A new youth cycling development program has emerged in Cortez.
High Desert Devo first started its Thursday evening rides just five weeks ago, but the program has already shown rapid growth.
Pete Eschallier, co-owner of Kokopelli Bike & Board, is one of the many responsible for organization’s quick rise. But he’s quick to point out that putting the club together was a group effort, and that it is not affiliated with Kokopelli.
“I want to keep this separate from the bike shop,” he explained. “I don’t want anybody thinking that we’re doing this to sell more bikes. The idea is to just get kids outside riding mountain bikes and having fun.”
Eschallier said that he and the seven or eight other board members noticed the interest and participation in Durango’s Devo program, and that they were asked about putting something together in Cortez.
Together, they started High Desert Devo.
While the non-profit group is still in its infancy, it’s started group rides at Phil’s World every Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.
Riders range in age from 5-15 and are split into groups according to age or skill.
Parents are welcome to drop their kids off to ride with the coaches, or they can ride along with the group. The group rides are free, and Eschallier said that they’ve already had a good turnout.
“We’ve had maybe 20 or 30 kids per Thursday ride,” he said. “Our terrain locally, as far as the trails here, aren’t very intimidating or technical. So it’s really beginner friendly.”
Interested riders are encouraged to join the group rides by meeting at Phil’s World on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/highdesertdevo