Wheels are spinning
Along with its hiking trails and camp grounds, the Logan area is also home to many places for mountain bikers to get away from daily stress and get a little fresh air.
Most avid mountain bikers enjoy both the physical benefits and nature.
“It’s intense. It’s a level of physical exertion. With running you can enjoy yourself a lot, but on a bike it’s not as rigorous on your body. It’s like a religious experience. I really like being out in the hills, getting away from the city,” said Cody Benson, assistant manager at Sunrise Cyclery in Logan.
Darcie Kaufman, a member of the Utah State University cycling club, said she also mountain bikes to stay in shape, but also “to get beat up.”
Jake Young, recreational captain of the cycling club, said cycling in any form is good exercise for knees because it is low impact. He said people can take up cycling almost their whole lives. He has raced with people more than 60 years old. He feels it puts everyone on an equal level with age, weight and athletic ability. It also raises heart rates up to between 130 and 185 and can be an effective form of aerobic exercise.
For bikers, the sport of mountain biking is also a form of aesthetic enjoyment.
“It clears everything up. If I’m worried about school or other things, it makes it all go away and I can enjoy the exercise and the adrenaline,” Young said.
Neil Miner, a member of the cycling club, said, “It’s cheaper than psychiatric therapy.”
Beginning mountain biking can be a formidable task for those just starting out.
“Don’t give up. Just keep going, don’t get frustrated at first if you cant get up the hill,” Lisa Jeffs, a member of the cycling club, said.
Young encourages beginners to choose easy trails and ride with people who are at a higher level of riding than they are, so the beginners can learn quickly and “ascend to their level.”
But Kaufman encourages beginners to ride at first with people who are at their same level. Depending on beginner’s goals as mountain bikers, they can decide which to choose.
Equipment for mountain biking is not complicated. All that is needed is a mountain bike and a good helmet, Young said.
“People don’t like to ride because they think their bike is junk, but any bike will work,” Benson said.
Young said mountain biking is a “great way to see a lot of territory in one day and experience Logan’s backcountry,” but where do riders begin? Many start with the USU cycling club.
“It’s a good way to meet people and get involved,” Tommy Murphy, president of the cycling club, said.
He said the organization goes on several group rides together and teaches techniques to ride, train and get stronger at cycling. They also do service projects involving trail maintenance to “put back some of what we do [to the trail],” Murphy said.
There are currently more than 50 members of the USU cycling club. To join, members pay a $25 fee, and are then eligible to receive discounts in Logan businesses, tune-ups, socials, group rides and mechanic seminars, among other benefits. Members can race in intercollegiate races. The team took fourth in the road conference, a men’s member took 58th in the nation and a women’s team member from USU placed eighth in the latest cyclocross match, Murphy said. A member from their mountain biking team took fourth place in a conference competition against 15 schools including New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado schools.
Another way to get involved in mountain biking is to just do it. There are several trails in the area, most of which are noted in a trail guide titled “Northern Utah’s Bridgerland Mountain and Roadbike Trails” which covers trails in Logan, Cache Valley and Bear Lake. This map is free and available at most sporting goods stores in the area.
Two trails recommended by members of the cycling club as well as Joel Petersen, a technician at Al’s Cyclery and Fitness in Logan, are as follows:
Jardine Juniper Trail
Trailhead is at the Wood Camp turnoff, 12 miles east of Logan up Logan Canyon. It is approximately four and one-half miles one way and can be accessed mid-May through November. Park at Wood Camp just past the bridge. The trail, rated intermediate to advanced by Petersen, offers a good view of the main ridge of the Bear River Range and at the end is the 3,200-year-old Jardine Juniper, “well worth the wait,” according to the Bridgerland map.
River Trail
The trailhead for this mountain bike trail is one-half mile above first dam. It is three miles one way and rated easy for beginners. It is mostly gravel and rock road and parallels the Logan River, but is screened from the road and noise by heavy vegetation most of the year. The trail can be accessed May through October.