I think I’ve mentioned this before but the spark that inspired me to become a cyclist and pin on a racing number was catching a segment about Paris-Roubaix on ABC’s Wide World of Sports when I was a kid back in the ‘80s. Up until that moment, the act of riding bikes was nothing more than a means of transportation so I could secretly buy candy but when I saw the peloton going all out on brutally treacherous roads, I was instantly hooked. As an old cyclist here in 2023, it brings me immense joy to say the pro ranks are as exciting and loaded with talent as they have ever been. With such an impressive mix of young and experienced...

“It never gets any easier, you just go faster” - Greg LeMond  “It never gets any easier, you just get slower and chunkier.” - Todd My path to the start line of the Rock Cobbler began at another one of California’s marquee endurance events.Last May, while attending San Diego’s Belgian Waffle Ride as a spectator, I crossed paths with a long lost buddy by the name of Big Ern who moved from LA up to the Bay Area over 15 years ago. It was the kind of chance meeting that had us doing double takes before picking up the conversation right where it left off. Over the course of catching up, a seed was planted that I’d come out of...

Little did Matt know that the journey towards his new Sycip began back in 2016.                                        Matt's new Sycip. Photo by The Radavist.  Seven years ago, he picked up a personal dream bike in the form of a mid-90s Eddy Merckx MX Leader frameset. As cyclists have a habit of doing, building it up was a project that remained on the back burner until 2020 when it was made road ready following a refurb, a respray, and being outfitted with modern components. (You can read all about it in this blog post.) Much to Matt’s delight, the Merckx turned out to be a...

Welcome to the 2022 swrve Holiday Gift Guide!  Below you’ll find a breakdown of our latest goodies and favorite pieces that make wonderful gifts during the holiday season. And because everything we make is built to last, the gift of swrve will be the gift that keeps on giving for years to come.  If you received our Gift Guide from someone angling to be on your Nice List, you should know that we love holidays here at swrve. Gift wrapping is complementary and we’ll even include a handwritten note of your choosing (just look for the comments box at checkout) and if an exchange needs to be made, we extend our return window during the holiday season so you can...

Happy National Taco Day!  A few nights ahead of today’s momentous event, we sent Matt and his domestique Todd out on a special mission- to ride bikes and eat tacos.  We didn’t plan it when we moved in over a decade ago but swrve HQ is now surrounded by some of the finest taco stands and trucks in Los Angeles, so many in fact that it would truly be an exercise in human endurance to try them all over the course of a single ride so Matt and Todd kept their adventure to some of their personal favorites. Let’s go…  Stop #1: Angel’s Tijuana Tacos  Less than a mile from the front door of swrve HQ, you’ll find Angel’s Tijuana...

We partnered up with a handful of other brands to put together a great giveaway. See below for ways to enter to win! Winner will be selected on World Car Free Day, 9/22/ 2022 Good luck! World Car Free Day Giveaway  

This June, swrve ambassador Erick Cedeño, aka Bicycle Nomad, will be set out on a solo journey from Missoula, MT to St. Louis, MO to retrace the 1897 route that was pedaled by the volunteer Bicycle Corps of the all Black 25th Infantry Regiment known as the Buffalo Soldiers. This monumental 1,900 mile ride was a test by the Army to see if the newly popular bicycle could be a feasible means of transport for troops. Along the way, the Buffalo Soldiers collected geographic and topographic data, documented route conditions, sources of supplies, and other information that could be useful to the military. Erick is using his 125th anniversary ride as an opportunity to acknowledge the role Black soldiers played in...

We've been fostering Harley since August of 2020, and she's ready for her forever home! Harley's story We found Harley running down a lane of traffic on a busy street looking lost and scared. With the help of 3 other motorists, we were able to corral her, put a lead on her, and take her to the sidewalk. She did not trust us at first, but after sitting with her for 1-1/2 hours, she finally would look at us, sniffed at us, and finally took some water we offered. Once she felt sufficiently safe, she jumped in the car with us, and we headed straight to the vet (after a quick stop at home to get some food) to get...

Every garment we make is built to last a long time and with proper care, your swrve gear can stay looking new and last even longer.  Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines for extending the life of your swrve pieces.  Washing and drying: Heat and tumbling are the arch nemeses of virtually every piece of apparel. When it comes to washing and drying, we recommend a cold wash and rinse and skipping the dryer in favor of air drying with your garments laid flat. If you need to use a dryer, go for the lowest heat setting and the least vicious tumble. Detergent: The gentlest laundry detergent works best. We recommend steering clear of detergents with unnecessary components such as added scent...

Remember those 'choose your own adventure' books? That's what life in Los Angeles is like when it comes to outdoor activities. The possibilities are virtually endless and with nearly 300 sunny days a year, there's ample opportunity to get out and explore. What follows is a list of some of our collective personal favorites when it comes to hikes and rides around Los Angeles. Whether you're local or planning an LA getaway, we thought you might enjoy seeing what we like to enjoy when it's time to go play.The Staircases of Los Angeles  Highlights from the Painted Stairways Tour. Staircases are hiding in plain (and not so plain) sight all over Los Angeles, many of which were built as neighborhood shortcuts around the...