Riding with the Future on the PopCycle Ride

There are a lot of different group rides in Colorado Springs during the summer, but you’d be hard pressed to find one as inspiring as the Kids on Bikes PopCycle Ride. These take place on certain Sundays at 1pm from America the Beautiful Park. On June 28, 2026, I joined in to learn more and experience a kid’s-paced afternoon cruise with an icy treat.

I pedaled over to the park and easily found the group right at 1pm, where the ride leaders were greeting everyone and asking us to sign a waiver. Daniel Byrd, the Executive Director, was there and I’ve known him for many years. That made it a little less awkward as I don’t have any kids. City Councilmember Henjum was there with her family and grandson. I also met the ride leader for the day, Jocelyn, and her very social three-year-old daughter. I wasn’t there very long before I was asked my name and how old I was. (I debated giving the true answer for that last one!) 

Before the departure, we received a pre-ride briefing. This was probably the best briefing I’ve ever experienced. Not because of the good information—how to properly wear a helmet, the ABCs bike check—but because Jocelyn’s daughter was helping to share the important safety information. I’ve never seen someone so excited to make sure we all knew how to stay safe.

Once we were fully briefed, we began our trip pedaling north on the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. Some of the kids were excited and others were perhaps a little hesitant, but we slowly but surely made it up the trail. Parents and support riders were cheerful, encouraging, and we just seemed happy to be riding a bicycle. Along the way we took a couple of regrouping breaks to make sure we were all together. This particular Sunday it was the We ALL Ride edition of the ride. At the Legacy Loop Trailhead, we met up with the Cool C.A.T.S. (Children of All Types Succeeding). Cycling is one of their activities, and AngleTech provides adaptive pedal support. I enjoy cycling for its sense of freedom, and love that the Colorado Springs community has programs like this to allow others to feel the joy of being on a bicycle.

The group was now doubled in size, and we continued on to the bridge that owes its name and prior upgrades to this ride – the PopCycle bridge. I’m sure you figured it out, but this is where the popsicles get distributed. They were very refreshing on this warm, sunny afternoon! You could see kids being kids and families out sharing the trail and the experience of being on a bicycle. Jocelyn’s daughter even asked me if I would play with her back at the park. I apologized that I wasn’t going all the way back to the park. Not to be deterred, she went up to a more age-appropriate group to try to find a playmate. 

We were at the bridge for about 20 minutes or so, got the popsicle trash gathered up, and then started the trip back to America the Beautiful Park. I peeled off about halfway back to get home, but glad I could spend the afternoon with the future generation of the Colorado Springs cycling community.