About J. Nathan Matias
In my work life, I'm a professor at Cornell University who organizes community/citizen science to better understand our digital environments online. I have also published journalism in The Atlantic, PBS, the Guardian, FiveThirtyEight, and other international media.
As an ultra-endurance cyclist with a respiratory disability, I ride for my health, for fun with friends, and for opportunities to make meaning from things that are hard to see unless you slow down:
In August 2025, I am completing an Everesting Roam ride, with a virtual community of Nepali writers, journalists, and translators: globalvoices.org/2025/07/24/fundraiser-climbing-a-virtual-everest-with-the-global-voices-community
In June 2025, I rode from Denver to Park City Utah, to See Power and Glory in the Great Divide: natematias.medium.com/seeing-the-power-and-the-glory-in-digital-technology-f23244512091
In February 2024, I rode through the snow in search of pure maple syrup near a superfund site: natematias.medium.com/maple-syrup-time-845bc7045754
In June 2023, I rode the length of California's Central Valley in the footsteps of the 1966 Farmworkers March: natematias.com/portfolio/2023-06-01-cycling-central-valley
In April 2022, I rode 12 inches for every COVID death: natematias.medium.com/pilgrimage-for-a-million-lives-80e233a2cc55
Here are other cycling stories I've written:
- Racism Without Racists: Escaping Sprawl and Facing History at Foothills Nature Preserve
natematias.medium.com/escaping-and-facing-history-at-foothills-nature-preserve-f278ab03e67d
- Seeing Water as a Complex System: Riding with John Fleck
natematias.medium.com/seeing-water-as-a-complex-system-riding-with-john-fleck-d560f5246e0a
3,880 km
178:49 h
Recent Activity
J. Nathan Matias went cycling.
September 6, 2025
Wonderful day catching up with many other area cyclists riding the AIDS Ride For Life, which raises funds for the Southern Tier AIDs Program.
06:40
165km
24.8km/h
1,170m
1,170m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
September 6, 2025
07:08
164km
23.0km/h
1,040m
1,040m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
July 31, 2025
09:05
142km
15.7km/h
2,770m
2,710m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
July 28, 2025
31:05
479km
15.4km/h
9,880m
9,630m
Did you ever receive a mixtape from someone who you admired— a playlist that helped you understand their passions, hopes and culture? I am about to receive the all time best mixtape, as part of an Everesting Roam Ride.
As I ride the equivalent of Mount Everest, the Nepali team at Global Voices is going
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
May 26, 2025
22:02
339km
15.4km/h
5,780m
5,780m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
May 16, 2025
53:27
1,076km
20.1km/h
11,740m
11,190m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
April 5, 2025
04:58
104km
21.0km/h
780m
790m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
January 25, 2025
13:12
284km
21.5km/h
3,280m
3,040m
J. Nathan Matias planned a road ride.
October 19, 2024
07:23
175km
23.7km/h
1,160m
1,090m
J. Nathan Matias planned a gravel ride.
August 31, 2024
02:15
34.2km
15.2km/h
70m
70m
Nice