Swift Campout — Marley Blonsky - All Bodies on Bikes

Many moons ago I reached out to the internet universe looking for the perfect bag to complete my Wald 137 set-up. As I wrote in this post in May of 2016 "Now that I’ve got the hardware dialed in, my biggest challenge is how to carry the soft goods. Searching the market of bike bags, there seems to be an infinite supply of backpacks, panniers, frame bags, porteur, and handlebar bags. But there are very limited options for bags specifically designed for baskets!"

As it so happened, the lovely folks at Swift Industries heard my cries (and I'm sure others) and came through with THE BEST BASKET BAG EVER!!

The Swift Sugarloaf is designed specifically to fit perfectly inside of a Wald 137 and has perfect little clips to keep it in place when you're riding. I was lucky enough to be able to design my own color before it hit mass market (teal and pink), but Jason and Martina liked it so much it's now offered to everyone!

Seriously y'all, the Sugarloaf is perfect. One side has magnetic pockets for quick access things. The other side has a zipper pocket. Inside pockets. A strap for carrying off the bike. It's so cute.

From their website:

Exterior pockets accessible while the bag is in the basket
Magnetic snap pocket closures
A very secure attachment system to the basket.
Base lined with foam to prevent rattling noises and to protect iPad etc.
Interior pockets for additional organization
Reflective touches on attachment sleeves
Waterproof top zipper
Protection flaps over non-waterproof zippers

Have you ever been in a deep funk in your life where you feel like you’re just going through the motions of daily life? Every day is the same- wake up, go to work, go home, maybe ride your bike, go to bed. The feeling like you’re living for the weekend, and your weekdays are punctuated by random bursts of excitement like going to Starbucks for coffee? Oh wait, no? Ok, yeah, me neither.

Truthfully though, I’ve struggled with depression most of my life, and since I’ve been able to recognize what it for what it is, controlling it has become much more manageable. I have a phenomenal primary care doctor who I trust deeply, wonderful health insurance (hello $3.00/month Prozac!), and a great therapist!

Even with this level of mental health management, there are still some days where it’s a struggle to get out of bed. Everyday feels like groundhog day. Wake up, work, look at the internet, go home. Repeat.

So it’s been super exciting to finally feel like I’m taking my life in my own hands again and steering it in a direction that I want it to go. I have a number of really exciting things lined up on the horizon (and concurrently happening) to look forward to, and let me tell you, when you’re depressed, having something to look forward to is seriously the BEST THING IN THE WORLD!!!

In no particular order, here is what I’m currently excited about:

· My mom is an internet sensation!

· My S24O article published in the Cascade Courier

· Took my fenders and back rack off my bike to turn it into a bikepacking bike, and realized that a Revelate Tangle Frame bag fits! Bikepacking here I come!!

· Speaking of, got invited to join the women of Komorebi Bicycling Team on a trip! I’ve looked to them for inspiration since I learned of them, and to be invited on a trip is blowing my mind!

· I booked a trip to Anchorage for Memorial Day weekend. Going by myself to backpack and camp Chugach State Park near Anchorage. The stoke is high.

· Lots of Point83 trips coming up- Ben Country (1 year anniversary of all this bike camping craziness), Clam Slam, Girls of Summer, and so much more!

I’m also helping put on an Intro to Bike Camping Class with Swift Industries, and going to be leading The Bikery’s Swift Campout with possibly 40 people. (I'm also really proud of this image I created for the class- I'm totally not a designer, but we've gotten really good feedback!)

So many things happening. No time to be depressed! If only it worked that way.

I found a Basket Bag!

Black Dog Days