46: Rider Spotlight: Beth Roalstad - Building Community on Two Wheels

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 ResortGuest: Beth Roalstad, CEO Homeward Pikes Peak & Leader Wednesday Women’s Ride. In this episode:Beth’s cycling journey and becoming a community bike leaderWhy cycling builds friendships that last a lifetimeThe Buffalo Lodge Wednesday Women’s Ride (6:00 p.m. through September)Creating welcoming spaces for women on bikesSeeing the person first when addressing homelessnessPractical tips for trail users encountering someone in needThe work of Homeward Pikes Peak and its Street Outreach TeamOrganizations working together to support our communityFavorite local rides, including Garden of the Gods and Cherry Creek TrailIdeas for improving cycling infrastructure throughout Colorado SpringsOrganizations & Resources MentionedBuffalo Lodge Bicycle ResortHomeward Pikes PeakHomeward Pikes Peak Street OutreachCOS Outreach (Give Help / Get Help reporting tool)The Place (Youth Services)HelpCOSColorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural ServicesColorado Springs Police Department Homeless Outreach TeamColorado Springs Fire DepartmentThe Salvation Army Family ShelterSprings Rescue MissionFollow 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