Cyclists around the Bay Area and across the globe are set to roll Saturday to honor the life of Alex Pretti, the Minnesota man who was killed Jan. 24 by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The death of Pretti — a VA nurse and avid biker — has rippled throughout the cycling world. The 37-year-old was eulogized (opens in new tab) by online bikepacking communities, which cater to those who combine biking with camping and other outdoor adventures.
According to a Bikepacking.com (opens in new tab) map, hundreds of memorial rides are planned, including some as far away as Australia and Norway. In Northern California, nine rides have been scheduled, including events in San Francisco and Oakland.
On Friday, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced (opens in new tab) that the Department of Justice would be launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death.
“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Blanche said during a press conference in Washington, D.C.
“Alex was a reader of this site, a longtime member of the Bikepacking Collective, and part of our community,” Lucas Winzenburg, a Bikepacking.com (opens in new tab) editor wrote Jan. 25. “He was kind, compassionate, and a good friend and neighbor to many.”
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition noted (opens in new tab) on its website that it had heard from Bay Area cyclists who have been emotionally affected by Pretti’s death.
“These rides are a powerful reminder of our collective strength and compassion as we support each other in our grief and continue pushing forward in pursuit of change,” wrote Jenny Oh, communications manager at the MCBC.
These are among the events being held Saturday across Northern California: