All Bodies On Bikes chapter leaders in the heart of the Midwest, Kansas City. Sarah and AC have deep roots in the KC cycling community and varied riding interests that center around being immersed in Nature. The KC Swift Campout will have two routes – both approximately 15 miles headed to the same overnight destination, one departing from North KC and one from Overland Park. Both routes will include paved and crushed gravel trails, a minimal amount of road riding, optional singletrack sections and streetcar rides, and tons of Urban Exploring fun on bikes! We will be camping on the hill above Lake of the Woods in one of the largest urban parks in the country. Stay tuned to @allbodiesonbikes_kansascity on Instagram for updates and registration!
https://www.instagram.com/allbodiesonbikes_kansascity/
Washington DC
All Bodies on Bikes DC Chapter Leader Molly Miller (she/her), Radical Joy Riding Founder Alyssa Proudfoot Siegel (she/her), and All Bodies on Bikes Co-Founder Kailey Kornhauser (she/her) have teamed up to lead a Swift/ABOB campout on the C&O Canal. They come with a great mix of bike packing experiences and time spent in the DMV. Molly is a Maryland native who loves helping people find their new ride and likes to explore nature by bike. As an organizer with DC Bike Party and Bikes Not Bombs DC, Alyssa strives to be the human embodiment of a no-drop ride. Kailey co-founded All Bodies on Bikes to make biking more accessible and welcoming to people in larger bodies; she is new to the DC area and loves to ride her bike slowly across great distances. The DC Swift Campout will have three starting locations with varying distances. All three routes will converge on the C&O canal for an 11-mile (in one direction) out-and-back ride on the flat gravel trail. We will camp at Marsden Tract Campground. In addition, there will be options to begin the route from Bikenetic in Falls Church, Virginia (7.7 miles extra one way) or from the Capital Crescent Park and Ride in Bethesda (7.1 miles extra one way). For more information check out @allbodiesonbike_DC on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/allbodiesonbikes_DC/
New York City
Cathy Ji (she/her) and Tsitsi (Mai) Merritt (she/her) were both members of the 2022 All Bodies on Bikes SBT GRVL team, and Mai is honored to now be the NYC chapter leader. Together, they are leading a campout ride in the NYC area to go bikepacking in Westchester County. There will be three distance options for riders of all experience and comfort levels: 13 miles, 30 miles, and 40 miles. All routes will take in classic Hudson Valley roads and gorgeous scenery north of the city. We look forward to seeing you at the party! For more information check out @allbodiesonbikes_newyorkcity on Instagram.
