Celebrating Kindness - Led by You

Every community is shaped by people who show up-through generosity, courage, and everyday acts of kindness. This past December, we put out a call for nominations to highlight folks showing up and doing amazing things in their communities. We’re proud to spotlight five individuals whose impact stood out and inspired us.

From dozens of heartfelt nominations, these five were selected for the ways they lead with intention, uplift others, and make a difference in their communities. Their stories are a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always come from grand gestures. It often comes from showing up, again and again.

As a small thank-you, each honoree received SHREDLY gear. More importantly, we’re honored to share their stories in hopes they inspire others to keep the kindness going.

Below, meet the five changemakers we’re celebrating and learn more about the impact they’re making.

Ashley

Despite a full-time job and raising three kids of her own, Ashley volunteered to help launch a new local NICA team (without even having a child on the roster). As a coach, she consistently shows up for the kids, finding creative ways to build skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community.

In addition to coaching, Ashley stepped into the role of GRiT (Girls Riding Together) coordinator, where she wrote and secured a grant to host Flow n Glow - a sunset ride featuring glow-in-the-dark decorated bikes designed to introduce more girls and women to mountain biking. The event drew strong participation and sparked new interest in supporting and joining the team. Through her kindness, empathy, and dedication, Ashley has made a lasting impact on both the riders she coaches and the broader community she helps build.

Bella

Bella single-handedly launched a loaner bike program within her college cycling club, opening the door for countless women to experience the sport for the first time. On every ride, Bella leads with positivity, inclusivity, and kindness, ensuring everyone feels supported and encouraged.

Her generosity extends well beyond her local community. During the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, Bella finished each day of racing and then returned to the course to ride alongside the final woman rider all the way to the finish, every single day. She also volunteers at women’s gravel camps and mentors young riders at races, helping others feel seen and valued in a space where that can be challenging. Bella’s impact has inspired lasting change, from expanded loaner programs to free race entries for women, creating a ripple effect of support that continues to strengthen the gravel cycling community.

Jane

Jane is the force behind a welcoming and confidence-boosting mountain bike community for women in Spokane, WA. As the leader of the Biking Betties (now more than 2,000 women strong) she dedicates countless volunteer hours to organizing no-drop group rides across the Spokane area, thoughtfully tailoring routes and difficulty levels based on community feedback so riders of all experience levels feel supported.

Beyond the rides, Jane creates meaningful moments that help women see themselves as riders, like capturing “glamour shots” on trail features so participants can celebrate their progress and have fun along the way. She also leads women’s trail dig days, teaching trail-building skills and empowering women to give back to the trails they love. These efforts, including a women-built jump trail, were even featured in a local news segment, helping spotlight the growing women’s mountain bike movement.

Katlyn

Katlyn has transformed her area’s mountain biking community into a space that boosts confidence and spreads positive energy—simply by showing up as herself. An accomplished rider who continually hones her own skills, she channels that passion into lifting up others, especially women and girls who may feel intimidated or underrepresented in the sport.

When a fellow rider was ready to quit after a few challenging rides, Katlyn’s advice, “Never quit on a bad day” helped them give it another chance. Through years of volunteering with Little Bellas, Because Trails clinics, Copper Harbor Women’s Weekend, and her leadership within the Good Energy Crew (built on the motto “The Least Exclusive Crew”), Katlyn creates environments where everyone belongs and no one is left behind. Her encouragement, whether coaching teens, guiding beginners through fear, or cheering on riders on hard days, keeps people riding who might otherwise quit.

Olivia

Olivia “O” has demonstrated dedication and kindness within the adaptive mountain biking community. Known as the group’s “legs,” she does the heavy lifting: transporting bikes, handling logistics, and ensuring every ride runs smoothly, so riders can focus on the joy of being outdoors. She supports riders of all abilities with patience, encouragement, and care, helping beginners, those rebuilding confidence after injuries, and riders new to adaptive equipment feel capable and empowered.

Outside of logistics, O connects the community to nature, sharing her knowledge of local plants, landscapes, and history, and turning each ride into a meaningful outdoor experience. Her steady presence, infectious energy, and belief in others sparks confidence, independence, and inclusion, making adaptive mountain biking more accessible, empowering, and fun.