Cycling races and events are a phenomenal way to connect with other riders, develop new skills, explore different places and expand your community. This summer, we were delighted to support several events and organized rides from our own backyard in Vermont to the Grand Tetons. While we couldn’t physically attend them all, we were there in spirit and had some incredible ambassadors to cheer on and take part in the action. Here’s a look at some of this summer’s event highlights.
Wydaho Rendezvous: The Teton Bike Festival
A chance meeting over breakfast burritos outside Yellowstone National Park connected us to new Development Director of Teton Valley Trails & Pathways, Peggy Boggs. Peggy invited us to Wydaho, a family-friendly gathering and celebration of mountain biking that’s famous for providing fun for all in the Tetons and we knew we had to be involved.
The Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival is a fundraiser for Teton Valley Trails and Pathways and the largest adaptive mountain bike festival in the USA. Held yearly over Labor Day weekend at the Grand Targhee Resort near Driggs, ID the driving force behind the event is to make the mountain biking community in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming more inclusive while preserving Teton Valley’s trail network. Wydaho aims to reshape the biking community by creating and maintaining trails that are accessible to all abilities, making the sport more diverse, and ensuring that the trails traveled remain a treasure for generations to come.
Wydaho is a well-oiled machine that welcomes everyone. Grand Targhee’s trails offer something for every style of riding and every level of rider, from flow trails for all ages and abilities, to adaptive courses, to classic technical descents, jump lines, skills parks and much, much more. Along with the opportunity to discover a new favorite trail by taking laps on over 2,200 vertical feet of lift-serviced downhill and over 70+ miles of cross country trails, Wydaho also featured live music, gear and adaptive bike demos, cycling clinics, out-of-the-saddle activities and even the opportunity to win a sweet Terry gear package. Peggy reports that this year, between athletes and support folks, over 90 people attended for the adaptive component and over $25,000 was raised for Teton Valley Trails and Pathways. Peggy also remarked that there was an overwhelming call to host more women’s rides and that Wydaho looks forward to creating more women-centered clinics and rides in 2024.
To learn more and get involved with next year’s gathering, please visit the Wydaho Website.
Kelly Brush Ride
We were thrilled that Terry could once again support the Kelly Brush Ride on September 9th. This event is an iconic Vermont celebration that supports the Kelly Brush Foundation’s (KBF) mission to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lives.
KBF was founded by Kelly Brush and her family after Kelly was injured in 2006 at an NCAA alpine ski race. This sparked a movement dedicated to making active lifestyles a reality for those who have experienced a spinal cord injury. Today, Kelly is a pediatric nurse practitioner, mother, skier, biker, golfer, weekend adventurer, and passionate leader of the Kelly Brush Foundation.
Every dollar raised at the Kelly Brush Ride goes directly to providing adaptive sports equipment, hosting camps, and connecting members of the spinal cord injury (SCI) community through online tools. There are approximately 300,000 people in the United States living with a spinal cord injury, and every year that number increases by 18,000. The obstacles of navigating from injury to independence are real: physical, financial, and even the belief it is possible. The Kelly Brush Ride aims to offer inspiration that anything is possible and to raise funds that enable anyone to buy the equipment they need to get out and go. Increased access to adaptive equipment means that families can play tennis together, friends can ski down their favorite mountain, basketball players can join their local league, and any adaptive athlete can get back to being active again.
The Middlebury-based event features 4 excellent road course options ranging from 10 to 100 miles through the rolling hills of the Vermont countryside. For the first time this year, a 5th course was introduced that gave riders the option to ditch the pavement and take on a 32-mile unassisted gravel route. A massive number of Vermont cyclists showed up at the all-ages event, including 5-year-old Freddy, the son of Bobby and Hannah Torney who are very active in Vermont’s biking and skiing communities.
We look forward to seeing Freddy top podiums someday!
Freddy just turned 5 this August and got a new bike for his birthday. His aunt also got him a ‘King of the Mountains’ Tour de France jersey as we had it on in the background a lot this summer and he became obsessed—constantly racing his 3-year-old brother around the neighborhood and declaring himself the ‘king of the mountains’. He was very pumped for the KBF Ride and crushed the 11-mile route and says he is doing 20 miles next year. Freddy didn’t really realize it was a fundraising ride and not a race, telling his teachers he did well but “a few people finished before me, so I didn’t win this year”
Bobby Torney on Freddy’s First KBF Ride.
Last year the KBF awarded 244 grantees with $1 million in Active Fund grants across 50 states. It is their goal this year to raise $1.35 million. While the Kelly Brush Ride may have concluded, fundraising will continue through the end of September with every additional donation making a difference in more people’s lives. To donate and learn more about the Kelly Brush Foundation, please visit the KBF Website.
Black Girls Do Bike 10th Anniversary Meetup
Terry Ambassador and all-around movement motivator, Adina Crawford was selected to lead two invigorating yoga sessions at the Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB) Annual Meetup in San Diego, CA this August. Supported by Terry and REI, Adina attended the event celebrating 10 years of black joy that all started when Founder and Executive Director of BGDB, Monica Godfrey-Garrison, realized how seriously underrepresented black women are in cycling. In just 10 years, Black Girls Do Bike has grown to include over 100 grassroots chapters worldwide and has built a robust and encouraging network of riders. Within this network are over 180 leading ladies—including our very own Adina—known as Sheros, who have gone above and beyond to break down the barriers between black women and cycling and serve as mentors across the organization. Black Girls Do Bike hosts local events, group rides, clinics, and national meetups to connect thousands of black women through their love of cycling for function, fitness, freedom and fun. This year’s 10th Anniversary gathering was a celebration of a decade of progress, fellowship, and black girl magic.
Never-Ending Pedal Strokes with Black Girls Do Bike.
The National Meetup this August was indeed a memorable event for Black Girls Do Bike. We celebrated 10 YEARS!!! Not only was this a major milestone, it was also a gathering of women from across 50 states to celebrate biking. What better way to get fit, build laughter, and have fun all at once?
The weekend itinerary was full of a lot of excitement and events orchestrated by the national committee, and members of the Black Girls Do Bike San Diego Chapter.
Friday: To kick the event off, an unforgettable All-White Party was held at Carnitas’ Snack Shack, where women gathered in head to toe, all-white attire. The kick off was highlighted by ladies all gussied up to raise the roof, have fun dancing, laughing, and partaking in Carnitas’s tasty tacos and other foods. We had a blast taking photos. Selfies were shared, riders representing the same homestate took group pics, and some of us even snapped some glamour shots. To end the night there were giveaways, including a TREK Bike. It was a magnificent time celebrating 10 years of progress and all the incredible things that are still to come.
Saturday: The San Diego Chapter of BGDB set up a group ride that took all participants on historic and scenic routes throughout the city. What a great time it was to pedal and see beautiful San Diego while stopping to take pictures or grab snacks from local vendors. The 20 mile route captured the essence of San Diego: water, sand, and marvelous historic sites. The opportunity to stop and go was amazing, as no one was left behind.
After the enjoyable bike ride, ladies pre-registered for my yoga session and I was grateful that it was a sold-out event. This class allowed participants to release the tension from riding and, moreover, come into deliberate stillness while elongating and stretching the muscles and allowing for better blood flow. Monica Godfrey-Garrison (Founder/Executive Director of BGDB) generously provided all the yoga mats and essential lavender oils were randomly placed under towels for the participants to enjoy. The entire room was dedicated to releasing, restoring, and relaxing the bodies. A full hour of bliss. The movements were small but impactful, with various modifications to support all bodies and levels.
Sunday: On the final day, we took over Bike The Bay a big, 29 mile ride around the San Diego Bay. WHEW!!!!! At least 200 women from Black Girls Do Bike participated in this fantastic ride. The ride was self-paced, non-competitive, and a whole lot of fun. It offered opportunities to stop and explore the sights, grab a coffee and a snack, and chat with other riders from all over San Diego Bay area. We got to see the cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, and National City before returning back to the start in Downtown San Diego Embaracedero Park. The whole ride was to benefit the San Diego Bicycle Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to making cycling better in San Diego. The ride was initially a challenge because, like with any ride, you don’t know how you’re body will perform, but there was comfort in knowing that it was only me vs. me the whole distance.
The weekend concluded with Yoga In The Park. This was a quiet, self-contained yoga experience where members got to partake in yoga as the sun went down over the water. The movement was designed to unwind, unspool thoughts, and allow the body to rest and stretch. The goal in this session was to allow each participant to increase strength, endurance, stamina, and most importantly flexibility.
Overall, leading the yoga sessions for the BGDB 10th Anniversary Gathering provided me an opportunity to connect with fellow participants through grounding work, breath, movement, and stillness. My yoga sessions gave everyone a chance to completely let go and embrace each breath, in and out. Between each breath, there are transitions which are like bridges to the next pose, creating a reflective move as we send breath through the body and balance to the mind and soul.
The impact this event had was simply beautiful. It was an opportunity to be present, and to reflect on self and personal gratitude, that was deepened with the power of sisterhood and the blessings we offer eachother. Black Girls Do Bike is supportive, encouraging, non-judgemental and moreover has a genuine love for all levels and bodies in cycling. I left the weekend in a deep state of gratitude and resilience.
– Adina Crawford recounts her experience at the Black Girls Do Bike 10th Anniversary Meetup.
About Adina
Adina is an avid fitness and cycling enthusiast who loves building communities and creating spaces where people thrive. In 2016, she completed her first marathon in Chicago followed by the Boston Virtual Marathon in October 2021. She has completed too many half-marathons, triathlons, and cycling events to count. In October 2022, Adina was recognized for all the work she does to make running, biking, and yoga inclusive to all and received a proclamation from Mayor Dominic Sarno of Springfield, Massachusetts. With his proclamation there is now an official “Adina Crawford Day” every October 30th.
Adina Crawford is a certified Yoga Teacher who teaches Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Yin Yoga and Meditation and Mindfulness. Her calling to teach yoga has been about diversity and community and understanding that each person is unique and at a different level. Her goal is to inspire growth at every level. She has collaborated and taught with companies such as Fleet Feet, Lululemon, Athleta, Oiselle and many local groups in her Baltimore, MD community. Along with being a Terry Ambassador, Adina is an Ambassador for Trek Bicycles, Black Girls Run, and is an REI Co-op Partner. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Black Girls Run Foundation whose mission is to encourage and motivate black women to practice a healthy lifestyle and break down barriers around fitness. Adina’s goal is to bring more diversity and awareness to the track, mat, and bike. She truly believes: RUNNING, YOGA, & BIKES ARE FOR EVERY BODY. Follow along with Adina’s journey on social media: Instagram: @adinavcrawford | Facebook: Deanie The Yogini – For The Love of YOGA | Twitter: @Adinacrawford19
We were stoked to be able to support more than one 10th anniversary this Summer. In August, Skirts in the Dirt held their 10th annual, women-only mountain bike race in Michigan—the only event of it’s nature in the entire state. Skirts in the Dirt is a race designed with the beginner mountain biker in mind but is a blast for all skill levels, offering unique courses and challenges for every type of rider. Skirts in the Dirt encourages participants to ride for fun, community, to try something new or just to race with a ton of awesome women in their local cycling scene. At its core, Skirts in the Dirt is a celebration of all women who ride. We teamed up with Ambassador and Skirts in the Dirt Race Director, Maria Diekema, to ensure this year’s event was a success and the start of 10 more years of women-centered cycling fun.
Why We Race
Skirts in the Dirt was born in 2013. Since then, we have won numerous awards from our local community and organizations that represent our entire state. As of today, we are still the only all-women mountain bike race in the state of Michigan. This year, as we looked around at over 160 women and girls participating, we wondered why other races have trouble getting women to participate. There is probably a combination of reasons, but we are obviously doing something right to see strong women show up in such strong numbers.
Our event is more than just another mountain bike race—it is a celebration of all women who ride; no matter the color of their skin, body shape or size, skill level, where they ride, how often or the bike they ride. We are inclusive of the LGBTQ, Femme and NB community. You will also find mothers with their children—on their bikes, on the course, and on the podium.
We take pride in cultivating a safe place for all non-traditional mountain bike riders to comfortably experience a beginner-friendly racing atmosphere. It is our hope that it leads to more races down the trail.
Women have been coming from hours away to participate for several years now. We have a few women who have raced with us from the start and many who have come back yearly since discovering us. We celebrate our racers through the entire Skirts in the Dirt event because we are grateful that they see the value in celebrating women in all forms and cultivating a future as role models to young racers.
Although Skirts in the Dirt is assisted by a large group of volunteers; it is the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters Planning Committee who spearhead most of the event planning, organizing, course-marking, brainstorming, and logistics. None of these women get paid to host Skirts in the Dirt and none of them would want to—our work is about cultivating a community, watching the Michigan ridership grow, raising awareness of the local mountain biking chapters, and inspiring more people to ride their bikes and to find adventure on their backyard trails!
Our race includes 5 categories for adult racers: Never Ever!, Oops! I Did It Again, Weekend Warrior, Dirt Diva, Single Speed, and Fabulously Fat. The categories range from 5-6 mile beginner courses to 14-15 mile routes for more experienced riders and special races for fat biking fanatics and single speed minimalists. It’s our mission to provide an event where all skill levels thrive. Our space is safe and we extend an invitation to anyone who might feel intimidated to join us! This event is to show that the sport of mountain biking is awesome, and the people are even better!
Our race also includes categories for young racers: Little Divas, Squirts in the Dirt, and Tiny Squirts in the Dirt. Little Divas is the most competitive category, where Girls 10-13 years-old who have been a part of an organized MTB youth group and/or has successfully completed other 10+ mile race or events, can now race for the opportunity to win a cash prize. We do this to encourage girls to continue to race where they are welcomed and to fuel a healthy, competitive spirit. We want to be an example to these young girls. They are our future. Velo Kids, a local non-profit organization, also hosts an obstacle course so little non-racers (boys and girls) can be a part of the day too.
Wahlfield Park, where Skirts in the Dirt is hosted, is one of the most beautiful places in the Greater Grand Rapids area. The trail is perfect for this event and we look forward to it every year. We feel it is the most gorgeous trail in the area; with all the flowers, rivers that run through it, the views, and the terrain. The trail coordinators at Wahlfiend are so awesome, too. They bend over backward for us to make sure we have the best time! We are so grateful for all their hard work.
All proceeds from Skirts in the Dirt get put back into the local community by promoting the sport (through the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters), maintaining our local trails (through donation to Wahlfield Park), and donations to new trail builds (Jamestown Trail). We also donate to local pet rescue organizations and sponsor learning opportunities for women interested in bike mechanics.
Of course, we could not put on this event without the support of our sponsors. Our main sponsor is our favorite local bike shop – Main Street Bicycle Co. in Zeeland, Michigan. Velocity USA donates a set of beautiful wheels every year! Wonder Goods donates beautiful bike bags. Boeshield T-9 makes sure everyone’s chains are lubed. Terry has supported us with wonderful prize packages and helped create excitement and make our event a success. Wren Sports sent us awesome suspension forks and the local mountain biking chapter; the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance supports us a great deal with cash and spreading the word.
We hope to see many readers and members of the Terry community at Skirts in the Dirt in 2024!
Skirts in the Dirt Race Director Maria Diekema
About Maria & The Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters
“Hey! I’m Maria and I love mountain biking! Although my husband introduced me to mountain biking about 6 years ago, it was my friend Jill Martindale who turned it into a passion. She sold me my first bike when she worked at a local shop and told me about the women’s weekly group rides. My first race ever was Skirts in the Dirt. I had so much fun that I kept coming back and now I organize it! Dreams do come true! In 2020 I founded an all-women’s mountain bike group called Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters. I saw a need for it in the Holland/Zeeland area and it was important for me to find a way to fill that gap. Since then, the club has grown so much. I love introducing women to mountain biking! I love watching their skills grow and them gaining confidence. To see my LMBSisters enter races, doing long gravel rides and bikepacking; it makes my heart so happy. I have the goodest boi in the world named Miles. He is a rescue beagle mix and if we talk you won’t go away without seeing a picture or two or three. I love laid back fun group rides and will join any chance I get. If your ride takes you to tacos or ice cream, I’m there!”
Founded in 2020, Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters (LMBS) is a Michigan not-for-profit organization that promotes women in biking by putting on skills clinics, weekly (year-round) rides, organizes camp & rides, and promotes, joins and offers support at other local biking events and gravel and MTB races. LMBS won the “Club of the Year” award in 2023 from the League of Michigan Cyclists for promoting access to cycling and enhancing the lives of women. LMBS would not be in existence today if it were not for the inspiration of the Skirts in the Dirt race event. To learn more about Skirts in the Dirt and the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters, please visit their website.
Want Terry To Be Involved In YOUR Next Event?
Use this form to let us know about it or reach out to Communications Coordinator, Camarin: cmartins@terrybicycles.com with event details and sponsorship/donation requests.
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