A typical child might learn how to ride a bicycle with training wheels before he learns to ride anything else.

Dustin Gross, 23, of Cape Girardeau took a more unusual route.

Gross was racing motorcycles before climbing onto a bike. He was 6 when he had his first high-powered race, and it wasn't until he was 7 that he straddled a bike seat.

"My dad sold motorcycle parts, so I got interested through that," Gross said. "But those were only the first years."

Gross quickly grew out of motorcycles and fell in love with the self-powered bicycle. He started out on BMX trick bikes before he purchased his first mountain bike when he was 13.

Since then, he's found a home away from home on area roads and trails. Gross joins friends from Cycle Werx, where he works, at 6 o'clock five nights a week to begin a bike journey that usually lasts at least 2 1/2 hours -- sometimes even an hour longer.

"We take the county roads all around the area, and we have a good time," Gross said. "Some people may think we're crazy, but it's great. Bike rides are a lot more social than people think. When you're riding in packs with people, you can talk the whole way. It really is an enjoyable ride."

Challenging days

Tuesdays and Thursdays have become the most popular days for area riders even though they may be the most challenging.

On Tuesday, the crew has interval riding, and on Thursday they have hill repeats, two workouts that get them out of the rut of distance training.

"People enjoy Thursdays because the hill repeats are at your own pace," he said. "We ride there together and then you do your workout, and we ride back into town at a leisurely pace. People enjoy that because it's more individual."

Gross said Sunday is a time for the group to get off the streets and go off-road on mountain bikes.

"We ride those streets every day, so it's nice to be able to get on some rugged trails every Sunday," Gross said.

When it comes to racing, Gross prefers to race mountain bikes, but he will still ride in an occasional road race.

"I like to race, but I'm not real competitive yet," he said. "As you get older, your body peaks physically. I haven't peaked yet. That's something you have to work up too. It takes years to get into the shape you want."

Bigger, better things

Gross said he's optimistic about the sport's future in the area because he sees more and more people using the Cape LaCroix Trail to their benefit. Gross also said he that before long, with gas prices so high, biking around town will become more common.

"The trail has really perked interest around here. It's getting more people out there than I ever expected," he said. "It's nice because it gets people off the road and gives them a peaceful place to ride."

Although he says he enjoys leisurely rides around town, Gross holds on to hopes of racing professionally.

"It's always been a goal for me," he said. "If it wasn't, then I wouldn't ride and try to get faster every day."

For now though, he will continue to clip off about 200 miles a week locally.

"It's my time away. I work all day on bikes for a living," he said. "So in the evening, it's my time to enjoy the machines I work on all day."

dunterreiner@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 174