We don't build only stronger cyclists. We also build stronger people.
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When people first hear about Dirt Squad, they often think we're a cycling team.
We ride gravel.
We wear jerseys.
We train for events.
We organize challenges.
We partner with incredible brands.
From the outside, that's exactly what it looks like.
But if you spend any amount of time with us, you'll discover something different.
The bicycle isn't our purpose. It's our vehicle.
Every Rider Carries Something
Every time someone rolls up to the start of a ride, they bring more than a bicycle.
Some are chasing a personal best.
Some are training for Unbound or Gravel Worlds.
Some are riding their first ten miles.
Some are returning after an injury.
Some are recovering from illness.
Some are grieving someone they love.
Some are navigating divorce.
Some are carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, or loneliness.
Some simply need a friend.
You can't see those things by looking at a bike.
But they're there.
Every ride.
Every event.
Every group.
And that's why Dirt Squad exists.
The Fastest Rider and the Last Rider
In many sports, success is measured by podiums, trophies, and finish times.
We celebrate those accomplishments.
They're earned.
They're meaningful.
But they aren't what defines us.
What defines Dirt Squad is this:
The fastest rider deserves encouragement.
The first-time rider deserves encouragement.
The rider who just crossed their first finish line deserves encouragement.
The rider who had to turn around halfway because today simply wasn't their day deserves encouragement too.
Because worth isn't measured in miles.
It isn't measured in watts.
It isn't measured by how expensive your bike is.
It isn't measured by where you finish.
It's measured by showing up.
"You Belong Here"
Those three words have become more than a slogan for us.
They're a promise.
When someone joins a Dirt Squad ride, we want them to know:
You don't have to earn your place.
You don't have to prove yourself.
You don't have to look a certain way.
You don't have to ride a certain speed.
You already belong.
Everything we build—from our rides and challenges to our volunteer programs, passports, partnerships, and events—is designed around that promise.
Not because it's good marketing.
Because it's who we want to be.
The Bicycle Is the Vehicle
People often ask me what Dirt Squad is trying to become.
My answer has changed over the years.
We're not trying to become the biggest cycling community.
We're trying to become one of the most trusted.
Because bicycles have always been about more than bicycles.
They've been about freedom.
Adventure.
Friendship.
Healing.
Confidence.
Connection.
A bike has the incredible ability to introduce people who would have otherwise never met.
It creates conversations.
It creates memories.
Sometimes, it even creates second chances.
Leaving Stronger Than You Arrived
Every event we host has one simple goal.
Not to create the fastest riders.
Not to create the biggest finishers.
Not even to create the biggest community.
Our goal is much simpler.
We want every person who spends time with Dirt Squad to leave stronger than they arrived.
Maybe stronger physically.
Maybe mentally.
Maybe emotionally.
Maybe simply because someone smiled, waited for them, encouraged them, or reminded them they weren't riding alone.
Sometimes strength looks like finishing 200 miles.
Sometimes strength looks like getting out the door after a difficult week.
Both deserve to be celebrated.
What Success Looks Like
Success isn't measured only by the number of members we have.
Or the number of jerseys we sell.
Or the number of sponsors we work with.
Success is measured one rider at a time.
It's the nervous rider who signs up anyway.
The volunteer who stays after everyone else has gone home.
The experienced cyclist who turns around to ride back with someone who's struggling.
The beginner who comes back for a second ride because they finally felt like they belonged.
Those moments don't make headlines.
But they change lives.
The Future of Dirt Squad
My hope has never been to build something that revolves around me.
My hope is to build something that outlives me.
A community where every leader, every ambassador, every volunteer, and every member carries the same belief forward.
That when someone wonders if there's a place for them in gravel...
The answer is already waiting.
You Belong Here.
Because we don't use bicycles to build stronger cyclists.
We use bicycles to build stronger people.
And if every rider who experiences Dirt Squad leaves with a little more confidence, a little more hope, and the desire to help the next person feel the same way...
Then we've accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
You Belong Here.
Ride Together. Grow Together. Leave Stronger Than You Arrived.