Many of the original members of the Women's Mountain Biking Association of Colorado Springs celebrated on a great day.

One of the most active and successful bicycling organizations in Colorado, the Women's Mountain Biking Association of Colorado Springs, has changed its leadership.

When the founders of the WMBA launched the nonprofit organization in the fall of 2008, they had no idea what it would become.

Hillary Hienton, Betty Gilbert, Jessica Conner, Tracy Hankinson and the late Mary Hoyle envisioned a community of cyclists dedicated to empowering women to ride and build relationships. In four years it has grown to include 230 members who have fostered new friendships and pedaled thousands of miles together. Now the original members insist that it's time to step down.

"It has been tough at times, but very rewarding," Gilbert said. "We invested lots of hours in WMBA, but we're all ready to step aside."

The founders chose a new leadership board on Monday, including Sherri Woods, Jen Zink, Anais Spitzer, Jeanne Carberry, Brenda Malmberg, Tara McCarthy and Laurien Moes. All are current members of WMBA and each brings an important skill set to the group.

"We mostly looked for reliability and people who are committed to WMBA," Gilbert said. "And they have an array of experience."

There currently is no "president" or structure to the board, but the new team can change that.

Spitzer, who joined WMBA last year, said the new board will meet soon. She said some change may be inevitable, but she doesn't expect that the core goals of the organization will change.

"I'm sure there are foundational things that we don't want to change," Spitzer said. "But as the membership grows there will be things that will change and it will be exciting to explore what they are. We serve the membership, so we have to keep an open mind."

WMBA riders in their famous lavender and black kits are a common sight on area trails and at cycling events along the Front Range. Under the leadership of the founders, the WMBA conducted weekly rides in the summer, plus "skills" rides with professional cyclists offering valuable tips to new riders.

The organization's racing and club teams were also famous and popular. In only its second full year, the WMBA's Cat. 1 rider Kennon Roeber won U.S. Cycling's Marathon National Championship.

And when it comes time to celebrate, the WMBA knows how to get 'er done. The annual Costume Criterium, membership drive and end-of-season party are sometimes raucous and always well attended.

Starting any organization is tough, but making it sustainable is the key. The founders shared some common traits: They accepted responsibility and refused to give up.

"I think we got lucky," Gilbert said. "We're all the same type of person. We like to see things through. We don't blow things off. We just get things done. You can't be flaky."

That stability became an attraction and new members eagerly paid the $40 annual membership dues to join the group.

"We believed in what we were doing and saw how much the girls here depended on it," Gilbert said. "It made it easy. It's been rewarding."

Hienton said she is most proud of "creating a community where there wasn't one before."

When WMBA launched, Gilbert and Conner simply wanted to bring women together to ride. Hienton said she had 10 beginners who had asked her to go for a ride. It didn't take long for the momentum to build.

"Now the participation on our rides is really high," she said. "I'm just amazed at how many women ride in Colorado Springs."