Lydia will never forget the first time that she rode a bike. She had a passion for swimming and sporadically bought an entry level road bike to compete in a triathlon. “I sort of just jumped into biking and was hooked. I just couldn’t get over how fast and how far you can go in such a short amount of time. It really is exhilarating. I love to go out and go hard. A switch flips, and I feel like a hamster on a hamster wheel.”
Since then, Lydia has ventured into other areas of cycling including mountain biking and gravel grinding. “It all sort of happened all at once. Once you get into one area of cycling, you discover the other areas. You might find yourself going down the rabbit hole without even realizing it until it’s too late. By that point you’re sitting there with 3 bikes, or more, which can be a problem if you live in an apartment.. or a solution if you lack decor.”
As a recent transplant to Iowa City, Lydia is looking forward to exploring her new bike-friendly community. “I love that just about everywhere you go, there is access to a bike lane or trail! And there is such a diversity of cycling opportunities whether it be gravel, road, mountain, etc. It’s biking heaven for eastern Iowa, which is part of why I moved here!”
Favorite place to ride in Bike Iowa City
While I certainly have yet to cover all of the bases in the county, I really like the north part for some reason. Waterworks Prairie Park is beautiful at sunset. Woodpecker and surrounding trails are awesome as well, especially if you want to go running through the forest with your pup! If you want to just hop on your bike and go, the trails in and through Coralville are also nice! I love that just about everywhere you go, there is access to a bike lane or trail! And there is such a diversity of cycling opportunities whether it be gravel, road, mountain, etc. It’s biking heaven for eastern Iowa, which is part of why I moved here!
Favorite cycling event in Bike Iowa City
I recently moved to the area and haven’t been to many events, yet, but I know that Jingle Cross is a great time. It’s so cool and inspiring to see all of the professionals competing in such a quick and physically demanding race. Core4 is pretty hardcore, too! It’s a longer scenic ride and a fun day for the whole family. It all begins and ends at beautiful Wilson’s Orchard. If you haven’t been there, it’s a real treat!
You're ready for some grub after a ride. Where will we find you?
I have only been to a handful of restaurants in my time in Iowa city, so you may find me anywhere, because I love to try new things and hate being bored! I do recommend Trumpet Blossom for some tasty vegan cuisines. Hamburg has amazing mac and cheese, The Encounter Cafe has the best pancakes, and Big Grove is always a win. I love the open concept atmosphere, fire pits, and that they are pet friendly! There are even several rows of bike racks for the whole crew to park their bikes! There definitely seems to be a lot of options for the foodie and cyclist in Iowa City!
Bike organizations you're involved with
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition. I believe that every Iowa cyclist should be!
