Boulder, Colorado is ubiquitous with the great outdoors. Naturally, it is home to some of the greatest North American cycle races; often being used as the backdrop for pro-cycling. Ask cyclists who would move to the States, Boulder is top of the list. It’s a place where you could happily bring up a family, ride your bike and feel part of a healthy community.
It’s not just cycling that Boulder is renowned for. Everything from climbing, running, hiking and skiing is possible. It’s popularity is so, that when cycling comes to this vast state, then it does it properly. With bespoke cycling titanium artisans such as Mosaic Cycles; BlackSheep and Zinn, making Boulder Colorado their home. This speaks volumes about the lifestyle people come to expect, and at times expected to undertake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVXO8SSgo_g
The Boulder Issue
Supporting this lifestyle are the organic food stores, yoga/pilates studios and sports clubs that will motivate and encourage you into the mind and body beautiful. If that doesn’t do it, then there are even one or two cycling pros to ride with in the sunshine.
As utopian as this sounds, there hides a darker trend to this balance. A rise of eating disorders is sparking debate to the intensity a few undertake, and it’s affects on the wider community to keep up with, what many are describing as the ‘Boulder Body’. Under 3mins, this clip from the BBC takes a brief look at some residents who are now shaking off the obsession: Coping with anorexia in America’s thinnest city.
In the Club
We don’t know the scale of this issue, nor is it representative of the city, or the state. Although, with more people reaching out and needing help, it’s a growing issue that as pursuers of a healthy lifestyle need to address. The lure of the open road, fast bikes and riding with friends can bring with it the pressures to conform, or even excel. It’s important that clubs such as LBCC and SBCC look out for each other, both on and off the bike.
“Eat, Ride, Sleep, Repeat’; is just one of the popular slogans floating around our cycling community today. Yet, with concerns of obesity across the UK and Europe, just how well prepared are we for the trend to turn in the opposite direction?
