Welcome to 1×10, where we ask 1 inspiring human 10 questions about how they are using cycling as a force for good. Read on to learn more about Candi Roth, designer, artist, photographer AND creator of the blog Have Little. Candi and her husband are currently riding and camping along the southern border of the United States – from Portland, OR to New Orleans, LA – to raise money for the International Rescue Committee to help asylum seekers and families who have been separated due to U.S. policies. Right now they’re in El Paso and making their way East and South. Follow their journey on their Instagram page. And learn more about how Candi fell in love with cycling, why she’s raising funds for this critical issue, and more in her 1×10 interview.

🚨PSA ALERT🚨:: Candi and her husband will be raffling off a used Ritchey P29 to support the International Rescue Committee – and their efforts to help asylum seekers and separated families at the southern border. They are currently on their journey so an awesome winner will be selected on April 15th – broadcast live on their instagram page. Once drawn, the bike will be cleaned up and shipped out to the winner, and off to a better life. Also, due to their current travels to NOLA, any incident, damage, or theft will result in the refund of any raffle ticket purchase. Also, due to their limited funds, a portion of the money raised will be used to ship the bike. Go here to enter the raffle!

Bike specs (not exactly as shown in the photos): Ritchey steel P29, Size L – Salsa CroMoto fork, 15mm thru axle – Stans Arch wheelset – Shimano SLX 11 speed shifter and rear derailleur – Sram gx crankset, 32t  – Jones loop handlebars  – TRP Spyre mechanical disc brake calipers – Cannondale brake levers  – Ergon grips – RaceFace stem, 70mm  – Specialized pizza rack – Thomson seatpost

1. How / why did you fall in love with cycling?

I was given my first bike on Christmas when I was 12ish years old, so it will always be a gift in my mind. I didn’t fully understand its powers until later, when I began testing my limits. It then became a medium in which I formulated my first goals: climb such and such hill, by a set date. This was all before I entered high school, so I began to see that I could have interests and accomplishments outside of a classroom – beginning the formation of my identity. It gave me the power to expand myself and my world as I began to set bigger goals and reach further streets, then towns, then states. Feeling a power like that at an age in which you feel powerless is why I will forever love cycling.

“It gave me the power to expand myself and my world as I began to set bigger goals and reach further streets, then towns, then states”

2. Favorite Bike (that you own or covet)?

The OG Niner Sir9. In tamale red. The purchase of that bike marked the beginning of my tech knowledge, and required me to learn how to work on bikes. Picture a skinny white chick going to a older dudes house that she found on craigslist to drop knowledge and negotiate pricing in his garage. It was after this moment that I first considered that I could be knowledgeable, strong, and also make sense in my own skin. I tried to be an old white guy a lot in those first years, which is what I thought that bike was as I rode it. I was on someone else’s bike. But, riding it showed me that it could be whatever I made it to be and whatever I made myself to be.

“But, riding it showed me that it could be whatever I made it to be and whatever I made myself to be.”

3. What’s the most memorable ride you’ve done, and what happened?

LA to San Jose. My first solo tour. I spent over 20 years trying to be someone else. Near 30, really. I was my biggest bully. This ride showed me how completely absurd that is. It showed me that I am worthy of my own respect. I overcame every obstacle that presented itself. And, I didn’t have to put up such a hard-ass front in order to get there either. You can be kind, and also tough, and also feminine. I didn’t have to continue proving myself to be worthy after that ride.

4. Who do you admire in the cycling world?

Juliana Buhring, Rebecca Rusch, Ayesha McGowan, Lael Wilcox. That’s just a sampling.

5. Top tip for a new rider, or a cyclist about to take on a new challenge?

Bring a pen and paper.

6. Favorite trend or innovation in cycling?

Swift Campout. The more people out bike-camping, the better our world.

7. What are you doing to use cycling as a force for good?

Right now, we are raising money for the International Rescue Committee and their efforts with asylum seekers and separated families at our southern border. It was only natural for me to combine fundraising with cycling because it gives me a sense of empowerment. This is how I cope with my feelings of powerlessness when I see and learn about the near overwhelming amount of injustice in the world. I guess that’s the libra in me. Weird, but it works.

“It was only natural for me to combine fundraising with cycling because it gives me a sense of empowerment. This is how I cope with my feelings of powerlessness when I see and learn about the near overwhelming amount of injustice in the world.”

8. Thinking about the work you’re doing, what do you see as the potential change for people or the planet? If you are successful, what impact will you have?

If I am to succeed, my success wouldn’t be the money I raised or the charity I contributed to. It would be if one other person in the world sees what small effort I made, the risks I took, and the unorthodox techniques I utilized in order to make any kind of difference and became inspired to step out in their own way to create something good from themselves.

“It would be if one other person in the world sees what small effort I made, the risks I took, and the unorthodox techniques I utilized in order to make any kind of difference and became inspired to step out in their own way to create something good from themselves.”

9. What’s your biggest challenge/obstacle to success?

The biggest obstacle I have faced so far is the doubt in my abilities to make any sort of impact. I constantly have to remind myself that failure is a choice, and that if my heart is in the right place, then no amount of criticism or judgement will affect the outcome of my efforts.

“I constantly have to remind myself that failure is a choice, and that if my heart is in the right place, then no amount of criticism or judgement will affect the outcome of my efforts.”

10. How can people help? Where can they learn more about your work?

Buy a raffle ticket! You contribute to the International Rescue Committee, and are entered to win a well loved bike in the process. Win win!

Candi Roth is designer, artist, and photographer AND the creator of the blog Have Little. She and her husband are currently riding along the southern border – from Portland, OR to New Orleans, LA – to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee and support their work to help asylum seekers and families separate due to U.S. policies.

Edited by John Kim. When he’s not out for a ride, John uses his expertise in Corporate Social Responsibility to help companies do well by doing good. Find him at virtcyc@gmail.com or VirtCyc on twitter or instagram.