Kicking off 2026!
- barb.bremner
- Jan 25
- 4 min read
It was snowing and blowing last Sunday, January 18th. But that didn't stop Velorosa teammates from gathering for the annual Winter Party at team sponsor Captain Roy's to celebrate the accomplishments of 2025 and to plan for a successful year of cycling in 2026.
2026 will be the 16th year of the Velorosa Cycling Team
For 16 years Velorosa has been encouraging, nurturing, teaching, and challenging women to get more involved in the cycling community. We welcome all women interested in cycling, and we're excited to welcome in 2026!
Velorosa Cycling Team is a nonprofit organization led by a dedicated volunteer board. They plan events and ensure the continued success of the team. The 2026 Board: Rose Willey (President), Barb Bremner (Vice-President), Krystyn Williams (Secretary), Kelli O'Leary (Treasurer), Dorie Hammer (At-Large).
Contact a board member if you've got questions, ideas, suggestions for events. And if you're interested in being on the board keep showing up for events and rides and helping out, and your face could be on that board slide soon!
Team Sponsors
Our nonprofit team could not exist without the support of our fantastic sponsors. They help with the costs of team insurance, USA-Cycling license, member events, charity donations, memorial gifts, and much more. Each sponsor makes a huge impact to our team's success: Aptitude Fitness, Bastion Capitol Group, Best Day Coffee, Beth Montpas Life Coach, Body in Motion Therapeutic Massage, Brickyard Burgers & Brews, Captain Roy's, Compass Chiropractic, Cumming Tap, DSM Financial, Iowa Distillery, Jasper Winery, Pigott Office Furniture, RYLU Bike & Be You, T-Shirt Graphix, Velorosa Cycling apparel company, and West Hill Brewing
We're proud to sport their logos and names on our gear as we race, ride, and volunteer! We also encourage our teammates to support these businesses who are critical to our team.
Team Volunteering
Velorosa prioritizes sharing of time and talents across our community. In 2025 Velorosa collectively:
Contributed 973 woman-powered volunteer hours for community organizations and events (We're pretty sure this is a team annual record!)
Organized Sip & Swap, the bike community's favorite gear swap and silent auction fundraiser, raising approximately $4,000 to benefit Urban Bicycle Food Ministry (UBFM) and the Dream Team
Participated in numerous cycling charity rides and cycling related fundraiser, raising over $10,000 to support non-profit organizations and causes in our community.
Check out our team's top three volunteers:
Lee Buell, Barbara Duff, and Heidi Hoffman!
Velorosa asks members to volunteer four hours annually. Members are asked to log their volunteer hours throughout the year because we are darned proud of the collective impact of our teammates. Hours logged can be for team volunteer opportunities and also time spent volunteering with other organizations.
In a new approach for 2026, the Board will select four events for us to come together to volunteer. Each quarter there will be an event for teammates to volunteer together to make a difference in our community. The first two volunteer opportunities will be:
January 24 Iowa Bicycle Coalition Banquet
April 25 Racoon River Valley Trail Association
Pink is Powerful
2025 was a year with many teammates representing in races and on the podium. Teammates were out there competing in gravel, mountain bike, time trial, cyclocross, and endurance races. If you're curious about racing, don't hesitate to reach out to teammates for information and advice. Can't wait to see all the successes ahead in 2026!
Teammates keep on representing in 2026!
Wear your team kit to events and races.
Post event and podium picks. And be sure to tag your team!
When you register be sure to list Velorosa and link to our team website.
Committees
Our team is able to roll smoothly through all that we do because of members who help out on committees. Committees include: Communication, Volunteer, Member Engagement, Sip & Swap, Summer Party, Team Rides.
Please consider helping out by volunteering and contributing to the work of a committee.
Team Members Only
Our team always has a great looking kit. And only team members can order the team kit. 2026 will be the second year for this fabulous design. We'll open kit ordering in mid-March with pick up happening in mid-May. All members who have signed up and completed a waiver will get an email with information for ordering. You'll see info on our team Facebook and also via our Spaces app.
We also have Velorosa Team casual apparel which can be ordered any time. These fun pieces are created by terrific team sponsor Jenn Veak of T-Shirt GRAPHIX. All items can be found online at: TSG Custom
What's happening?
We have a lot of great things coming up in 2026. There will be member meet ups, community events, volunteer opportunities, team rides, and more.
There are lots of ways to keep up with all that is happening or scheduled to happen:
Team website with an events tab: www.velorosacyclingteam.com
Public Facebook: @Velorosacyclingteam
Team member only Facebook page: @Velorosa-TeamMembersOnly
Spaces - the app we use to communicate with members about events. Instructions are on the team website in a blog and also are pinned at the top of our team member only Facebook.
2026 is going to be a great year to be Velorosa!
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