Ride a Bike... You never forget how, but you might forget why
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By David Gonzales
Up here in the Northern Rockies, it's all but impossible to bicycle during our long, frigid winters the roads turn to ice and trails disappear under thick snows. For months my mountain bike languishes in the garage, forgotten.
Then spring arrives, the snow melts, and ski shops turn back into bike shops. In Grand Teton National Park, riders bent over the handlebars of their road bikes cruise the park's inner loop: snow-free and closed to motorized vehicles until May 1, the loop is a haven for walkers, rollerbladers, and bicyclists. And right in front of my house, mountain bikers start working their way to the trails up Cache Creek and on Snow King Resort, the creme-de-la-creme terrain for that recreational group. With their limbs wrapped in lycra and their heads strapped into sleek, vented helmets, they look fit, fast. And their bikes, fresh from yearly tune-ups at the shop, shine.
It's time for me to get a move on.
My old Kona, however, is a sad sight. But with a new chain and a good cleaning, it could be pretty fast. Before I know it, I'm pulling on the lycra, strapping on the bike shoes caked with last autumn's dried mud, and pumping up those sagging tires. Then I'm out the door, pedaling again for the first time in nine months. I test the gears, listening to the familiar clunking as the chain slides up and down the cogs. Not bad, I think.
I head to the east side of Snow King Resort, to the horse trail that winds to the top. That's where many locals' favorite rides in Jackson Hole begin. It's uphill, but that's the beauty of mountain bikes. Put it into the lowest gear and let the legs spin and the mind wander.
The turn-off for the Tiny Hagen trail comes quickly. I could keep going to the summit of Snow King, or drop off the back and head for Leek's Canyon, or even do the Game Creek-to-Cache Creek Loop, one of the best rides in Teton County. Miles of serpentine single-track and unpeopled scenery unfold in my brain. But let's take it one trail at a time.
I stop, wipe off my sunglasses, take a drink of water. Then I stomp on the pedals. The Tiny Hagen trail dips, swerves. I stand, lean, turn. The speed, at first, is a surprise. Then those bicycling-specific synapses for my legs and arms start firing again. I remember how to move my weight back on the downhills, how to pressure the handlebars to carve turns, how to use more rear brake than front to quickly, safely slow down. Meanwhile, the trees whip past, a frantic kaleidoscope of sun and shade. The air, howling through my helmet and into my nose, smells of pine, sagebrush, and wildflowers. The trail, and in fact the whole summer, stretches ahead. I grin, happy to remember how to ride. And happy to remember why.
David Gonzales is a freelance writer and photographer living in Jackson. This summer he begins work on a book about the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Good Bike ridesand other tips for the trail
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By Tim Young
Weather
The mountains can be wild at any time of year, even if the day starts with a clear-blue morning sky. Best bet is to be prepared in case you get trashed by mother nature. At least carry a weatherproof shell and something warm for the legs. Think of it this way: Jackson has an average of only 39 frost-free days a year. It can snow in June just as easily as it can be shorts and T-shirt weather. On the plus side, a little nasty weather has helped me find many a cozy bar and restaurant. Mountain hospitality is at its best when the weather is the worst, and storms tend to blow through if you just give them a little time.
Mountain Etiquette
Always good to have a map of where you're going, a compass, and an idea of how long a ride will take. Local outdoor shops and book stores stock an excellent assortment of maps, not to mention all types of reference books. Outdoor and bicycle shops are also a good bet for information on where to ride and what the current conditions are. Please respect trail rules, leave no trace, and ride on open trails only wilderness, national park, and many private property trails are closed to bikes. Out on the trails, bikes should always yield to horseback riders and hikers. Think ahead and never spook animals.
One hint: this is a huge area. Take your time; relax and enjoy the ride. Biking the Yellowstone country is worth spending extra time.
RANGES OF GOOD RIDES
 Details are important: pick up a local trail map and ask about conditions before starting out. Ride within your limits and enjoy yourself more. Remember, wilderness and park trails are closed to bikes.
Gros Ventre: Right out of Jackson is Cache Creek, a local favorite. Or try a ride north of the Gros Ventre River on a variety of trails like Ditch Creek.
Winds: The north end of the Winds is excellent mountain biking country. Union Pass Road provides access to a number of Continental Divide trails, or try the big hill up Union Peak, just over 11,000' on the north end of the Winds.
Tetons: Road riding east and west sides along the Tetons offers spectacular viewing of the mountains. Try the inner park road in Grand Teton National Park. On the Idaho side, try ID 32 through Felt. The heart of the Tetons is closed to mountain bikes, but the south end offers double black-diamond runs like Phillips Canyon Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is seeking approval of a network of lift-served mountain bike trails and hopes to begin construction this summer. The dirt Flag Ranch-Ashton road rounds the north end, and provides excellent views of the upper Snake, Tetons, and the Pitchstone Plateau of Yellowstone. You can even ride around the Teton range in a five-star three-day tour.
Big Holes: On the quiet side of Idaho's Teton Valley, the Big Holes offer numerous rides and big views across the valley to the Tetons.
Wyoming Range: The 100-mile Greys River road out of Alpine offers great trail access into both this range and the Salt River Range.
Snake River Range: The old Teton Pass Road out of Wilson offers a great introduction to big mountain riding. Dozens of challenging rides include Black Canyon, the Mosquito Creek drainage, and trails off Fall Creek Road.
West Yellowstone: The Rendezvous Trails network in the Gallatin National Forest, traversed by skiers in winter, provides terrain for mountain bikers from beginner to experts during summer. A special Yellowstone Fall Cycling Tour on October 7, brings bikers together for a ride to Old Faithful. The Spring Cycling Tour, set for May 12, 2001, will provide an opportunity to tour Yellowstone without any cars on its roadways. Contact the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce for more information.
Beartooth: The Beartooth highway is the highest road in Wyoming and offers a fantastic road ride between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana. For mountain bike adventures, try the Morrison Bench south of the Beartooth highway.
Absaroka: Northwest of Cody is the newest paved pass in the U.S., a spectacular ride over Dead Indian Pass. Good early season riding can be found in the Dubois Wind River area.
Tim Young spent 1980-87 on a 45,000-mile bike trip around the world. He has since traveled the Silk Road of China and cycled to the north base of Mount Everest. He is director of the Jackson Hole Community Pathways, working to further improve local riding.
Jackson Hole Community Pathways
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By Margie Lynch
Close-to-home opportunities for bicycling, walking, running, in-line skating, and horseback riding in Jackson Hole just keep getting better with the continuing construction of the Jackson Hole Community Pathways system. Twelve miles have been constructed in the past four years. Even more will be completed by this fall.
Public support for the construction of a valley-wide system of separated paved pathways for transportation and recreation spurred the Town of Jackson and Teton County to create a Pathways Department in 1992. Progress since then has been rapid, and when completed, the system will consist of 50 miles of pathways connecting neighborhoods, commercial sites, schools, and public land trails.
The 12 miles of pathways currently on the ground are in three locations across the valley. All offer the opportunity to enjoy a fun outing with a great view.
For a pleasant stroll or cycle along beautiful Flat Creek, try the Russ Garaman Trail, which begins behind the new Post Office on Maple Way in Jackson. If you're looking for a good workout, bicycle or in-line skate on the 2-mile long Melody Ranch Trail, located 5.5 miles south of the Town Square. Don't forget to wear your helmet for this hilly trail! You can connect these two trails for a nice long trip by riding the newest segment of the pathways system, the Paul Merritt Trail along the highway south of town. These three trails link to provide a car-free return from riding the popular Cache-Game mountain bike loop.
The Wilson Centennial Trail, which starts behind the new elementary school on Highway 22 in Wilson, offers pathways users the opportunity to learn about wetlands vegetation and wildlife at a project developed by the Jackson Hole Land Trust. The pathway in front of Teton Pines on the Teton Village Road is a great way to cruise the West Bank's restaurant circuit.
The future of the pathways system is bright. Four more miles will be added to the system south of town on Henry's Road south of Game Creek Road. Pathways have also been approved along two of Jackson Hole's busiest highways Highways 22 and 390 and should be constructed in the next several years. The Forest Service is investigating the possibility of constructing a trail or pathway over Teton Pass. And Grand Teton Park is preparing a Transportation Plan this coming year that should identify priority bicycle routes.
Be sure to give our pathways a try while in Jackson Hole. You'll agree that the sooner more are built, the better.
For more information about the pathways system, call Friends of Pathways at 307-733-4534 or visit their web site at www.jhpathways.org.
Margie Lynch is the executive director of Friends Of Pathways, a non-profit advocacy organization.
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