Spoke Rolls On
This week, I’m writing from the road.
I’m currently on my way to Utah, where I’ll be leading cycling vacations for the next two weeks. That means I won’t be physically present for our usual Saturday Social Ride in Frisco, but honestly, I think this is a pretty cool moment for Spoke.
If this community is going to become what I believe it can become, it cannot depend on one person being there every single week.
That has always been part of the vision.
Spoke is not meant to be a ride that only happens when I organize it. It is meant to become a community where people feel welcome enough, comfortable enough, and empowered enough to say, “Hey, I’m riding Saturday. Who wants to join?”
This weekend is a great opportunity to practice exactly that.
This Week’s Ride Options
Since I’ll be in Utah leading cycling vacations for the next two Saturdays, this is a great opportunity for the community to carry itself a little more.
This Saturday, May 16, there are a few ways to plug in:
Option 1: Independence Pass with Tom
Tom is planning to lead an Independence Pass ride this Saturday. He mentioned that he’ll organize and share more details mid-week, so if you’re interested in that ride, keep an eye on WhatsApp and connect directly with Tom as plans come together.
Option 2: Saturday Social Ride in Frisco
For anyone not heading to Independence Pass, I still encourage people to meet for the regular Saturday Social Ride:
Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters in Frisco
This can still be a great social ride, even if I’m not there. Someone can step up, suggest a route, gather the group, and help keep the Saturday rhythm going.
Option 3: Create Your Own Ride Plan
This is also a perfect week for anyone to post a ride idea in the WhatsApp and invite others along. Road, mountain, gravel, mellow spin, bigger miles, whatever people are feeling.
Spoke works best when people feel empowered to say, “I’m riding. Who wants to join?”
A Community That Can Carry Itself
One of the best signs of a healthy community is that it keeps moving even when the founder is out of town.
Some people may ride Independence Pass.
Some people may meet in Frisco for the regular Saturday ride.
Some people may organize something totally different.
Some people may simply watch the thread, get inspired, and join next time.
All of that counts.
Spoke was never supposed to be about everyone doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. It was built around connection, consistency, and the simple idea that more people should have an easier way to find each other on bikes.
So this weekend, I encourage you to use the group.
Post your plan.
Invite someone in.
Ask who wants to ride.
Offer a route.
Show up at 10.
Join Tom.
Create your own little pocket of the community.
That is how this becomes real.
The Spoke Field Guide Is Here!
I’ve also been working behind the scenes on something I’m calling The Spoke Field Guide.
It’s part welcome packet, part community orientation, part vision document.
The goal is simple: to give new and existing members a clearer understanding of what Spoke is, how the community works, where to find updates, how the WhatsApp groups are structured, what our weekly rhythm looks like, and what kind of culture we’re trying to build.
Not a rulebook.
Not a corporate handbook.
A field guide.
Something useful, clear, and grounded in the bigger vision.
As Spoke grows, I want people to feel less like they are stepping into a random group chat and more like they are entering a community with a heartbeat, a rhythm, and a reason for being here.
You can read the first version here:
This will probably continue to evolve as the community grows, but I wanted to finally put the larger vision somewhere people can see it, understand it, and share it.
From Utah, With Gratitude
I’ll be out leading bike trips in Utah for the next couple of Saturdays, but I’ll still be cheering this community on from the road.
And honestly, I’m excited to see what happens when the group carries itself.
That’s not me stepping away.
That’s the community stepping forward.
Have a great week, ride smart, communicate clearly, check conditions, and take care of each other out there.
Let’s go!
-Patrick
