Sarah Swallow

Sarah Swallow adventure cyclist, community organizer, advocate, and founder of Ruta del Jefe.

I’m not going to lie, navigating this back injury has been one of the hardest things I’ve faced.Living with constant pai...
04/15/2026

I’m not going to lie, navigating this back injury has been one of the hardest things I’ve faced.

Living with constant pain. Not being able to move the way I’m used to. Losing the outlet I rely on for my mental health, my creativity, my connection to community… my work, my identity.

It’s forced me inward.

To sit with what is. To accept. To ask who I am beyond what my body can do. To imagine what I want my life to look like—not just when I’m back riding, but now.

I’m 5-months in, and I fully intend to recover (even if it’s slower than I’d like). But I’m realizing the bike and the adventures—they’ve always been the medium.

The deeper work has been the storytelling, the route building, the community, the advocacy.

And that part of me is still here. If anything, I feel more connected to it than ever.

Recently, I made a leap and committed to pursuing an Associate Certified Coach Credential through the International Coaching Federation via the Co-Active Training Institute.

I’m about two-thirds of the way through, and I feel lit up, mentally stretched, and deeply fulfilled by the opportunity to support people in a meaningful way.

I’ve worked with a coach on and off for 10 years, through big transitions, burnout, anxiety, and preparing for my most challenging bike adventures. It’s been one of the most grounding investments I’ve made.

The most powerful part? Realizing the answers are already within me. Sometimes it just helps to say them out loud, with someone who’s really present.

Right now, I’m building hours toward certification.

I’m offering a package of 5 sessions for $150 ($30/session, 50 minutes each). All sessions must be scheduled between now and the end of June.

If you’re curious, you can book a free 20-minute intro call through the link in my bio. I’d love to connect 🌸🌵

Today,  launched the Golden Gravel Trail, a new 3,800-mile dirt road route connecting the Mississippi River to the Pacif...
03/10/2026

Today, launched the Golden Gravel Trail, a new 3,800-mile dirt road route connecting the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. The route guide is available for free on (link in bio).

The GGT draws inspiration from my ride on the TAT in 2015. Last fall, I had the privilege of previewing the western half of the Golden Gravel Trail. Over the course of 38 days, I traveled 1,800 miles from Port Orford, OR, back home to Durango, CO. I focused on the sections most different from the TAT and provided feedback on the rider experience on the route. I can attest that the GGT is truly a dirt-road adventure designed specifically for cyclists.

A huge reason for that is the work of cartographer , whose meticulous research shaped the route. The result is a cross-country dirt tour that prioritizes rideable terrain, thoughtful routing, and relatively frequent resupply points which makes it accessible to far more riders than many backcountry routes.

I rode my flat-bar Fenrir Ti, outfitted with aero bars, 120mm of front suspension, and 2.4” tires, and was very happy with that setup. The route could easily be traversed on a drop-bar bike with 2.2” tires and no suspension, but personally I wouldn’t want to ride it on anything less.

That said, the GGT is still a real adventure.
Riders should expect:

• Significant climbing on the western half—in fact, this section packs more climbing into fewer miles than the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route

• Extreme summer heat through Utah’s San Rafael Swell

• Wildfire closures and reroutes– an inevitable part of long-distance travel in the American West

My favorite sections of the western half:

San Rafael Swell
Green River → Castle Valley

Wasatch & Uinta Mountains
Castle Valley → Park City

Sawtooths + Craters of the Moon
Idaho City → Blackfoot

Colorado High Country
Pueblo → Crested Butte

The Golden Gravel Trail feels like the beginning of a new era for dirt-road touring in the U.S., and I can’t wait to see where it takes people.

A huge thanks to , , , and for supporting my ride!

This past weekend, Minneapolis community member Alex Pretti was shot and killed by multiple ICE agents. Alex was an ICU ...
01/26/2026

This past weekend, Minneapolis community member Alex Pretti was shot and killed by multiple ICE agents. Alex was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA and part of the cycling community. He was one of us.

His death follows the killing of Renée Good earlier this month and comes amid a violent escalation of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, including mass deployments of untrained agents, aggressive crowd control against protesters, and mounting cases of excessive force and civil rights violations.

Don’t be fooled, this is not about immigration. And for anyone tempted to comment “just stick to bikes,” I’d like to remind you that bicycles have always been political.

From the very beginning, bicycles have been tools of liberation, resistance, and social change. From women’s suffrage, to labor organizing, to resistance movements in World War II, to climate justice rides, Black Lives Matter protests, and immigration solidarity efforts — the bicycle has never been neutral. It has always been a tool for people who refuse to stay silent.

Where is the humanity right now? Where is the empathy? Where is the decency? Where is the integrity?

And yet, even in the face of violence and terror, the answer is visible in Minneapolis right now. It’s in the people showing up to protest, bearing witness, providing mutual aid, delivering food, checking on neighbors, and standing alongside immigrant families who are afraid to leave their homes.

History has shown us that terror does not break communities, it often strengthens them. People are not losing their humanity; they are doubling down on it.

I urge you to call your senators this week to demand defunding, accountability, and real reform within the DHS and ICE. And, vote in the midterm elections. (link to resources in bio)

If you want to support people in MM directly, visit Stand with Minnesota for vetted grassroots donation options.

And in solidarity, ride; even if it’s with anger and grief. Ride for Alex. Ride for Renée. Ride for Liam. Ride for our immigrant neighbors. Ride for the people of Minneapolis.

Ride because bicycles, and the people who ride them, have always been part of the long arc toward justice.

Raw moments from this season of life since finishing the GGT.Lots of kitty time.Packed and unpacked… a lot.Leased our pl...
11/26/2025

Raw moments from this season of life since finishing the GGT.

Lots of kitty time.
Packed and unpacked… a lot.
Leased our place in Durango.
Moved back to Tucson.
Reconnected with friends.
Commuted by bike most of the time.
Joined a gym.
Started swimming again.
Did some rides.
Packed for Baja.
Threw my back out.
Drove to Baja.
Set up our six-week base camp.

Just real life moving forward in its messy and busy, in-between way. Now it’s time to unplug (aside from the occasional posting commitments), breathe, and recharge for the year ahead.

Grateful for it all 🙏.

If you need me, you know where to find me (see last slide).

🌊🐠🤿🐙🏊🏼‍♀️🐡🚵‍♀️🌵

Raw moments from this season of life since finishing the GGT.Lots of kitty time.Packed and unpacked… a lot.Leased our pl...
11/25/2025

Raw moments from this season of life since finishing the GGT.

Lots of kitty time.
Packed and unpacked… a lot.
Leased our place in Durango.
Moved back to Tucson.
Reconnected with friends.
Joined a gym.
Started swimming again.
Did some rides.
Packed for Baja.
Threw my back out.
Drove to Baja.
Set up our six-week base camp.

Just real life moving forward in its messy and busy, in-between way. Now it’s time to unplug (aside from the occasional posting commitments), breathe, and recharge for the year ahead. So grateful 🙏.

If you need me, you know where to find me (last video).

🌊🐠🤿🐙🏊🏼‍♀️🐡🚵‍♀️🌵

10/09/2025

Riding solo on tours has always been my most joyful times in my life, it’s a fabulous way to get to know yourself. And can be so uncomfortable. I was so curious as to how Sarah felt after this tour and spending so much of it on her own, scouting an unknown path.

Here are her reflections set to a montage of the whole trip and some clips at the end of her ride home tho Durango.

Thanks so much for following along. This is my over and out on Sarah’s IG. Catch me over at ❤️🥂

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2401 E Mabel Street
Tucson, AZ
81579

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