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Club Leader Spotlight: Tina Beecham
In this month’s spotlight, we’re excited to connect with Tina Beecham — Shero of her local San Antonio, Texas chapter of Black Girls Do Bike. In addition to regular rides throughout the month, the group also hosts thematic rides throughout the year. This month, they organized a Black History Month ride through San Antonio’s Eastside with this inspiring invitation:
“Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with an unforgettable ride through the historical landmarks on San Antonio’s Eastside. Together, we’ll uncover the rich stories and legacies that continue to shape our community, guided by inspiring presenters who will leave us motivated to honor and preserve these impactful histories.”
At the League, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to bike for transportation, good health, and the pure joy and freedom it brings. That’s why we love collaborating with our friends at Black Girls Do Bike — an organization whose mission is to foster a vibrant community of women of color who share a passion for cycling. Keep reading to learn how Tina is putting this work into action in San Antonio.
Tell us a bit about the Black History Ride event, the inspiration and intention around it.
San Antonio has been doing the Black History Month ride since 2017, as long as the weather holds up — February can get pretty cold in Texas! Each year, the ride brings together a different group but it’s always a good turnout. We collaborate with different historians, often professors at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA), to provide historical context during the ride.
This year, Historic Preservation Specialist and African American history scholar Dr. Charles Gentry was there to share his deep knowledge of local history. The ride is designed to showcase and highlight all the different contributions African Americans have made in San Antonio, and a lot of people are surprised to learn the history. I always love seeing all the faces of surprise, excitement, and joy throughout the ride.
What was the route like, and were there any key historical sites or moments highlighted?
We make four major stops where we get off our bikes and listen to a speaker share a deep dive into the history of the site. Along the way, we also include quick virtual discovery spots along the way where you can briefly pause and scan a QR code to learn more. My favorite stop this year was outside of Saint Paul’s, where we were joined by senior pastor Rev. Amerson and Alex Bailey, founder of Black Outside Inc. —an organization dedicated to reconnecting Black youth with the outdoors. Alex’s speech highlighted Camp Founder Girls, America’s first summer overnight camp for Black girls, which recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary. Among our riders were two young girls who had attended Camp Founder Girls themselves. Seeing their excitement and connection to this piece of history made the stop even more special.
Do you have any future plans for similar events or ways you’d like to expand this ride?
We try to do the Black History Month ride every year, and we also host a Juneteenth ride with San Antonio Social riders. Our biggest ride each year is the Pedaling in Pink ride for breast cancer awareness, benefitting and supported by the Thrivewell Cancer Foundation. You can stay connected with our events by following us on Instagram at @bgdbsatx.
Any recommendations for other cycling groups across the country who might be interested in planning a similar event?
Reaching across the table and willingness to collaborate is key. I recommend getting connected with different cycling clubs in the city you’re in, and consider what other groups might be interested. You might have luck inviting groups of runners and outdoor enthusiasts who are new to biking and want to get involved as a group. Come up with an event that everyone can be a part of, and you’ll get all hands on deck. Speaking of outdoor enthusiasts, I have to give a shoutout to our local REI for working with us closely and always coming out to our events. They brought out mountain bikes to the Black History ride, and we really appreciate that level of support.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the ride or BGDB San Antonio?
At our BGDB chapter, we try to be involved in our community. Whether it’s charitable rides, casual gatherings, or hosting a pillow drive to give back to the community — it’s more than cycling, we try to be a part of the fabric of the San Antonio community. Advocacy is a big piece, so we try to be a part of city council meetings and things like that. We try to be well-rounded. I’m really excited to become a certified League Cycling Instructor (LCI) soon, so I can help our local chapter host bike rodeos and teach kids how to ride. The LCI seminar is at the end of March and it’s all Black Girls Do Bikes Sheroes, so it’s going to be a great time!
Tina’s passion for building community through biking is truly inspiring. Her work with BGDB San Antonio highlights how cycling can be a powerful tool for connection—bringing people closer to their history, amplifying advocacy efforts, and creating shared experiences that strengthen communities. We can’t wait to see what she and her club do next—plus, with so many Sheros becoming LCIs soon, they’ll be sharing their knowledge, supporting new riders, and growing an even stronger, more connected cycling community nationwide!