Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Solorzano.
Hi Cristina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I learned to ride a bike as a little kid, like many kids in the 90’s. My cousins and I would hop on our bikes and ride to a nearby park and hang out all afternoon until supper time. As I aged out of playgrounds and became a motorist, I let go of riding a bike. I didn’t consider riding a bike could be my lifestyle, until I started working at REI in San Antonio. Being that REI embraces the outdoor lifestyle, it was easy to ask some coworkers to help me figure out a commuting route. With time, I became a confident bicycle commuter and that confidence led me to Ghisallo, where I teach other community members the joy of integrating the bicycle in their lifestyle.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a 75% gravel and 25% smooth pavement. San Antonio isn’t a bicycle mecca for commuting or causal riding. The biggest struggle in San Antonio is becoming a confident rider. Being aware of traffic at all times, knowing your rights and responsibilities as a bike rider can be daunting. I learned by riding my commute route with coworkers until I became confident enough to go alone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Ghisallo Cycling Initiative has been in San Antonio since 2018. We are all community educators, providing bike literacy information to people of all ages and all abilities. We tailor the information to youth – Cycle Academy, adults – City Cyclist, and seniors – Golden Rollers. We are most known for our Golden Rollers program, where seniors ride adult upright trikes with us. We take them on weekly rides through Brackenridge Park, Ave B to downtown and anywhere else our seniors would like. All of our events and programs are free. We don’t have a brick and mortar, so reach out to us and we can meet you where you are! The San Antonio team is ready and eager to get more people in bikes – in whatever way suits your lifestyle! Our Cycle Academy program educates youth, 18 and below, on important cycling skills like hand signals and scanning for traffic. We also offer holiday bike clubs at local community centers.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
It’s important to understand that everyone has different levels of interest, different abilities, and fears pertaining to riding a bike alongside traffic or anywhere that isn’t a closed parking lot. We make sure to always meet people at their ability level and we don’t believe fear mongering will get us the results we are looking for. We educate and empower everyone to make cycling part of your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ghisallo.org/about/locations/san-antonio/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghisallocycling_sa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GhisalloCycling
- Other: https://goldenrollers.org/locations/san-antonio/
