Cyclists take part in Idaho Falls’ first-ever cyclocross

Over a grassy course, up and down hills, and winding their way through trees, cyclists of all ages rode through Freeman Park Saturday as part of the first Idaho Falls Blue Goose Cyclocross.

“We’re gonna have some obstacles…that people have to get off their bikes, cross over the obstacles, hop back on their bikes and continue riding,” said P.J. Holm, superintendent of the Idaho Falls Division of Parks and Recreation.

Idaho Falls attorney and avid cyclist Nathan Starnes is no stranger to competitive cycling.

“I’ve been racing for probably six years,” Starnes said. “I spent most of my time racing road.”

So when Starnes heard about the cyclocross, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity of another victory.

“I’m gonna give it my best shot and we’ll see,” he said shortly before the race. “It’s a fast course. The course fits and suits some of my strengths, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Some of the younger cyclists faced their share of challenges.

“I got a little bit tired, but I just figured when I’m going down the hills to stop. I went and took a deep breath, and just finished going,” said Dakota Bromley.

All in all, 50 cyclists took part in today’s event, exceeding organizers’ expectations.

“We knew that this was gonna be a fun event, but we didn’t know exactly how popular it was gonna be,” Holm said.

Each cyclist had to pay an entry fee of $15. The money will help pay for the city’s “Connecting Our Community” plan, which will expand bike trails throughout Idaho Falls.

For more information, visit connectidahofalls.com.