Grand County, Colorado boasts itself as "Mountain Bike Capital USA." Though determining whether or not the county is worthy of such a title would be a worthwhile effort, this book instead focuses on how mountain biking became an economic driver for the mountain towns in Grand County. Through dissecting national trends, local business practices and personal interviews it was clear several groups had a hand in creating the mountain bike reinforced summer economy. Focusing on these aspects through a scope of tourism and history in the American West allows for discoveries of how new regional identities are formed and public land use. Uncovering these elements of the Grand County mountain biking scene creates a clearer image of how mountain biking has become an economic driver.
Scott Michael Hicks II is a teacher in the East Grand School District in Grand County, Colorado. He studied history at Ferris State University (B. A. 2010) in Big Rapids, Michigan as well as Adams State University (M. A. 2016) in Alamosa, Colorado.