Back on a bike

It wouldnt be summer in South Dakota without Sturgis.
Sure, we dont have the intense focus on the Rally on the eastern side of the state that communities do west river, but appreciate it or not, the number of bikes thunderously rolling through our area on their way to or from the Hills is a sound we anticipate and know is coming each year.
But if motorized two-wheelers dont excite you and make you feel like a kid again, perhaps consider dusting off the saddle of that old bicycle you may have sitting out in the garage.
Biking, in all forms, fortunately continues to gain popularity here in South Dakota and in this writers opinion, if you havent been riding in years, youre missing out.
I was.
I used to bike everywhere before moving to South Dakota in 2012 as a kid, wed get on our bikes and ride all day, miles and miles. Our parents were often not sure where we were, but it didnt matter, as long as we were home in time for dinner. If we wanted to hang out with friends, we had to get there on our bikes. As I got older, Id ride to and from school and the jobs I had in our small town.
College had me riding every day around the hilly campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in the heart of city traffic between classes. Id ride to and from marching band practice miles away, and to and from work. It was transportation, but it was also exercise, and exhilarating.
Starting out my career, Id hit the streets of Missoula to get to and from work many days, or just head out to enjoy the mountain trails in my backyard. When I returned to Wisconsin a few years later, endless miles of paved bike paths were literally out my back door and I would take to them often, especially as I trained for multiple short but fun sprint triathlons.
When I moved to South Dakota in 2012, I didnt see a safe way to ride. Motorists here, for the most part, arent yet used to sharing the road with cyclists, plus, I know what the windshields of our vehicles look like. I didnt want those same chips in my face from rocks unintentionally tossed by passing motorists.
I got rid of my road bike and largely opted for running on our rural gravel road.
But there is something very freeing about the air hitting your face, motion propelled by your own energy, and seeing the world from two wheels, and Ive missed it. Traveling as much as we do, we see bike trails in so many other areas, and they are constantly being put to good use.
So I set out to find a new (used) road bike, and convinced my husband to join me. Through the help of a friend, we found a bike for him too, and its been the most joyful return to a childhood pastime.
He, in fact, is the one setting out for a ride each day and putting in far more miles than I am.
I like that you can get a good distance in a little bit of time, its good exercise, you can do it for a good bit of time without wearing yourself out, and you can see things that you dont usually see in a car, my husband said.
As Flandreau prepares to expand its bike path through a new DOT grant, and as Brookings, Sioux Falls, even Madison, Pipestone, and other communities continue to grow their trail systems, getting back on a bike might be worth doing if its been awhile. There are quite a few others in the area that bike religiously and who, Im guessing, would love to show you some great routes to travel. The health benefits can be tremendous, from increased strength and flexibility, to better coordination and balance, reduced anxiety, stress, and depression, even improving symptoms from arthritis.
Plus, its just a fun way to get outdoors, feel like a kid again, and enjoy whats left of summer. And these days are fleeting.
Happy, safe trails, friends.