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RAR Front Range is a local chapter of the national movement of Radical Adventure Riders, a movement towards gender inclusivity and racial equity in cycling and the outdoors. RAR Front Range was established in 2023, after members of the team connected over their desire for a more inclusive, welcoming, and diverse bike culture for FTWN-B and BIPOC bikepackers and adventure cyclists in the Front Range of Colorado.
RAR Front Range hosts group rides, bikepacking trips, and events in and around Colorado Springs, Denver, and Boulder, including their annual Gravel Camp, which is a weekend of rides, clinics, and a whole lot of people showing up for each other.
We chatted with Al Secreto, who is part of the leadership team for RAR Front Range, to hear more about their recent gear library relaunch.
How long have you been running this gear library?
We’ve had the library running officially for two years, but our leadership team changed recently so the library has had a big overhaul. The overhaul included a brand new website where it’s much easier to browse and reserve gear, and now our gear is located in both Colorado Springs and Boulder – making it more accessible to the wider community.
What type of gear do you rent?
We’ve got big bags, camping gear and everything in between. Our camping gear includes tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, in addition to stoves and cooksets, while bikepacking bags included both pannier and rackless. We are thankful for everyone who has donated gear, and particularly grateful for generous donations from Topo Designs, Smith, Chrome, & Primus.
What inspired you to start your gear library?
Through running Bikepacking 101 workshops and leading beginners on overnighters, we realized how difficult it is for folks to get started in bikepacking and wanted to make it easier to get started and try out gear before making a large investment.
The Front Range provides access to world-class road, gravel, and mountain biking that is unparalleled. For many, life in Colorado is centered around the outdoors and being in nature, which makes it a prime location for a group focused on bringing folks into adventure cycling. But despite the intense cycling focus in the area, the opportunities and resources for new, inexperienced, or marginalized bikers feel disconnected and disparate — to a point which can make it feel like there are no resources at all.
How do you manage your gear library?
Our library is managed through our amazing website, built by Jess Arehart, one of our chapter leads. Folks can browse what we have in the library, including seeing if the items are checked out and when they’re due back, and then request what they need.
What is the most fulfilling part about running a bikepacking gear library?
Allowing folks easier entry into the sport that has done so much to better our lives and the lives of those around us!
What are the biggest challenges you face in running a gear library?
Getting things organized was a huge challenge, and I think our next big goal will be to collect gear and refine the library as we continue to learn what items are most useful for our local population. Panniers, racks and seatpack bags are most often used since they can fit on most bikes, but we have a lot of need for camping gear like tents and sleeping bags as well and those are items we are low on!
Find out more about the RAR Front Range Gear Library at https://rarfrontrange.com/gear-library and follow along their adventures at @rar.frontrange
