About

Unchain yourself

Join 350+ cyclists who share your passion. Whether you're a rider that likes riding chill or a fast rider that likes to push yourself. We offer group rides for everyone.

Self-organising and living on WhatsApp

Our concept is simple, we run several WhatsApp groups that enable you to launch and join group rides.

Anyone can be a ride leader, and organisers decide how far, how fast, where and when the ride sets off. They can set the ground rules so that everyone can enjoy.

Someone wants to join your ride, you'll love seeing our infamous "in" messages of people confirming that they're tagging along for your ride!

Thinking about joining us?

What a swell idea! We're chillaxed, multinational and multilingual, and love to support you to get out and ride more!

Come as you are, we pride ourselves in being inclusive and our rides allow for both women and men to feel comfortable in our groups.

#no-one-left-behind

Nearly all of our rides feature rules to ensure no dropping (for example the group's faster riders wait at the top of the climb for slower riders and we continue together), and we adjust the ride speeds in support of the ride's slowest riders. Often our ride captains will break off from the group to support those really struggling. In essence #no-one-left-behind!

Est. 2016 - A Refuge des Cyclistes

The first rides started in September 2016. Founded by Dries Verhaeghe and the cycling group Fartlek to be a refuge for cyclists who found the Fartlek group rides too fast. Refuge des Cyclistes was born to be a place for people looking for more social rides, an in-between house where you can improve and still have fun too!

In 2021, the group had to change name and after a robust rebranding process the Brussels Unchained was born. Brussels Unchained is co-organised today by Kim Smouter and Dries Verhaeghe, supported by many volunteer cyclists who organise rides and our racing teams.

And we keep riding on...