I did a group ride with the Oak Leaf Familia on July 11th, 2026. I think I found out about the group via milwaukeebikerides.com. (It’s also listed on the Bike Fed site.)
Oak Leaf Familia is a “Latinx and Immigrant Cycling Club” but it is described as “all-inclusive” and I want to be an ally but never want to invade a space I might not be welcome in…
Friends, I was welcome. With smiling faces and handshakes. (Thanks Sergio!) We all gathered to ride bikes, and as I’ve learned, that brings people together.
I also met Franky, another first-timer, and their friend Lexi who hadn’t been on a bike in years but used a Bublr Bike (for free thanks to OLF!) to join the fun. I got to talk to a few other folks along the ride as well. This might be the first group ride where I just showed up on my own not knowing anyone. I’m happy to say that by the end I had met some new people.
And this was definitely a family ride. There were kids, and at one point a 7-year old took the lead and I’m telling you, she was pedaling fast. Kid-Power!
You can check out Oak Leaf Familia on Instagram, and also see this great Radio Milwaukee article from 2024: Oak Leaf Familia seeks to grow Milwaukee’s cycling community
Also, I ended up biking from home (Enderis Park) to where 76th street meets the OLF, then down to the Urban Ecology Center, then did the ride out to HWY 100, and headed back, but left the group when we got back to 76th street. It was a great day for a ride though!