Pedal The Springs

What do the Air Force Academy, RAGBRAI, and a 350-mile ride honoring wounded service members have in common? A passion for cycling, service, and community! Host Torie Giffin welcomes two inspiring military leaders and fellow cyclists: Lt. Col. Gail Smicklas and Retired Brigadier General Robert “Surf” Beletic. They explore cycling at the Air Force Academy, the Air Force and Space Force Cycling Teams’ incredible support of riders at RAGBRAI, and how cycling builds camaraderie, leadership, resilience, and lifelong friendships. Having shared miles with both guests at RAGBRAI, Torie brings her own experiences to this conversation about serving others, supporting fellow riders, and finding community on two wheels. View the video version of this episode here on YouTube Host: Torie Giffin – Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Guests: Lt. Col. Gail Smicklas – Leadership professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Academy Cycling Club Coach. Retired Brigadier General Robert “Surf” Beletic – Former fighter pilot and founder of the annual Memorial to Memorial (M2M) Ride, a four-day, 350-mile cycling journey from the Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina to the Air Force Memorial near Washington, D.C., honoring wounded service members. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Air Force Academy Air Force Academy Cycling Team M2M Ride RAGBRAI Follow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America’s great cycling communities. Pedal the Springs is presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information. Episodes are produced by Studio 809 Podcasts, and recorded in the community podcast studio at The Next Us. Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at studio809podcasts.com

Ever driven past that big white dome in Memorial Park and wondered what happens inside? It’s home to Olympians, Paralympians, national and world champions — but you can ride there too! Track cyclists Chris Murphy and Andrea Villaroman Murphy talk about one of Colorado Springs’ coolest cycling assets. They share what it’s like to ride the 32-degree bank, Learn the Velo classes, race with no brakes or gears, youth programs with Kids on Bikes, para-cycling and why anybody — and any body — can give track cycling a try. You can also come out and watch the racing! The athletes say one of the best ways to support our local velodrome is simply to show up, watch and cheer. And stick around until the end of this episode to hear how Chris and Andrea found love at the track and got married! View the video of this episode here on YouTube. Host: Torie Giffin, Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Guests: Chris Murphy, Paralympic track cyclist, world champion, world-record holder and coach at the Velodrome. Andrea Villaroman Murphy, COS Racing track cyclist, current Masters National Champion MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Colorado Springs Velodrome COS Racing Kids on Bikes USA Cycling U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center PEDAL THE SPRINGS Hosted by Torie Giffin, owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, Pedal the Springs shares the people, places, organizations and stories that make Colorado Springs an incredible place to ride. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves cycling, community, and making Colorado Springs an even better place to live and ride. Episodes are produced by Studio 809 Podcasts, and recorded in the community podcast studio at The Next Us. Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at studio809podcasts.com #PedalTheSprings #CyclingCommunity #ColoradoSprings #bicycleresort #BikeLife #BuffaloLodge #RideTogether #Velodrome

We’re celebrating the 50th episode of Pedal the Springs with a LIVE audience and one of the things we love most about cycling — COMMUNITY! Video of this Episode We kicked things off with a multi-club ride from Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, then brought five local bike club leaders together to talk about how to find the group that’s right for you. Whether you’re looking for road, mountain or gravel rides, new friends, local trail knowledge, gear tips or riders who will inspire you to level up, there’s a bike community waiting for you in Colorado Springs. And e-bike riders — don’t miss the end! We ask our clubs whether their rides are e-bike friendly. Host: Torie Giffin, Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Co-Host for this episode: Terry Lyons, SOCO Velo bike club & Pedal the Springs podcast super fan Guests: Del Hokanson, Founder & Leader of Manitou Spokes Michael Rosell, Leader of the Buffalo Lodge Bike Tribe Morgan Chapman, President of SOCO Velo Rich Heitman, President of Colorado Springs Cycling Terry Lott, Sponsorship Coordinator & Member COS Racing Learn More: Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Buffalo Lodge Bike Tribe Facebook Meetup Colorado Springs Cycling Colorado Springs Mountain Biking — Facebook Group COS Racing EON Studios — Colorado Springs Front Rangers Junior Cycling Highlanders High School Composite Mountain Bike Team Kids on Bikes Manitou Spokes - Email: [email protected] Oakley Pactimo RAGBRAI Ride of Silence — Colorado Springs SOCO Velo — Southern Colorado Velo The Wednesday Ride — Lincoln Center Westside Bicycle Service Women’s Mountain Biking Association of Colorado Springs (WMBA) Pedal the Springs — connecting you to the people, places and stories that make Colorado Springs such an incredible place to ride. Get out there, find your bike tribe and we’ll see you on the trail! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves cycling, community, and making Colorado Springs an even better place to live and ride. Pedal the Springs is produced by Studio809 Podcasts from The Next Us in Downtown Colorado Springs and presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information. #PedalTheSprings #CyclingCommunity #ColoradoSprings #bicycleresort #BikeLife #BuffaloLodge #RideTogether

What does it take to create, protect and maintain the trails we love? Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates (MedWheel) talk about their history, the story behind their name, and more than three decades of trail building, maintenance, advocacy and stewardship throughout the Pikes Peak Region. From Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Lake Moraine and Pikes Peak to Blodgett Open Space, Forest Lakes and Pikeview Quarry, we hear what it takes to turn trail ideas into reality. We also talk about working with different land users, the future of mountain biking and bicycle tourism in Colorado Springs, and MedWheel’s philosophy: “Trails heal us. We heal the trails.” Want to help? Join, volunteer and “create the world you want to live in.” View the video of this conversation on YouTube. Host: Torie Giffin, Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Guests: Cory Sutella, Executive Director Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates Lezlie McKenna, Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates Board Treasurer Shayne McCormick, Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates Board LINKS & THINGS MENTIONED Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates / MedWheel Hivepass App — MedWheel membership, events & volunteer opportunities Search Hivepass in the Apple App Store or Google Play Bicycle Colorado Bike Clinic Too Bike Colorado Springs Colorado Mountain Bike Coalition (COMTB) Colorado Parks & Wildlife Colorado’s Ride — Bill Plock COTREX - Colorado Trail Explorer by Colorado Parks & Wildlife Give Pikes Peak Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Ostroy Pedestrian & Cycle Manitou Springs (PaCMan) Pikes Peak Outdoors Pikeview Quarry Bike Park Routes Outfitter Trailforks Trails & projects mentioned: Lake Moraine Trail, Pikes Peak Plummet, Spring Creek, Stephanie’s Trail, Upper Codell Trail at Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Fountain Valley School race trail, Forest Lakes–715 Connector, Mt. Herman Trail Network, Blodgett Open Space, the North and South Slopes of Pikes Peak and Pikeview Quarry Bike Park. Pedal the Springs shares the people, places, organizations and stories that make the Pikes Peak Region an incredible place to ride. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves cycling, community, and making the Pikes Peak Region an even better place to live and ride. Pedal the Springs is produced by Studio809 Podcasts from The Next Us in Downtown Colorado Springs and presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information.

What if every bike ride became a game—and the goal wasn’t just speed or distance, but exploring somewhere new? Longtime friend and local cyclist Michael Watry introduces us to Wandrer, a worldwide exploration game where every new mile earns a point, and taking the road less traveled can lead to unexpected scenery, hidden neighborhoods, trails and adventures. Michael shares how Wandrer has changed the way he rides at home and while traveling, his adventures with SOCO Velo and the Buffalo Lodge Bike Tribe, and some of the cycling challenges he’s taken on over the years. We also talk about his life beyond the bike as a musician and how he and his wife, watercolor artist Lorraine Watry, are embracing their empty-nester years with new adventures and creative pursuits. And stick around—Michael gives a sample of his music at the end. Host: Torie Giffin, Host of Pedal the Springs Podcast and Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Guest: Michael Watry, longtime friend and Wandrer Watch this episode on YouTube Learn More: Bear Creek Canyon https Black Rose Acoustic Society⁠ Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Cheyenne Mountain State Park Colorado’s Ride Criterium Bicycles⁠ Lorraine Watry Studio⁠ Make-A-Wish Colorado⁠ OpenStreetMap Red Rock Canyon Open Space Ride with GPS⁠ SOCO Velo Squad Rats Strava Triple Bypass Wandrer Follow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America’s great cycling communities. Pedal the Springs is presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information. Episodes are produced by Studio 809 Podcasts, and recorded in the community podcast studio at The Next Us. Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at studio809podcasts.com