COMMUNITY
Community is a series created by Dominique Powers. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events.
Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody.
Click the images below to meet the people of Community. New people will be introduced each month.
KYLE KELLEY & GOLDEN SADDLE CYCLERY
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
“This shop means my life. To me the most important thing this shop ever did was make people be friends with folks that they otherwise wouldn’t be friends with.”
-KYLE KELLEY
It’s another beautiful sunny day in LA as Kyle Kelley reflects on his time with Golden Saddle Cyclery, the local bike shop that he started 11 years ago, that is closing its doors this coming December. Golden Saddle Cyclery has been the longest standing bike shop in Los Angeles and its reputation precedes itself. It’s chock full of good energy, rare and cool bike parts and apparel, and a knowledgeable and friendly staff that can fix your bike, or point you in the direction of a stellar ride.
It doesn’t feel like the end for the GSC family, it’s impossible to imagine that the community won’t come back together like magnets yearning for a central point to return to- but it’s a pause, a breath. A chance to reflect on the joy this space and its people have brought to the community near and far. The folks in these photos, whether having been at GSC for a few months, or since the beginning, have brought customers joy, met folks with a smile when they come in, and have soothed all their bottom bracket woes.
I asked Kyle what he was most proud of during his time with GSC and his answer was immediate. “This shop employed almost 10 people during the pandemic and allowed them to live normal lives. I never thought when we opened this that that would be one of the most important things this shop ever did but after the pandemic I saw how important it was that we were able to keep paying 10 employees throughout this crisis.”
If you’re in LA stop by for some memorabilia, and to experience the magic of GSC while it’s still here.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
NICE BIKES
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
The Nice Bikes team is a nonprofit UCI cycling team, whose intention is to create opportunities for women and non-binary athletes and staff in professional cycling. Every voice on the team shares the sentiment that this is a momentous example of what a cycling team can look like. Rachel Rubino says of it, “I’ve always wanted to be a part of building a team that will outlive me and my racing career and it feels like this program can do that for future generations. To me it feels like a supportive and inclusive environment, not one that just says it is but one that really means it.”
A week spent with the newly rebranded Nice Bikes Cyclocross (CX) Team turned out to be the creative culmination of my year. Between personally painting the backdrops for team portraits, to running around Rhode Island sand dunes and through rugged gravel roads, I got to know the women filling out the roster and the effervescent Team Director Max Pratt, who all had lots to say about the upcoming season. It’s a team filled with intention and excellence, pizzaz and competitive edge.
The team is made up of six riders, Austin Trace, Rachel Rubino, Caitlin Bernstein, Taylor Kuyk-White, Sam Fox, and Dani Morshead. The staff is made up of Technical Director Max Pratt, Team Director Kaitlyn Cirielli, Technical Lead Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin, and Head Mechanic Lauren Wiscomb.
Pratt, who has been leading the cyclocross team for the last three years under the name Pratt Racing, tells me “I’m excited to be able to support more athletes that are pushing the boundaries of cyclocross and making the sport more popular in the US, and I’m excited to spend some time in Belgium racing in the mud! This team means everything to me. To me the team is something that this sport needs, and that me and the people who are working to create the team and support it have the resources to make it happen makes it feel like we just have to be doing it.”
This sentiment is reflected in what Austin tells me, who recently stood atop the podium at the Beverly, MA cyclocross race in early September. She has lofty goals this season with many more podiums in her sights. “This team is the thing that has changed my life, it’s the reason I’m a professional cyclist. The standard they’ve set for what athletes should get and expect is so high and it’s allowed me to treat cycling as a job and find my limit and potential.”
Follow along with the Nice Bikes Cyclocross team @nicebikes and support them all season long and beyond.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
JESS CERRA
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Jess Cerra pulls her silver Subaru Outback up to the terminal of the Kalispell airport and I hop in. I’m here in Whitefish, Montana to document one of her Women’s Gravel Clinics, and to create portraits of local leaders and volunteers that help make her gravel race, Last Best Ride, as special as it is. Jess has noticed a shift in the culture of Whitefish towards gravel curiosity, and at the same time that there aren’t a lot of women getting together and riding. She is aiming to change that.
It was easy to say yes to Jess when she reached out asking if I could come take photos in her community- when people are deeply invested in what they do, and are doing it for the right reasons, it shines through. As a photographer I aim to tell stories that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve, and women-led empowerment and instruction around cycling is up there on the list!
This corner of Montana is an awe inspiring place- where the mountains rise steeply from the valley, the low hanging clouds, and the lush greenery everywhere I turn tells me this is a place for adventures.
After a couple days of exploring on mountain bikes and preparing for the clinic, the weekend is upon us and eleven local, eager, and enthusiastic women show up to learn. We spend the first afternoon hiding from the rain learning from Sarah White, who is a long-time local and mechanical aficionado, about everything from how to pump up a tire, to how to clean and prep a bike, to specific tools that are needed for bike repair and maintenance. The second day doesn’t show clearer skies until the afternoon and we spend the day going over skills, learning about nutrition, and finishing with a gravel ride sweeping through the forest on singletrack. By the end of the ride everyone’s faces are muddy but smiling and the enthusiasm for the sport is palpable.
On the way to the airport the next day I ask Jess- what was your favorite part of hosting the clinic? She responded- “The amount of confidence women left with is amazing. Sometimes as an instructor you wonder if you’re doing a good job of being a good teacher- sometimes if you’re good at something you’re not always a good teacher. Having the knowledge and information about a subject and feeling the confidence to perform within it is something that is so important to me. When I get on the bike it is the most confident that I feel in any aspect of my life, and I think that is really cool to share that with other women.”
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
LAURYN, KRISTEN & NEDA
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Lauryn, Kirsten, and Neda competed in their first Grinduro together. They are from Lake Tahoe and Santa Cruz.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
VIVIAN FONG
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Vivian Fong is from San Francisco and competed in Grinduro for her first time- she is recovering from a head injury and wanted to challenge herself.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
LISA HUNT
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Lisa Hunt is from Marin County and competed in her first Grinduro.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
PENELOPE & ELLA
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Penelope (9) and Ella (7) are at their first pump track at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. Their excitement is palpable and I can barely get in a couple of photos before they’re off, ripping around the track, Ella following in her big sister’s line.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
JADEN & BRYAN
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Jaden is at the Sea Otter Classic representing the Live in Peace Bike Shop of Palo Alto, and his friend Bryan is along to cheer and support. Jaden forgot his bike shoes, so while he’s waiting for a friend to bring them to Monterey, Bryan has swapped his fixie pedals to Jaden’s road bike for his first race of the weekend.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
G GREGORY
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
G Gregory is sitting and writing in the bunkhouse at the Appleton-Whittel Research Ranch, the home base of Sarah Swallow’s weekend-long event Ruta Del Jefe, when I bluster in- a whirlwind of dust, cameras, and memory cards. Their easygoing attitude and charm is a calm respite from the 30mph winds I had been harried by all day. In all the way from Madison, Wisconson, they are here to participate in the weekend and we chat for a while before calling it a day to get ready for the next day’s adventures.
I catch G the next morning as they bask in the sun before their start and get their take on the event. They heard about RDJ through the RAR (Radical Adventure Riders) crew, and through meeting Sarah at the WTF conference in 2018. “I’m glad to be out here post lockdown- this is my first event. It’s really nice to be here at these things, it’s really invigorating in a lot of ways because you get to see your people. You’re with the everyday cyclists AND the racers, so it’s a nice mix. It’s just nice to be out and connect, that’s why I come to these things- to be on bikes with folks. I haven’t been out on gravel in a really long time and I’m really excited to do that, and have a party crew to do that with. To just ride with folks! That’s the best part of riding- to be able to do it with others.”
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
TREVOR BORDEN
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
My first exposure to Trevor Borden is to his infectious laugh, seemingly all smiles as we traipse along into a 30mph headwind in the Sky Islands region of Southern Arizona. We’re participating in a Bird Walk on the first day of the weekend-long event Ruta Del Jefe, put on by Sarah Swallow, based out of the Appleton-Whittel Research Ranch (AWRR). Trevor is one of 100 riders here for a weekend of education, advocacy, and bike rides. “My brother is a biologist “ he tells me, “and I’m surrounded by people who are birders in my life. I’ve always wanted to be good at birds but have a hard time remembering names. I know the ravens and the doves though!”
Cut to race morning and the grin is even bigger as he tells me about how he got to be here in the first place. “I had seen it on the internet a couple years ago, signed up and got on the waitlist but didn’t get to participate. Then my wife signed me up for my birthday for this one, which was such an amazing surprise. Today I’m most excited for the landscape, I think the talks last night got me so excited to take it all in. I had heard glimpses of the biodiversity here but I think having a more objective understanding of the mountain ranges that come together here and how that brings the tropical as well as pine type regions into one spot is really interesting to me.”
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
ANNA BULBROOK
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
Anna Bulbrook got her first bike in January of 2022, so though we’ve been rock climbing friends for months we’re only now taking our friendship to the next level. She describes herself as a cultural curator and former violinist in bands you might have heard of. We’re meeting up for our first bike ride together when she tells me the story of how this bike came into her life.
“I went deep into endurance sports over the last two years, first with ultramarathoning, then ocean swimming. I went far enough that my triathlete and cyclist friends kept asking me when I was going to do the logical thing and get a bike. So, naturally, I made a big stink about resisting. I said I was on "bike strike." And then one day, my oldest friend called in distress. Her mother Rhonda was gravely ill, and didn't have much time left. When she passed, my friend gave me Rhonda's bicycle — this bicycle — which means the world to me because it reminds me of my second mom, who was one of the fiercest women I know. However, this also means that I ride an actual grandma's bike. As someone with a healthy sense of vanity, the humor is not lost on me.”
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.
INDIA HARVEY
Words & Images by Dominique Powers
India Harvey started crit racing this year and turned out to be an explosive sprinter, winning her first two Cat 4 races in Los Angeles.
She and I became friends mid-pandemic during a time in which cycling was quickly becoming the undercurrent of the most important relationships in both of our lives. On our first bike ride together we realized that we ran cross-country for opposing high schools in Vermont, and later looked up past results to see that we had finished mere places away from each other at multiple races. In the year since we’ve spent countless hours on the bike together, supported each other’s creative and athletic pursuits, and even started a group ride in LA together called The Local Send.
We’re on the sidelines of the California Bicycle Racing course in Los Angeles and she’s sporting the yellow leader’s jersey as she tells me about her journey with bikes. Through making friends with other cyclists and exploring the community she decided to dive deeper into the sport. She tells me about a theory called “The Newness of Thought”, and explains it as being excited about the prospect of having a fresh beginners mindset, “because you’re starting from the bottom and can only go up from there.” As competitive as the criterium scene is she’s been surprised by how welcoming the sport has been and feels like there’s a lot of resources to improve quickly if you’re passionate about it.
This story is one part of a series by Dominique Powers called Community. Dominique is a renowned photographer in the cycling industry who has a special ability to capture personalities in her stunning portraits. She is based in Los Angeles and connects to her community through the bike. We invited Dominque to introduce us to interesting people she meets during her rides in Los Angeles and travels to gravel events. Community captures people who are living the same ethos as Flashpoint MVMNT: staying positive and having fun while making the bike community more welcoming and inclusive to everybody. We look forward to meeting the people she introduces us to through Community.