The Cycle Effect - Building Belonging on Bikes

About

The Cycle Effect is a nonprofit organization that uses the bike as a catalyst to mentor riders and foster belonging, physical wellbeing, mental health, community engagement, leadership skills, and fun outside. With youth and adult programs in the Eagle, Summit, Mesa, Routt, and Garfield counties of Colorado, the Cycle Effect provides bikes, gear, transportation, bilingual coaching, and low-cost programming to eliminate barriers to entry for an otherwise exclusive sport.

Categories Program Adults BIPOC Children & Youth Community & Advocacy

Program Details

The Cycle Effect’s mission is to empower young women through mountain biking and help them create brighter futures and build stronger communities.

The Cycle Effect focuses on three primary goal areas: physical wellness; community impact and mentorship; and building brighter futures. By providing an opportunity for girls to be engaged in regular, healthy programs that help build their self-esteem and promote overall wellness, our participants are more likely to be healthier, stay engaged in school, and set goals that support their future.

Currently, The Cycle Effect offers 3 core program pillars:

The Girls Mountain Bike Mentorship Program
Launched in 2013, The Girls Mountain Bike Mentorship Program empowers young women ages 10 to 18 by pairing mentorship with mountain biking, with the bicycle used as a tool to teach transferable life skills and promote fun outside in our low-cost outdoor recreation program. Coaches and parents see riders in the Girls Mountain Bike Mentorship Program improve their mental and physical health, expand their confidence, experience belonging, and engage in transformative experiences that help them thrive both on and off the trail.

Mujeres y Pedales (Women and Pedals) Program
After successful pilot programs, our Mujeres y Pedales (Women and Pedals) Program is now an official 2024 program of The Cycle Effect. This free, donation-based weekly program is delivered in an inclusive bilingual setting for Spanish-speaking women ages 18+ and welcomes newcomers to the sport of mountain biking. We increase access to outdoor recreation by meeting participants where they are in our commitment to expand access for women of diverse backgrounds, who we help experience the social, emotional, and physical benefits of mountain biking.

ReCycle Program
The ReCycle Program partners with local bike shops to upgrade donated bikes in an effort to match with individuals in need across communities.

Services Offered

Professional Coaching and Skills Development – Professional coaches provide training in biking techniques, physical fitness, and skills-building for confidence and improvement.
Mentorship and Leadership Development – Provides mentorship opportunities with coaches and peer leaders that encourage responsibility and self-growth, altogether developing leadership qualities among participants.
Health and Wellness Education – Offers resources and education around health, wellness, and the importance of an active lifestyle that supports holistic development.
Parent and Family Engagement – Involves families in events, activities, and program discussions to reinforce support networks and encourage family participation in activities.
Equity and Inclusion Advocacy – Focuses on fostering diverse community representation and creating equitable access to sports and recreational opportunities for underserved youth.

Cost to Participate
Through its fundraising endeavors and partnerships, participation in TCE programming is $65 at most for an 8-week session, with scholarships available to ensure that no one is excluded based on their inability to pay.

Contact Rebecca Gould rgould@thecycleeffect.org (970) 471-5384 The Cycle Effect

Populations Served
As a champion of equity, The Cycle Effect serves female-identifying and non-binary participants, and reserves resources for those who identify as Latina, BIPOC, and low-income. The organization also prioritizes riders who face obstacles like bullying and social or emotional challenges.

Staff Composition
Full-Time Year-Round Staff (10 Employees)
Spread across four key program communities, the full-time staff includes 4 county managers who focus on leadership, program management, development, and community outreach. With 9 out of 10 staff members identifying as female, this team reflects the program’s focus on female empowerment and representation. Our County Program Managers also oversee local program implementation, participant engagement, and partnerships in Eagle, Summit, Routt, and other key areas, tailoring each county's approach to its unique community needs.

Part-Time Coaching Staff (50+ Coaches)
Over 50 dedicated part-time coaches lead skills development, mentorship, and participant support. Coaches play a pivotal role in delivering hands-on mountain biking instruction and fostering positive participant experiences.

A large group of participants line up for a photo at the edge of a hill. They are all dressed in biking gear and have their arms thrown up in the air as a sign of triumph; some also have bikes by their sides. The background is a beautiful shot of a vast canyon, with rolling green hills that disappear far into the horizon. The clear sky overhead is lit up by a bright sun.

The photo captures a candid moment where three participants are in the middle of enjoying a breezy, sunny day. All three are widely smiling; two of them converse with one another while the third cruises on a bike alongside them. Sunlight washes over the trio from behind, and the background is full of thick foliage.

Three participants bike in a line towards the top of a hill. More hills covered by green and brown grass stretch far into the distance, going as far as fading as silhouettes on the horizon. The sun illuminates the sky to reveal a bright blue gradient and clouds strewn across.

Four participants cruise along a trail that runs across the side of a grassy hill. As they take a break, one participant looks over her shoulder to check on her peer. All of them are wearing color-speckled shirts gifted by the Cycle Effect.

Four cyclists follow each other down a dirt path that gently winds down a hill. Surrounding the hill are green fields; an array of mountains loom in the distance, and the sky above is a clear blue with streams of white clouds.

Generational Belonging with Esther and Fernanda

Beyond the Bike: Luisa & Iara

Recent Case Studies

A large group of participants express their excitement at the start of a backpacking trip. Trees and distant mountains fill the horizon behind them.

Program

Wild Hearts Idaho

Wild Hearts Idaho is a non-profit that builds community, confidence, and leadership skills for middle and high school girls through free outdoor adventures.

A close-up shot of Dan riding his trike with a confident grin.

Program

Spokes Fighting Strokes

Spokes Fighting Strokes (Spokes) introduces recovery through exercise and fun by providing recumbent trikes to stroke survivors, amputees, able-bodied humans, and those with or who have had traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck and back injury, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebral palsy (CP).

An aerial image of the playground showing play equipment, gathering spaces, and a painted ground mural looping around the playground.

Place

Louis H. Farrell Elementary School

This project was designed to advance literacy and learning goals while promoting playful learning in public schoolyards. Key features include a Gateway Plaza, a Literacy Art Loop, an Outdoor Classroom & Performance Space, separate play areas for older and younger children, and a Native Pollinator Meadow & Nature Discovery Trail.