BRUCE REICHERT, HOST: WHETHER YOU'RE RACING THE CLOCK.

OR ESCAPING THE CLOCK.

BICYCLING OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

AND IDAHO IS THE PERFECT BACKDROP.

BICYCLIST: THIS STRETCH ALONG HERE IS LIKE ACTUALLY RIDING A BICYCLE THROUGH A PAINTING IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

REICHERT: ON THIS EDITION OF OUTDOOR IDAHO, WE LOOK AT A SPORT THAT'S INVIGORATING LIVES: BERLINDA SAENZ, GREELEY, CO: THIS WAS LIKE A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FOR ME, GOING UPHILL.

REICHERT: AND RE-INVIGORATING COMMUNITIES.

BIKE STORE OWNER: THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN TO THIS TOWN.

MICHELLE STANWIENS, COACH: THIS STATE IS AMAZING FOR WHAT IT OFFERS.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING OUT THERE AND GO!

BRUCE REICHERT, HOST: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GOOD HARD BIKE RIDE TO MAKE YOU FORGET YOUR WORRIES.

AND BURN SOME CALORIES.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT IDAHO IS THAT THERE'S TERRAIN FOR EVERY KIND OF CYCLIST.

HI, I'M BRUCE REICHERT AND WELCOME TO OUTDOOR IDAHO.

THESE BIKES HAVE GOTTEN LIGHTER.AND SHOCKS HAVE TAKEN THE PRESSURE OFF THE KNEES.

AND THAT MEANS IT'S EASIER THAN EVER TO HOP ON A BIKE AND GO.

SPIN TEACHER: "WEIGHT IS OVER YOUR LEGS, NOT INTO YOUR HANDLEBARS!

BRUCE REICHERT, HOST: THESE BICYCLES MAY NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE, BUT THEIR RIDERS ARE ON THEIR OWN JOURNEYS ANYWAY.

69-YEAR OLD FRANCES ASHCROFT USES THE HOUR-LONG SPIN CLASS TO TRAIN FOR HER PASSION...LONG DISTANCE CYCLING.

FRANCES ASHCROFT, BIKER: IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS I'VE GONE OVER 11,000 MILES ON MY LITTLE BICYCLE AND I'M NOT THROUGH YET.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE ADRENALINE FLOWS.

IT'S LIKE MEDICINE.

BICYCLE RIDING HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE.

REICHERT: BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

FOUR YEARS AGO, FRANCES WAS ENJOYING RETIREMENT WITH HER HUSBAND OF NEARLY 50 YEARS, HERM.

THEN SUDDENLY, HERM DIED.

ASHCROFT: HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

WHEN I LOST HIM I JUST THOUGHT, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE NOW?

REICHERT: DEPRESSED AND LONELY, FRANCES DECIDED TO TRY BIKE RIDING.

SHE HADN'T BEEN ON A BIKE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

ASHCROFT: I WENT OUT ON THE BIKE PATH FOR 2 AND ONE HALF MILES, AND 2 AND ONE HALF MILES BACK AND I THOUGHT I HAD GONE AROUND THE WORLD!

REICHERT: THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, FRANCES WENT FOR THE BRASS RING...TO CROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY ON A BIKE, WHICH SHE DID, TWICE!

ASHCROFT: PEOPLE WHO DON'T CYCLE CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY LOOK AT YOU AND THEY THINK, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE CRAZY!"

AND I SAID, "WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, BUT IT HELPS!"

GLORIA SMITH, FOUNDER, WOMANTOURS: IT'S AN AWESOME STORY.

REICHERT: GLORIA SMITH IS THE FOUNDER OF "WOMANTOURS," THE COMPANY FRANCES WENT WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WOMANTOURS IS THE ONLY COMPANY IN THE U.S. THAT RUNS BIKE TRIPS EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN.

SMITH: I THINK WOMEN LOOK AT CYCLING MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN MEN DO.

MEN ARE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE.

WOMEN GO OUT FOR THE CAMARADERIE OF OTHER WOMEN, TO ENJOY THE SCENERY, TO JUST FEEL THEIR BODIES.

REICHERT: OVER THE YEARS, SMITH HAS WITNESSED MANY TRANSFORMATIONS LIKE THAT OF FRANCES.

SMITH: I'VE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE CHANGE.

IT'S NOT ONLY IN THEIR CYCLING ABILITY OR LOSING WEIGHT, BUT THE CHANGE IN THE WOMEN THEMSELVES.

THEY ACQUIRE A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE.

REICHERT: THAT'S JUST WHAT THESE WOMEN ARE LOOKING FOR.

THEY'VE COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO TAKE A WOMANTOURS TRIP AROUND THE TETON VALLEY.

JEN STETSMAN, WALLA WALLA, WA: I'M LOOKING TO GET IN BETTER SHAPE AND FEEL GOOD AND GET EMPOWERED AND PUT BICYCLE SHOP GUYS IN THEIR PLACE WHEN THEY TELL ME WHAT I NEED!

REICHERT: INDEED, PART OF THE ATTRACTION TO THIS PARTICULAR TOUR IS THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES A CLASS IN BIKE MECHANICS.

LINDA GRYCZAN, BIKE MECHANIC: TIGHTEN, LOOSEN.. SMITH: THEY THINK THE BICYCLE IS THIS MECHANICAL APPARATUS THAT THEY COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND.

AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

HEATHER O'CONNER, BUCKS COUNTY, PA: I'M A FAIRLY INDEPENDENT PERSON; I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY BIKE MYSELF.

REICHERT: AT 62, HEATHER IS THE OLDEST PERSON ON THE TRIP.

MICHELLE IS THE YOUNGEST, AT 33.

MICHELLE SANTOS, LOUISVILLE, KY: I JUST LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BIKE, LIKE, THREE YEARS AGO.

MY HUSBAND TAUGHT ME TO RIDE A BIKE.

HE WILL BE THRILLED TO DEATH IF I COME BACK AND HE SAW ME WORKING THAT ALLEN WRENCH, YOU KNOW!

LINDA: THERE YOU GO!

MICHELLE: I AM SO PSYCHED!

LINDA: SEE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A HUSBAND!

MICHELLE: OH, GOT TO GET RID OF HIM NOW!

REICHERT: THE NEXT DAY, THE WOMEN SET OUT FOR AN ADVENTURE-A 50 MILE TRIP, CLIMBING SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET.

15 MILES OUT OF DRIGGS, THE ROLLING HILLS BEGIN, REMNANTS OF THE ENORMOUS VOLCANIC HOTSPOT THAT NOW EXISTS UNDER YELLOWSTONE.

STETSMAN: I HAD, LIKE, A MOMENT OF SHEER ANXIETY AND SAID, "OK, IT COSTS MORE TO FLY HOME EARLY SO I'M GOING TO STAY, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO LEARN WHAT I CAN LEARN."

JANE DWIRE, VENTURA, CA: I TAKE A LITTLE PIECE AT A TIME WHICH IS KIND OF HOW I HAVE TO APPROACH LIFE IN GENERAL.

I HAD BREAST CANCER 8 YEARS AGO.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN CONQUER ANYTHING ACTUALLY AFTER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

REICHERT: AFTER ABOUT HALF THE TRIP, HER BIKE TIRE LOSING AIR, JEN DECIDES TO CALL IT QUITS FOR THE DAY.

LINDA: HOW ABOUT IF WE CATCH UP WITH EVERYONE ELSE, THEN WE'LL FIX YOUR FLAT AND WILL THAT WORK?

JEN: YEAH, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

JENNIFER ZUNG, WOMANTOURS: THE NICE THING ABOUT GOING ON A TOUR VERSUS DOING IT ON YOUR OWN IS THAT THE VAN IS THERE IN CASE YOU DECIDE YOU JUST CAN'T GO ANY MORE.

REICHERT: FURTHER AHEAD, THE OTHER WOMEN PASS A PIONEER CEMETERY.

BUT THESE WOMEN ARE FAR FROM THE GRAVE.

O'CONNER: I LIKE THROWING OUT CHALLENGES AND JUST GOING AHEAD WITH IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY LIMITS ARE.

BERLINDA SAENZ, GREELEY, CO: I ALWAYS JUST THINK, EVEN IF I'M THE LAST ONE AS I LONG AS I FINISH THAT'S WHAT MATTERS.

SO IT'S NOT THE DISTANCE, IT'S THE JOURNEY.

REICHERT: AFTER FOUR LONG HOURS, THE FIRST RIDERS MAKE IT IN-THE YOUNGEST AND THE OLDEST TOGETHER.

SANTOS: HOW MANY FEET DID WE CLIMB?

O'CONNER: LOOKS LIKE 2160 FEET.

SANTOS: OH, MY GOD.

THAT IS AWESOME!

O'CONNER: SHE'S 33.

SHE'S JUST A YEAR YOUNGER THAN MY SON.

IT WAS SUPER RIDING WITH HER.

I COULD FEEL HER ENERGY.

SANTOS: IT WAS AWESOME RIDING WITH HEATHER.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS AT LEAST 10 YEARS YOUNGER.

SO RIDING DOES A LOT-SO FORGET BOTOX, FORGET ALL THAT OIL OF OLAY, JUST HOP ON YOUR BIKE AND IT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER AT LEAST!

SAENZ: OH MY GOD.

ZUNG: YOU DID IT GIRLFRIEND, YOU DID IT!

SAENZ: THIS WAS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FOR ME, GOING UPHILL.

IT JUST BROKE SOMETHING LOOSE IN ME, SO.

I FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON.

REICHERT: THE NEXT DAY, A SHORTER BUT STEEPER CHALLENGE: THE 11-MILE LONG HILL LEADING TO THE GRAND TARGHEE SKI RESORT IN WYOMING.

SUSAN HUTCHISON, GREELEY, CO: THIS IS JUST AMAZING.

WE ARE SO LUCKY.

I JUST FELT LIKE THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO BE OUT HERE AND BE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO ENJOY THIS IS IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T BIKE-I DON'T THINK THEY ENJOY IT AS MUCH.

SAENZ: SOMETIMES WHEN I'VE JUST BEEN SO TIRED AND I'VE THOUGHT I CAN'T GO ON AND I HAPPEN TO GLIMPSE OVER AND SEE THE VIEW.

THAT JUST SPARKS UP A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY TO KEEP GOING.

STETSMAN: I WAS TRYING TO KEEP MY HEELS DOWN.

I WAS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT BREATHING.

AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOING LIKE 3 MILES AN HOUR, I MEAN I WAS STILL GOING.

SANTOS: IF SOMEONE WAS GOING SLOW, WE ALWAYS HELP EACH OTHER.

JUST BECSE YOU WANT TO HELP THE OTHER PERSON, SEE THEM ACCOMPLISH IT AND IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD, TOO.

YEE HAW!

REICHERT: NO PEDALING FOR THEIR FINAL CLIMB, AS THE WOMEN TAKE THE CHAIR LIFT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND ENJOY GORGEOUS VIEWS OF THE TETONS.

MARCIA FRANKLIN, IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION PRODUCER: "UNO, DOS, TRES."

LINDA GRYCZAN, WOMANTOURS BIKE MECHANIC: WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK TO WOMANTOURS IS SEEING WOMEN COME THINKING, "I CAN'T CLIMB THAT HILL.

I CAN'T PEDAL THAT FAR; I'M WAY TOO OLD."

I'M WAY TOO WHATEVER.

AND THEN THEY GO DO IT ANYWAY.

AND THEN THEY TAKE HOME A VERY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL STRENGTH.

AND THAT AFFECTS EVERY PART OF THEIR LIFE.

ASHCROFT: YOU KNOW I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND I SEE THIS OLD PERSON WITH GRAY HAIR BUT WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES I FEEL LIKE I'M 20, YOU KNOW.

OR MAYBE 30.

IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, DO IT.

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE THERE, BECAUSE BY DARN YOU SHOULD BE AND YOU CAN DO IT.

REICHERT: THE SUFFRAGETTE SUSAN B. ANTHONY ONCE SAID THE BICYCLE HAD DONE MORE TO EMANCIPATE WOMEN THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT'S BECAUSE BIKES ALLOWED WOMEN TO TRAVEL, AND LED TO LESS RESTRICTIVE CLOTHING.

AT FIRST, BIKES WERE SEEN EITHER AS AN ODDITY FOR THE OCCASIONAL PARADE, OR AS A STATUS SYMBOL, WORTHY OF A STUDIO PORTRAIT.

BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF A LOWER DESIGN, BETTER TIRES AND COASTER BRAKES, IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE BIKE CRAZE BEGAN.

CLUBS LIKE THIS ONE FROM COEUR D'ALENE BEGAN VENTURING OUT, AND ADVOCATING FOR BETTER ROADS.

BICYCLES EVEN FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE BACK COUNTRY.

THIS HARDY IDAHO SETTLER PROBABLY HAD TO SEW UP QUITE A FEW TIRES ON HIS EARLY VERSION OF A MOUNTAIN BIKE!

TODAY'S MOUNTAIN BIKES ALMOST RIDE THEMSELVES, WITH SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION WORTHY OF A SMALL CAR.

RYAN MINNEY, MOUNTAIN BIKER: IT'S ALMOST EFFORTLESS.

IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST, YOUR BIKE IS CONTINUALLY GOING FASTER AND YOU'RE NOT PEDALING AND I DON'T KNOW, IT ALMOST KIND OF EMULATES FLYING.

IT'S JUST A TON OF FUN.

IT'S A BIG RUSH.

REICHERT: THE ADVANCES IN DESIGN ALLOW BIKERS TO CHARGE DOWN STEEP HILLS.

THESE BIKERS ARE ENJOYING TRAILS ON SILVER MOUNTAIN, A SKI RESORT IN NORTHERN IDAHO.

WHEN THEY'RE AT THE BOTTOM, IT'S AN EASY RIDE ON THE CHAIR LIFT UP TO THE TOP, TO PLUNGE DOWN ALL OVER AGAIN.

JUSTIN MILLER, MOUNTAIN BIKER: I LOVE IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT MUCH BETTER BY TAKING THAT MANY MORE RUNS THAN YOU WOULD IF YOU HAD TO RIDE UP TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

REICHERT: BUT THERE'S SOME WHO ARGUE "IF YOU'RE NOT HIKING, YOU'RE NOT BIKING."

THEY SEE IDAHO'S MOUNTAIN RANGES AS VERTICAL CHALLENGES TO CONQUER.

THIS GROUP IS HEADED INTO THE BOULDER WHITE CLOUD MOUNTAINS FOR A CALORIE-BURNING RIDE UP SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET.

CHRIS COOK, MOUNTAIN BIKER: IT'S GOOD, HARD FUN.

IT'S CHALLENGING.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF SOLITUDE TO IT, GREAT SCENERY.

SEE VERY FEW PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT BACKCOUNTRY EXPERIENCE.

HARLEY PARSON, MOUNTAIN BIKER: THE RIDING UP HERE IS EPIC.

THE VIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET UP HERE.

I TRAIN ALL YEAR JUST SO I CAN HAVE THE LUNG CAPACITY AND THE LEGS TO MAKE THESE RIDES.

REICHERT: STILL, IT'S A LOT EASIER THAN IT USED TO BE.

DAN MEEKER, MOUNTAIN BIKER: YOU KNOW, WITH THE FULL SUSPENSION, I CALL IT LIKE SITTING ON THE COUCH.

YOU'RE JUST SITTING ON THE COUCH, CRUISING DOWN THE TRAIL, YOU KNOW.

AND US OLD GUYS, WE NEED ALL THE BREAKS WE CAN GET!

REICHERT: BUT SOME OF THOSE BREAKS AREN'T AS FUN.

MEEKER: LAST WEEK I POKED A HOLE IN MY LEG.

I'VE CART-WHEELED DOWNHILL, BROKE A RIB.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.

REICHERT: THAT'S NOT A PHILOSOPHY SHARED BY ONE OF HIS FELLOW RIDERS, BARB KREISLE.

BARB KREISLE, PERFORMANCE HIGH, LLC: BEING SAFE ON YOUR BIKE IS KEY.

REICHERT: BARB, AN ENDURANCE RACER WHO SOMETIMES SPENDS 24 HOURS ON THE TRAIL, TEACHES MOUNTAIN BIKE CLASSES WITH HER BUSINESS PARTNER MICHELLE.

KREISLE: THIS IS EXCITING, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!

MICHELLE STANWIENS, PERFORMANCE HIGH, LLC: IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND KNOW THE BASIC SKILLS THEN IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME OUT THERE AND BE HOOKED ON IT FOR A LIFETIME AND DO IT FOREVER AND EVER.

REICHERT: MICHELLE AND BARB OFTEN TEACH WOMEN WHO ARE A BIT TENTATIVE ABOUT RIDING: KREISLE: WOMEN ARE MUCH MORE CONSCIOUS OF KEEPING THEIR SKIN ON THEIR BODIES.

MEN-LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND COMPETITIVE BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WOMEN CAN'T RIDE STRONG OR BE JUST AS FAST OR JUST AS COMPETENT AS THE MEN.

STANWIENS: ELBOWS OUT, ELBOWS OUT, ELBOWS OUT.

CHEST DOWN, CHEST DOWN.

GO, GO, GO GO-GOOD!

REICHERT: BACK ON THE TRAIL, BARB AND THE OTHERS HAVE REACHED THE TOP AND LOOK DOWN INTO STUNNING ANTS BASIN.

COOK: WE'RE ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

REICHERT: BUT BIKERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN A FEW YEARS.

THIS AREA IS PROPOSED FOR WILDERNESS AND COULD BE CLOSED TO ALL MECHANIZED VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE BIKES.

COOK: WE DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S RIGHT BECAUSE A MOUNTAIN BIKE HAS THE SAME IMPACT ON THE LAND AS A HIKER.

AND EVEN AT TIMES, WE HAVE LESS IMPACT BECAUSE WE GO IN ONE DAY AND IT MAY TAKE A HIKER THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

PARSON: THE TRAILS SEEM TO SURVIVE THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS, WHETHER THEY ARE ON HORSE OR HIKERS OR BY BIKES.

TERI MCKENNA, MOUNTAIN BIKER: A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH OF AN IMPACT, BUT THERE IS.

REICHERT: NOT TOO FAR AWAY, THESE RIDERS SAY THEY'D BE WILLING TO GIVE UP SOME TRAILS FOR WILDERNESS: MCKENNA: WILDERNESS ALLOWS YOU TO ESCAPE INTO THE WILD, ESCAPE INTO THE QUIET AND TO ESCAPE OUR MECHANIZED WORLD, AND NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS IS MECHANIZED.

BUCK DREW, MOUNTAIN BIKER: WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MUCH.

I THINK THERE IS ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES OF TRAIL AVAILABLE OUT OF THE WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS AVAILABLE FOR RIDING.

I FEEL I'D BE SELFISH TO WANT IT ALL.

REICHERT: WHETHER IT'S HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS, OR IN THE BOISE FOOTHILLS, MOUNTAIN BIKING PROVIDES BOTH A PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGE THAT TAKES YOU AWAY FROM YOUR DAY-TO-DAY CONCERNS: MCKENNA: YOU CAN'T FIND YOURSELF DAYDREAMING ABOUT WORK OR OTHER THINGS WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN A SINGLE TRACK.

AT LEAST I CAN'T.

I HAVE TO BE REALLY IN THE MOMENT AND BE FOCUSING ON THE FUN AND THE SAFETY AT THE SAME TIME.

OTIS ELMQUIST, MOUNTAIN BIKER: IT FEELS GREAT JUST TO FLOW.

DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, JUST DOING WHAT YOU LOVE, IN THE MOMENT.

DAVID BECK, MOUNTAIN BIKER: SOME PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH.

THIS IS KIND OF MY CHURCH AND A WAY TO GET BACK TO MY CORE BEING.

DREW: YOU FEEL LIKE A CHILD.

YOUR EYES ARE MOVING, YOUR ARMS ARE MOVING, YOUR FEET ARE MOVING, EVERYTHING PHYSIOLOGICALLY IS WORKING IN SYNCHRONY AND IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING.

AND IT'S ALL HAPPENING SO FAST.

I REALLY JUST FEEL GREAT TO BE ALIVE WHEN I'M EXPERIENCING IT.

GROUP: GOOD RIDE!

REICHERT: SO YOU SAY YOU'D RATHER NOT ESCAPE LIFE BY HURTLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE?

WELL, THEN HOW ABOUT A LEISURELY RIDE ON ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S PREMIERE BIKE PATHS?

BIKERS: YAHOO!

REICHERT: IT'S CALLED "THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D'ALENES," AND IT'S A SUCCESS STORY, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THE 73-MILE LONG TRAIL IN NORTHERN IDAHO IS NOT ONLY THE LONGEST BIKE PATH IN THE COUNTRY; IT'S ALSO ON THE SITE OF A FORMERLY CONTAMINATED RAIL LINE.

IN THE LATE 1800S, MATERIAL FROM NEARBY MINES WAS USED TO MAKE THE RAIL BED FOR TRAINS HAULING ORE OUT OF THE VALLEY.

BUT THE DIRT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TOXIC HEAVY METALS, LIKE LEAD.

WHEN THE RAILROAD WANTED TO ABANDON THE LINE IN THE 1990S, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID IT FIRST HAD TO CLEAN IT UP.

IDAHO STATE TRAILS COORDINATOR LEO HENNESSEY SAW A UNIQUE POSSIBILITY: LEO HENNESSEY, IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION: WE HAD NEVER DONE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP WITH A RECREATIONAL TRAIL AND WE DECIDED, "LET'S TRY TO PUT THEM TOGETHER FOR A WIN- WIN SITUATION."

REICHERT: ONE FOOT OF SOIL THE LENGTH OF THE TRAIL WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH CLEAN FILL.

THE WHOLE TRAIL WAS CAPPED WITH ASPHALT.

THE RAILROAD IS REQUIRED TO FIX ANY CRACKS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, AND COMPLETELY RESURFACE THE TRAIL EVERY 20 YEARS.

AND SIGNS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WASH THEIR HANDS IF THEY'VE TOUCHED DIRT OR SAND.

BUT THE HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS HAVEN'T STOPPED PEOPLE FROM USING THE TRAIL.

HENNESSEY: WE ESTIMATE THIS YEAR THAT OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ARE VISITING THIS TRAIL, AND WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DID THIS TRAIL PEOPLE SAID "OH, PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO COME."

REICHERT: THIS GROUP IS CAMPED UNDER THE FREEWAY IN WALLACE, IDAHO.

THEY'VE COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BIKE THROUGH THE REGION: LINDA ROBERTS, ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR, BICYCLE IDAHO: PEOPLE WERE REALLY EXCITED.

REALLY, REALLY EXCITED.

THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO RIDE ON A BIKE TRAIL THAT LONG WAS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY UNIQUE.

REICHERT: THE TRAIL PASSES OVER OLD RAILROAD BRIDGES, TREATING RIDERS TO SCENERY THAT'S NORMALLY INACCESSIBLE TO CARS.

THERE'S ALWAYS WATER ALONGSIDE.

AND HERE, THE PATH ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH A CHAIN OF LAKES.

ROBERT NELSON, SPOKANE: IT'S LIKE ACTUALLY RIDING A BICYCLE THROUGH A PAINTING IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

BIKER: IT'S SO GORGEOUS!

IT'S SUCH A WAY TO SEE THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

INCREDIBLE.

JOHN KOLBE, PEDAL PUSHERS BIKE RENTAL AND REPAIR: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY POUNDS YOU WANTED IN THERE?

KOLBE: THERE WAS NO GROWTH, NO INDUSTRY, NO INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE.

WE'RE ATTRACTING A LOT MORE PEOPLE; FAMILIES ARE NOW LOOKING ABOUT MOVING IN HERE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN TO THIS TOWN.

STEVE DAY, HOMEOWNER: IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE TRAIL, GET ON YOUR BIKE, HAVE YOUR KIDS GET ON THE BIKE AND EXPERIENCE IDAHO THE WAY I GREW UP EXPERIENCING IDAHO.

REICHERT: BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

WHEN THE TRAIL WAS FIRST PROPOSED, THERE WAS FEAR: BILL SCUDDER, PARK MANAGER: THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT ROBBERY, BURGLARY, TRESPASSING, LAWSUITS, PEOPLE GETTING ONTO THEIR PROPERTY AND FALLING OUT OF TREES, BE SUING THEM.

ONE OF THE FARMERS THOUGHT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HE'D GET HIS CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AND PEOPLE WOULD BE BARBEQUING CATTLE ALONG THE TRAIL.

TRUE STORY.

REICHERT: TODAY, THE ONLY FOOD BIKERS ARE EATING ARE SNACKS, AS THEY ENJOY THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THIS ULTRA SMOOTH, FLAT TRAIL.

A HIGHLIGHT IS THE PATH ALONG LAKE COEUR D'ALENE.

HENNESSEY: THIS IS A WORLD CLASS LAKE AND YOU'VE GOT ACCESS TO THE SHORE LINE.

IT'S SPECTACULAR.

REICHERT: THE RIDE IS CAPPED OFF WITH AN ASCENT UP THIS DRAMATIC THREE THOUSAND FOOT BRIDGE OVER THE LAKE: HENNESSEY: WE BASICALLY RAISED UP THE SWIVEL PART 30-SOME FEET INTO THE AIR AND THEN BUILT THE TRAIL UP TO THE BRIDGE.

A VERY UNIQUE DESIGN, BECAUSE WE MADE IT HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE SO YOU HAVE THESE RIPPLES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

BUZZ SAWYER, ASHLAND, OR: WELL, I'VE RIDDEN ON OTHER TRAILS AND THIS IS THE BEST TRAIL I'VE EVER BEEN ON IN MY LIFE, AND I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE!

BOB GRANT, MEDFORD, OR: IT'S SMOOTH AND THERE WERE NO HILLS AND THE SCENERY WAS DELIGHTFUL.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT GIFT.

HENNESSEY: IT'S BEEN EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD HOPED.

PEOPLE ARE COMING AND THEY'RE SMILING AND THEY'RE TELLING THEIR FRIENDS AND THEY'RE COMING BACK.

I GET GREAT SATISFACTION OF GOING OUT ON THIS TRAIL AND SEEING THE SMILING FACES COMING DOWN THIS TRAIL AND KNOWING THAT I HAD SOME PART IN IT.

RIDER: GOOD MORNING!

REICHERT: IT'S RACE DAY AND THE DEES FAMILY IS "CARBO-LOADING" AND TALKING STRATEGY: COLBY DEES, FATHER: GET INTO A GOOD CLIMBING GEAR.

KEEP A HARD STEADY TEMPO.

DEES: ON RACE DAY, YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF NERVES AND I NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S THE TOUR DE FRANCE, BUT YOU GET NERVOUS AND YOU WANT TO DO YOUR BEST AND YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO HURT.

I TELL THE BOYS TO TRY TO TURN THE NERVES INTO ENERGY AND GO.

DOUGLAS TOBIN, COACH: NICE AND SMOOTH-GOOD JOB, JOHN!

REICHERT: FORTUNATELY THE BOYS HAVE NO LACK OF ENERGY.

THEY'RE ALL PART OF A GROUP CALLED THE "BYRDS," THE BOISE YOUNG RIDER DEVELOPMENT SQUAD.

EACH WEEK, FOUNDER DOUGLAS TOBIN, A RACER HIMSELF, TAKES THE KIDS THROUGH THEIR PACES.

TOBIN: LET'S GET GOING!

DOUGLAS TOBIN, COACH, BYRDS: I ENJOY CYCLING A GREAT DEAL.

I SEE IT AS THE BEST SPORT ON THE PLANET.

ONE AVENUE I FELT I COULD GIVE BACK TO THE SPORT WAS TO PROMOTE YOUTH CYCLING.

WE HAVE YOUTH THAT WEIGH 65 POUNDS ON UP TO 200.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THEY ARE, THEY CAN GET ON A BIKE AND THEY CAN RIDE.

REICHERT: EVEN IN THE OFF- SEASON, THE CHILDREN TRAIN, COMPETING IN SIMULATED RACES.

A COMPUTER DESIGNS A COURSE FOR THEM, INCLUDING MAKING IT HARDER AND EASIER TO PEDAL: TOBIN: THEY ARE PHYSICALLY USING THEIR LEGS, SHOULDERS, ARMS, BODY TO POWER THEMSELVES THROUGH THE COURSE.

OUR GOAL IS TO CHANGE THEM FROM SITTING AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES AND GET THEM OUT INTO LIFELONG FITNESS.

TOBIN: GOOD LEG SPEED NOW, GOOD LEG SPEED!

LESS THAN A KILOMETER!

REICHERT: WINNING, THOUGH, IS NOT THE GOAL: TOBIN: THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO JOIN THE RACE.

JUST GETTING IN THERE IS A WIN.

REICHERT: SIMA TRAPP KNOWS THAT.

A PROFESSIONAL RACER FROM BOISE, SHE COULD EASILY HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT LIFE.

SIMA TRAPP, TEAM COLAVITA: I WAS BORN IN IRAN AND I CAME TO THE US WHEN I WAS EIGHT.

IF I WAS A WOMAN IN IRAN RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO RACE A BICYCLE OR RIDE A BICYCLE.

I DON'T KNOW I WOULD HAVE EVEN THOUGHT TO DO THAT.

REICHERT: FOR TRAPP, RACING IS A WAY TO CHALLENGE HERSELF: TRAPP: YOU ARE PUSHING YOUR BODY TO ITS LIMITS.

YOU GO AND YOU GO AND YOU GO UNTIL YOU THINK YOU CAN'T GO ANY MORE-- AND THEN YOU GO JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER!

ANNOUNCER: SIMA TRAPP WINS IT!

REICHERT: TRAPP IS ONE OF SEVERAL PRO WOMEN RIDERS BASED IN BOISE.

OTHERS INCLUDE LIZA RACHETTO AND OLYMPIAN KRISTIN ARMSTRONG.

KRISTIN ARMSTRONG, TEAM LIPTON: USA CYCLING IS LOOKING AT BOISE THINKING THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN CYCLISTS THAT COME FROM HERE NOW.

REICHERT: PART OF THE REASON IS THE "IDAHO WOMEN'S CHALLENGE."

FOR 19 YEARS, IT WAS THE PREMIER WOMEN'S BIKE RACE IN THE WORLD, WITH CYCLISTS COMPETING OVER HUNDREDS OF MILES OF RUGGED IDAHO TERRAIN.

JIM RABDAU, FOUNDER, IDAHO WOMEN'S CHALLENGE: I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE, "WOMEN?

WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY?"

WE WERE THE FIRST RACE TO HAVE WOMEN OVER I THINK, 60 MILES.

WE WENT TO 70, 80, 90.

WE'VE BEEN OVER 110 MILES.

WHAT, THEY DIDN'T DISINTEGRATE?

HELL NO THEY DIDN'T.

THEY COULD DO IT EASILY, JUST GIVEN THE CHANCE!

TRAPP: THE WOMEN'S CHALLENGE WAS AMAZING.

I GOT TO BE ELBOW TO ELBOW WITH THE WORLD'S BEST.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD BUT IT MADE ME WANT TO GET BETTER.

LIZA RACHETTO, TEAM LIPTON: ACTUALLY, THE FIRST ONE I WATCHED WAS IN '84 AND I SAW THESE WOMEN RIDING BIKES AROUND THE CAPITOL AND I TOOK PICTURES OF THAT AND PUT THEM UP IN MY DOLL HOUSE.

REICHERT: TODAY, RACHETTO AND ARMSTRONG RACE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

BUT THEY LOVE COMING BACK TO IDAHO.

ARMSTRONG: GOSH, IDAHO OFFERS ME SO MUCH AS A CYCLIST.

THERE IS THE TERRAIN, THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY WHERE ELSE THAT WOULD OFFER WHAT IDAHO DOES.

REICHERT: EVEN IF THEY DON'T COMPETE, IDAHOANS LOVE WATCHING A GOOD RACE, LIKE THE TWILIGHT CRITERIUM, HELD IN DOWNTOWN BOISE AT NIGHT: MIKE COOLEY, GEORGE'S CYCLES: YOU TURN THE LIGHTS OUT AND THINGS SEEM LIKE THEY ARE GOING FASTER AND IT'S MORE FUN.

WE HAVE 15,000 PEOPLE OUT SCREAMING AND YELLING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AND THE CYCLISTS, THEY KNOW THAT.

THAT'S WHY THEY COME HERE.

REICHERT: IT'S TIME FOR THE DEES BROTHERS AND THEIR FATHER TO RACE.

THE TWO YOUNGEST WILL GO 20 MILES-THE OLDEST AND THE FATHER, 40 MILES.

ZANE DEES, 17: IT'S A REALLY GOOD SPORT.

IT'S PHYSICALLY GOOD AND IT HELPS YOU MENTALLY TOO.

YOU ARE OUT RIDING AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO THINK.

YOU KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

YOU CAN PUSH YOURSELF AND YOU KIND OF FEEL LIKE SUPERMAN.

CHASE DEES, 12: THE THING I LIKE ABOUT IT IS YOU CAN GO, LIKE, REALLY FAST.

THERE'S PROBABLY, LIKE, ONLY ONE DISADVANTAGE; IS THAT IF YOU CRASH IT COULD, LIKE, HURT.

REICHERT: UNFORTUNATELY, THE BOYS ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FIRSTHAND.

AS THEY WAIT FOR THEIR FATHER, COLBY, TO FINISH HIS RACE, THEY LEARN THAT HE HAS HAD A SERIOUS CRASH.

SAXTON DEES, 14: ZANE!

ZANE, IT'S DAD!

REICHERT: ONE WEEK LATER, DESPITE A SKULL FRACTURE, A BROKEN COLLARBONE AND 150 STITCHES, COLBY IS UP AND ABOUT, A TESTAMENT TO GOOD LUCK AND WEARING A HELMET.

AND PERHAPS, ALSO TO PERSEVERANCE, AS HE SAYS HE'LL BE RIDING AGAIN SOON: DEES: I'M GONNA RACE.

IT'S WHAT I ENJOY DOING.

YOU KNOW, BEING INVOLVED WITH ALL THE KIDS HERE.

BEING INVOLVED WITH MY CHILDREN.

IT'S FUN.

RABDAU: I THINK IT'S MAN AND MACHINE.

AND IT'S WILL POWER.

IT'S YOU AND YOUR MACHINE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, RAIN OR SHINE, SNOW OR WHATEVER.

AND IF YOU WIN, WONDERFUL.

BUT YOU GET OUT THERE AND SLUG IT OUT AND DO YOUR BEST, THAT'S WHAT THE SPORT IS ABOUT.

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