Outride Research Summit Recap—A Virtual Success!
Outride hosted its Fourth Annual Research Summit on July 31st, bringing together leading experts to share the latest research about the wide-ranging benefits of cycling that further the Outride mission of improving the academic, health, and social success of today’s youth through cycling. Over 450 supporters registered for the first-ever virtual event reaching across the USA and around the world, with guests logging in from Chile, Scotland, Qatar, and Indonesia!
Outride Cofounder Mike Sinyard and new Executive Director Skye DeLano opened the session expressing deep gratitude for the support of research partners at Stanford and the University of Wyoming, community partners, our Riding for Focus Champions and students—nearly 50,000 strong to date— and the remarkable Outride Team. A collection of experienced presenters from the University of Wyoming, Mental Health America and leading bicycle industry advocacy organization PeopleForBikes further expanded on how cycling benefits all aspects of health—mental and physical—and how it can affect both the brain and behavior of individuals with learning differences. Many thanks go out to Specialized Bicycles for sponsoring and providing technical support for this event.
Below we have compiled a list of our Top Ten Highlights from the event for some insights into the research and collected outcomes along with the link to the recording so you can view the entire panel of presenters. Enjoy the ride!
# 1—Mike Sinyard, Founder & President of Specialized Bikes, who launched Outride in 2012, welcomed all attendees and shared that what Outride brings to youth today is “More important than ever before.” His commitment was made evident in his recent announcement of an increase in funding from Specialized to $10 million dollars over the next three years which will empower Outride to reach far more youth, particularly youth in resilient communities. Mike shared that he wished we could all be together riding bikes—but until then reminded us to stay focused and to remember the Outride Team is really all of us. “When we look back we will see how together, we all really made a difference in the world one by one”.
The $10 million will be used “to accelerate the great work that the organization is doing to bring cycling to school and youth development programs, as well as safe places to ride, with an increased focus on underrepresented and underserved communities.”
—Mike Sinyard, Outride Cofounder—
#2—Skye DeLano, Outride’s New Executive Director, will lead the Outride team into the next phase of growth, funding, and research. A lifelong performance athlete, outdoor enthusiast, and passionate advocate for advancing opportunities for young people, Skye is thrilled to join Outride's team as Executive Director. Bringing nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy, capacity building, and strategic growth, the hallmarks of Skye's diverse career are the cultivation of relationships for maximum social impact through philanthropic investment, strategic partnerships, and education. During her career, Skye has raised over $130M to advance the work of nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area and beyond, including education, environment, youth development, the arts, juvenile justice, and LGBTQ programs.
I was intrigued by the unique model: youth centered, research based, and outcome driven. I was impressed by its reach of nearly 50,000 youth across 44 states in the US and Canada, and heartened by the diversity of youth that Outride is serving. I was excited by the potential to scale and benefit hundreds of thousands more. And I said yes because I was inspired by our shared vision of cycling as a powerful social justice tool, for reaching kids from all walks of life, and helping to cultivate, nurture, and sustain healthy and inclusive communities.
—Skye DeLano, Outride Executive Director —
#3—Our New Riding for Focus School Champions—87 Champions joined the virtual training this week before the Friday Summit. They adapted to a new way of virtual learning, all about bike safety with four full and action-packed days of lessons and learning led by both Outride Riding for Focus Program Manager Meagan Daniel and Riding for Focus curriculum developer Ben Rollenhagen, of Central Michigan University.
The resilience of the new Riding for Focus School Champions and their adaptability to a new way of learning was both incredible and inspirational.
—Meagan Daniel, Riding for Focus Program Manager—
#4—Our Stanford Research Partners—In 2016, Outride partnered with Dr. Allan Reiss and his team, now including Aaron Piccirilli, at the Stanford University Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences to research the effects of cycling on brain function and cognition with ADHD. Through this multi-year partnership, now in its fourth year, the team is exploring how a range of cycling programs, differing in intensity, duration, and frequency influence the brain and behavior as well as symptoms of ADHD. The Phase I study published in 2019 validated the use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to directly measure brain activity during exercise. Phase II will explore the short-term effects of cycling-exercise, and Phase III will be predicting individual responses to cycling-exercise training. Dr. Reiss shared that there is strong evidence that exercise can improve symptoms of ADHD and no doubt exercise can increase cognition, heart rate, and brain health, and that he “prescribes” exercise to his patients!
We are excited about what this research can uncover, possibly identifying which children will most benefit from using physical activities like cycling to treat their ADHD, and how we can structure their activities to be the most impactful on their cognitive functions.
—Dr. Allan Reiss, Stanford University Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences—
#5—Professor Cynthia Hartung and John Vasko, of the University of Wyoming, presented their findings on the Acute Effects of Cycling on ADHD in College Students working in the Attention and Learning Lab at the University. Their preliminary findings revealed that college students with ADHD saw decreases in inattention symptoms and emotional impulsivity immediately following high intensity interval cycling training while the same measures in college students without ADHD remained constant. Outride has partnered with Professor Hartung and her University of Wyoming colleagues for the next two years, and they will focus on delineating the most appropriate interventions for high school and middle school students on how exercise affects executive function in these age group, as well as the impact of the Riding for Focus program in a local Laramie school.
#6—Esther Walker, Outride Research Program Manager, has a Ph.D., in Cognitive Science from the University of California San Diego and brings years of experience as both a researcher, educator, and experienced bicyclist-commuter, racer and mentor. Esther shared an update on Outride’s Applied Research and Riding for Focus program and the positive impact it is having on middle-school students across a variety of domains.
Riding for Focus Snapshot Since 2014:
250 cycling instructors trained
programs across 44 states
Nearly 200 schools
Nearly 50K students
By the numbers: Does the Program Affect Future Ridership?
90% of teachers saw an increased increase in cycling
86% of students report having a bike at home
77% of students report being interested in riding outride of class
66% of students reported continuing riding outside of class
#7—Susan Searls, Riding for Focus Champion at Davenport School for the Arts shared how she originally applied for the Riding for Focus grant in 2017 and did not receive it in the first round. Nevertheless, determined and committed to bringing a program to her school in Florida, she made it happen the following year in 2018 with the support of her husband and a team of school supporters. Susan helped initiate the construction of a trail for students to ride right on campus, including a mini pump track, and students will have the opportunity to help maintain the trail and dream up new features in years to come. She also developed a partnership with Winter Garden Wheel Works to help build and maintain the school's fleet. Susan has been with Davenport for over 15 years and is a life-long educator committed to giving youth opportunities for life-long learning and experiencing the benefits of life-long healthy habits for physical education.
#8—Theresa Nguyen, LCSW, is the Chief Program Officer and Vice President of Research and Innovation with Mental Health America (MHA), Outride’s newest partner in mental health advocacy. Theresa is a dedicated champion serving the mental health needs of today youth. Her life experience has given her exceptional wisdom and knowledge in how key prevention is in addressing symptoms at an early stage to offset serious complications at a later time in life. MHA offers abundant resources and a free on line confidential assessment tool that can identify mental health challenges and suggested solutions in seeking help. Regarding COVID-19 and the onset of additional stress for everyone, she shared, “young people are at higher risk in dealing with social environment and challenges”.
#9—Jennifer Boldry, Ph.D.—is the Chief Research Advisor, PeopleForBikes based in Boulder, Colorado. Known as Dr. B, she aggregates, analyzes, and reports on every facet of PeopleforBikes’ work. Their professional and talented staff is driven by their passion for getting more people on bikes more often. With a combined 134 years of experience in bicycling advocacy, they are dedicated to ensuring safe and accessible riding options for all and are leading the research efforts on where and why people ride bikes. Dr. B shared information on the Riding Patterns among kids and the impact COVID-19 has had on bike riding, trends in kids riding overall and the increase in bike sales due to COVID-19.
#10—Andy Cunningham, Ph.D., Outride Fund Program Manager, is the behind the scenes and all-in connection for all things Outride Fund related. Since its inception in the fall of 2019, the Outride Fund has awarded over $250,000 in matching grants to dozens of organizations nationwide. The next deadline for summer grants is August 8th—bring a youth cycling education, youth rider development or trails or pump track project to your city now, too.
Andy Cunningham, Outride Fund Program Manager with daughter Isla. Ready to Outride Everything!
Summer deadline for Outride Fund grant applications—August 8, 2020
A special thanks to representatives from our Outride Athlete Ambassador Team comprised of 29 athletes who help mentor, motivate, and inspire our Riding for Focus students and the next generation of riders. Sarah Sturm, Single Speed National Cyclocross Champ, and Kelsey Urban, 5X National Team/2x World Champion Team, guided our active breaks to stretch and get moving throughout the morning! Sarah hails from Durango, Colorado, home of MTB legends (yes, Ned Overend) and coaches a youth DEVO Team—she recruited two Devo riders to help viewers rock with Tic Tok! Thank you ambassadors!
Special thanks to all of our partners and supporters—that includes all of you, too—we are in this together making a difference and we consider you a part of our Outride Team! Please stay connected and sign up and subscribe to our newsletter below.
Links to Summit Recordings
Also linked above in individual summaries.
Opening Remarks - Mike Sinyard, Founder & President, Specialized Bicycles, Skye DeLano, Executive Director, Outride
Research Update from the Brain Research Exercise & Fitness Lab - Professor Allan Reiss and Aaron Piccirilli, Stanford University
Acute Effects of Cycling on ADHD in College Students - Professor Cynthia Hartung and John Vasko, University of Wyoming
Outride Applied Research and Riding for Focus Summary - Esther Walker, Ph.D., Research Program Manager, Outride
Riding for Focus School Presentation - Susan Searls, Davenport School for the Arts Champion
Youth Mental Health: Lessons from MHA Screening - Theresa Nguyen, LCSW, Chief Program Officer and Vice President of Research and Innovation, Mental Health America
Riding Patterns among Kids - Jennifer Boldry, Ph.D., Chief Research Advisor, PeopleForBikes
Outride Fund Presentation - Andy Cunningham, Ph.D., Outride Fund Program Manager