If you’re an outdoorsy woman who is ready to navigate the turbulent waters of today rooted in your well-being, then join us for an escape where you are going to come away grounded in your resilience and a sisterhood of compassionate, adventurous souls.
Standing on the bank of the picturesque Youghiogheny River, a profound awe surrounds you. The sunlight dances on the rapids and along your skin, as you spot a Great Blue Heron stretch its grand wings wide and fly downstream. Your heart begins to open as wide as this rambling river, as a wonderful joy washes over you and you feel a sense of peace and adventure. You smile and share in laughter with these incredible women you are surrounded by, ready to raft.
As you grab your paddle and begin to ramble down the river, you sense a shift in your energy to awe and peace. The river ignites your sense of adventure and play, as if each rapid pulsated ease and connection.
Back on the shore, as you hop on your bike, your feet gently pedal along the Great Allegheny Passage. The path shaded by oak trees and sycamore trees, feels alive with the energy of countless travelers who’ve boated and biked this path below. You feel soothed by nature, community and adventure.
Welcome to Pedal, Paddle and Pause! Your adventure has just begun!
Ohiopyle, PA
Friday, July 18th- Sunday, July 20th
(Starting at 1:30pm on Friday & ending at 11:30am on Sunday)
Wet and Wild Rafting
We’ll get wet and wild on the Youghiogheny River as we ignite our sense of thrill and adventure, rafting and tackling the rapids. With experienced guides in each boat, you'll tackle Class 3+ rapids, saying yes to fun and adventure, discovering your inner strength to keep moving regardless whatever the journey stirs up.
Reconnect to your inner peace and well-being
Has the topsy turvy nature of our world, left you feeling unrooted and afloat from your inner peace and well-being? What relief you'll feel to put aside that stress and be guided back into a sense of inner peace. Woven into the weekend will be group coaching and guided activities to help you to calm your nervous system and feel lovingly supported and held to carry this energy and new tools from retreat back into your life.
Cycling & Supporting you to Slow Down
I'll take you on a guided journey along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) inside of Ohiopyle Sate Park. Ohiopyle State Park encompasses over 20,000 acres of natural beauty, including a stunning gorge with the powerful Youghiogheny River flowing underneath you. Awe inspiring, as you pedal along, you heart will open to the nature's stunning beauty. Along the ride, we’ll pause for coached reflection, where you'll authentically open up to rad women and community, reconnecting to your inner strength and tranquility. It’s going to be a soul nourishing ride and weekend.
Indulging our Senses
Over the course of the weekend, we'll slow down to delectable camp meals, as you pick up some tips and tricks on how to treat yourself to nourishment that's both comforting, healthy and easy to whip up after a day of adventure. As we indulge our senses, you'll slow down, enjoying the bounty of incredible company before you.
What’s Included:
Wet & Wild Rafting: Rafting along the Youghiogheny River with tips for our fabulous guides.
Shifting Gears along the GAP Trail: Guided, leisurely Bike Ride along the Great Allegheny Passage to help you slow your roll with guided activities and circle shares to spark a-ha’s led by women, for women!
Group Coaching: Integrated into the weekend is coaching to support you in shifting gears to ground yourself in uncertain times and gain the clarity and support you crave.
Meals: Two vegetarian dinners and breakfasts with snacks throughout the weekend and non-alcoholic beverages.
Campsite for two nights: Scenic Ohiopyle State Park, will be our home for two nights, as we camp under a canopy of oaks, tulip poplars and maple trees. Our campsite has a washhouse with flush bathrooms and that is reachable by car with ample parking.
What's Not included:
-Transportation to and from Ohiopyle, PA. Ohiopyle is approx 3 hours from DC and 1 hour from Pittsburgh (If you are carpooling, please make arrangements amongst your car splitting costs)
-Camping gear, including a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and headlamp (we'd be happy to share options for procuring/renting gear)
-Camp Plate, Bowl, Utensils and Mug
-Bike and/or helmet rental (That can be arranged with a local outfitter for approx $8/hour)
-Water shoes or sneakers to raft in
-Additional Snacks of your choosing
-Water Bottle
-Lunch on that Saturday. No sweat, choices of nearby options in Ohiopyle will be shared.
-Dry bags to keep your electronics or personal items dry.
-Other non-included items would include souvenir shopping, entrance to Fallingwater (if you decide to pay a visit during your free time)...
Who's guiding you?
Hey, I'm Ellen Oshinsky, Founder of Circle and Spoke and I can't wait to lead this wet & wild fun in the sun escape. In the words of a "spoker" (member of the Circle and Spoke Community): "Ellen is a creative, fun, and intentional facilitator who helps each rider find balance, confidence, and joy."
I believe gathering in community is magic.
Friendships can be sparked when surrounded by likeminded women!
Wonder can be tapped into when in nature!
Adventure can be unleashed when in the company of supportive community!
In the spring of 2023, I had a spark of inspiration realizing that I was going to lead a transformational retreat/ride and went from an occasional cyclist to a bikepacking enthusiast and biked from DC to Pittsburgh. My favorite stop was in Ohiopyle and I was stunned by the beauty of the rivers and forest.
I love the outdoors and was an environmental educator with the National Audubon Society, as well as a Ski Instructor at Deer Valley Resort. I was one of five Wild Gift Fellows in 2024 and tackled a multi-week backpacking trek of Idaho last fall.
I am certified as a League Cycling Instructor by the League of American Bicyclists.
Can't wait to pedal, paddle and pause with you this July!
Circle and Spoke empowers women through bike rides and retreats that uplift movement, rest, community and reflection. “Spokers” tap into their inner power and truth to shift gears in and out of the saddle and carry that energy from ride to life.
Yes! We want you to walk away from Pedal, Paddle & Pause, having made at least one new pal and feeling more grounded! We do this through combining biking and rafting with other activities like guided journaling and sharing circles.
Yes! Safety is key and wearing a well fitting bike helmet during the bike ride portion is not only smart, but required to ride with us. If you arrive without a bike helmet or choose not to wear a bike helmet, you will be required to leave without a refund.
This is not a clinic to learn to ride a bicycle. You will need to know how to ride a bike to participate. If you feel rusty and out of balance in the saddle, but know how to ride, that's not a problem! Reach out and we can also arrange for some private coaching prior to get you in gear :)
Sure! e-Bike use is permitted, as long as they are pedaled and obey the 15 MPH speed limit.
No vehicles powered by internal combustion are permitted on the GAP, except those authorized for maintenance and emergency purposes. Other power-driven mobility devices, not specifically designed for disabilities, may be used in Pennsylvania, provided:
Motors on electric vehicles are 750 watts or less
Devices weigh less than 100 lbs.
Device are no more than 36″ wide
Devices have fully operating pedals
A hybrid, gravel, or mountain bike will work best. The GAP Trail is flat, where we'll be biking, however thin tires of road bikes may have difficulty. Low cost rentals are available for rent in Ohioyple. Email us at [email protected] if you have questions.
We believe that all bodies are welcome and should feel a sense of belonging while cycling! This means all bodies. We hope you join us for a ride that's about connecting to a sense of community and adventure that does not focus on weight loss or body size.
Circle and Spoke's bike rides move at a leisurely pace with plenty of pit stops to keep the group together. Our rides are no drop rides, so no fear if you are nervous of being left behind or worry you are holding up the group.... you won't!
Fellow wheeled forms of transit are welcome to join. You'll just need to supply such gear, know how to ride it and wear a helmet. We don't suggest rollerblading on the GAP Trail. Please let us know any access needs, so we can do our best to accommodate them both while biking and rafting.
All participants must supply their own bike and helmet. If you do not have a bike or can't get your bike to Ohiopyle, a local outfitter can rent you one for approx $8/hour. We can direct you to making that reservation. All expenses for bike/helmet rentals are at the expense of the attendee.
The meals that will be served will be vegetarian. Please email us at [email protected] if you have additional dietary needs and we will do our best to accommodate them. Depending on the nature of the dietary need, there may be an additional cost.
The best way to get to Ohiopyle is by car. The town is approx 3 hours north of Washington, DC and 1 hour south of Pittsburgh, PA. If you don't have a car, we'll be creating a spreadsheet to connect with the other women attending, so you can on your own organize carpools. Circle and Spoke isn't liable for any issues or accidents that occur through carpooling.
Please note that your carpool ride may or may not have space for your bike, and you may need to rent one from the outfitter.
We run immersive experiences and we want you to have an a-ha day filled with connection, a-ha's, joyful movement and rest. We get these are tough times in the region and perhaps you are going through financial hardship. And we believe that making these types of retreats available to the public is a way to spread love, joy and empowerment in our community.
If you are in need of a need based scholarship please email Ellen at [email protected] to discuss if you should apply for a need based scholarship.
Terms & Conditions:
- All participants must supply their own bike and camping gear. See registration below if you don't own a bike and/or camping gear and aren't sure where to rent/procure this gear.
-You must ride with a well fitting bike helmet.
-This ride is for women and non-binary folx. Gender is a spectrum and we welcome you to join if you self-identify, as such.
-We love getting people on bikes, but this is not a learn to ride clinic.
-You must be 21+ older to ride. Our campsite does not permit the use of drugs or alcohol.
-This event starts and ends in Ohiopyle, PA. You are required to supply your own transportation to and from the event.
-This event will be happening rain or shine. Please note this event will be happening in July in Pennsylvania with weather historically with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Activities will be modified in case of high heat.
-All participants will be required to fill out a liability waiver & photo release to participate, which will be emailed to you after registering.
-Email [email protected] if you have any questions prior, during or after registration, including requesting to see the liability waiver & photo release in advance of registration.
Cancellation Policy:
In order to offer the best experience for the community, we do offer a cancellation policy. If cancellation occurs before May 10, 2025, the full cost of the event minus 10% of the tour cost will be refunded. If cancellation occurs between May 11, 2025- May 31, 2025, the full cost of the event minus 25% of the tour cost will be refunded. If cancellation occurs between June 1, 2025- June 17, 2025, the full cost of the event minus 50% of the tour cost will be refunded. We are unable to offer refunds starting on/after June 18, 2025. We reserve the right to cancel the event if it is not meeting the event minimum or due to inclement weather (if we do so, your event cost would be refunded). All cancellations and any refund requests (refund requests must be made within 30 days of the event) must be made to Circle and Spoke Retreats and Rides LLC in writing to [email protected] .
We believe in the power of creating experiences and services that serve you. This cancellation policy is to ensure that we are able to offer this experience to as many members of the community without being flaked on. If there is a personal emergency that will impact your registration or cancellation, please reach out and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.
Thank you to Anna Tripp and Tara Pokras for the many photographs featured here.
Sunday, July 18th (1:30pm)- July 20th (11:30am)
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