Exploring Moab

Last week, we took 9 returning Cycle Effect riders to Moab, Utah for a leadership retreat.  The trip was led by our friend Amy at Ute Springs. If you haven't heard of them, Ute Springs Experiential Learning Center's mission is:  to support communities in the cultivation of social-emotional learning though adventure-based experiences.  Sounds rad, right!?  Ute Springs was the perfect match for our goal to build self awareness with the girls and their leadership role amongst the team.  We wanted to help them define their values and make lasting relationships between all the ladies and coaches.  As well as shred rocks, get inspired and develop a realm for personal growth.Throughout the four days we focused on team building, on character traits, on positive affirmation, on having fun!  Our days were adventure based:  we made it a point to ride bikes somewhere new on the daily!  From the Bar M trails, to Navajo Rocks to SlickRock.  We introduced these Colorado ladies to desert riding where sand pits meet red rocks.  Adventure awaited as we snapped chains and flatted tires.  Building on our communication and bike maintenance skills, we completed every ride with 13 happy faces!All of the meals where prepped and made by the girls - working in small groups, they plated us bacon and eggs for breakfast to homemade pizzas for dinner!  They'd also start our days off with morning 'stretches' aka YouTube dance videos.  These girls have endless energy!  Watch our videos on Instagram/YouTube if you need a good laugh!Visiting Dead Horse State Park gave the ladies views similar to a mini-Grand Canyon landscape.  We were able to link grand views to being inspired by 'awe' moments and defining what those moments mean to us.  We also hiked in Arches National Park, earning our views and sharing incredible conversation with each other.  Not to mention - practiced basic first aid and learned the importance of CPR and AED training.  Gaining more knowledge of what is needed to be a leader on a mountain biking team always includes a safety aspect.We ended our days talking about the courage needed when on adventures, when on bikes.  Mountain biking can be hard at times and so can life.  So we addressed this and talked about how the two relate.  Other topics were:  'How we can better build relationships with our teammates and our communities?  How we can think about our personal integrity when on the trail - always doing our best when no one is watching?'  And the trip came full circle by finishing the last day thinking about gratitude.  We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to take trips like this, to spend amazing quality time together, to ride such nice bikes.  You could see it in the girls' eyes, they knew, they get it.  We left Moab, with an assignment:  What can we do to give back, how do we pay this forward?-----------------------------Mountain biking has given us all so much.  Probably at different times.  In different ways.  With lots of emotion, some bruises and scrapes here and there, but it's given us all a family.  It's given us this team of incredible girls, inspired coaches and heaps of supporting volunteers.  And, I left Moab completely overwhelmed with happiness.  Motivated and inspired to help The Cycle Effect more.  To spread positivity throughout our team.  To give back to our community!