2026 - A Year in Review

January

January was a big month for We Ride 4 — full of exciting announcements, meaningful impact, and a look ahead to an incredible year of riding and giving back.

2026 We Ride 4 Adventures Announced - We officially launched our 2026 We Ride 4 Adventure calendar, and the excitement was immediate.

Bluff, Utah – Week-Long Gravel Adventure - We’ll start the season with a full week of gravel riding in stunning Bluff, Utah. This adventure sold out quickly and was also offered as part of a Big Event package. Thank you for the incredible enthusiasm.

June – 3-Day Gravel Adventure | Cañon City, CO - Three days of epic gravel riding right here in Colorado.

July – Gravel Adventure | Laramie, WY - Wide-open spaces, big skies, and unforgettable gravel roads.

August – Road Adventure - This year’s road adventure will be extra special as we partner with The Colorado Ride for an incredible riding experience.

September – Riccione, Italy - Nearly 70 We Ride 4 members will travel to Riccione, Italy to ride road bikes together through the beautiful Italian countryside — an unforgettable adventure and a true celebration of our community.

A Leadership Transition Announcement - In January, Sharon Madison, Co-Founder and Executive Director of We Ride 4, announced that she would be stepping down from her role. This marked the beginning of an important leadership transition and a new chapter for We Ride 4.

Giving Back — Because That’s What We Do - We kicked off the year by continuing our commitment to supporting kids and getting them on bikes. In January, We Ride 4 donated $2,500 to the East High School Mountain Bike Team to help upgrade parts on bikes in their bike library, ensuring more kids have safe, reliable bikes to ride.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Your support, participation, and generosity are what make all of this possible. We can’t wait to ride, give back, and create more unforgettable moments together in 2026.

We Ride 4 donated $2,500 to the East High School Mountain Bike Team to help upgrade bikes and support young riders.

February

We closed out January and rolled straight into February with our sold-out fundraiser at Laws Whiskey House. What a night — great friends, generous hearts, and we even learned more than we ever expected about the art of whiskey making. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported the cause.

Our We Ride 4 Tucson crew packed meals for Feed My Starving Children, and WR4 proudly donated $1,000 to support their incredible work. Serving together always reminds us why we ride and give.

We also celebrated exciting news in Tucson — our dear friend Jody Bartz, Executive Director of Gro Girl Gro, stepped into her new role as Executive Director of El Grupo Youth Cycling. Gro Girl Gro will continue and transition under El Grupo’s umbrella. We are so proud of Jody and look forward to volunteering and supporting her in this next chapter.

Our partnership event at CycleBar Littleton with Cycling Without Age Littleton was another huge success. After an incredible ride and generous participation, WR4 added to the total and presented a $2,000 check to CWAL. That’s what community looks like.

For the second year in a row, we partnered with Wheat Ridge Cyclery to host a bike maintenance clinic. Thank you to Andy Stockman for sharing expert tips and helping our members feel more confident and prepared on their bikes.

And we wrapped up the month in the most exciting way — auctioning off a signed Jack Hughes jersey. The winning bid came in at $1,000, and in true WR4 spirit, the winner asked that we donate the full amount to the East High School Mountain Bike Team.

In just the first two months of the year, We Ride 4 has donated over $8,000 back into the community.

We ride.
We connect.
We give.

And we’re just getting started.

February brought community events, giving back, and over $8,000 donated in just the first two months of 2026.

March

March was a powerful reminder of what makes the We Ride 4 community so special — showing up for others, taking action, and continuing to create meaningful impact.

We celebrated our friend Jody Bartz as she stepped into her new role as Executive Director of El Grupo Youth Cycling. Watching one of our own continue to grow and lead in this space is incredibly inspiring, and we’re excited to support her in this next chapter.

From there, we did what We Ride 4 does best — we showed up.

When Karen from EverGrow Child Advocates reached out about a gentleman in need of transportation to get to his two jobs late at night, this community didn’t hesitate. Mike and Diana Spencer stepped forward and generously donated a bike, along with funds to ensure he had everything he needed to ride safely.

With support from our friend Steve Morgensten at Bicycle Ranch Tucson, we were able to provide a helmet, lock, lights, and a pump. When we delivered everything, the recipient was beyond grateful — and with a smile, told us, “this bike is very fast.”

Moments like this are why we do what we do.

This month, we also shared our 2025 Impact Report — and it’s because of YOU that we were able to raise and distribute $76,008.90 to organizations making a difference in the lives of children and families.

Let that sink in.

This is more than a cycling community.

This is a group of people who care deeply, act quickly, and change lives.

Thank you for being part of We Ride 4. Your generosity, your energy, and your heart are what make all of this possible.

Together, we ride.
Together, we give back.

March highlighted the power of community — showing up, giving back, and changing lives together.

April

April was one of those months that reminds us exactly why we do what we do at We Ride 4.

Sharon Madison and John had the opportunity to spend time with a gentleman who recently received a bike thanks to the generosity of Mike and Diana Spencer. They helped him get his tires fixed and the bike ready to ride again, and had the opportunity to hear his story. It was a powerful reminder that a simple bike can truly change someone's life. Moments like that stay with us.

We also came together for our Earth Day Cleanup on Lookout Mountain, alongside our amazing sponsor Andrew Phillips from The Cyclist Lawyer. The turnout and effort from this community was incredible. Seeing so many of you show up, bring friends, and make a difference was inspiring. Together, we’re not just riding — we’re giving back to the places we love.

On the community side, we had a fun night out supporting our sponsor Mike Zislis and his band Something Out Of at the Muse Performance Center. It’s always special to see our sponsors doing what they love outside of cycling — and even better when we get to support them together.

And of course, April was full of what we do best — riding bikes and bringing people together. From local rides to new faces joining us, the energy continues to grow. Whether you showed up for one ride or many, thank you for being part of this community.

We are building something special — and it’s because of each and every one of you.

April brought community, connection, and impact — from bike support to Earth Day cleanup and riding together.

May

May was another incredible month filled with community, volunteering, adventure, and giving back through the power of cycling.

The month kicked off with the Front Rangers Cycling Club reaching out because they needed two experienced ride leaders to help support the kids along the route during their May 9th ride. As many of you know, We Ride 4 can never say no when it comes to helping kids. A huge thank you to Jim Levy and Barry Sundland for stepping up to volunteer and support the ride. Your willingness to give your time and energy means so much.

We also celebrated Sharon Madison's WR4 Birthday Fundraiser, which raised an incredible $3,941.40 to support children's causes through the power of cycling. Thank you to everyone who donated and showed their support. Your generosity and belief in our mission continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of kids.

For the 12th year in a row, John Genell organized a team of We Ride 4 riders to volunteer as bike leads for the elite runners at the Colfax Half and Full Marathon. They did an amazing job helping keep the runners safe throughout the event. We cannot thank John and all of the volunteers enough for showing up year after year for our community.

Melissa Baumann also organized a fun WR4 Summer Social Happy Hour this month. It was great seeing our members spending time together without spandex on for a change! The laughter, conversations, and connections are such a big part of what makes WR4 special. We hope to continue these social gatherings monthly throughout the summer.

We wrapped up the month with our week-long gravel adventure in Bluff, Utah. The group had an amazing time exploring beautiful gravel roads, taking in breathtaking scenery, and creating unforgettable memories together. This adventure was originally part of the silent auction at The Big Event, where we sold 25 spots. Based on all the smiles and stories from this trip, we can already tell you next year’s adventures are going to be something special. You’ll just have to wait until The Big Event to see what we have planned next!

Thank you all for continuing to make We Ride 4 such a special community.

May was filled with volunteering, adventure, community connection, and $3,941.40 raised for children’s causes.

June

June was a remarkable month of advocacy, giving back, community, and unforgettable experiences for We Ride 4.

We began the month in Boulder supporting The White Line and celebrating a major milestone for cyclist safety. On June 4, Governor Jared Polis signed the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act into law. This legislation honors Magnus's legacy and represents an important step forward in protecting cyclists throughout Colorado.

On June 6, approximately 20 We Ride 4 members volunteered for our trail cleanup near Primal Wear. Earlier this year, We Ride 4 adopted a section of trail, and it was inspiring to see our members come together to help keep our community beautiful and accessible for everyone who enjoys the outdoors.

On June 10, We Ride 4 members filled a Jefferson County courtroom for the sentencing of the driver responsible for killing our sponsor and friend, Gerald Missel, while he was riding his bicycle. While we were disappointed by the outcome and the lack of accountability, our presence demonstrated something important: cyclists' lives matter. We stood together in support of Gerald, his family, and the cycling community.

Following the sentencing, We Ride 4 donated $5,000 to The White Line to support cyclist safety, advocacy, and education throughout Colorado.

On June 13, we participated in Bike Fest, where we connected with fellow nonprofits, met new friends, spent time with the incredible Front Rangers Cycling Club youth, and shared the mission of We Ride 4 with hundreds of attendees. Events like these remind us how powerful community connections can be.

June 13–14 also marked Colorado Bike MS. We could not be more proud of our members, who raised more than $39,000 to support this important cause. Their dedication, generosity, and commitment to helping others continue to inspire all of us.

A very exciting milestone for We Ride 4 came on June 18 when we welcomed Liz Birthright to our team as Director of Community and Partnership Development. Liz brings extensive experience, energy, and passion for building relationships and strengthening communities. We are thrilled to have her join us and look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

On June 23, we celebrated Together Tuesday, our annual opportunity to thank our members, sponsors, donors, and volunteers for their incredible support throughout the year. More than 35 riders joined us for a community ride before returning for pizza, beverages, laughter, and great conversation. It was a wonderful evening filled with friendship and appreciation.

On June 24, we celebrated Bike to Work Day with our sponsor Andrew Phillips and The Cyclist Lawyer. Andrew hosted a Bike to Work Day station to raise awareness for cyclist safety, welcomed riders with food and refreshments, and introduced many people to the work being done by both The Cyclist Lawyer and We Ride 4. We are grateful for his continued support of cyclists and our community.

We closed out the month with one of our favorite traditions—a three-day gravel adventure in Cañon City. The scenery was breathtaking, the roads were unforgettable, and the camaraderie was second to none. It was especially rewarding to welcome many first-time participants and watch new friendships form throughout the weekend.

Thank you to every member, sponsor, donor, volunteer, and supporter who makes We Ride 4 possible. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in our mission allow us to continue creating experiences, building community, and giving back.

Together, we ride.
Together, we give.
Together, we make a difference.

June highlighted advocacy, generosity, and community—including We Ride 4's $5,000 donation to The White Line in support of cyclist safety across Colorado.

July

July was another incredible month for We Ride 4 — filled with community, adventure, partnerships, and giving back. Every event, ride, and volunteer opportunity reminded us that we're so much more than a cycling club. We're a community making a difference together.

We kicked off the month at Ladies Night at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, where we introduced new people to We Ride 4, shared our mission, and welcomed more cyclists into our community.

One of the highlights was our Christmas in July celebration. The white elephant gift exchange brought plenty of laughs and reminded us that the friendships we build off the bike are just as important as the miles we ride together.

Community partnerships continued to grow throughout July. Thank you to our sponsor, Dr. Jessica Day of Fox Physical Therapy, for hosting an open house and welcoming WR4 members to celebrate our partnership.

Our members also helped shape the future of We Ride 4 by voting on our 2027 cycling jersey. The Omni Ultimate Jersey was the clear favorite, winning by a landslide. Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback!

Giving back remained at the heart of everything we did. Thank you to our volunteers who supported the Front Rangers and to the members who attended Hope Cycle's Volunteer Orientation and Open House. Supporting fellow nonprofits strengthens our community.

Behind the scenes, preparations for The Big Event were in full swing as we began collecting auction items and reaching out to sponsors and underwriters.

Our Beginner Gravel Ride had a fantastic turnout, introducing more cyclists to gravel riding in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Our annual Gravel Adventure in Laramie, Wyoming was another unforgettable weekend of beautiful roads, incredible scenery, and lasting friendships. During the trip, We Ride 4 proudly donated $1,000 to the Ark Equestrian Center to support their specialized youth programming.

A special shout-out to our sponsor Mike Zislis and his Something Out of Jazz Fusion Band for their performances throughout the month. Thank you for supporting WR4!

We wrapped up July by attending the open house for our newest in-kind sponsor, Becky Fruta and the team at Avenue Vision. We're excited to welcome them and offer WR4 members exclusive discounts on services and eyewear.

Thank you to our members, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners for making July another month full of purpose, laughter, generosity, and miles well ridden.

July brought cycling adventures, community partnerships, and meaningful giving back, including a $1,000 donation to the Ark Equestrian Center to support youth programming.

August

August may have been a little quieter when it came to events, but behind the scenes, we’ve been busy preparing for The Big Event, looking ahead to 2027, and continuing our mission of giving back through the power of cycling.

One of the highlights of the month was the East High School Mountain Bike Team Kickoff Party. Liz Birthright attended on behalf of We Ride 4 and had the opportunity to meet the coaches, student-athletes, and parents. It was especially meaningful to hear how much the team appreciates the support they have received from We Ride 4 and learn more about how our donations have been put to use. This is exactly why We Ride to Give—helping give kids opportunities to get outside, get on bikes, and be part of something special.

Much of August was also spent preparing for The Big Event on October 9, gathering auction items and donations, and working to make this year’s event another incredible night for WR4. At the same time, we’re already looking ahead to 2027 and welcoming new sponsors. If you know a business, restaurant, hotel, sports team, golf course, cycling company, or anyone else who may be interested in supporting We Ride 4, an introduction can go a long way. Every connection helps us continue growing our impact.

We were also excited to see We Ride 4 featured in VoyageDenver this month. Our Executive Director, Sharon Madison, had the opportunity to share the story and heart behind We Ride 4—how it began, what drives our community, and why giving back has always been at the center of who we are.

Read the full VoyageDenver feature here.

As we head into September, there is so much to look forward to. Thank you for riding with us, supporting our mission, making connections, and continuing to help us create an impact in our community.

We Ride to Give.

August was all about impact, connections, and looking ahead—from supporting the East High School Mountain Bike Team to preparing for The Big Event and building toward 2027.

September

What a month September has been for We Ride 4!

We started the month right here at home, giving back to our community with a trail cleanup along the Cherry Creek Bike Path near our friends at Primal. The East High School Mountain Bike Team wasn’t able to join us this time, but we’re hoping to get some of the kids out with us for our next cleanup. There’s something pretty special about taking care of the trails and paths that give all of us so much enjoyment throughout the year.

Then WR4 went international!

Seventy We Ride 4 members traveled to Italy for an unforgettable week of cycling, friendship, incredible food, beautiful scenery and plenty of laughs. Seeing 70 members of our community riding together in Italy was pretty amazing, and a reminder of just how much WR4 has grown.

Trips like this take a tremendous amount of planning, but watching our members experience Italy together made every bit of it worthwhile. We came home with tired legs, full hearts and more than a few stories to tell.

On Sunday, September 27, Liz Birthright represented WR4 at the Haymaker Classic in Eagle, cheering on the East High School Mountain Bike Team. She had the opportunity to spend time with the kids, coaches and parents and watch one of their racers cross the finish line third in their division! We love supporting this team and the opportunities they are creating for young riders, and it was wonderful to have WR4 there cheering them on.

We ended the month with one of our wonderful sponsors, Dr. Jessica Day of Fox Physical Therapy, who brought our community together for Stronger Together: A Panel for Your Health, Your Goals and Your Future. Jessica put together a terrific panel of experts for an evening of conversation about health, wellness and staying strong so we can continue doing the things we love for years to come. Thank you, Jessica, for creating such a meaningful event and for continuing to support the WR4 community.

And somewhere in between all of that, we’ve been working nonstop behind the scenes preparing for The Big Event on October 9.

The Big Event is so much more than one fun night. It is one of the most important ways we raise the funds that allow We Ride 4 to support kids, strengthen communities and give back throughout the year. Our team has been busy gathering auction items, working with sponsors, coordinating volunteers and putting together what we hope will be an incredible evening for our WR4 community and friends.

September really captured what We Ride 4 is all about: riding, giving back, building friendships, supporting our partners and creating a community that extends far beyond the bike.

Thank you to everyone who was part of this very busy and very special month.

Now, bring on October and The Big Event!

September brought our community together from Denver to Italy through cycling adventures, giving back, supporting young riders, and celebrating the connections that make We Ride 4 special.

October

October was a month of celebration, generosity, and incredible impact for We Ride 4.

We celebrated our most successful Big Event yet, raising over $105,000 — more than 10% above last year's total! Thanks to our amazing sponsors, donors, volunteers, and members, it was an unforgettable evening at Audi Denver filled with friendship, excitement, and giving back.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was surprising the East High School Mountain Bike Team with a $10,000 donation, bringing our support over the past year to $14,000. We also presented $5,000 to Cycling Without Age Littleton, continuing a wonderful partnership that has received more than $45,000 in support from WR4 over the years.

We officially welcomed Campus Cycles as our 2027 bike shop and Pace-Line sponsor. We're excited for this new partnership and the opportunities it will bring to our cycling community.

October also marked the end of our regularly scheduled Colorado evening rides. What a wonderful season of miles, friendships, and memories! Weekend rides and pop-up rides will continue as weather allows, while our Tucson members keep riding through the winter.

We also celebrated the incredible dedication of our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Sharon Madison, as she stepped away from her role at the end of October. Her passion, leadership, and commitment to giving back have helped shape the We Ride 4 community we know today.

As we look ahead to 2027, we're excited for more miles, more friendships, and more opportunities to make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make We Ride 4 so special. Together, we ride to give.

October brought record-breaking generosity at The Big Event, $15,000 in donations, new partnerships, and a celebration of the community that makes We Ride 4 special.