This Week With Spoke: More Than a Ride
This week, the most important gathering on the Spoke calendar does not require a bike.
On Wednesday night, we are stepping out of the saddle and into the same room for More Than a Ride, a community social presented by Spoke and Building Hope Summit County.
More Than a Ride
Wednesday, July 29
6:00-8:00 PM
Highside Brewing, Frisco
This night has been in the works for a while, and it represents something at the heart of why Spoke exists.
We love riding bikes. We love long mountain days, early starts, big climbs, fast descents, dirt-covered legs, coffee stops, finish-line celebrations, and the feeling of looking around and seeing a group of Spoke jerseys moving together.
The bicycle is only the beginning.
The deeper purpose of this community is connection.
It is recognizing faces around town.
It is having people to call when you want to ride.
It is finding encouragement when you are trying something new.
It is having people celebrate your wins, check on you when life gets difficult, and remind you that you do not have to navigate everything alone.
That is what Wednesday night is about.
More Than a Ride is an opportunity to meet the people behind the helmets, spend time together without watching the pace line, and talk about the kind of cycling community we want to continue building in Summit County.
We are partnering with Building Hope Summit County because movement, mental health, belonging, and human connection are deeply connected. Many people move to the mountains looking for adventure, beauty, and a better life. They also still find themselves experiencing loneliness or isolation.
Both things can be true.
We can live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and still need help finding our people. Spoke began because we believed riding together could help change that. Wednesday night is an opportunity to take that mission beyond a weekly ride.
Who Should Come?
Everyone.
Come if you have only ridden with us once.
Come if you have joined nearly every Spoke ride this summer.
Come if you have been following along but have not yet worked up the courage to join.
Come if you are a road cyclist, mountain biker, gravel rider, commuter, beginner, racer, returning rider, or simply someone interested in finding more community in Summit County.
There is no pace requirement.
There is no fitness requirement.
You do not need to own the newest bike, wear a Spoke jersey, or know anyone before walking through the door.
You also do not need to bring a bike.
Bring yourself. Bring a friend. Bring your ideas for what this community could become.
We will have opportunities to connect, reflect on what we have created together, and help shape the future of Spoke. This is not a formal meeting or a two-hour lecture. It is a social gathering designed to give us the time and space to actually get to know one another.
Find the full event details at:
spokesummit.com/social
Copper Triangle Weekend
This Saturday is also the Copper Triangle, and it looks like approximately a dozen Spoke riders will be taking on the event.
We are excited to see so many members of the community representing Spoke across the course. Whether you are chasing a goal, riding with friends, or taking on the Triangle for the first time, we hope you have an incredible and safe day.
Keep an eye out for the Spoke jerseys, and remember to take some photos so we can celebrate everyone afterward.
Saturday Social Moves to 9:00 AM
For those staying closer to home, our regular Saturday Social Ride will still take place in Frisco.
Beginning this Saturday, the ride will move from 10:00 AM to 9:00 AM for all five Saturdays in August:
August 1
August 8
August 15
August 22
August 29
We will reassess the start time before September based on weather, participation, and feedback from the group.
Saturday Social Ride
Saturday at 9:00 AM
Old Town Hall Pavilion - Frisco
The Saturday Social remains our welcoming, no-drop community ride. Route information and any final updates will be shared through the Spoke calendar and community channels. With many riders participating in the Copper Triangle, this weekend’s local group may be smaller than usual, but the ride is still happening.
This Week’s Biggest Ask
Come Wednesday night.
Even better, personally invite one other person to join you.
Think about the person who has talked about wanting to meet more people. The person who rides alone. The person who moved here recently. The person who follows Spoke but has not joined a ride yet. The person who might benefit from walking into a room and realizing there is a place for them in this community.
Send them the invitation.
The rides matter.
The routes matter.
The challenges and accomplishments matter.
The relationships we build along the way are what can turn a cycling group into something much bigger.
We will see you Wednesday night at Highside.
Let’s continue building something that is truly more than a ride.
