Many people have a bicycling story. Maybe it’s your first memory on a bike. Perhaps it is completing a century ride. Or it could be riding your favorite mountain bike trail.

The bicycle has created many stories in my life. I’ve met a lot of friends, had great adventures and seen a lot terrain. Heck, my current job and last job were both about bicycles! I’m passionate about working at Bicycle Colorado because I know we are making our state a better place to ride.

We are making it easier for people to have positive bicycling stories. Stories that make you look back and smile about how awesome that ride was. Stories that make you realize how big a part of your life the bicycle is.

My bicycle story

Bicycling has consistently featured prominently in my life. I learned how to ride as a small child. My first steed: a BMX bike with training wheels. My helmet: a bulbous plastic and foam Bell. Riding this bike around my neighborhood are some one of the best memories from my childhood. It was fun, plain and simple.

In elementary school riding my bike meant freedom. I graduated from a single speed bike to a geared bike. I could ride my bike to school or to a friend’s house. My brother and I found we could also ride to a suburban gas station to get soda and candy (although my parents weren’t too excited about that).

In middle school, I became obsessed with mountain biking. The bike in the photo below is a mid-90s Gary Fisher Joshua. Suspension designs were more pogo stick-like then, but I thought it was sweet bike. Even though most of my riding was on neighborhood dirt paths, it was still mountain biking to me. On the weekends, if I was lucky, I would get to ride in the foothills around Denver with my family.

In high school, I started racing road bikes after a friend sold me his old aluminum race bike (and Spinergy Rev-X wheels!). Beside helping me with equipment, my friend also taught me the ins and outs of racing. Things like when to attack, how to ride in a group and how to not get chain ring grease on your calf.

In college, I continued to race. But my bicycling horizons started to spread. I rediscovered the bike as a means of transportation. Not only was the bike my racing tool, I once again realized it was my freedom machine. A device to explore, connect with people and have fun.

Three years ago, I began working at Bicycle Colorado. From our work here, I have greater awareness of what made all these positive memories possible. It was having places to ride that were safe and easy to access. It also about having access to fantastic terrain that Colorado offers. It was all the people in our state who are just as crazy, if not more crazy, about bikes than me. All of those factors contributed to my bicycle story.

A memorable ride

Last summer, I decided to ride from my house in Denver to Vail. I had an opportunity to meet family there without having to haul a backpack or clothing. This was a chance to expand my bicycling frontiers once again.

Rolling into Vail 120 miles later with my dad, who joined me on Loveland Pass, was exciting and gave me a great sense of achievement. Another notch in my metaphorical bicycling belt and a great memory.

Automobiles, trains, planes and other forms of transportation all provide freedom, but there is something about bicycling that is very satisfying. The pleasure of human powered transportation. That’s why I wanted to do this ride. It’s also why I ride every day—because I love it.

Bicycle Colorado is about making positive stories

Bicycle Colorado exists because there are people like you and me who want riding a bike to be fun and enjoyable.

As membership manager, I have the pleasure of working with members all over the state. Our work is important because it creates positive cycling stories for people in Colorado, potentially changing lives along the way.

That is also why we are working to make sure current and future generations of Coloradans can have positive and transformative experiences on bicycles through our work with Safe Routes to School.

What’s your story?

Tell us about why you ride. What is your first bike memory? How has riding a bike changed your life?

Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or below in the comments section.

Happy riding.