Over 40 Riders, One Big Reminder: Spoke Is Becoming a Community
Joint Venture. Roadies set off on the Copper Triangle, and the Mountaineers set off on the Dirty Triangle
This was one of those weeks that makes you stop for a second and look around.
Not because of one perfect ride.
Not because of one big announcement.
Not because of one person carrying the whole thing.
Because everywhere you looked, people were plugging in.
Some came out for a ladies’ ride.
Some came out for spicy paceline work.
Some came to a concert at the marina.
Some took on a classic Colorado road loop.
Some rode a gnarly dirt course.
Some showed up for the Saturday Social.
Some joined for the first time.
Some helped lead.
Some helped organize.
Some simply said yes.
By the end of the week, over 40 riders found connection through Spoke.
That is the whole point.
The Ladies’ Ride Is Rolling
Wednesday marked the first Ladies’ Ride of the season, with a 16-mile route out around the Highlands and Tiger Road area.
It deserves to be celebrated. Getting another regular ride option rolling matters. Different rides create different entry points, and the more entry points we have, the easier it becomes for people to find their place.
Big stoke for the ladies kicking this off!
Thursday Night Thunder: Spicy, But Smarter
3rd week of Thursday Night Thunder. Montezuma showed no mercy.
Thursday brought another classic spicy night, with five riders heading out to Montezuma.
This ride is continuing to evolve. The goal is not just to attack each other for 20 miles and see who survives. The bigger opportunity is to build a space where moderate to advanced riders can learn how to ride faster, safer, and smarter together.
That means practicing pacelines, learning how to ride predictably in a group, understanding how to hold a wheel through 30 seconds of discomfort, and how much that can change the next five or ten minutes of riding. Learning when to regroup, when to rotate, when to climb at your own pace, and how to help the group cover more ground together.
There will always be room to make the climbs spicy, of course. The real magic is learning how much stronger we become when we ride together.
If you are looking to build confidence at higher speeds, learn more advanced group riding skills, and push your fitness in a supportive setting, Thursday Night Thunder is becoming the place for that.
Rock the Dock: Connection Off the Bike
Friday night, Spoke gathered at Rock the Dock in Frisco.
This was not a ride. It was not our event. It was simply a chance to show up, listen to music, watch the sunset over the marina, and get to know each other without helmets, bike shoes, or pace anxiety.
It was incredible.
At one point, there were what felt like nearly 50 people in one big loose circle connected through Spoke in some way.
Some were newer faces.
Some were regular riders.
Some were friends, partners, neighbors, or people being introduced for the first time.
That is community.
Not just miles.
Not just routes.
Not just watts, bikes, or fitness.
People.
A huge thank you to Tom for suggesting we gather there. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best community-building does not happen while riding. Sometimes it happens standing in the grass, surrounded by friends, new faces, mountain light, and a sunset that makes you remember why we live here.
The Copper Triangle: One Idea Became a Big Adventure
The climb begins. Freemont welcomes the group to a big mountain day.
Saturday was the biggest Spoke ride day to date.
It all started the way the best community ideas usually start: someone threw something into the chat.
Nate had a friend visiting from New Jersey and wanted to ride the Copper Triangle, one of Colorado’s classic road routes. Once the idea was out there, interest started to build. So we gave it a little more structure, made a Strava event, shared it more publicly, and watched the momentum grow.
Then Julie asked the dangerous and wonderful question: “What about a dirt option?”
Ben answered with the Dirty Copper Triangle, which looked absolutely brutal in the best possible way.
Then Ross reached out and asked if we would be interested in SAG support for the road ride. For an 80-mile loop with remote stretches, that kind of support can make a huge difference. His friend Donnie was in town and willing to help.
By Saturday morning, the parking lot told the story.
Fifteen road riders.
Seven mountain riders.
One SAG driver.
Twenty-three people ready for adventure.
Some were there for dirt.
Some were familiar faces.
Some were newer to Spoke.
Some were there for the road.
Some riders were taking on the Copper Triangle for the first time.
Everyone was there to see what the day would become.
Well, it delivered.
There were natural pace groups, steady regroups, big climbs, fast descents, Colorado wind, and some truly incredible paceline work coming down from Leadville toward Minturn.
That was one of the biggest reminders of the day: cycling is much more of a group sport than people realize.
When people work together, the distance becomes more manageable. The speed becomes more sustainable. The experience becomes bigger than what most of us would choose to do alone.
That is what Saturday showed us.
With a little planning, a little support, and a lot of people saying yes, we can create some pretty special days in the mountains.
Meanwhile: The Saturday Social Kept Rolling
Our Saturday Social rides from Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters in Frisco every Saturday at 10am. Typically around 35 miles.
While the Copper Triangle crew rolled out at 8 AM, another eight riders showed up for the flagship Saturday Social.
Colin, a newer member this year, stepped in to lead the group on a fun route out to Keystone and back. Several first-timers joined, and from the looks of it, the ride had exactly the kind of welcoming energy this ride is meant to create.
That matters a lot.
The long-term health of Spoke is not about one giant ride replacing everything else. It is about having multiple ways to plug in.
On Saturday alone, we had over 30 riders across three separate rides.
Dirt.
Road.
Social.
Spicy.
Not spicy.
Big adventure.
Approachable morning ride.
That is the future of Spoke.
Not one ride trying to be everything for everyone.
Multiple doors into the same community.
What the Feedback Is Telling Us
We want more mountain bike rides!
The Year 2 Feedback Survey is already helping shape where we go next.
The strongest themes coming through are very clear:
People are looking to meet others.
People are looking for riding partners.
People are looking for community.
That matters.
Yes, there is demand for fitness, performance, and bigger rides. Those things will continue to grow naturally. However, the center of Spoke is not about building the fastest group in the county.
The center is connection.
Another clear theme: a lot of people are still worried they are not fast enough, strong enough, experienced enough, or ready enough to join.
If that is you, please hear this clearly: you are not alone.
That is the single most common feedback we hear.
The more people who show up, the easier it becomes for everyone to find someone near their pace. Your presence may be the thing that helps someone else feel like they belong.
Group riding also gets easier with time. Riding with others teaches you how to conserve energy, hold a wheel, communicate, regroup, and trust the flow of the group. Fitness helps, of course. Confidence and experience matter just as much, and those only come by showing up.
The survey is also showing more demand for weekday evening rides than expected. That will affect programming soon. Expect more structure to begin forming around a weekly rhythm, possibly including:
Monday - recovery/social
Tuesday - steady fitness
Wednesday - ladies’ ride
Thursday - spicy/advanced skills
This will keep evolving as we learn what people actually want and where hosts are available to help.
Social, Steady, Spicy
The ridge leading into Battle Mountain on the Copper Triangle route.
We are also working on better language to describe ride vibes.
Going forward, you will likely see more rides described as Social, Steady, or Spicy.
Social means a more relaxed pace, more regrouping, more conversation, and a lower-pressure entry point.
Steady means a moderate fitness pace. Still supportive, still regrouping, but with a little more tempo and flow.
Spicy means advanced or performance-oriented. Fewer regroups, higher speeds, more route knowledge expected, and more comfort riding predictably in a group.
It is about helping people choose the ride that fits them best.
The goal is to be an usher, not a gatekeeper.
Looking Ahead
Bike to Work Day - Wednesday, June 24
This Wednesday morning, we are planning a relaxed Bike to Work Day ride around the county.
There are seven Bike to Work Day tents from 7:30 to 10 AM, and the plan is to ride to as many as we reasonably can while keeping things social, cheerful, and low-pressure.
Think of it like moving around the mountain from chairlift to chairlift. The tents will be the regroup points.
This is a great entry point for newer riders or anyone who has been worried about keeping up on faster rides.
Strava event:
https://strava.app.link/HM3CDPblb4b
Guys Night with Building Hope - Tuesday, June 23
Patrick will be speaking at Guys Night, an event supported by Building Hope focused on connection and reducing isolation among men in Summit County.
This is deeply aligned with why Spoke exists. We know isolation is real here. We know people are struggling. And we believe connection, movement, vulnerability, and community can make a difference.
The event is free and no RSVP is required.
Event info:
https://events.humanitix.com/guys-night
SCoMBA Benefit Breakfast - Sunday, June 28
On Sunday morning, we are planning to gather socially for the SCoMBA benefit breakfast.
This is not a ride. It is a low-pressure way to connect, support the mountain bike community, and show appreciation for the people doing real trail maintenance work in Summit County.
Tickets are $20 in advance. For a Spoke social meetup we are currently looking at meeting around 9 AM.
Full Moon Ride #2 - Monday, June 29
The second Full Moon Ride is coming up Monday, June 29 at 10 PM.
Yes, it is late. In the middle of summer, the sun is up late, and the moonlight ride experience is worth it.
The route is still being discussed. We are hoping future full moon rides can become lake laps, but with Swan Mountain still closed, we are looking at alternate options for this one.
Suggestions are welcome.
Strava event:
https://strava.app.link/hnIOw4ilb4b
Jerseys Are Live
It has been awesome seeing the Spoke jerseys out on the paths.
Road and trail options are now available on demand, which means you can order one anytime. There is no minimum order and no waiting for a big group buy.
To be clear: Spoke is making zero dollars from this. This is not a fundraiser or a money-maker. It is simply a way to build visibility and help people feel connected to the community.
Jersey store:
https://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/57623
Photos, Stories, and Sharing the Community
Nothing like a big climb with no cars!
We are also working on a better system for sharing photos.
We do not want to flood the chat with 15 photos every time there is a big ride. However, we also do want to document what is happening.
The more this community documents itself, the less the story has to come from one perspective.
For bigger events, we will begin creating shared photo albums where people can upload and view photos from the day. We are also working on a better submission process for photos that can be shared in newsletters, social media, and future updates.
Those photos do not have to only come from official Spoke rides.
If you take a bike photo, a mountain photo, a group photo, a trail photo, a coffee stop photo, or anything that captures the spirit of riding in Summit County, we want to see it.
This community belongs to the people showing up.
Keep Giving Feedback
Keep smiling out there!
The more feedback we receive, the better we can support the community.
If you want a slower ride, say it.
If you want more mountain biking, say it.
If you want a bigger weekend route, say it.
If you want to host something, suggest it.
If you are nervous to join, tell us what would help.
That is how this weekend happened.
Someone suggested a ride.
Someone else added a dirt option.
Someone else helped with support.
Someone else led the social ride.
Suddenly, over 30 people were riding on the same day.
That is how Spoke grows.
Not by one person forcing everything into existence.
By more people saying yes.
Feedback survey:
https://forms.gle/AqxwzNmtHfPZzkpR7
Plug in where it fits.
Read everything, skim everything, ignore half of it, join one ride, come to one social, send one photo, invite one friend, suggest one route.
There is no pressure to do all of it.
There is just an open door.
