Several men and women on mountain bikes rolled around the parking lot at the trailhead. Unaware they were part of a loosely organized group called Gociety, I said a brief hello and headed up the trail.
I was quickly sucked into the band of five or six rolling bikers hooting and hollering down along the front range in Colorado.
A couple hours later, we were back in the parking lot. I chatted with the folks, who politely helped me and a couple buddies call AAA (one had locked his keys in the truck) while passing out cold beers and, interestingly, home-grown kale.
This was my first experience with Gociety, an outdoor-adventure startup that touts itself as a “spontaneous friend-finder for the outdoors.”
“Outdoor sports have a unique way of bringing people together, and by launching in Colorado, Gociety is creating a close-knit community of socially-adventurous people,” said staffer Jason Antin.
At the heart of Gociety is a “discovery feed“ of trip plans posted by members. Anyone can join in on these trips, many of which are pretty hardcore adventures like pre-dawn runs of 14ers, skinning up ski areas in the dark or night ice climbs.
This type of “friend finder” is not unique to Gociety. The well known organization Meetup has been around since 2002 and has meetings for everything from skydiving to knitting.
Gociety sets itself apart by focusing exclusively on adventure sports.
I’ve gone on a couple rides and followed Gociety for a few months and have been impressed with the intensity and passion of its members.
Any member can schedule an activity, which can then be joined by any other member. Membership is free and open to anyone.
Want a 5a.m. mission to climb Arapahoe Basin before the lifts open for some uber-early powder shots? Someone on Gociety will likely be down to join you. Want to go run a self-supported trail marathon? You can probably find a companion here.
The Gociety website can be used anywhere in the United States, however it is currently supported by staff and infrastructure in Colorado, Utah and Washington.
The group has also hosted a raft of parties in its Denver home base. With four full-time staff and several “Trail Team Members,” the group has kept its base busy with bike clinics, beer drinking, and adventures galore.
If you’re looking for buddies for an after-work sprint to the trail, check out Gociety. Chances are, you won’t be alone for long.
