Hello, City Girl Rides community,
As I sit down to write this in the new year of 2025, I’m filled with a mix of emotions—pride, nostalgia, excitement, and a touch of bittersweetness. After 15 incredible years of bike advocacy, from the beginnings of this very blog to the creation of Cyclista Zine, I find myself at a new crossroads. Today, I want to share with you the journey of bringing Cyclista Zine to its culmination with the release of The Cyclista Zine Collection and how I’m transitioning to embrace new paths.
When I started City Girl Rides, it was a love letter to cycling—a space where I could share my adventures, my discoveries, and my dreams of a more inclusive and joyful cycling world. That passion grew into Cyclista Zine, a platform that amplified marginalized voices in cycling, challenged the mainstream narratives of the outdoors, and celebrated the beauty of community and advocacy. Every issue, every story, and every conversation felt like a small revolution, creating space for those often overlooked.
But as the years went on, the challenges of sustaining feminist independent media in today’s turbulent social and economic environment became harder to navigate. Between the pandemic, global upheavals, and the demands of running a grassroots platform, I found myself facing burnout or a “dark night of the soul”. It was during that time I turned to plant medicine and the land for healing—and I found something profound.
Now, with the release of The Cyclista Zine Collection, a book that captures the essence of everything Cyclista Zine has stood for, I find myself stepping into a new chapter. This collection is more than a reflection on the past; it’s a celebration of the stories, voices, and energy that fueled this work. It stands as a reminder of what we can build together and the powerful change that’s possible when we advocate for inclusivity and equity.
While I know this work deserves to be celebrated and shared widely, I also carry a deep sense of grief in its release—a bittersweet acknowledgment of the closing of one chapter, even as a new one begins.
This transition doesn’t mean I’m leaving cycling behind—it just means my story with cycling is evolving. I’m now focusing on studying community herbalism and somatics, exploring how embodiment practices and connection to the land can foster healing and community care. It feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve always been drawn to: creating spaces of belonging, joy, and transformation.
Through it all, I’ll continue to share my journey here on City Girl Rides. This blog remains a home for my cycling adventures, cycling book recommendations, and feminist killjoy musings about cycling culture. I’m excited to bring you along rides as I navigate this next phase, weaving together everything I’ve learned from the bike, the land, and the stories that have shaped me.
To everyone who supported Cyclista Zine over the years, who read, contributed, and believed in its mission: thank you. Your energy and passion made this work possible, and I carry that with me as I move forward.
So here’s to new beginnings, to celebrating the journey so far, and to everything that lies ahead.
It’s good to be back here, sharing this with all of you.
Peace, love, and bicycle grease,
Christina