The Only Ride That Matters This Saturday
On Jan 31, the cycling community rides for Alex Pretti. See the map of global memorial rides and find out why this network of support matters.
Solidarity is usually an abstract concept, but this Saturday, it gets plotted on a map. When a member of the peloton goes down, the aerodynamics of the group change instantly. We feel the drag.
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse and a mountain biker in Minneapolis. He spent his days keeping human biological systems running at the VA Medical Center and his free time stressing his own anaerobic systems on the trail. On January 24, that engine stopped when he was murdered by federal agents.
The response from the cycling world hasn't been chaotic; it has been deliberate and coordinated. Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop in Minneapolis initiated a memorial ride for this Saturday, January 31. What started local has gone viral in the most efficient way possible.
A Networked Response
From Atlanta to San Francisco, riders are organizing simultaneous events. This isn't just a gathering; it’s a distributed network of support coming online all at once.
To manage the logistics, Bikepacking.com and Ride With GPS have deployed a collaborative map. This tool allows you to locate the nearest ride or register your own. It transforms individual grief into a visible, quantifiable dataset of support.
If you are a deliberate cyclist, you understand that we don't just ride for the metrics on the head unit. We ride for the mental clarity and the social cohesion. This Saturday, check the map. Find your local node. Ride.
Lucas Winzenburg
Why It Matters
- Community Cohesion: Cycling is often solitary, but our infrastructure—both physical and social—relies on numbers. Showing up proves the network is resilient.
- The Human Cost: Pretti was a healthcare provider. He understood the fragility of the human machine better than most. Honoring that service adds necessary weight to the miles.
- Action over Sentiment: The Ride With GPS map converts passive sympathy into active participation. It’s a tool for doing, not just feeling.
