Sept 13th, 2025 | by Gabriela Hydle
Bikes don’t just help Gabriela Hydle go places, they’re helping her become someone stronger, more capable and open to new challenges! Today, Gabriela reflects on how she felt when she started biking and how she’s sharing her passion with others.
I didn’t grow up with access to outdoor adventures or cycling culture. Bikes weren’t part of my world, not as a sport, not as freedom, not even as transportation. So, when I had my first real experience on a mountain bike, I had no idea how deeply it would change my life. That first ride wasn’t just about navigating dirt trails or learning to shift gears. It was about discovering a part of myself I hadn’t met before, a version that was stronger, more capable, and open to new challenges. It didn’t just change how I saw biking, it changed how I saw myself. From that moment on, I was hooked.
Since then, my journey on two wheels has taken me many places. I’ve explored fat tire biking, gravel riding, bikepacking, and even road cycling. Each style pushed me differently, teaching me patience on climbs, focus on descents, and trust in my instincts when the trail gets tricky or the ride is strenuous. Along the way, I achieved something I’m incredibly proud of: becoming, possibly, the first Guatemalan certified as a Bike Instructor Certification Program (BICP) Level 1 mountain bike instructor. That certification wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a step toward leadership in a space where people who look like me, those with earth-toned skin and immigrant backgrounds are still rarely seen.
I was also fortunate to receive a grant to work with Bikes Together, supporting bike mechanic classes for Latinas in Spanish. Being part of that community reminded me that cycling is about more than bikes. It’s about connection, identity, empowerment, sharing a chisme and a meal before class.
Beyond biking, I’m also working on my 200-hour yoga training, which has deepened my connection to my body and mind. On top of that, I’m training for my first Ironman or as I like to call it, my first Iron Person, which pushes me to new limits and teaches me resilience in fresh ways.
Bikes don’t just help Gabriela Hydle go places, they’re helping her become someone stronger, more capable and open to new challenges! Today, Gabriela reflects on how she felt when she started biking and how she’s sharing her passion with others.
I didn’t grow up with access to outdoor adventures or cycling culture. Bikes weren’t part of my world, not as a sport, not as freedom, not even as transportation. So, when I had my first real experience on a mountain bike, I had no idea how deeply it would change my life. That first ride wasn’t just about navigating dirt trails or learning to shift gears. It was about discovering a part of myself I hadn’t met before, a version that was stronger, more capable, and open to new challenges. It didn’t just change how I saw biking, it changed how I saw myself. From that moment on, I was hooked.
Since then, my journey on two wheels has taken me many places. I’ve explored fat tire biking, gravel riding, bikepacking, and even road cycling. Each style pushed me differently, teaching me patience on climbs, focus on descents, and trust in my instincts when the trail gets tricky or the ride is strenuous. Along the way, I achieved something I’m incredibly proud of: becoming, possibly, the first Guatemalan certified as a Bike Instructor Certification Program (BICP) Level 1 mountain bike instructor. That certification wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a step toward leadership in a space where people who look like me, those with earth-toned skin and immigrant backgrounds are still rarely seen.
I was also fortunate to receive a grant to work with Bikes Together, supporting bike mechanic classes for Latinas in Spanish. Being part of that community reminded me that cycling is about more than bikes. It’s about connection, identity, empowerment, sharing a chisme and a meal before class.
Beyond biking, I’m also working on my 200-hour yoga training, which has deepened my connection to my body and mind. On top of that, I’m training for my first Ironman or as I like to call it, my first Iron Person, which pushes me to new limits and teaches me resilience in fresh ways.
For me, biking is more than a sport. It’s a way to process life, build resilience, and connect with others. Every pedal stroke is a small act of momentum, especially when life feels uncertain. It’s the wind on my face when the world feels heavy, the strength in my legs when I need to remember my power, and the trail ahead reminding me that I can take up space and keep moving forward. It teaches me resilience in an unknown environment.
On my bike, I’m not just going somewhere, I’m becoming someone. I know biking isn’t accessible to everyone, especially in communities like mine where financial, cultural, and systemic barriers exist. That’s why I’m committed to this work because bikes can be tools of freedom, confidence, and healing. Through mechanic workshops and group rides, I’ve seen how cycling brings people together, opens doors, and changes lives. I ride for myself. I ride for those who don’t yet see themselves in this space. And I ride to show that we do have a place here.
No matter the bike mountain, fat tire, gravel, road, or bikepacking my goal remains the same: to keep moving forward and to bring others along for the ride.
For me, biking is more than a sport. It’s a way to process life, build resilience, and connect with others. Every pedal stroke is a small act of momentum, especially when life feels uncertain. It’s the wind on my face when the world feels heavy, the strength in my legs when I need to remember my power, and the trail ahead reminding me that I can take up space and keep moving forward. It teaches me resilience in an unknown environment.
On my bike, I’m not just going somewhere, I’m becoming someone. I know biking isn’t accessible to everyone, especially in communities like mine where financial, cultural, and systemic barriers exist. That’s why I’m committed to this work because bikes can be tools of freedom, confidence, and healing. Through mechanic workshops and group rides, I’ve seen how cycling brings people together, opens doors, and changes lives. I ride for myself. I ride for those who don’t yet see themselves in this space. And I ride to show that we do have a place here.
No matter the bike mountain, fat tire, gravel, road, or bikepacking my goal remains the same: to keep moving forward and to bring others along for the ride.
This story is a celebration of women and girls in sport. In stories from girls and women of all ages, we hear from avid cyclists, young surfers, and ultra runners about what sport means to them.
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Rob
September 15, 2025
Bravo Gabriella. Thanks for sharing your story.