My name is Devin Cowens (she/her) and I’m a community organizer, avid bikepacker, and gravel cyclist. I currently reside on the ancestral lands of the Muscogee Creek Nation, today known as Atlanta, Georgia. I am founder and co-organizer of Radical Adventure Riders ATL, a cycling community for trans men and women, cis women, and gender-expansive folks of all experience levels. I’ve been riding bikes for 13 years and stumbled upon bikepacking and gravel in 2018.
Biking has always been a space for community for me; I’ve formed some of my strongest friendships and built an inclusive community through cycling, and I’m eternally grateful for how bikes have changed my life and will continue to do so. I am not a super big gearhead - I love bikes and I’ve dialed a lot of things on my various rigs given that I’m a small rider and most bikes and components aren't made with folks like me in mind. I’m all about how a bike and the parts on it make me feel - how it’s aiding in my bike joy, my experience and comfort on the bike, and my ability to keep going on tough long rides when I’m training for various events or long bikepacking adventures.
My Invert Experience
Before I got Invert, I wasn’t the most confident descender or handler on a bike and was actively working on improving this skill, specifically on gravel and chunkier terrain. After racing 100 miles of gravel on Oklahoma dirt for the MidSouth, I really saw what the Cane Creek Invert Gravel Fork could do. It’s the fork I never knew I needed.
My favorite things about Invert include:
● How sleek and unassuming it is. Everyone notices this fork and comments on how nice it looks - it’s beautiful and stands out in its own right.
● The ease of set up and engagement - once I set the air pressure, I’m ready to go. And I haven’t had to adjust it every time I ride like I do on my standard MTB fork.
● It’s lightweight - it adds a ton of handling and stability while keeping my bike weight nice and light overall.Since last March, I’ve been able to ride this fork all over... the gritty red clay in Georgia, the range of hard-packed to washboard-like dirt in Florida, the rooty mountain trails of North Carolina, and even some desert singletrack in Arizona.
This fork absorbs the bumps and variations in the trail, which translates to a smooth and controlled ride. Invert has transformed my comfort on long rides - in my hands and wrists,
through pedal strokes, and even in my arms and legs. Post-ride, I feel much better and less shaken up from hard rocky gravel terrain than I have on other rigs.
In addition, I’ve built up confidence in my handling skills on multiple types of terrains and various scenarios. Even after it rains, I noticed how I still have control and grip and steadiness when riding trails that have been more washed out from a downpour. I usually wear gloves when I ride - I’ve not needed them nearly as much when using Invert - that’s how much difference in the impact I feel in my hands. I’ve even seen a decrease in the fingertip numbness that often occurs after longer gravel rides on my hardtail rigs. In short, I’ve been super impressed and there’s no turning back now!
What’s next
Next up, I’m super excited to race the MidSouth with Invert AGAIN - this year’s course boasts over 100 miles of red dirt, loose gravel, and over 8,000 ft of climbing for an additional challenge.
I know that Invert can do it all - and glad that I’ve had the time to build my handling confidence on the bike and can come back to tackle this race one last time. Crossing my fingers for good weather and minimal rain!
In addition, I’ve also got some fun bikepacking trips planned plus a couple of self-supported bikepacking ultras - I can’t wait to see how Invert handles a little weight on some longer loaded adventures ... .stay tuned for part 2!
