Reno Reporter

A University of Nevada associate professor of political science says that recreational bike riding soothes her mind.

According to a news release from the university, Elizabeth Koebele rides her bike to the school for recreation.

“I rode an older-than-me Schwinn Collegiate cruiser to class when I was an undergraduate at Arizona State University in the mid-2000s because it was easier, faster and cheaper than driving to campus,” Koebele said in the release.

She said that when she first took up cycling, experienced riders told her she was utilizing the wrong type of bike and guided her to buy an Orbea Onix off Craigslist.

“Within three months, I was training with the CU Boulder cycling team and ended up racing my bike throughout the final years of my Ph.D.," Koebele said. "I went from getting dropped and lapped during my first crit to winning my (beginner) category in the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference in one year."

She added that she would be eternally grateful to the cyclists who showed her a better way to bike.

“Although I couldn't keep up the same level of training in the following years as I moved into a faculty position, I have continued racing road, cyclocross, and gravel bikes, now for the Velo Reno cycling team,” she said.

These days, Koebele enjoys riding off-road more than she ever has.

“I'm not sure if I can pick a most fun moment, but I do enjoy riding off-road more these days," Koebele said. "Singlespeed cyclocross is my favorite discipline to race. I also love ‘adventure’ riding, which (for me) often looks like riding one of my 'cross bikes on trails and singletrack, especially on Peavine. Finally, I love any ride where I can introduce new folks to cycling.”