Pedal The Springs

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

Promoting confidence, independence, as well as mental and physical health by teaching kids how to safely ride a bike. Local non-profit Kids on Bikes, introduces kids to cycling through summer camps and earn-a-bike programs in the Pikes Peak region.

Daniel and Aspen from Kids on Bikes discuss the positive impact of cycling for children, families, and the Colorado Springs community. They celebrate 10 years of the Pedal Station, and how this program supports local cyclists and the Kids on Bikes mission. If you are a parent, grandparent, or if you simply believe every child deserves to thrive, then this episode is for you!

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guests:

Daniel Byrd, Executive Director of Kids on Bikes

Aspen Saren, Development Director

Learn More:

Summer Bike Camps - sign up early in January!

Earn a Bike Program - After School Curriculum Program

Pedal Station Community Bike Center

Chasing & Cycling Santa Toy Drive

Community Events:

Popcycle Ride - family friendly ride

Upcoming Fundraisers:

Kids on Bikes Luncheon

12 Hour Trainer Challenge Fundraiser - Dec 5 - 7 am to 7 pm - peer to peer fundraiser

Links:

Kids on Bikes

Pedal Station

Mountain Equipment Recyclers

Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

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

Women’s Cycling & Homeward Pikes Peak What do cycling and community change have in common? According to Beth Roalstad, they both bring people together, build trust, and create opportunities to change lives.

My longtime friend Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak, talks about two of her greatest passions: cycling and building stronger communities. We discuss how Beth discovered cycling, what she’s learned from more than 20 years of cycling and building community in Colorado Springs, and why she launched the Wednesday Women’s Ride at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort. She shares why women-only rides create such a special sense of encouragement, friendship, and belonging for riders of all experience levels.

As a longtime social worker, Beth also offers a thoughtful perspective on homelessness in Colorado Springs. She explains how seeing the person first—not just the circumstance—can help create real change. We talk about practical, compassionate ways cyclists and trail users can respond when encountering someone experiencing homelessness, and how to connect people with trained outreach professionals instead of simply moving on.

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guest: Beth Roalstad, CEO Homeward Pikes Peak & Leader Wednesday Women’s Ride.

In this episode:

• Beth’s cycling journey and becoming a community bike leader
• Why cycling builds friendships that last a lifetime
• The Buffalo Lodge Wednesday Women’s Ride (6:00 p.m. through September)
• Creating welcoming spaces for women on bikes
• Seeing the person first when addressing homelessness
• Practical tips for trail users encountering someone in need
• The work of Homeward Pikes Peak and its Street Outreach Team
• Organizations working together to support our community
• Favorite local rides, including Garden of the Gods and Cherry Creek Trail
• Ideas for improving cycling infrastructure throughout Colorado Springs

Organizations & Resources Mentioned

Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Homeward Pikes Peak

Homeward Pikes Peak Street Outreach

COS Outreach (Give Help / Get Help reporting tool)

The Place (Youth Services)

HelpCOS

Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services

Colorado Springs Police Department Homeless Outreach Team

Colorado Springs Fire Department

The Salvation Army Family Shelter

Springs Rescue Mission

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

Greg Cobble, owner of Manitou E-Bikes, talks with host Torie Giffin about helping people get back on bikes through the power of e-bikes. They discuss how to choose the right e-bike, battery care, e-bike classes, where you can ride, beginner lessons, test rides, rentals, and available rebates of up to $225.

Also hear about Manitou E-Bikes’ support of the Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb, including the Velotric Demo Day on August 2 and the Velotric E-Bike Giveaway on August 4.

Like, subscribe, and keep pedaling!

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guest: Greg Cobble, owner of Manitou E-Bike Co.

LEARN MORE:

Pikes Peak Cycle to the Summit & Velotric Summit ll E-Bike Giveaway

Manitou E-Bike Co.

Manitou Springs

Rad Power Bike

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Garden of the Gods

Gold Camp Tunnels

Manitou Spokes

Rampart Range Road

Trails End Taproom

Bike Brands

Aventon

Aima

Gazelle

MacFox

Urtopia

Velotric

Zeus

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

As strength and nutrition coaches, Dante and Ren help people reconnect with their bodies through intentional movement, strength, mindfulness, and outdoor adventure. We sit down with Dante Liberato and Ren Thorpe of The Den Somatics in Manitou Springs. From MMA fighters and endurance athletes to people from all walks of life, they take a holistic approach to health and performance that challenges traditional fitness norms.

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guests:

Dante Liberato, Coach, Trainer - The Den

Ren Thorpe, CPT, CNC,CES, Strength & Nutrition Coach - The Den

As fellow bike commuters and cycling enthusiasts, Dante and Ren share their perspectives on movement, community, and training with purpose. We talk about The Den’s growing cycling community, their Monday night rides, Dante’s cycling roots, and his upcoming documentary Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics, which follows an extraordinary running journey. Whether you’re a cyclist, athlete, or simply curious about living a healthier, more connected life, this conversation offers plenty of insight and inspiration.

Follow Dante:

Instagram: @buffalowarrior

Facebook: Dante Liberato

Strava: Dante Liberato

This Episode on Video: https://youtu.be/ey5KbI6SRbE?si=kGPDbXHwwzSTbSw9

Learn More:

Bicycle Day Albert Hofmann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Day_(psychedelic_holiday)

Couchmilk: https://couchmilk.com/

The Film Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics https://dante500.com/

The Den Somatics: https://www.thedensomatics.com/

The Feed: https://thefeed.com/

Lifetime Fitness: https://www.lifetime.life/locations/co/colorado-springs.html

Twisted Spoke: Spoke Break https://www.twistedspokecbd.com/

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 produced 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 https://www.bicycleresort.com for more information.

Episodes are recorded in the Studio 809 Podcasts community podcast studio at The Next Us. https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com/?public&

Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at https://studio809podcasts.com

Don't miss an episode of Pedal the Springs. Follow on your favorite podcast app.

What does it take to become a Paralympic gold medalist? For Team USA Paralympic hand cyclist Kate Brim, the answer goes far beyond training and racing.

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guest: Kate Brim, Paralympic hand cyclist for team USA

In this inspiring episode of Pedal The Springs, Kate shares her remarkable journey from a spinal cord injury at age 19 to standing atop the podium at the Paris Paralympics, where she earned gold in the time trial and bronze in the mixed team relay.

Kate opens up about the difficult road she faced after Paris, including a kidney infection, ICU hospitalization, months without riding, and the daily realities of living with Type 1 diabetes while relying on TPN nutrition. After more than a year away from international competition, she returned to racing at the Para-cycling World Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand—the first Para-cycling World Cup ever held in Asia—where she captured victories in all three events she entered.

We discuss the physical and mental demands of elite para-sport, traveling internationally with 95 pounds of life-sustaining medical equipment, and the incredible “team behind the team” of coaches, trainers, nutritionists, family, and supporters who make success possible.

Kate also shares her favorite rides around Colorado Springs, including Gold Camp Road, Cheyenne Canyon, Fountain, and Garden of the Gods, and discusses road safety for hand cyclists, the high cost of adaptive sports equipment, and the growing visibility of para-cycling in the United States.

Before her injury in 2017, Kate was a competitive rower and outdoor enthusiast. Today, she trains full-time as a Paralympic athlete while living and training in Colorado Springs at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. Through every challenge, she continues to embody the grit, determination, and resilience that have defined her journey.

Whether you’re a cyclist, athlete, caregiver, or simply someone facing challenges of your own, Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that setbacks do not define us—how we respond to them does.

Follow Kate:

Instagram: @QuadKate

Facebook: Kate Brim

Strava: Kate Brim

Learn More:

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center: https://www.usopc.org/training-centers/colorado-springs

USA Cycling Para-cycling: https://usacycling.org

Follow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America’s great cycling communities.

Post-Episode Update: When this interview was recorded in April, Kate was just days away from receiving her diabetic alert service dog, Sobako. Since then, Sobako has already proven to be an invaluable companion, alerting Kate to low glucose levels during training and helping her safely manage her Type 1 diabetes while pursuing her athletic goals.

Kate has also continued her remarkable comeback, winning gold medals in both the road race and time trial at the Para-cycling World Cup in Italy as she prepares for the World Championships in Huntsville, Alabama this September—the first Para-cycling Road World Championships ever held in the United States.

Pedal the Springs is produced 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 https://www.bicycleresort.com for more information.

Episodes are recorded in the Studio 809 Podcasts community podcast studio at The Next Us. https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com/?public&

Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at https://studio809podcasts.com

Don't miss an episode of Pedal the Springs. Follow on your favorite podcast app.

Epic rides, unforgettable stories, and a look inside one of Colorado Springs’ most iconic outdoor adventure companies.

Outback Jake and the Flying Scotsman from Adventures Out West talk biking adventures around the Pikes Peak region and the story behind the longtime local family business. Founded in 1973 by native Coloradans Bruce and Patty Wellens and now run by their son Greg Wellens since 2003, Adventures Out West has become a Colorado Springs adventure staple.

From guided bike rides and jeep tours to Segways, zip lines, and hot air balloon rides, this episode explores the many ways Adventures Out West helps visitors and locals experience the beauty and excitement of the region. If you love outdoor adventure and discovering what makes Colorado Springs special, this episode is for you.

Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort

Guests:

Outback Jake, Adventures Out West Ride Guide

The Flying Scotsman, Adventures Out West Ride Guide

Mentions and Links to show topics:

Adventures Out West https://advoutwest.com/

Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort https://www.bicycleresort.com/

Garden of the Gods https://gardenofgods.com/

Gold Camp Road https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/gold-camp-road

Manitou Springs https://manitousprings.org/

Pikes Peak America’s Mountain https://coloradosprings.gov/plan-your-visit-pikes-peak-americas-mountain

Pedal the Springs is produced 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 https://www.bicycleresort.com for more information.

Episodes are recorded in the Studio 809 Podcasts community podcast studio at The Next Us. https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com/?public&

Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at https://studio809podcasts.com

Don't miss an episode of Pedal the Springs. Follow on your favorite podcast app.