We recently connected with Tina Beecham and have shared our conversation below.
Tina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I’d say my resilience is layered—built from life experiences, self-awareness, and the decision to never let pain define me.
It comes from being underestimated and choosing to rise anyway.
It comes from navigating spaces where I wasn’t expected to lead—and then leading with clarity, truth, and presence.
It comes from facing serious challenges, like surviving a blood clot that could’ve taken me out, and deciding every day since that I’m going to keep moving forward.
I’ve always been outspoken and rooted in authenticity—even when that made others uncomfortable. My soul simply won’t let me be anything but real. That alone has filtered out people who couldn’t handle honesty and forced me to stand stronger in my truth.
I’ve learned that not everyone will cheer for you, and some people will try to downplay what they didn’t help build. My resilience is knowing how to keep going anyway—with receipts, results, and grace.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Tina Beecham, and I’m the founder of Pedal SATX, a nonprofit rooted in community, equity, and movement. I’m also the chapter leader of Black Girls Do Bike: San Antonio and serve on the boards of Bike San Antonio and Activate SA. At the core of everything I do is a simple belief: everyone deserves the freedom, safety, and joy of mobility.
What I Do & Why It Matters
Through Pedal SATX, I promote bicycle advocacy, safety, and education—especially for children and Black and Brown communities that are often left out of transportation conversations. Our programs empower young people to fall in love with cycling while building confidence, community, and healthier lifestyles. I also speak regularly at city council and public forums to ensure that Black voices and women’s voices are not just included—but amplified in planning, infrastructure, and mobility decisions.
What excites me most? It’s seeing people discover their strength through cycling—whether it’s a child learning to ride for the first time or a woman reclaiming joy on two wheels after decades away from biking. It’s creating space where we feel safe, seen, and celebrated.
What Makes Pedal SATX Special
Pedal SATX is not just about bikes—it’s about freedom, empowerment, and connection. It’s about showing up in rooms where people don’t expect to see a Black woman advocating for infrastructure, and not just speaking—but being heard. It’s about riding together, laughing together, healing together, and building something bigger than ourselves.
What’s New & What’s Next
We’re currently thinking and trying to expand a youth education program, which brings bike education, hands-on safety training, and community rides into schools and community spaces. We’re also growing our partnerships with organizations like ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, Essence Prep, and REI to host events that blend health, advocacy, and joy—like our annual Pedaling in Pink breast cancer awareness ride.
In the coming year, we’re building toward a long-term vision that includes:
• Mobile bike education units
• Summer ride camps for kids
• Advocacy workshops for parents and community members
• And a network of neighborhood rides that serve as safe spaces for healing, connection, and action.
This isn’t just movement—it’s a movement.
What I Want Readers to Know
I’m not here just to lead rides—I’m here to shift culture. I lead with authenticity, purpose, and unapologetic presence. I’ve turned challenges into chapters of strength. And every initiative I launch is rooted in the same truth: we all deserve the freedom to move through our communities safely, confidently, and joyfully.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on everything I’ve overcome, built, and grown through, I can say there were three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey:
1. Authenticity
From the start, I’ve moved through this world as my full, unapologetic self. That’s not always easy—especially in spaces where people expect you to shrink, sugarcoat, or stay quiet. But my authenticity is my power. It has helped me build real trust, attract the right people, and stand firm even when others doubted or misunderstood me.
🗣 Advice: Stop trying to fit into rooms that weren’t built with you in mind. Be so rooted in your truth that even when people question you, you don’t waver. The right opportunities will align with who you really are—not who you think you have to pretend to be.
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2. Resilience
I’ve faced personal challenges, including surviving a life-threatening blood clot, and I’ve navigated leadership spaces where I was underestimated from the jump. My resilience didn’t come from perfection—it came from getting back up, learning, and moving forward with intention every single time.
💡 Advice: Resilience isn’t just surviving—it’s learning how to lead from your scars. Let your setbacks shape you, not silence you. Document your lessons, protect your energy, and stay focused on your purpose.
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3. Vision with Action
Ideas are everywhere. What sets you apart is your ability to move. Whether I’m organizing community rides, advocating for safer streets, or building out programs for kids—what matters is that I take the vision and turn it into reality. That’s what creates impact.
🚲 Advice: Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start with what you have, where you are. Build it, refine it, and stay consistent. Movement—both literal and strategic—is where the magic happens.
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At the end of the day, my path hasn’t been easy, but it’s been mine. And that’s what I encourage everyone just starting out to remember: your voice, your story, and your way of doing things matters. Stay grounded, stay real, and stay in motion.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Over the past 12 months, one of my proudest areas of growth has been becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certified by the League of American Bicyclists.
I’ve always been a strong advocate—organizing rides, speaking at city council, mentoring new cyclists, and creating safe, joyful spaces for women and families to ride. But becoming an LCI took everything I’ve already been doing and added structure, national credibility, and new tools to teach others safely and confidently.
This certification wasn’t just about checking a box—it was about deepening my impact. It gave me the ability to:
• Lead formal bike education classes in my community
• Teach kids, families, and adults how to ride safely
• Advocate more powerfully at the policy level with data-backed insight
• Be a certified voice in rooms that often leave out people who look like me
It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t always mean changing who you are—it can also mean stepping deeper into your purpose, sharpening your skills, and getting the credentials to back what your community already knows: you’ve been doing the work.
Becoming an LCI has strengthened my advocacy, my confidence, and my ability to lead in even more impactful ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.PedalSATX.com
- Instagram: @TinaB210
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pedalsatx
- Twitter: @Pedal_SATX
