Gran Fondo 2025: Bringing Awareness to Transportation Access
We love any opportunity to get out on our bikes, but that’s not the (only) reason we organized a team to participate in the 2025 KeyBank Gran Fondo. We wanted to bring awareness to the transportation challenges in our community, and the power of a bike to strengthen independence, opportunity, and connection—all while having a blast riding with more than 1,000 cyclists in Grand Rapids.
The Upcycle Bikes Ride Team was 35 riders strong, including representatives from our distribution partner organizations Bethany Christian Services, Community Rebuilders, Guiding Light, and The Source.
The Source—one of Upcycle Bikes’ distribution partner organizations—had two staff representatives on the Ride Team and shared, “Transportation is one of the most common — and often overlooked — barriers to employment, education, and stability in Grand Rapids. For many in our community, something as basic as a reliable bike can make the difference between missing work or showing up on time. We were proud to stand alongside Upcycle Bikes to help raise awareness about these challenges.”
Thanks to sponsors KeyBank, Tris4Health, Workbox Staffing, SILVA, and Wolverine Coil Spring Co. for supporting our participation and our mission!
Check out our conversations with WOODTV 8 and FOX17 Morning Mix.
“Transportation is one of the most common — and often overlooked — barriers to employment, education, and stability in Grand Rapids."
