Photo in Graphic Courtesy of DC Gardens, https://dcgardens.com/national-arboretum/
If you’re an outdoorsy gal who is ready to recharge your energy with a posse of down to earth gals as you bike and slow your roll, then join us for a rejuvenating escape where you are going to come away with a renewed, wonder-filled spirit ready to embrace the twists and turns of the season.
Your eyes open to the canopy of colors of giant oaks and poplars, catching sight of their orange, red and green hues, as the fall sunshine touches your cheek. Your smile grows wider and wider, breathing in gratitude to be surrounded by such beautiful trees and nature. Cardinals and robins flutter by and you feel your heart open to a sense of wonder. You can fully exhale.
Your eyes soften as you glance at the page before you and begin to move your pen. The moments of movement, biking across the tree filled oasis, and invitations to pause throughout the day have you feeling inspired and clear on what makes you feel alive. Your heart is full having this moment of pause to connect with your authentic desires.
As you look around the circle of women you are sitting next to, a delightfully deep breath flows through your belly and invites your shoulders to relax. Finally with a moment to reflect, soothed by nature, you can genuinely take pause and see your soul’s yearnings.
You're ready to welcome the power of nature and community to support you in recharging your batteries!
Photo Courtesy of DC Gardens, https://dcgardens.com/national-arboretum/
Northeast Washington, DC
Sunday, October 6th from 10:30am-4:00pm
Cycling & Supporting you to Slow Down
I'll guide you on a personal journey through the National Arboretum, taking in the picturesque rolling hills and nooks and crannies of this 450 acre nature oasis inside of Washington, DC. As we bike along, we’ll have pause points to authentically connect with nature, new friends and community and find moments of tranquility through tools I teach to help you pause and slow your roll.
You'll have a soul nourishing ride of 10-18 miles over the course of the day moving at a leisurely pace during this no drop ride. Yes, that means if you get a flat, we’ll pause to be there and support and fix that tire together! You'll return home with your energy recharged, carrying playful memories, and lasting connections with the wonderful people you'll pedal and pause with.
Indulging our Senses with Savory Local Vegan Cuisine
We’ll be digging into a scrumptious meal of warm pitas filled to the brim with spices, veggies and creamy tahina that will make your taste buds dance. I’ve seen people who raise an eyebrow to vegan, pile their plate with more of the tasty pitas from the local DC restaurant, Shouk.
Are you gluten-free, nut-free or have other dietary restrictions? Please be in touch. We’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.
Activating Rest & Rejuvenation
Throughout the day, we’ll pause and get out of the saddle to connect to nature and play. We’ll be calming the stress you've been carrying with tools you can bring from this daylong escape to your daily life. You’ll feel your heart open up to authentically sharing through a warm community of grounded women, who are present and ready to hold your heart and story with compassion.
Craving time to rest and rejuvenate?
Need to unplug from the go-go-go of your life and desire spacious time to authentically take a load off? Wanting space to explore in nature without the hassle of skipping out of town? Wishing you had a deeper connection to community and grounded gals, who are excited to spark new friendships rooted in play, movement and time in the great outdoors?
You know taking time to connect to yourself, to community, and to nature is just what your soul needs and you feel ready to dive in and give yourself the gift of a day to rejuvenate.
Just imagine the vibrancy of this time outdoors that will make your soul sing and your wheels spin towards greater playfulness, ease and connection.
This day will call in a new leaf to fall into this autumn.
What’s Included:
Shifting gears in community: Guided, leisurely Bike Ride from the red line Metro in NE DC and throughout the National Arboretum to help you activate your sense of wonder and take a load off with guided activities and circle shares to spark a-ha’s led by women, for women!
Catered Lunch & Non-alcoholic beverage: A vegan lunch and drink prepared by a local restaurant.
What's Not included:
Parking and/or Transportation to and from the starting point in NoMa
Bike and/or helmet rental (That can be arranged through a Capital Bikeshare or local DC bikeshops. Please inquire at [email protected] for options)
Journal
Snacks
Water
Breakfast
Other non-included items would include souvenir shopping
Who's guiding you?
Hey, I'm Ellen Oshinsky (she/her), Founder of Circle and Spoke and I can't wait to lead you into greater ease and rejuvenation during this fall 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."
In the spring of 2023, I had a spark of inspiration realizing I was craving spaces that center the beauty of cycling, rest, reflection and community. In eight weeks, I went from occasional cyclist to completing the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage, biking over 330 miles from DC to Pittsburgh. This journey reignited my soul and spirit through the power of a goal, supportive community and movement.
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!
I love the outdoors and am a League Cycling Instructor. I am one of five Wild Gift Fellows and am headed to Idaho this fall for a multi-week backpacking trek in the mountains. My love of creating spaces of movement in the outdoors includes exciting folks about birds as an environmental educator with the National Audubon Society to shredding the slopes as a Ski Instructor at Deer Valley Resort.
Can't wait to pedal and pause with you this October!
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 & Pause, having made at least one new pal and feeling more grounded! We do this through combining biking 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! We will be biking 10-18 miles depending on the vibe of the group over the course of the day at a leisurely pace.
Sure! e-Bike use is permitted, as long as they are pedaled and obey the 15 MPH speed limit. Throttle-only E-Bike use is not permitted. E-Scooters, mopeds, and hover-boards are not permitted.
A roadbike, hybrid, or gravel bike will work best. The path will include a few short inclines, as well as about 2.5 miles at the start and end of the day on bike lanes and the street to arrive at the arboretum. 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.
This will be biking at a leisurely pace with plenty of pit stops to keep the group together. This will be a no drop ride, 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. Please let us know any access needs, so we can do our best to accommodate them.
All participants must supply their own bike and helmet. If you do not have a bike, Capital Bikeshare or local bikeshops can rent you one. We are happy to offer suggestions if you email as at [email protected] All expenses for bike/helmet rentals are at the expense of the attendee.
The lunch that will be served will be vegan. Please email us at [email protected] by October 1, 2024 if you have additional dietary needs and we will do our best to accommodate them.
The ride will start and end in the NoMa Neighborhood near the Red line. You can of course bike to the meet up spot, as well as drive or take Metro. There are many street spots with free parking on Sundays. Additionally, you can take your bike on the Metro (there are elevators at the station) or put your bike on the front of the local Metrobus lines.
We run immersive experiences and we want you to have an a-ha day filled with connection, a-ha's, joyful movement and rest. This is more than an organized group bike ride with lunch. We bring the elements of retreat: rest, reflection and community to all that happens over the course of this escape. If cost is a barrier, email Ellen at [email protected] to discuss options for a payment plan or a sliding scale rate. We use the green bottle approach to center equity.
Terms & Conditions:
- All participants must supply their own bike. Contact Ellen at [email protected] if you don't own a bike and aren't sure where to rent one.
-You must ride with a well fitting bike helmet. If you choose to not wear a well fitting bike helmet during the ride, you will be asked to leave without a refund.
-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.
-You must be 21+ older to ride.
- This is not a learn to ride clinic. We will ride for approx 10-18 miles depending on the pacing of the group and other factors. We will be riding for approx 5 miles on city streets/bike lanes in addition to the wider roads of the arboretum (cars do drive in this area, but are less common).
- This event starts and ends in the NoMa Neighborhood in NE DC. You are required to supply your own transportation to and from the starting/ending point.
-This event will be happening rain or shine.
-All participants will be required to fill out a liability waiver & photo release to participate, which will be presented to you the day of the event.
-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:
If cancellation occurs before/on September 1, 2024, the full cost of the event minus 10% of the event cost will be refunded. We are unable to honor cancellations on/after September 2, 2024. We reserve the right to cancel the event if it is not meeting the event minimum, acts of god, staff illness, or due to inclement weather (which will be deemed by Circle and Spoke. This event will happen rain or shine. Inclement weather includes tornados or hurricanes). If we do need to cancel your event cost is refunded. All cancellations and any refund requests (refund requests must be made within 15 days of the event) must be made to Circle and Spoke Retreats and Rides LLC in writing to [email protected] .
We'd like to give a shout out to Anna Tripp and Tara Pokras. Many of the amazing photographys are courtesy of them.
Sunday, October 6, 2024 from 10:30am- 4pm
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