The White Line Announces ‘Ride for Magnus’ Memorial Bike Ride and Lives Worth Remembering Film Series
The White Line proudly announces the “Ride for Magnus: Ride for Your Life” memorial bike ride, scheduled for August 11, 2024, in honor of Magnus White, the promising U.S. cycling talent tragically killed by a driver on July 29, 2023, while training near Boulder.
In collaboration with cycling and advocacy organizations nationwide, the ride aims to pay tribute to Magnus and advocate for legislative and infrastructure changes to enhance road safety for all users.
“This ride holds immense significance. It serves as a heartfelt homage to our son, Magnus, whose memory will be cherished with every pedal stroke. Moreover, it serves as a clarion call for change. The escalating number of cyclist and pedestrian fatalities underscores the urgent need for action. Driver behavior emerges as a critical factor in these tragedies. It is imperative that we address driver behavior and enact reforms without delay,” expressed Michael White, Magnus’s father.
Magnus White, aged 17, was a member of the USA Cycling National Team and clinched victory at the 2021 Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championships. Tragically, he lost his life just before the Junior Men’s Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
The ride will commence from the University of Colorado, Boulder campus, tracing segments of Magnus’s final route. Participants will pause at the location where Magnus was struck for a commemorative activity before returning to the university for a rally advocating for change. The cycling route spans 13.5 miles with minimal elevation changes. Additionally, a virtual ride option will be available for participants nationwide. Details regarding a walking route around the CU Boulder campus will be disclosed soon.
Proceeds from the ride will support The White Line Foundation, established by Magnus’s parents to uphold his legacy by championing the safety of vulnerable road users and advocating for reform.
Supporters of the ride include “It Could Be Me,” a non-profit founded by Triny Willerton, an elite triathlete who narrowly escaped death in Boulder County due to a reckless driver, and “Ride for Your Life,” initiated by Dan Langenkamp following the tragic loss of his wife, Sarah, in a biking accident in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2022. Langenkamp orchestrated Washington, D.C.’s largest advocacy ride post-Sarah’s demise, leading to Congressional endorsement for $44 million in funding for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program.
The event is further endorsed by Trek Bicycles, USA Cycling, and Heavy Lifting Design.
Ride Details: Riders will depart from Farrand Field on the CU Boulder Campus at 10 am, embarking on a slow-roll route along Folsom to Jay Road and proceeding to Colorado State Highway 119 (CO 119), the location of Magnus’s accident. A special memorial activity will be held in his honor at this site. Westbound lanes of CO 119 will be closed to vehicular traffic, ensuring participant safety. Riders will then return to Farrand Field for a rally unveiling legislative efforts spearheaded by The White Line and issuing a resounding call to action in their support.
Register for the Ride for Magnus
The “Lives Worth Remembering” Film Series
“Lives Worth Remembering: Christian and Michelle Deaton” is the inaugural episode of the new “Lives Worth Remembering” film series produced by The White Line.
Christian and Michelle Deaton, from Portland, Oregon, tragically lost their lives on October 17, 2023, when they were struck from behind by lumber sliding off the back of a passing flatbed truck while biking through the scenic wine country of Napa, California.
Throughout their 21 years of marriage, Christian and Michelle shared an inseparable bond, embodying love, kindness, happiness, adventure, athleticism, achievement, and an enduring passion for life. Their shared faith gave them the ability to live with immense love and joy among their family and friends.
About the film series: Victims and families affected by road violence are often forgotten once the news cycle ends. The “Lives Worth Remembering” film series aims to shed light on the stories of cyclists and other vulnerable road users killed while obeying traffic laws. Each episode features a family impacted by vehicular violence, urging viewers to consider the broader implications for road safety policies and driver culture. The series underscores the urgent need for political action and addresses the societal failures contributing to these tragedies. We believe that by harnessing the power of human empathy and highlighting the true impact of loss, we can create political and societal change.