Routt County Riders: Bike Match Program and the new Community Bike Shop
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — The original bicycle, the Penny Farthing, featured a giant front wheel with pedals fixed to its hub and a tiny rear wheel. It was popular in high society sporting clubs albeit dangerous, prompting Mark Twain to say, “Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live.” This changed with the ‘safety bike’ in 1876, a chain-driven design with equally sized wheels that propelled the rider from its center. This design, coupled with advances in mass production, significantly increased the bicycle’s popularity. Later, in the 1970s, cycling would explode onto the recreational scene with the mountain bike.
In 1991, local mountain bikers in Steamboat Springs founded Routt County Riders (RCR) to advocate for trail development. RCR has since grown to support all cyclists in the Yampa Valley, boasting over 750 members and a reach of over 7,000 people on social media. The organization promotes positive change for cyclists in Northwest Colorado through community outreach, social rides, safety initiatives, trail maintenance, and coordinated volunteer days. They engage civically to advocate for trail diversity and road infrastructure improvements throughout the Yampa Valley.
In 2021, Steamboat cycling coaches and youth mentors noticed many youth lacked access to quality bicycles. This led to the creation of RCR’s Bike Match program, which connects unused bikes with riders in our community. As cyclists add bikes to their stable or upgrade, underutilized bikes abound. RCR ensures these bicycles are repaired and matched with recipients based on specific needs and preferences through a network of volunteers and donors. Whether it’s a child needing transportation to school, a commuter reducing their carbon footprint, or a budding high school mountainbiker, Bike Match redistributes bikes within the community.
More broadly, Bike Match, funded primarily by the Craig Scheckman Family Foundation, promotes sustainability, transportation equity, better community connection, and environmental stewardship.
New this season, Bike Match operates a Community Bike Shop, which serves as a hub for cycling enthusiasts and novices alike. Staffed by knowledgeable mechanics, the shop is open Wednesdays from 10-2 and Thursdays from 5-7, with potential for expanded hours in the summer. The shop offers guided repair and has a selection of donated bikes available at no charge for those in need. Community members are encouraged to visit, and donations to RCR help sustain the program.
The Community Bike Shop is also a valuable resource for bike education, offering classes on bike maintenance and safety, and supporting other local nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of Steamboat Springs and Craig. These programs collectively support over 2,800 individual bike trips for organized activities, providing free riding opportunities and promoting cycling as a viable transportation alternative while reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Steamboat Springs boasts extensive trail networks, renowned scenic gravel riding, and a pleasant multi-use Core Trail along the river, allowing cyclists to explore and connect with nature. The passion and dedication of Routt County Riders鈥� amazing working board, donors, volunteers, and staff continue to brighten the future of cycling in Steamboat. If you cycle in Steamboat, visit the community shop, participate in at least one volunteer event annually, and consider becoming an RCR member to give cycling a voice and connect with our cycling community.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.