

Crew leader
Ariel Marlowe

Originally hailing from North Carolina, Ariel moved to Austin in 2017. This move helped rekindled his love for two wheels. He’s currently an apprentice at the local bike collective, where he’s guiding and teaching others to maintain and wrench on their bikes. Ariel leads urban and gravel social rides the Black History Bike Ride and works with Austin's Yellow Bike Project. Ariel also works with youth in the area, taking them out on guided MTB trip! He started the BottomBracketBoys (@BBBatxtothemoon); a cycling family that welcomes and uplifts members of the African Diaspora in the greater ATX area.
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MechanicNICKNAME
MarloweFOLLOW ARIEL
How would you describe yourself?
As a kid, I used to spend hours in the backyard digging ditches, building ramps, and zipping through lines I'd carved between the swaying pines. However, as all great Bike Love stories go, my bike was stolen and that part of my life was placed on hiatus for many years...until a few years ago. A new friend invited me to go MTB at some trails in North Austin and that day the little shredder in me was reborn.
The energy I felt zipping through the woods helped inspire me to get back into the saddle, propelling me forward to new levels of agency and autonomy, new routes of providing community care, and a renewed way to meaningfully express myself! When I'm not riding or wrenching, I enjoy trivia nights with the gals, watching animated shows, linking up with other community minded people, and being in the outdoors!
Being a community leader means recognizing that who you are and what you do holds meaning for those around you, and accepting responsibility for being the example that many need. By being true to yourself in a way that both honors the community and yourself, you can lead others to do the same.
The east side trails in Austin have to be my favorite. There's so many trails back there to get lost on and shred. Did it a few times with a drop bar gravel bike, but its way more fun on a hardtail
This season, you will find me doing some gravel racing as we head into cyclocross season. I can be found on the bike most days, spinning my road tires, ducking trees on singletrack, and getting dusty on gravel routes. People keep mentioning cross-training, but that's just getting out and riding different types of bikes right?
I'm focused on contributing to the work Austin's Yellow Bike Project, Black History Bike Ride, and Explore Austin do for my new home. Through those relationships, I'm able to meet and collaborate with some amazing folx and riders, leading educational rides around the city, teaching people mechanic skills, and helping guide kids on MTB trips! Started the BottomBracketBoys (@BBBatxtothemoon); a cycling family that welcomes and uplifts members of the African Diaspora in the greater ATX area. We lead rides, collaborate with local musicians and organizations on projects, and show up making noise to support our riding community.
Be true to yourself! It's true that being in biking makes you cool, but its more true that doing what you love and what honors your true self makes you the coolest. People will recognize your passion and want to support that
What Ariel rides
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Meet the Rocky Mountain Crew at local community events.
Stories featuring the Crew View all
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