Cycling

Start 'em young

I got my first bike when I was seven or eight years old. It was a baby blue, banana-seated beast that looked a lot like the '67 Schwinn Stingray pictured below. Santa delivered that year, though I had no idea the bike wasn't brand new. I remember the first time I was pedaling on my own, having realized my step-father had let go of the seat — like the feeling so many have, I felt like I was flying. It wasn't long afterward that I was jumping that thing off of homemade kicker ramps and beating that old bike up. The bikes I ride today are a far cry from that old tank, but one thing remains the same: coasting away at the start of every ride still feels like flying.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking became my true cycling love when I began in 2007. I hadn't seriously ridden a bike for quite a while, and when I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work, I took the various gifts from family and friends and bought my first mountain bike. It was all downhill from there (pun intended). From alpine singletrack to desert sandstone, there isn't really a type of terrain I don't want to ride on my mountain bike. Over the years, I've brought my kids "into the fold" gently, and though they aren't fanatics like me, we do enjoy riding together.

The Tour of Utah is the latest installment in Utah's long cycling history

Points along many of my regular routes pass historical cycling locations. From the Salt Palace to Wandamere Park (now Nibley Park Golf Course), Utah was as caught up in cycling fever during the early 20th century as any other place in the world. At one time, three velodromes existed: one at Saltair (built around the outside of the ballroom floor), one at the Salt Palace, and one at Wandamere Park. Races were held regularly and drew crowds in the thousands. One historical shop, Guthrie Bicycle, is still in business today.