A Community in Motion
Spoke getting ready to tackle Independace Pass!
There are certain moments in building a community that feel bigger than the event itself.
This past weekend was one of them.
While I was out of state guiding bike tours in Utah, twelve Spoke members gathered for a group ride up Independence Pass while it was still closed to cars.
That alone is pretty incredible.
This ride required planning.
It required communication.
It required a drive outside of Summit County.
It required people to wake up, commit, coordinate, and take a chance on a spring Colorado adventure.
They did!
Twelve riders showed up.
Two new members even traveled about two hours from Boulder to join the community.
The group encountered classic spring Colorado conditions, including a little bit of snow, because apparently Independence Pass wanted to make sure everyone earned the story.
The best part?
I was not there.
Why That Matters
Not closed to Bikes!
Of course, I would have loved to be there.
Of course, I was hoping there might also be a more traditional Saturday Social ride out of Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Honestly, it is hard to be anything other than excited about what happened.
This marks the third week in a row where a dozen or more riders have gathered through Spoke to ride together.
This one was different.
This was a bigger effort.
This was a destination ride.
This was not just a casual ride from our normal meeting spot.
This was a group choosing to go outside the county, ride a classic Colorado route, and create an experience together.
Even more importantly, it was organized and executed without me.
That is a huge sign of growth.
Spoke was never meant to be a community that only works when I am standing there holding the clipboard, making the announcement, and leading the rollout.
The deeper vision has always been to create a place where people find each other.
A place where one ride leads to another.
One conversation leads to a plan.
One member’s idea becomes a group adventure.
One person’s invitation becomes someone else’s first ride with the community.
That is exactly what happened this weekend.
A Big Thank You to Tom
Thank you for organizing Tom!
A huge thank you goes to Tom for helping lead the charge on this one.
Tom was the first member we highlighted in the Spoke newsletter, and this weekend was a great example of why.
He brought the idea forward, helped shape the plan, and gave the group something memorable to rally around.
That kind of leadership matters.
Not because it has to be formal.
Not because everyone needs a title.
Not because we need to over-organize every ride.
Because communities grow when members feel empowered to contribute.
This weekend was a really strong example of that.
The Community Is Getting Stronger
“It was awesome!!! The snow was short lived and just added to the experience.”
What excites me most right now is not just the number of riders.
It is the pattern.
Week after week, people are showing up.
New faces are mixing with familiar ones.
Road rides are gaining momentum.
The mountain bike chat is starting to show signs of life.
People are beginning to suggest ideas, share opportunities, and imagine what this can become.
That is the good stuff.
We are still early.
There are still systems to build.
There are still ride formats to clarify.
There are still questions around pace groups, stronger club rides, mountain bike offerings, event-specific rides, and how to keep communication clean as the community grows.
However, the foundation is getting stronger.
The more people show up, the more possible everything becomes.
This Weekend
I will still be away this coming weekend guiding another tour, so I will not be there to lead a Saturday ride personally.
After seeing what happened with Independence Pass, I feel more encouraged than ever.
If someone wants to organize a road ride, post it.
If someone wants to organize a mountain bike ride, post it.
If a few people just want to meet for coffee and roll casually, post it.
If you are looking to ride and do not know where to start, say something in the chat.
This community does not need to pause just because I am away.
In fact, the whole point is that it should not.
Mountain Bike Momentum
I am also excited to see a little more activity starting to rumble in the mountain bike chat.
It may still be small. It may still be early. But that is how these things begin.
I am planning to participate in the Pivot mountain bike demo day on June 14th, and I would love to use that as one of the launch points for more mountain bike energy inside Spoke.
Road riding has been the clearest early rhythm so far, but Spoke was always intended to be a broader Summit County cycling community.
Road.
Mountain.
Gravel.
Big adventures.
Social spins.
Training rides.
Local connection.
There is room for all of it as long as we keep the culture grounded, welcoming, and clear.
A Few Things on the Horizon
There are a few things coming up that I want to put on everyone’s radar.
First, I am looking at leading a series of Full Moon Rides this summer.
The next four full moons line up well with my schedule, and I am hoping to lead all four. More details will come soon, but for now, consider this an early heads-up.
Second, Triple Bypass is now about two months away.
If you are riding Triple or Double Bypass and want to be connected with the Spoke crew, make sure you are paying attention to registration details and the group/team option. If you want Spoke printed or associated with your registration, take care of that sooner rather than later.
Third, I know there is interest in stronger weekly ride offerings.
Not every Spoke ride needs to be a casual social pace. The Saturday Social ride will continue to be an important community anchor, but I also know some riders are looking for more structured efforts, tempo rides, climbing days, and stronger club-style options.
That is coming.
I do not want to overpromise before I am back in town and able to support it properly, but I hear the demand.
I feel the momentum.
I want to build this in a way that is sustainable.
The Bigger Picture
This past weekend felt like a milestone.
Not because everything was perfect.
Not because every possible ride happened.
Not because the whole system is fully built.
Because the community moved on its own.
Twelve riders.
A classic Colorado pass.
Spring weather.
New members.
Member-led organization.
All while the founder is watching from another state with a very full heart.
That is Spoke.
Not just a ride.
Not just a chat.
Not just a schedule.
A community in motion.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, everyone who helped organize, everyone who shared photos, and everyone who continues to bring this thing to life.
We are still early.
Yet, something is happening here.
Let’s go!
