Contributor Highlight! Meet @JrRdrgz (he/him) born and raised in the Bayou City. Jr’s appreciation for the “outdoors” grew from exploring his local waterways (ditches) and bikeways (unmaintained roads). Jr is a multi-sport athlete, director, photographer, and writer focusing on people and their connection to outdoor spaces. Jr strongly believes the future of outdoor recreation needs to be as diverse as the flora, fauna and landscapes he explores and works to protect. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Jr. shares with us his piece "DO IT EXTREME IN JACKSON HOLE" on what it's like for BIPOC to access the outdoors while pushing against norms to afford equipment to connect with community and the land. . "It took me 2 years to save up for a used Kona Jake, not even the Snake, just Jake - my first cyclocross bike. I tricked it out with pink tires because screw gender norms. The pink was my favorite part of my Kona, not the clearance of the brake wires or the integrated brake shifters, it was the pink. The Kona moved with me to Houston and DC a couple of times as I tried to navigate the job market in the post-financial crisis-- road biking always provided a stress relief... I did not want to conform, partially because identity should not be so strongly tied to one activity and partially because acquiring a bike and gear is pricey..." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You can read the whole article in our second issue "DIY BIKE CULTURE", now restocked and available in the link in profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you JR, for your thoughtful piece and voice. Give em a follow for more of his extreme adventures! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #diversifyoutdoors #representationmatters #takingupspaceoutdoors #diversifyyourfeed #cyclistazine #cycling #cyclinglifestyle #cyclinglife #shredthepartriarchy #bikingdiversity #bikelanes #bicycleadvocacy #bikelife #bikeeducation #optoutside #diy #zine #bikes #bikezine #breakgendernorms #outdoors #BIPOCsbike #decolonizebikes https://www.instagram.com/p/B_yEcqhFgjj/?utm_medium=tumblr