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SO YOU WANT TO RIDE TO THE U?

By Blake Densley, M.S. student

To those of you who ride your mountain bikes to the U from Draper on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, this article may not be relevant to you. For those of us mere mortals looking to step up our activity game, coinciding with the feeling of accomplishment as you lower your personal emissions levels, read on.

I have been riding to the U from my Liberty Wells apartment for a while now, and well, it doesn’t get much easier. You probably know this fact well. However, if you are determined to ride to work or school at the U, I hope I can shed some light on the routes I enjoy (as much as that hill will allow).

I started my riding endeavors going straight up 800 South (Sunnyside) and huffing my way over to Guardsman Way. For those of you that prefer just getting to the final destination, this is your route. Warning, your lungs will speak to you. After wising up a bit, I began riding south a bit to 1700 South and riding up the hill from there. The hill is much better graded from a south to north direction. Once you get to 1500 East, turn left and head to Guardsman Way. This is an easier, but still tough short climb.

I’ve tried the 200 South bike lane on to main campus, the winding, pleasant trip up Gilmer Drive and many other combinations to keep some of the burn out of my legs and less sweat on my back, but alas, there are few easy routes. So embrace it. Try new routes, and enjoy the extra 30 minutes or so of your day where you get to exercise and enjoy a bit of riding on that bike you bought just for the purpose of riding to work and yet have not.

For a nice bike map of bike-friendly streets in Salt Lake, click here.

Safe riding. [/bs_col][bs_col class=”col-sm-4″]

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MOUNTAIN BIKING SAFETY

More and more people are picking up the exhilarating sport of mountain biking, taking their bikes off-road and onto unpaved territory. Mountain biking is a great way to exercise while getting outside to enjoy the sights – but it is not without risks. “Common mountain biking injuries include bruises, scrapes, broken collar bones and wrist injuries,” says sports medicine physician Stuart Willick, M.D. “More serious injuries can also occur.”

Read the full story here.

HOME SAFETY

Most of us think of home as a place to relax and put our feet up — a safe and comfortable cocoon where the thought of a potential eye injury may never even cross our minds. Until it happens! With all of the outdoor play and yard work that summer brings — along with things you may never even have thought about — now is a good time to remind yourself and your family to play it safe.

For the full article, click here.

For more expert health news and information, visit healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed.[/bs_well]
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