Sibling Groups and Events
We can’t vouch for all of these groups and organizers, but we would like to share the network of organizations serving FTWs on bikes. Help us add to this network (email greaseragmpls@gmail.com) or by getting involved and sharing your connections!
Minneapolis/St. Paul
For Us by Us: A Grease Rag sibling group for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and people of color with an “it’s complicated” relationship with their race who are also Trans, Femme, Two Spirit, Non Binary, and Women. Located in occupied Dakota and Anishinaabe land, Minneapolis, MN.
Cirque du SoGay: Queer organized, queer focused, alley-cat style race in Minneapolis. “The gayest race on earth!”
Babes in Bikeland: An FTW-only alley-cat style race in Minneapolis. It had a great 10 year run, and we remember this race fondly!
Boston, MA
Femmechanics Boston: A Grease Rag off-shoot for FTWs in Boston, MA! They host an open-shop, Grrrease Time, for people to come learn more about working on their bikes, and to help others do the same. Femmechanics promotes an encouraging, supportive atmosphere for people to teach and learn from one another.
Portland, OR
Friends on Bikes: Fostering a community for femme, trans, women and non-binary people of color who love riding bikes.
North America
Bike! Bike! An annual gathering of bike folks organizing safer spaces all across North America.
WTF Bike Explorers: 100% Women, transgender, femme, and non-binary gravel grinders, mountain bikers, bikepackers, day-ride explorers, long-distance road riders, bicycle tourers, backpackers converting to bikepacking, individuals looking to incorporate camping with biking.
Community Partnerships
In addition to our fantastic volunteers, facilitators and participants, Grease Rag Open Shops and events happen because of our relationships with community partners. Many local bike shops and people around the world have benefited from and adapted the work of Grease Rag’s community by incorporating safer spaces language pioneered in this group and by learning from the emotional and physical labor we put into simply existing on bikes, in our streets, and at bike events. We ask for contributions from those who have benefited from our labor.
Open Shop Partnerships:
This local bike shop gives us space for open shops, time, and consumable items (e.g. lube, rags, degreaser). We ask that they give us a paid employee for professional mechanical advice and that they adhere to a safer spaces agreement.
In the past, we have worked with various bike shops such as Cycles for Change, Cherry Cycles, Spokes, Recovery, and Sunshine.
Friends of Grease Rag
Karlie Cole: creator of Grease Rag’s website and adviser on many technical decisions and details. Karlie does great work for non-profits throughout Minnesota and we really appreciate them! Contact us for a referral.
Hutman: generously hosting and supporting our website for many years.
Jeremy Werst: Creator of Bike Love and developer of Grease Rag’s website for several years. RIP <3