Traveling into different states, and different trails around Missouri, Gary Baumstark, language arts teacher at EHS, spends his weekends on the seat of a bike. On average, he bikes 50-70 miles per weekend. On the weekdays, Baumstark tries to get in at least an hour of biking and maintenance for the bikes he owns.
“I had some friends that were cyclists who got me into it when Lance Armstrong was at the height of his popularity,” Baumstark said. “It was a really European sport, but he was one of the first Americans to have a ton of success. And even though he kind of like fell from grace, that kind of like hooked me and I think a lot of American cyclists feel the same way. It’s also a social thing for me and a good way to work out since all my friends did it.”
Along with biking as a hobby, Baumstark will be traveling to Arkansas and competing in the Hazel Valley Rally outside Bentonville. There are courses ranging from 45-64 miles on fully graveled trails.
“A place that I really liked to go is Colorado, we would kind of build some family vacations around going out there and I’d take my bike to ride,” Baumstark said. I love riding in the mountains. I’ve been in Florida. There’s a new place where a lot of people are going in Arkansas called Bentonville. Right now at least in the Midwest, it’s the center of the cycling universe, so it’s really cool.”
Even though biking seems like it wouldn’t be a super expensive hobby or sport to take part in, bikes on average range from $100 to even upwards of $5,000 depending on the type, brand, model, and what the bike can do.
“There’s always new equipment that comes out and people want to have the nicest, newest equipment, but there’s also like different cycling disciplines like road biking, mountain biking, gravel biking and there’s this thing called cyclocross riding,” Baumstark said.”So I have quite a few different bikes. Also, my kids have bikes, and my wife has a couple of bikes. So we use my basement as like a bike shop.”
Biking not only helps Baumstark stay in shape and healthy physically but also mentally. It is a good way for him to socialize with his friends since they ride together. The group of people that he bikes with keeps him motivated to continue and bike as much as he does.
“It’s a great way for me to maintain a super healthy lifestyle,” Baumstark said. “And it’s also a social thing. I would not be as motivated if I didn’t have a group of friends who were also motivated we organize rides and trips and that keeps us all going so it’s kind of fun that way.”
