Photos & Collection Designs by Molly Sugar / Text by Rie Sawada

Have you read our About Us page on the SimWorks website? At SimWorks, our mission is all about connecting people and ideas across continents, bringing to life exceptional cycling-related products that complement the lifestyle of cyclists worldwide. Our commitment is simple: “Between You and Me,” we believe in building community and fostering meaningful connections through bicycles and lifestyle goods.

A central part of SimWorks’ work is nurturing relationships between designers, makers, shops, and customers. We’re here to facilitate these connections, creating a shared space where ideas and inspiration flow freely. From hard goods like bike frames and parts to the “soft goods” that enhance our everyday lives, we’re not just making things to sell. Every product, whether it’s a T-shirt, water bottle, or bandana, carries its own story.

Meeting Molly Sugar

My first encounter with Molly was during a dirt bikepacking trip on the Deschutes River Trail—my first adventure out of Portland after moving from Japan. I barely knew anyone in Portland then, but a friend invited me on a “Bikepacking Overnighter” with a group of ten local women cyclists. Nervous at first, I soon found myself surrounded by like-minded women who shared a passion for bikes and the outdoors. You can read about that ride here.

This ride sparked my love for women-only bikepacking trips and led me to attend the first WTF Bikexplorers Summit in 2018. Check out a recap of that summit here.

Molly, as one of the co-founders of Radical Adventure Riders (formerly WTF Bikexplorers), has had a profound impact on the cycling community. She’s also the founder of Friends on Bikes, a social cycling group for women, trans, and non-binary people of color in the Pacific Northwest. As someone who identifies as a woman of color, I’ve felt welcomed and seen in these spaces, and Molly’s community work has been a huge part of that.

Over time, Molly and her partner, Skyler, became close friends. They organized the “Super Chill Solstice Bikepacking Ride,” introducing me to the spirit of relaxed and enjoyable rides. When Molly moved to Tucson, Arizona, I was sad to see her go, but her relocation sparked my own dream of riding among the towering cacti and scenic trails of the desert.

I finally visited Tucson in February 2023, bringing my bike along to join Molly and our mutual friend Serena on a joint birthday ride and party. Tucson’s dry desert air was a welcome change from Portland’s rainy season, and riding through the Arizona desert felt like a dream come true. It was great to ride my bike in Arizona, which has a desert climate, during the rainy season in Portland.

The following year (this year), we asked Transit Cycles, a great SimWorks dealer shop, to hold a SimWorks Pop Up, and we asked Molly, who is active locally, to design a flyer.

The flyer turned out really great, and many people sent us positive messages about the flyer design. I wanted to make bandanas, T-shirts, bottles, etc. with this design by Molly, who is also my favorite friend and has built a great community, so I made it! And I also wanted many people to go to Arizona and ride bikes someday.

A Quick Chat with Molly on the Collection

I asked Molly to share a bit about herself and the inspiration behind the Desert Animal designs:

1. Could you tell us about yourself?

My name is Molly Sugar, yes that is my real name! For the past two years, I have been soaking up the sun and getting dusty in Tucson, Arizona. 

My happy place is being outside ~ camping, biking (gravel, mtb, bikepacking), and trail running. I recently went on a 7-day bike tour in my home country, South Korea, from Seoul to Busan. My next dream is to go bike touring in Japan in Fall 2025!

I currently work from 9 to 5 as a Senior Product Designer at The Dyrt, a website and app that helps people discover places to camp. I am also the co-founder and work behind the scenes for Radical Adventure Riders, a national organization that works to build more gender inclusivity and racial equity in cycling and the outdoors.

This winter, I’m available to work on small freelance projects related to cycling and the outdoors—a bonus if they involve illustration!  

2. What do you love about Tucson?

Tucson is beautiful. The Sonoran Desert is special because of its contrasting landscapes. The towering saguaro cactus and palm trees against the backdrop of tall mountains really tug at my heartstrings. The sunsets here are also the prettiest, especially during monsoon summers.

Tucson is a great town for folks who love the outdoors. It’s easy to get to mountain bike trails and gravel roads. Not to mention, there are a lot of hiking trails, dispersed camping, and climbing close by. 

Last but not least, the Mexican food is so freaking good.

3. Why did you choose these animals for the SimWorks canvas?

The Simworks graphic was inspired by all of my favorite desert animals. Most of these desert creatures, like the coyote, road runner, tarantula, and Sonoran toad, can be seen on bike rides around town. Others are rare, like the Sonoran Desert tortoise, which I’ve only seen once on a gravel ride. 

I still need to see a scorpion, but I’m not in a rush to check that off the list.

4. What’s your favorite bike ride in the desert?

For bikepacking, I love riding in Ironwood National Forest. That area is quiet, beautiful, and close to town. I created an overnight bikepacking route so more folks can enjoy that area. You can find more info here: https://bikepacking.com/routes/ironwood-overnighter/ 

For mountain biking, I ride in Tucson Mountain Park the most. The trails are connected to town so it’s super convenient to get to. I really learned a lot about desert riding there. The singletrack is rocky and loose with prickly cactus on either side of you, so the margin for error is low. There are a variety of trails, so it’s easy to connect different sections to make it interesting each time.

Thank You, Molly!

Big thanks to Molly for designing such a playful and meaningful Desert Animal Collection. And thanks to Skyler, too, for helping us capture these fantastic photos in Tucson. We hope to see you all this winter at our next SimWorks pop-up in Tucson!

Photo from Molly & Serena’s Joint Birthday Ride in Tucson, 2023