Ried Indart, 20, a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, plays a big part in the growing mountain biking scene in the Biggest Little City.
He is currently racing nationally for the Reno Tahoe Junior cycling team.
Organizations like NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) and the Reno Tahoe Junior Cycling team have helped get more kids outdoors and on bikes at an affordable price.
New trails are being built and bike shops are thriving as summer rounds the corner.
What got Ried into mountain biking were his parents.
“My dad took my sister and I on a ride one day,” he remembers. “I didn’t like the uphill but I liked the downhill, so I never stopped riding after that.”
Ried says that mountain biking has helped him develop skills off the trails as well in regards to decision making, and finding one's path.
He points to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association known as Nica which organizes races and other events as a good entry point for kids ages 12-18 in middle and high school.
“They (NICA) help kids in Reno by setting up some skills clinics where a bunch of more experienced riders go around and help kids that are just getting into it learn the basics of riding a bike,” he said.
Ried does hear complaints about mountain bikers from time to time.
“If you see a mountain biker riding down a trail slowly, some people will take that as ‘oh they were trying to destroy the trail or skid all around’ which I think is not accurate so the attitude towards mountain bikers because of these stories in Reno has shifted.”
Many mountain bikers are trying to better their reputation by being more aware of others on the trails.
“I try to always treat other people on the trail, whether it's a hiker, mountain biker or equestrian all the same. I pull off to the side of the trail whenever anyone is coming whether I’m going up or down. I just try to make everyone smile and tell them to have a great day.”