“Community” is a Verb
We're in a special place of the time continuum with local artist, cycle enthusiast, and community member extraordinaire, Darin Binion. Darin is well known amongst local organizations for his epic volunteer spirit, sunny disposition, and creative nature.
Darin Binion and Lily Nichols are the designers behind the 2026 fashion line “Tube Riot.”
You were recently a designer in the Carbondale Arts Fashion Show, where you seamlessly combined one of your life passions (biking), with creative expression through fashion. Can you share with us how the idea for your line "Tube Riot" came to be? And any fun anecdotes about the experience?
The name Tube Riot came from my wife Rebecca. Her daughter Lily, and I created the pieces together. We were brainstorming names for our line, and we entered some criteria into Google/AI. Tube Riot came up as one of the choices, we loved it and the name was set! The experience working with Lily was incredible, she would come over to the house and work on different parts of the line. I had the sewing machine set up on the table, where we took over the zone for a couple months.
We've also seen your creative expression via bicycle at Mountain Fair. You've built some crazy cool custom bikes for the raffle grand prize. Can you share a little bit about how that came to be, and the components that made it one-of-a-kind?
I started spray painting things with my dad Denny. He taught me how to feather the spray in light coats so the paint didn't run. I painted my pinewood derby cars and spray painted my first bike at 8-10 years old. I've spray painted numerous bikes over the years and have had the opportunity to put together an Xtracycle for the last 2 years as part of the Grand Prize package at Mountain Fair. The bike is donated from the Carbondale Bike Project. I’ve been able to find free Xtracycle attachments that I would keep specifically for this project– I have one for this year too! The Xtracycle attachment will extend the rear wheel 15" on the bike and has 2 large bags for hauling whatever you need.
I've been commuting year round with my Xtracycle for 18 years. I originally moved in with my buddy Dan Giese in Carbondale because it would extend my commute to my job in Glenwood. My spray painting of the bikes and parts has evolved over the last few years and I found hydro dipping while surfing YouTube and have completely fallen in love with it. It’s a very simple process of spray painting layers of color onto water and dipping whatever you want into the tub– adding fun color to boring old parts that still work well. They just look better with paint.
“Carbondale blends the artistic and active communities together in so many fun events throughout the year. ”
Carbondale thrives on people who show up. You are known as someone who steps in and lends a hand for several organizations and events. What motivates you to volunteer your time and energy in the community?
Volunteering in Carbondale brings you together with like-minded community members and allows you to really be an active part of the community. Mountain Fair is a huge highlight each summer for Carbondale and an incredible amount of volunteers come out and make the Fair happen. I will typically help out on Wednesday morning unloading the trailer and helping set up backstage, info booth, raffle booth, t-shirt booth and a few other tents around Sopris Park. Once the Fair starts I will help out on the production crew and load band gear on and off stage. After the Fair, we break it all down Monday morning and load it all back into the trailer. It’s a huge amount of work that wouldn't happen without all of the amazing people who come out year after year. My buddy Mark Taylor said it best the other day, "Mountain Fair is a perfect example of ‘Community’ as a verb."
Mtn Fair Raffle Grand Prize, custom-built and painted by Darin Binion, 2025.
“I have always enjoyed volunteering around town and meeting the community at large. Carbondale Arts, Carbondale Clay Center, KDNK, RFMBA all have plenty of opportunities to help out.”
What makes the local bike and/or arts scene here in Carbondale so special?
Living in Carbondale we are blessed with endless amounts of cycling and artistic opportunities. Trail networks like Prince Creek and Red Hill offer great mountain biking while being able to ride to the trailhead from home. Many local artists incorporate cycling as a release for idea generation. Many of my artistic ideas have come about during a mountain bike ride. Carbondale blends the artistic and active communities together in so many fun events throughout the year.
As an iconic figure in the biking community, what are your plans for Bonedale Bike Week next month?
Bonedale Bike Week (Carbondale without the Car... ) happens the first part of May each year and we celebrate the bicycle all week with a few events geared toward getting people out of the car and onto the bike. I will help lead the bike art tour again this year with my buddy Brad Reed Nelson, we will be on our tall bikes and will ride around town and check out different art installations as well as a studio tour or 2. The finish of Bike Week is always a party and this year my friend Matt Hoogenboom and I will bring our bike blenders and whip up some Margs on the bike!