Devin Armstrong is a cyclist, artist and photographer in Oakland. He’s been part of the cycling community in the Bay and NYC for years, building a portfolio of event and portrait photography along the way. He rides with the experimental cycling group As Far As I’m Concerned (AFAIC).
We caught up with Devin to hear about how his relationship with biking has changed over the years, and what surprised him about a recent 500mi ultra gravel race in Mexico.
Photo courtesy of AFAIC
Tell us a bit about yourself, and what you do for a living.
My name is Devin Armstrong. I'm from Sacramento, California now living in Oakland, California. I kind of wear many hats; I jump between pouring coffee at a cafe, and I work at a bike shop. When I'm not doing either of those, I'm working in museums and galleries as an art handler, installing different artwork and helping them get exhibitions set up. Sometimes I do photo stuff for brands like ILE, Kask, Alba Optics, and other various clothing brands.
Photos courtesy of Devin Armstrong
Can you talk a little bit about your creative life?
When I started doing art stuff in high school, it was initially photography. It was the easiest thing because I had a cell phone with a camera and was taking pictures that way. I took a photo class, and then started getting some film cameras to shoot with. It kind of evolved over time from just street photography, to portrait photography, to studio work.
I kind of started diving into more sculptures and building furniture pieces, which I don't get to do often because it takes way more material. Painting too. That's kind of what I've been doing just to get my mind off things whenever I need to be creative.
Photos courtesy of Devin Armstrong
How did you get into cycling?
I got into cycling because of fixed gear track bikes. I was out skateboarding and one of the homies pulled up on a fixie. When I rode that, I was like, whaat the hell… It just surprised me so much. I was low-key kind of addicted. I spent the rest of the day riding his bike in circles.
I ended up doing hella research on Tumblr and seeing all this fixed gear stuff. A couple guys in Southside (Sacramento) who had some track bikes put me onto that movie Line of Sight, and Mashed SF. I was 16 years old, riding track bikes, like 15 miles a day.
When I graduated, I moved to New York and initially I had no bike. But my mom was like, are you just walking out there? She mailed me my track bike. It turned into bike racing, racing alleycats, racing Red Hook Crit, criteriums, velodrome, road racing… it just evolved into this whole thing. I haven't stopped riding bikes since.
Photos courtesy of Devin Armstrong
How has your relationship to biking changed over the years?
Initially, my relationship to cycling was racing bikes, or working on the bike. It was more of a utility thing, or something that had more purpose. When I was living in New York, I was a bike messenger for a stupid long time.
I started getting really good at racing to where I was picking up sponsors, and I got put on a team. I was gonna race around the world, but I ended up getting injured right before the season started. Once I got injured, I didn't even know what to do with myself. I didn't know who I was outside of racing bikes. I couldn't really find a connection to cycling other than to race. I actually stopped riding bikes for a couple years.
It wasn't until I started living in Oakland and working at a bike shop where I started to see there are other routes to bikes. Of course I've been a big advocate on commuting on bikes. But to just go and just ride because I can was... I don't know. I didn't have that connection.
But then meeting some of the homies from the team [AFAIC], such as Milo and Taylor, Noah, Matt, they started inspiring me by getting FKTs (fastest known times) across the area. They did SF to LA. They did LA to Vegas.
Honestly, to be real, none of those things actually mean anything in the grand scheme of things. But it does give kind of something new and exciting towards riding a bike. And with meeting people who want to do bike tours and just go on a ride just to be chilling and having fun, seeing good views, being in good company; that started to change my viewpoint on how I ride my bike and enjoy it. I could just be strong and not race, and ride with my friends that are also strong. That's revamped my love for cycling again.
You recently competed in Le Tour De Frankie, a 500mi ultra gravel race from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido. What surprised you about that experience?
Dude, how beautiful it was out there.
I've always known Mexico to be a very beautiful place, but it really took me by surprise with how many mountains there are. And also the cactus; all the cacti out there look crazy. They're huge. I've only seen little cacti. When I was in Arizona, I've seen some big cacti, but out in Mexico these things look like full grown trees, dog.
Also, going through all these little towns, you're so far remote that the local convenience store is like a room in someone's house. You pull up to the window and they give you what you need through the window. Each town had a different elevation and different set of terrain involved. I felt like I was traveling through so many different ecosystems, and that was awesome.
Photos courtesy of Devin Armstrong
What ILE gear are you rocking, and what do you like about it?
Right now my tried and true is my saddlebags. I got one on each of my bikes. They are the most durable saddlebags I’ve ever owned. Nothing falls out. I love that they're just made so well.
I got the AFAIC adventure bag. It holds two tubes, all your tools, and a rag; you could just be in motion with that. I also have the smaller ILE saddlebag that fits a tube, my tools a CO2. Tried and true man.
Photo courtesy of Devin Armstrong
What adventures are next for you?
I'm about to ride my bike from Montreal to New York City. I have a goal to try and do it in under 30 hours. I've always wanted to do the ride itself, and I've been getting super inspired. From my research there hasn't been an official FKT. It'd be pretty cool to set a fast one that makes it difficult for the next person.
Check out Devin’s work:
