The Wheels Keep Turning

September is here, summer is starting to turn the corner, and there are still a whole lot of bikes moving around Summit County. Saturday’s road ride had another great turnout, with 16 riders getting out together, and throughout the week I’ve been seeing more conversations popping up across the Spoke groups. People looking for riding partners, talking routes and figuring out ways to get outside together.

That’s the good stuff.
Not every ride needs to be a big event.

Sometimes it’s four people who happen to have the same afternoon free.
Sometimes somebody throws, “Anyone riding tomorrow?” into a group chat and sees what happens.
Sometimes it’s just finding one other person who wants to go pedal.

If you’re looking to ride while we still have these beautiful September days, use the groups. Throw an idea out there. Join something somebody else suggests.

There’s still plenty of season left.

Finish Strong

There’s also been a harder theme floating around the cycling community lately: injuries.

A number of people have gone down recently, and it feels worth saying as we get toward the later part of a very full summer.

We’ve all got a lot of miles in the legs right now.

We’re fit.
We’re confident.
We might also be a little more tired than we realize.

So finish the season strong, as well as smart.

Communicate in the group.
Give each other space.
Pay attention.

Know when to push and when today simply isn’t the day.

The goal is always to get everybody back home.

To everyone currently healing, recovering or temporarily watching the rides from the sidelines: we’re thinking about you and hoping you’re back doing what you love soon.

Onto this week. Our regular Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday rides are still on the calendar, and if you’re around, we’d love to see them keep rolling.

Check the calendar, jump into the appropriate group chat, and let people know if you’re planning to ride. If you’ve been around Spoke for a while and know the routes and how these rides work, this is a great time to help out. Welcome someone new. Help gather the group. Make sure nobody gets left wondering where everyone went.

You don’t need to make it complicated.
Show up. Ride together. Take care of each other.

From Utah

I’m writing this one from Utah, where I’m back guiding bike tours through Bryce and Zion.

Different roads, different mountains, same basic idea:
Get outside. Move your body. Find some people to share it with.

Keep enjoying September, Spoke.
Keep inviting people along.
Keep riding.

-Patrick