2026 Season: Big updates for Goldilocks GRVL!

🎉 Hey, OG Goldilocks GRVL fam! We’ve got news.

First things first — thank you for being here. If you’re reading this, you’re an existing member and a core part of our community. Whether you’ve been riding with us since that fateful very first ride in summer of 2024 or are a recent addition to this group, we’re so glad you’re here. We’re grateful for your continued support and patience while we grow and figure things out in real time.

As we head into the 2026 season, we’re making a change to how we stay connected: we’re moving our community from WhatsApp to Slack.

We know change can feel like a headwind, so let us explain why we’re excited about this — and why we think you will be too.

🪴 We’re growing (and that’s a great thing!)

Goldilocks GRVL has grown faster than we ever could have imagined, from a small casual group of friends into a large, thriving community — and we couldn’t be prouder of that. But with growth comes the need for better tools to keep everything running smoothly.

WhatsApp has been great for getting us this far, but we’ve simply outgrown it.

⚙️ Why Slack?

We’re a community of real people who get together and ride — that’s the whole point. Our online space exists to make that easier, not to become another stressful thing to manage.

WhatsApp is fine as a group chat tool, and worked great when we were a smaller, scrappy group just figuring things out. But as we’ve continued to grow, we need a platform that keeps things better organized. Slack does exactly that — and it’s no coincidence that cycling clubs, running groups, and similar organizations across the country have made the same move. We’re adapting because it works.

With Slack, you can engage as much or as little as you like while never missing what matters. Here’s what that looks like:

• Organized channels — Dedicated spaces for ride announcements, route info, gear talk, social plans, and more. Follow what interests you, mute what doesn’t.
• Threaded conversations — Side chats and follow-up questions stay in threads instead of taking over the main feed.
• Important club updates don’t get buried — Critical stuff like schedule changes, weather calls, and route updates live in dedicated channels, so you’ll always see them.
• You’re in control — Set your own notification preferences, browse at your own pace, and search for anything you need.

WhatsApp is familiar, and we get that. But we think once you give Slack a try, you’ll find it’s simpler, more organized, and easier to stay in the loop — so we can spend less time scrolling and more time riding.

🤔 What do I need to do?

Before your first ride, you need to do the following:

1. Sign up for the 2026 season — As part of the sign-up, you’ll review and sign the updated ride waiver, read our new Code of Conduct, and request a Slack invite.

2. We’ll add you to Slack — Once we receive your sign-up, we’ll manually add you to the workspace. Keep an eye on your email for the invite.
3. Download the app — Slack is available on both phone and desktop, so you can stay connected however works best for you.
4. Introduce yourself — Pop into the #introductions channel and say hi!
5. Explore the channels — Find the ones that interest you and jump in.

That’s it! If you’ve never used Slack before, don’t worry — it’s free and easy to set up. Please reference Slack’s own support guides for more info.

🗓️ When is this happening?

Now! The switch is already underway. All new announcements and conversations are moving to Slack immediately.

On April 9th — the date of our first ride of the season — we’ll be archiving the existing WhatsApp space. You’ll still be able to see all your past messages there, but won’t be able to post new ones. Going forward, Slack is home.

🫶 We’re in this together

This move is all about making Goldilocks GRVL better — for you, for new riders, and for the amazing community we’re building together. We can’t wait to see you in Slack and in-person at our first ride!

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😫 Q: Help! I’m having trouble getting into Slack

If you’re having trouble getting into Slack for whatever reason, please Contact Us here. Alternatively, you may DM Laura MacCarley on WhatsApp during this transition period. But once you’re in Slack, let’s keep the convo going there – no more WhatsApp messages please 😉

😅 Q: Shoot – I’m just seeing this after April 9!

No worries at all! We know plenty of you muted WhatsApp over the winter or are just now finding your way back to us — you haven’t missed anything you can’t catch up on. The community is alive and well over on Slack, and we’d love to have you there.

Just follow the same steps above — sign up for the 2026 season here, and we’ll get you added to Slack. If you run into any issues, reach out to us and we’ll help you get sorted. We’re not going anywhere. 😊