When the weather starts to get warm and students sitting on the grass become an increasingly common sight, spring is officially in season with many people switching to outdoor activities.
“Lots of people rent out bikes, and tandems are really big, especially for dates,” said Annie Fuller, a sophomore from St. George.
Jared Kenitzer, a UVU student majoring in entrepreneurship, rents out tandem bikes from his apartment located on 700 North.
“My roommates and I wanted to do something fun and utilize the corner here where we’re at,” Kenitzer said. “We thought tandem bikes would be a fun thing to do and that there would be a lot of people who would enjoy a fun tandem bike ride around Provo.”
They place their yellow tandems at their porch to attract people to rent them. It costs $6 for an hour and $18 for a full day.
Kenitzer said their business has picked up since it started getting warmer last week. He said many students like to rent them, especially for group dates.
“A fun ride is straight over 800 North just past 500 West, down the Provo River trail to the Utah Lake,” Kenitzer said. “It takes about two hours for a round trip.”
He also added that because Provo is pretty flat, it is not too hard a ride anywhere in the area.
For people who enjoy mountain biking, there are many places nearby to ride.
“As for bike riding, I know you can go up Provo Canyon — a lot of people like the ride up there,” said Fuller, an Outdoors Unlimited employee. “Or sometimes my brother would do day roundtrips around down south, just for a day.”
The on-campus Outdoors Unlimited Web site suggests three places people can bike.
The first is the Sliderock Bike Trail located about four miles east of downtown Moab. Both the Moab Valley and the Colorado River are visible from the top of the trail.
The second is Diamond Fork located behind Provo Peak and the southern Wasatch Range. According to the Web site, the trail is a network of jaw-dropping scenery that offers a mix of well-developed trails and primitive routes.
The third is Strawberry Ridge Loop, recommended for experienced bike riders only. It is a 24-mile loop located along the Wasatch Range.
Fuller said people go into Outdoors Unlimited looking for new bikes and accessories when spring comes around.
“We’re definitely the cheapest in the area just because we cater to college students,” she said. “And now that people are riding their bikes, they need to take care of them so that’s what we cater to.”
charlotteyishichen@gmail.com
Copyright Brigham Young University 31 Mar 2009
