When you picture mountain biking in the mountains, who comes to mind?
Would you imagine a young girl from Eagle County conquering her first technical descent? Maybe a teenager who’s never owned a bike learning to navigate switchbacks?
These are just a few of the very real stories being written every day by The Cycle Effect, and they’re why we’re proud to continue our decade-long partnership with this incredible organization.
Here at Axis, we believe that health and fitness go far beyond the treatment room. It’s about building stronger communities and empowering the next generation.
While there are plenty of excellent organizations across our community that embody this ethos, The Cycle Effect always impresses us with how they’re transforming the lives of so many of our neighbors.
We’re already deep into the summer mountain biking season, so let’s check in on the incredible work The Cycle Effect is doing in our community!
The Cycle Effect: More Than Just Mountain Biking
The Cycle Effect isn’t your typical youth sports program.
Founded in 2010 with a simple vision: committed and driven young women should be able to get involved in mountain biking no matter their background.
That simple mission has helped this nonprofit grow into a force across Colorado’s mountain communities.
But what does their mission look like in practice?
Providing bikes, gear, transportation, and bilingual coaching to eliminate barriers to entry. Investing in participants who identify as Latina, BIPOC, and low-income, ensuring that mountain biking becomes accessible to everyone.
Best of all, every one of their efforts goes toward building a safe, welcoming space where young women can discover their strength both on and off the trails.
A Shared Vision for Building Physical and Mental Resilience
From our perspective as physical therapy specialists, we see firsthand how The Cycle Effect’s approach aligns with what we teach on health and wellness.
Mountain biking builds the kind of functional strength and balance that translates to lifelong health benefits.
The Cycle Effect focuses on three core areas that resonate deeply with our mission at Axis Sports Medicine:
1. Physical Wellness
If you’re looking for an activity that brings results, regular mountain biking is where its at. Biking is shown to build cardiovascular endurance and strengthen core and leg muscles. It also does wonders to improve balance and coordination.
But beyond the physical benefits, participants learn life lessons that will serve them for years. They focus on topics such as nutrition, goal setting, and healthy decision-making throughout their lives.
2. Community Impact and Mentorship
The Cycle Effect hosts a variety of group rides and community service projects, and participants build leadership skills and the value of giving back.
They work to build a sense of connection and purpose that can pay dividends for mental health and personal development – which is becoming increasingly important for younger generations.
3. Building Brighter Futures
While we love health and wellness, one of our favorite things about The Cycle Effect is how it instills confidence and perseverance in each of its members. They work hard to create a sense of belonging.
And it works. Studies show that young women who participate in sports are more likely to stay engaged in school and develop the grit needed to achieve some pretty audacious goals.
Axis + The Cycle Effect: Our Partnership in Action
We’re proud to collaborate with The Cycle Effect as much as we can. Over the past decade, we’ve been actively involved in ensuring these young athletes stay healthy, safe, and performing at their best.
Injury Prevention and Screening
Our team regularly conducts physical assessments and movement screenings for Cycle Effect athletes.
Trained physical therapists and trainers look for muscle imbalances, mobility restrictions, or movement patterns that could lead to injury, then provide targeted exercises and education to address these issues before they become problems.
Concussion Management
Mountain biking, like any sport, carries risks. That’s why we make concussion awareness and management a priority, conducting baseline testing for all athletes and coaches.
This means that if a head injury does occur, we have the data needed to make informed decisions about return-to-sport protocols.
Education and Mentorship
Our team members regularly participate in practice sessions and educational talks. We cover topics ranging from proper warm-up techniques to nutrition for performance. Our goal is to help these young athletes learn how to take care of their bodies both during the season and year-round.
What Is The Cycle Effect Up To This Summer?
This summer, The Cycle Effect is in full swing across our local communities in Eagle and Summit Counties, offering opportunities that extend far beyond typical youth sports programs. You can check out all the programs The Cycle Effect is running online here.
Eagle County Programs
Eagle County’s trail access creates excellent summer opportunities for The Cycle Effect teams from Eagle and Edwards.
The girls’ mountain bike program runs three sessions throughout the year (spring, summer, and fall), while the Mujeres y Pedales women’s program brings together riders every Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 PM, March through September.
Summit County Programs
With some of Colorado’s most accessible trail networks right outside the back door, Summit County offers tons of opportunities for skill development and adventure.
The Summit County Mujeres y Pedales program here runs from April through October, taking advantage of the longer mountain biking season.
Why This Partnership Matters
By supporting young women in developing healthy, active lifestyles early on, we’re investing in a future where fewer people need our services – and that’s exactly the outcome we want to see!
The Cycle Effect has helped over 1,000 young riders discover their potential, with 70% of participants identifying as Latina and/or BIPOC.
They’ve eliminated financial barriers by keeping costs incredibly low (just $65 per 8-week session) and providing scholarships for those who need additional support – and you can jump in to help as well!
When young women develop confidence and leadership skills, they become role models for their peers and advocates for positive change in their communities. And when families see their daughters thriving in outdoor activities, it often sparks broader conversations about health and wellness that benefit entire households.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Cycle Effect or getting involved as a volunteer, donor, or community supporter, visit their website today.
