Forget the “frosty” morning air—this year, Fort Collins brought the warmth! While we usually expect to see breath misting in the air, Winter Bike to Work Day 2026 felt more like an early spring skip than a mid-winter trek. With unseasonably warm temperatures gracing our streets, the community responded in a big way. Our station at Oak Street Plaza was buzzing with energy as 600+ riders roll through between 7 and 9:30 a.m. Watching such a massive crowd of cyclists take over the plaza under beautiful sunny skies proves that whether it’s 20°F or 50°F, this city is built to move. City-wide, the energy was electric as a total of 2,420 riders were counted swapping four wheels for two.
Bike Fort Collins was thrilled to co-host our Oak Street station alongside the Rio Grande Restaurant and Machmer Media, who captured all the sun-drenched, smiling faces at the photo booth. Even with the warmer weather, those breakfast burritos flew off the tables because a burrito is the ultimate cycling fuel regardless of the forecast. We were also joined by our fantastic partners at City of Fort Collins Utilities & Solar, City of Fort Collins Parking Services, the Health District of Northern Larimer County.
The sunshine made for some great, lingering conversations about bicycling and safety. We were stoked to add even more signatures to our growing list of supporters for Our Vision to be the Amsterdam of the U.S.. A massive THANK YOU goes out to the 80+ local businesses that hosted stations across town. Your commitment is the reason Fort Collins remains a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community.
What better way to cap off a day of winter riding than with a Bike From Work Bash? For the 13th year running, O’Dell Brewing welcomed a packed house of bike enthusiasts for a FREE pint. Between the warm breeze on the patio and the giveaway prizes from Trek Fort Collins, InCycle Northern Colorado, Widefoot, Recycled Cycles and Fitness, Gearage Outdoor Sports, Brave New Wheel, and Topo Designs, the vibes were at an all-time high. We also want to give a special shout-out to Fort Collins Connexion for co-hosting the bash with us.
None of this would have been possible without our rockstar volunteers who managed the massive surge in riders with total grace: Ann Temple, Kathy Fahy, Eric Moon, Bill Thomas, Jacqui Speight, Susan Wannamaker, Suzan Foroughi, and Kurt Freiburg. We truly appreciate your time, energy, and commitment to making these events a success. While this winter celebration was one for the books, we’re already gearing up for the 38th annual Summer Bike to Work Day and Summer Bike from Work Bash. Keep those tires inflated and we’ll see you on the trails!
