LIFESTYLE: MOUNTAIN BIKING
GRAND COUNTY MOUNTAIN BIKE GROUPS
By Cindy Kleh

Q: What’s even more fun than a mountain bike ride in Grand County?

A: Being in a biking group that inspires you to attempt hills, streams, narrow bridges and drop offs that alone, might have seemed too challenging. Enthusiasm and encouragement from the group could be called peer pressure … or the sheer empowerment to push a little harder, go a little further and show a little more courage.

The result? Less boredom and more fun on the bike ride, leading to better workouts, improved fitness and new friends.

Fraser local Bill Jalbert, is the “spokes”person of such a group that meets regularly during the summer and early fall. Over the years, the group has changed with new riders or visiting friends, but the “core” members keep on showing up. Jalbert is partly responsible for their dedication; he calls or e-mails all of them to announce meeting times and places, but lets them decide as a group where to ride each time.

According to Jalbert, his group is an eclectic bunch with ages ranging from 20-somethings to 70-somethings and a wide variety of careers – from doctors to bankers to lawyers to physical therapists. But they all have one thing in common: a love for the challenging, technical and scenic mountain biking trails that the Fraser Valley is famous for.

“We all have different riding abilities, and the new people are never intimidated,” says Jalbert, who always brings along some kind of gourmet chocolate to share with the group. “We insure that they fit in by tailoring the ride so that everyone can participate, and we always wait for the slower ones.”

Most of the group meets on the Saturday and Sunday rides because of work schedules, but a smaller group also gets in extra rides during the weekdays, and a handful meet every other week to go road biking together. The majority are year-round locals, but many in the group live on the Front Range and have second homes in Grand County.

To join the fun, Call Jalbert at 970-726-9440; or e-mail him at wwjalbert@aol.com. There are many other biking groups to choose from in this area, from slow pace to race pace, all-women to kidsonly, road biking to Cyclocross. Check the Grand County Living magazine Web site events calendar at www.grandcountyliving.com or Sky Hi Daily News’ Community Calendar for contact information and meeting times.


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