what is CYCLING MY WAY?
Your road and gravel cycling community in Bern
CYCLING MY WAY (CMW) brings like-minded people together. We want to have a great time and create lasting memories. That's why we regularly organize group road bike rides: the CMW Rides. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a beginner or a competitive cyclist. In our opinion, these experiences shouldn't be reserved for high-performance riders, but we don't exclude them either. We're proud of the diversity of our group. As a beginner, you'll benefit from the experience of others. The more experienced riders are happy to share their knowledge and enjoy the good company on their "recovery ride." We deliberately avoid performance-based groups. All our rides are "no-drop social rides." And yes, it works. Come and see for yourself.
Several times a year, we organize cycling events in Switzerland and abroad together with our partners. The centerpiece of these events is usually a CMW Ride, perhaps a bit more extensive, but always with the same philosophy. We also like to treat participants to local, sustainable products and offer the finest barista-made coffee. We celebrate enjoyment, both on and off the bike.
Our vision
Together we want to experience and enjoy unforgettable outings. Yes, even celebrate them. Social, stress-free, for everyone.
Our mission
We create the best possible atmosphere on our rides. This is based on meticulous route planning. Away from traffic, it's easier to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and our diverse group of people. With us, you'll feel safe. We invest heavily in accident prevention. Mobiliar enables us to provide regular first aid training. From 2025, all our Ride Leaders will be SRC-certified "Generic Providers." Through targeted partnerships, we enhance our offerings and create unforgettable experiences.
Our values
We see ourselves as role models, both on and off the road. We respect other road users and obey traffic laws. We treat our fellow human beings with respect and appreciation. We are a place where everyone meets on equal terms. We do not discriminate against anyone based on gender, skin color, sexual orientation, or religion (zero tolerance).
Important instructions
Everyone is welcome at CMW Rides, whether you're a beginner or an experienced cyclist. We adjust the pace to suit everyone. CMW Women Rides are exclusively for women.
To avoid busy roads, we gladly accept short gravel sections. However, 99% of our kilometers are covered on paved surfaces. A road bike is perfectly suited for our rides. A gravel bike will also do the job well. We advise against all other modes of transport.
Participation in the CMW Rides is free and at your own risk (see disclaimer). Registration is voluntary. Feel free to drop by spontaneously.
It is important to us that our code of conduct is followed at CMW Rides. We publish this code on our social media channels before each ride.
We like to document our rides with pictures . We believe that a few authentic snapshots describe us a thousand times better than many words ever could. We regularly post a selection of these photos on our social media channels. If you'd rather not be in one of them, please let us know during the ride. Or write to us at group.rides@cyclingmyway.ch.
Partner
History
2024
Flurina Kempf joins the CMW team and relaunches CMW Yoga. We are delighted to welcome her on board.
At the beginning of the year, we were able to gain Suplest and SCOTT Sports as new partners. Both support us with discounts on their products, ensuring that we are always perfectly equipped. Joint events are in planning. The partnerships with ILEVE DISTRICT and Biehler Cycling were concluded during the year.
At the end of 2024, die Mobiliar General Agency Bern-Stadt joined our partners. The “Mobi” enables us to conduct regular first-aid training sessions. Thanks to this collaboration, all our Ride Leaders become SRC-recognized Generic Providers.
Participants:
CMW Rides: approx. 25–70
CMW Sunset Rides: approx. 15–35
CMW Women Rides: approx. 10–35
2023
CMW expands its range of activities. In addition to the traditional Sunday CMW Rides, CMW Sunset Rides are now held on Tuesday evenings and CMW Women Rides on Thursday evenings. Two offerings that have become very popular. In December, the first CMW Virtual Rides take place. Spontaneous Zwift rides organized via the CMW Spontaneous WhatsApp chat with a few days’ notice.
There are some adjustments within the CMW team: Zarina takes over as Ride Leader from Marco, and Dani joins us in the summer. His main responsibility is the planning and organization of the supporting programs for our events. Two incredibly valuable additions.
Red Bull begins supporting our rides with beverages. The partnership with BIKEBOX.CH ends at the close of the year.
Participants:
CMW Rides: approx. 25–70
CMW Sunset Rides: approx. 15–35
CMW Women Rides: approx. 10–35
2022
The CMW team is restructured during the year. Katja, Marco, and Niels join as new Ride Leaders. A great asset. CMW Yoga is offered publicly until spring but is discontinued later that same year for personal reasons.
In spring, we finally carried out our multi-day trip to Mont Ventoux, which had to be canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. The journey turned into a complete success. An experience the 15 participants will remember for a long time.
The partnership with Ski+Velo-Center ends in March. The new starting point for CMW Rides becomes the Münsterplattform in Bern. In summer, Biehler Cycling becomes our official partner, and in autumn, cooperation begins with BIKEBOX.CH.
Participants:
CMW Rides: approx. 15–60
2021
Due to the significant increase in participant numbers and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was expanded. Several CMW Guides were introduced, allowing CYCLING MY WAY to divide participants into multiple groups, each led by at least one guide at the front and back.
Initiated by Leila, the idea of offering dedicated yoga classes for cyclists emerged during the summer. The first pilot sessions were held in autumn. That same season, ILEVE DISTRICT joined as an additional partner.
Participants:
CMW Rides: approx. 10–60
CMW Yoga: approx. 5–12
2020
For the first time, all rides and events were planned and published at the beginning of the year under the new name “CMW Ride.” The website and all social media channels were launched. Season highlights included rides over the Grosse Scheidegg and Col du Chasseral. The planned multi-day trip to Mont Ventoux had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many other rides.
Participants: approx. 5–45
2019
The first rides were held under the name “CMW Group Ride” and were still organized spontaneously via a WhatsApp group chat, which gradually filled with interested participants. Including staff from the Ski+Velo-Center, which supported CYCLING MY WAY enthusiastically from the start. The first tours began at Hirschengraben, Bern, before the CMW Home Base was later established at the Ski+Velo-Center in Belp.
Meanwhile, the website was being developed, and accounts for various social media channels were set up.
Participants: approx. 0–8
2018
CYCLING MY WAY was born out of a crisis. More precisely, out of burnout. At the age of 30, Ruedi Beck was abruptly torn from his familiar daily life. During his recovery process, cycling played a central role. He discovered a completely new approach to the sport he had long practiced with passion. The repetitive motion in the fresh air, the deep breathing. It all became almost meditative. Performance and comparison, both with himself and others, became secondary. Ruedi cycled for the sake of cycling. To explore new places, meet people, and, ideally, experience other cultures. To enjoy.
To gradually reintegrate into social interaction after his initial collapse, Ruedi began organizing spontaneous rides with friends. From this grew the dream of turning his passion into something more. To offer such tours regularly, under his own brand. A project that challenged him in his condition at the time, yet, according to his doctors, served as ideal recovery training.
The project name originated from his personal motto: “I’ll be fighting my way back from this burnout” became, thanks to the healing power of cycling, “I’ll be cycling my way back”. Later shortened to CYCLING MY WAY.
Ruedi Beck founded CYCLING MY WAY as part of his reintegration into everyday life. The mindset he found through cycling back then still forms the foundation of CYCLING MY WAY today. On social media and in his blog, Ruedi wrote about his experiences before, during, and after burnout. Unguarded, vulnerable, and above all, honest. Writing helped him organize his thoughts, process this difficult yet formative period, and contribute to destigmatizing mental health issues in society. A topic he considers crucial, as stigma often prevents people from seeking help before they collapse.