RAR Champlain Valley

On a Thursday night in May over Zoom, our chapter leaders all met for the first time to dream up an inclusive biking partnership between our two regions, and RAR Champlain Valley was born.

The RAR Champlain Valley Chapter brings together Northern VT and the Adirondacks of Northern NY state around our shared proximity to Lake Champlain. These regions are connected via ferry and include Burlington, VT and many small towns/ rural communities with their own unique identities.

Our group aims to elevate FWTNB and BIPOC representation in our region through challenging the narrative that these places exist only for a certain kind of ”outdoorsy” person. We want to remove barriers, open doors, and approach cycling with creative energy and joyful enthusiasm. We have an abundance of beautiful riding with mountain views, swimming holes, and lush forests here, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy these special places! We are excited to build community together through hangouts, meals, day rides, clinics, bikepacking overnights, and more.

Deborah

Deb (she/her) is a queer woman who works as a bike mechanic and ski technician. She has been commuting, touring, critical mass-ing, and joy riding on a bike for over a decade. She is passionate about freely sharing bike knowledge, and about creating a more welcoming cycling environment for gender diverse people. Deb is constantly learning about the impacts of systemic racism and misogyny, and works to reject the principles of racial capitalism. She is a big proponent of naps, snacks, petting pooches, and riding bikes in tie dye dresses.

@b0ner.cycle

Kel

Kel (she/her) is a queer woman who moved to Vermont from Philadelphia in 2022. She is a long time bike commuter and has enjoyed her share of cyclocross races in the past. She is the co-captain of a FTWNB cycling team, The Big Heat. She loves bikepacking, exploring the beautiful gravel roads in a new area, route planning, and rides with delicious snack stops.

Whitney

Whitney (she/her) is originally from Atlanta but has lived in Burlington, VT for over 15 years. She’s always loved riding her bike; in the early days of the pandemic she got bored enough to start exploring dirt roads and accidentally discovered gravel cycling. Over the past few years she has been developing her cycling and bike maintenance skills, participating in group rides, and riding and volunteering at organized events. Access to events and equipment are of importance to her and she is always up for a social ride, especially if it involves costumes. She is also an avid participant in rowing and paddling sports and in her job in higher ed administration works to advocate for sustainability in campus operations and for professional development and leadership opportunities for women and underrepresented groups.

@whitneyinvt