The Radavist
Few people have mastered the nuts and bolts of their passion the way John Watson understands cycling. That mastery comes from years as the owner, operator, and primary writer of The Radavist — an online community of “radical atavists” who love cycling. Through his blog and social media channels, John keeps thousands of readers up to date on all things biking.
What's a “radical atavist”? The compound name for John’s blog came from an early interview project he worked on with some bike builders in New York City. Atavistic means “something ancestral that appears in the modern-day.” As a species, we seek thrills as a part of our atavistic urge to play. The phrase stuck with him, and the day he needed a name for his community, he had one.
From the molecular structure of the latest generation of spokes to the most comfortable helmet on the market, no detail of the sport is overlooked.
“I started the website as a bike culture blog in NYC, documenting alleycat races, individuals who built bikes in their garages, swap meets, everything. The website has always been attracted to the outlier sub-genres of the sport. As my own personal interest has shifted, the website’s content has as well. Back in NYC, it was about brakeless track bikes on city streets. Now, it’s mostly off-road or dirt-oriented. The site is a product of its environment.”
No matter what aspect of bike culture he’s covering, on the Radavist platform, John is a teacher. He consistently shares his wise, discerning word about bikes, races, and gear, but between the tread tracks, he’s also communicating another message. He’s teaching his readers more than just how to buy the right bike. He’s teaching them how to get outside. And more importantly, how to be respectful members of the outdoor community.