SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE
Got a bicycle travel story or film worth sharing?
BIKE Beyond is looking for community storytellers to share their cycling adventures during the upcoming Winter Inspiration Series. Submit your story, and you may be selected to share it with fellow bike travelers.
What is the BIKE Beyond Winter Inspiration Series?
For three evenings in the winter, the BIKE Beyond community comes together to get inspired by fellow bike travelers and the stories, adventures, and ideas that get us excited to get out there and ride.
Across the series, we’ll explore a range of bike-travel tales, including:
- Overnight Trips
- Family Adventures
- Local Tours, and
- Epic Journeys
The mix of stories and themes takes shape based on the adventures shared by the community.
Each evening features:
- Stories from fellow bike travelers in the form of slideshows and/or films
- Audience Q&A
- Community conversation
- Connections with organizations that support bike travel
When is the Winter Inspiration Series?
The Winter Inspiration Series will be held at the Firehouse Arts & Events Center in Bellingham from 6:00-8:30pm on the following dates:
- Thursday, January 28, 2027
- Thursday, February 18, 2027
- Thursday, March 25, 2027
What does it look like for a storyteller to share their experience?
Think 5-25 minutes of inspiration, storytelling, and adventure — not a formal presentation or lecture. You don’t need to be a professional speaker, and your adventure doesn’t have to be epic, exotic, or Instagram-worthy. You just need a bike story you’re excited to share. Although most presenters will share a specific trip, we’re open to other topics and approaches.
A great BIKE Beyond story should:
- Tell a Story. Take us along for the ride. What inspired the trip? What happened along the way? What surprised you, challenged you, delighted you, or changed the way you see things?
- Be Engaging. Bring your personality and enthusiasm. Make us feel like we’re there with you.
- Have a Beginning, Middle, and End. Give us a sense of where you started, what happened along the way, and where you ended up — literally or figuratively.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell. Use photos, videos, and other visuals to bring your experience to life.
- Show Us a Map. Help us see where you went and how the pieces of the adventure fit together.
- Share a Few Takeaways. What did you learn? What would you do differently? What advice, resources, or inspiration can you offer someone who wants to try something similar?
- Leave Us Wanting to Ride. The goal isn’t to document every mile. It’s to share the parts of your experience that might inspire someone else to get out there and explore.
After your presentation, stick around for audience questions and conversations about your trip.
How do you become a storyteller?
Submit your story! We’ll select 4-8 storytellers for each evening of the Inspiration Series.
You can share your adventure in one of the following ways:
Talk & Slides — Tell your story in person with a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos, maps, and other visuals.- Video — Share your story through an edited adventure video.
- Something else — We’re open to creative storytelling. Perhaps you’d like to share your story as a song and dance?
Talk & Slides — Tell your story in person with a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos, maps, and other visuals.
Video — Share your story through an edited adventure video.Selected storytellers commit to:
- Choosing a 5-25 minute time slot and sticking to that time limit.
- Being available afterward to answer questions and chat with people who are curious about their adventure.
- Helping fellow community members who are interested in following in their tire tracks — for example, by sharing a map, route information, resources, or answering logistical and navigation questions.
The goal isn’t just to tell a great story. It’s to inspire others to get out there and create their own.
What is needed to submit?
Submitting your story is pretty simple. You’ll be asked to provide a few details, such as:
- The title and length of your presentation
- A short description of your adventure and what you’ll share
- 5-10 photos you plan to use in your presentation, or a link to your video
That’s it! You don’t need to have your entire presentation ready yet — just an idea of what you’d like to share.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of bike travelers. We’ll select stories that, together, create fun and varied evenings of inspiration — with adventures in different settings, a range of riding experiences and challenges, spectacular scenery, and a variety of voices and perspectives.
If your story is selected, you’ll receive an email requesting a few details to help market your presentation. You’ll also receive some tips and suggestions to help you prepare for your evening in the spotlight. Know that you’ll need to submit your final video or slides ten day before the event.
You’re welcome to submit up to three entries for three different presentations.
Important Dates
- Sunday, November 1, 2026: Submissions open
- Friday, December 4, 2026 @ noon: Submission due
- Sunday, December 20, 2026: Presenters notified
Ready to Submit Your Adventure?
Excellent! Click here for the submission form.