Upholding far more than its name—patroness of cycling—Ghisallo Cycling Initiative is achieving one lofty goal after another. The Austin-based organization (hey, neighbor!), named for the famed hill near Italy’s Lake Como, has a relatively short history with a mountain of accomplishments.
Just like woom, Ghisallo strives to bring the joy of bike riding to life. “We just want people to know how to use bikes as tools and enjoy biking as a casual, enjoyable activity,” says Ghisallo founder Christopher Stanton. “We have mentors and instructors who teach people how to maintain and manage bikes, whether on roads, trails, or sidewalks, and start them on the right foot so they don’t have someone looking over their shoulder.”
Stanton founded the nonprofit in 2011 after burning out in the software industry and searching for more meaning. “After college, I didn’t have a car. Honestly, I hadn’t really ridden bikes since middle school, but once I realized that I could ride my bike to work, I became a full-time bike commuter for seven years,” he says.
One day, a friend asked Stanton if he wanted to try his hand at running a bike club at a local school—the rest is history. “It turned into several schools,” says Stanton. “It was kind of unplanned.”