For Samantha Nygaard, her rides have always been about the people.
Every few weeks when the weather is warm, Nygaard hosts a free, family-friendly bike ride, typically a tour of Charleston highlighting art, history or architecture throughout the city.
Moving to West Virginia
Nygaard moved to West Virginia from Jacksonville, Florida. She had visited West Virginia on a spring break trip while she was in college.
ƵI just fell in love with how beautiful and kind the people were. I was really taken aback,Ƶ she said. ƵEven just going down Capitol Street, people [were] waving across the street to each other and saying, ƵHi.ƵƵ
After graduation, Nygaard worked in Jacksonville for almost three years while Ƶlonging for West Virginia,Ƶ she said. In 2018, she moved to Charleston.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nygaard, who said she loves taking spin classes on stationary bikes, picked up outdoor cycling.
ƵƵIt was really a cool time in our community because there were just so many people outside and even though it was mostly people in their bubbles, like in their clusters walking together, it was just nice to be in community outside like that,Ƶ she said.
Starting Pedal Pals
During FestivALL, Nygaard said she enjoyed going on the mural bike tours of Charleston. The person who guided the tour moved and passed the handlebars to Nygaard. She led the mural ride in 2023.
The participants enjoyed the ride and asked when the next one was. Nygaard tried to explain the event was only during FestivALL, but the participants said they wanted to ride again.
Pedal Pals started in August 2023 with support from , an organization that supports fitness events in southern West Virginia.
Group rides range from five riders to over 30, Nygaard said. During warmer weather, she tries to have one or two bike rides a month. The Facebook page for has details about the rides and a Facebook group serves as a connection point for local riders.
Upcoming rides include an East End History Tour on May 28 and a West Side Mural Tour on May 30.
Meeting new riders
Christian Frazie, who lives in Hurricane and grew up in Charleston, used the Facebook group to meet new people when he moved back to the area three years ago.
Ƶ[I was] trying to look for a new group to ride with, in a sense, and just meet new people and branch out,Ƶ he said.
He mountain bikes in Putnam County but prefers Charleston for riding around the city, especially on Kanawha Boulevard.
ƵEven if nothing is scheduled, itƵs kind of nice to have somebody to ride with sometimes,Ƶ he said.
The most recent Pedal Pals ride was his first one with the full group.
Ƶ[Nygaard] is really good about Ƶ getting people, in a way, out of their comfort zone, but doing it in a safe manner,Ƶ he said.
Ages 7 to 70
The rides are suitable for ages 7 to 70 and beyond, Nygaard said. The group rides build confidence for road riding.
ƵItƵs really intimidating to get back on the road and get back on a bike,Ƶ she said. ƵThis is the perfect way to start. IƵm very gentle with people and coaching them. If someone is behind, someone will stick with them in the group, and we will wait for them. ThereƵs not a race.Ƶ
Charleston resident Hannah Grubb is friends with Nygaard and has been involved with Pedal Pals since it began. She said she likes how the rides bring together groups of people who normally donƵt interact with each other.
ƵYou get kind of the older crowd and the younger crowd, and thatƵs really cool,Ƶ she said.
Nygaard said she hopes to expand Pedal Pals throughout West Virginia, and she already participates in other local cycling events, such as a fall bike ride in Pratt.
ƵIf thereƵs a road, thereƵs a way,Ƶ she said. ƵIt just gets people out there on roads [where] theyƵve never been before and seeing things theyƵve never seen, whether itƵs a waterfall or a new route to them. ItƵs a really cool way to experience the state.Ƶ
Community values
Even in Charleston, Nygaard and Grubb say the rides are ways to see things they may miss in their cars.
ƵOn a bike, you can stop and slow down and see the tulips begin to open up or we could take a picture, which you canƵt necessarily do in a car,Ƶ Nygaard said.
For Nygaard, Pedal Pals leans into her values of community and a sense of place. She was a military kid who moved around the country every three years.
ƵI had to really pick up and Ƶ make connections to the community I lived in every three years,Ƶ she said.
Her favorite part of the rides is teaching people, even those who have lived in Charleston their whole life, something new about the city.
ƵWhen you learn more about your community, you care more about your community,Ƶ she said.
