Riding the Great Outdoors

Colin Jenkins likes skiing, biking, and kayaking in the Great Outdoors.  Colin grew up in Star Valley Wyoming.  He attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he intended to major in Big Game Management and Forestry.  At that time, Utah State was the top school in the US for those fields of study.  When Colin discovered that he REALLY didn’t like Biology, he changed his major to computers and ended up working for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Helena after graduation.

He started biking with friends as they participated in loooooong ride from Missoula, Clearwater Junction, Seeley, St. Ignatius, and Polson.  Last summer Colin participated in a very long ride across Iowa. 

Having had a few serious biking accidents, Colin’s advice to bikers is to be alert.  One of Colin’s accidents was caused by a cat that ran in front of his bike.  Another was caused by a rock on the Ridge trail.  That time Colin believes his helmet saved his life.

One of the places Colin likes to ride is the River’s Edge Trail in Missoula.  On this trail Colin advises bikers to stay left and stay off the trails that lead to the river.  Colin also likes riding to Blackfoot Meadows, Cottonwood Lake, and Crow Creek Falls.  During the last month of the biking season in September, Colin is a Marshall on the Hiawatha Trail.

Sugar is something that Colin has found to be handy when riding.  He carries a bottle of M&Ms.  Sometimes just a little boost of sugar is what a biker needs to make it to the end of a ride, according to Colin.  Colin also keeps a spreadsheet where he tracks his ride mileage, ride locations, grand total of the season’s mileage, and any comments about each ride.

And biking is only Colin’s second favorite outdoor sport.  Another time, I’ll find out the scoop on skiing, his favorite.