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Based in Seattle, Washington, Swift Industries is a bike bag company known for blending classic randonneuring aesthetics with modern functionality. Co-founded in 2008 by Martina Brimmer and Jason Goodman, the brand has grown from a basement DIY passion project to a mainstay in the bike luggage space. In celebration of their 15-year anniversary, Hailey Moore writes about Swift’s journey over the years from its founders’ punk roots, to landing shelf space in REI.
It is hard to avoid the bodies of water that surround Seattle. I have always loved the water, from childhood summers spent swimming in Greenlake, to building illicit rope swings in high school, to having a first date on a small strip of sand my family long ago dubbed “Secret Beach.” As I grew up, I learned my friends had their own secret beaches, small access points bordered by tall trees and houses, strips of pebbles off Lake Washington Boulevard with a view of Mount Rainier, and rare sandy beaches touching the icy waters of Puget Sound.
Continue reading below for Conor Courtney‘s two-wheeled explorations of Seattle’s secret beaches…
There have been several storied chapters in R+E Cycles‘ 50-year history but, as Katie Sox describes, the through line has been a commitment to crafting the bikes that best fit their customer’s needs—even when those bikes have five seats. On the brink of new ownership and as they celebrate 50 years of frame building and service, read on for a closer look behind this stalwart in Seattle’s cycling scene.
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Gideon Tsang recently caught up with Kae-Lin, Steve, and Jim of Seattle’s Asian Bike Club (ABC*). The club hosts regular meetups geared toward sharing food and building community. Let’s check it out below!
I feel like I’ve known Martina and Jason from Swift Industries since the brand’s inception. It must have been the 2010 Philly Bike Expo where we first met. Later, I bought an Ozette bag for my Geekhouse touring bike in 2011, and for a number of years, we’ve stayed in close contact. Both the Radavist and Swift Industries grew at parallel trajectories. It’s now 2021 and I realized I’ve never interviewed Martina about the Swift Campout, so today we’re pleased to host a quick interview to stoke the flames for the 2021 Swift Campout, which is coming up fast, on June 19th-20th! So read on below for some insight into this wonderful event!
The Swift Industries Zeitgeist bag is a lightweight, saddle or handlebar bag, inspired by traditional touring bags with a flap closure but updated in a durable, lightweight material. These retail for $195, come in three color options (black, navy, and coyote) and are available for pre-order now, with a hopeful delivery of mid-to-late August.
In other Swift-related news, their popular Bandito Bags are back in stock now for $90, in three colors (black, navy, and coyote) and are shipping today!
These are just four of the bags from Swift Industries’ 2020 collection, which come in these colors, plus black, across the whole lineup. Each of these bags have been refined over the years to be durable, withstand the elements, carry snacks, and ya know, things like that. All are in stock now at Swift Industries, who is still open for business!
Russ and Laura from Path Less Pedaled take out a Kona x Swift Adventure Co rental bike to the San Juan Islands outside of Seattle to ride and paint the landscape with water color artist Chris McNally.
Party at the Swift Industries HQ Tonight with our friends from Blue Lug Japan.
There is a Blue Lug pop-up opening in the Swift Industries showroom with rad bike parts and accessories, Fairweather bags, and even special edition apparel just for this visit and then…
Seattle area Swift Campout Roundup:
So many groups rolled out on different campouts, let’s get together at Swift HQ for a Swift Campout afterparty. The good vibes are graciously supported by our friends at New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire.
Wednesday June 26th
6pm-9pm
Swift Industries
558 1st Ave South 2nd Fl.
Seattle WA 98104
If you live in the Pacific North West and are looking to get into bicycle camping but need some gear and insight, the newly launched Swift Adventure Co is there for you. Swift Adventure Co is a sister company to Swift Industries. They offer insight to Field Adventures, Urban Workshops, and Outfitters, making renting bikes and buying gear easy. Head over to the newly launched Swift Adventure Co for more information! Congrats to the Swift team for this!
Hey Seattle, come out tonight with our friends at Swift Industries for the 5th Annual Stoked Spoke Adventure Series.
Tonight at the Rhino Room (+21),
Doors open at 6:30pm
Presentations 7pm-9pm
We’re kicking off the 2019 Stoked Spoke Season with something a little different, and especially powerful. Please join us for an evening with Tessa Hulls, lifetime creator, seeker and adventurer, as she takes us on an adventure through the history of Women, Trans and Femme vanguards in cycling. Tessa shares her research through a delightfully crafted narrative and artistically dynamic timeline, it’s a real gift for our communities!
See more details at Swift!
Our friends from Seattle depart on a bicycle tour to Bend on what looks to be a perfect weekend getaway!
Rambling with the 333fab Air Land Sea
Photos and words by Morgan Taylor
Look at the surface of the 333fab Air Land Sea, and you’ll see a drop bar bike that fits bigger tires than most, amazing custom paint and graphics, and components that reflect the very best of what’s available. But dig a bit deeper and you find something that can really only be found in a custom bike, something that innovates and pushes the boundaries, something that’s truly special. The Air Land Sea draws you in. It asks you to look, not to rush, but to consider what a bike might be if there really were no rules. And, you can have one.
… out of all the Rapha Rides videos, this one has to be my favorite!
Superstoke Weekend Seattle: Island Time
Photos by Gideon Tsang, words by Josh Cates
Washington trip discussions began in February, when the crew associated with Swift Industries swung through central Texas for Beat the Clock Cycling’s yearly anti-Super Bowl rides, Super Stoked Weekend (previously known as SuperBro Weekend started by John Watson). Everybody had a blast, and the obvious next step was to continue the party up north in a kind of cultural exchange program. After returning to Seattle Jason Goodman plotted four days of San Juan Islands riding, and a bunch of us from the club bought plane tickets.
Sequel production is a tricky business. The second chapters often look like vapid, hodge podge rehashes of jokes or action pieces that might still somehow gross more than the original. The viewer is often left with “Revenge of the Clones” rather than “Empire Strikes Back”.
… find out more at Rapha.
Winter weather got you pining for long rides and cycle touring? Swift Industries is here to help with their Stoked Spoke series:
“Each evening highlights four to six self-supported bike camping routes complete with maps, slideshow and planning tips. This year the trip reports will be 5-10 minutes long. Once all of the presentations are finished, each presenter will host an information table where they will answer individual questions and have maps of the region they explored.
This is a three-part series that highlights the best bike camping destinations in Cascadia and beyond. Stoked Spoke is being graciously hosted by the Rhino Room once again (click for map), a full bar equipped with a rad set-up for screening Stoked Spoke and booths that are perfectly laid out for you to check out maps and learn more. Rhino Room is opening its doors just for us! (21+ only). We’ll be publishing a summary of each Stoked Spoke event on our blog, including route summaries and digital maps.”
Check out more information at Swift’s Blog!