From Trails to Transformation: How The Cycle Effect is supporting the next generation of female leaders

Iara, junior coach with The Cycle Effect

At The Cycle Effect, a mountain bike is more than just a tool for recreation; it’s a vehicle for transformation. In the words of junior coach Iara, “At the beginning, I was really nervous and insecure. But after joining The Cycle Effect, everything kind of flipped, it and it helped me become way more confident.”

Iara became a participant in the Girls Mountain Bike Program in 7th grade. As she discovered her own sense of belonging and confidence with the team, she followed the programming pathway through TCE+ and then on to be a junior coach. Now, as a college student, she comes back to help coach the Eagle County team every summer.

As Iara reflects on her transformation from nervous new Cycle Effect participant to confident junior coach, she said that consistent coaching and mentorship from adult role models in the program were key to her growth. "Having to stay persistent and get back on my bike after a fall wasn’t something I would do before The Cycle Effect. Staying with it and persevering on my bike helped me with resilience in other things too. Any time stuff got hard, I learned to keep going,” Iara shares.

Junior coaching opportunities are available for girls 16+ with prior Cycle Effect experience across program locations. As junior coaches, young women like Iara can expand upon the skills they learned in the program, gain valuable job experience and support new riders. She shares, “Now, as a coach, I get to help others who are just starting out, just like I was helped when I was new. It’s fulfilling - I’m giving back how they gave to me. [The Cycle Effect] didn’t just give me equipment, they gave me great coaching and a fun place to be. There wasn’t so much pressure to be competitive. It’s a community that brings people in to try new things and be a support group.”

The Girls Mountain Bike Program creates brighter futures and builds stronger communities of leaders. It’s a cycle. When girls discover their power, they share it. They support their peers, take initiative, and become role models in their schools and communities. As Iara puts it, “Whenever I go to races and get to sweep, I get to help support other girls and give them compassion and let them know that I’ve been there before when it feels hard and scary. And that’s always fulfilling to see them at the end when they finish. I see the fact they’re proud of themselves…that moment when they did it, and they realize they can do more than they think.” 🩷

You can watch the video about Iara’s experience with the Girls Mountain Bike Program here.