Lots of years later, Pete Patterson—yes, that one, ours—rigged his bike and rode where only hearty hikers roamed. Soon, bike shops sold such machines and christened them mountain bikes. I busted my budget and bought one. And lo, it came to pass that on 101 single-track trails I would take countless hairpin turns in near-full control of my nerves.

Cycling turned into a life path for me, a reprieve from the main road where adult matters are dealt with. If you live here, I bet you have a path that keeps the "Z" word—the zest—in your life. Sure, my pedaling has mellowed, but I’m still at it. And it’s a good thing too. When I’m in my ignition-fired vehicle, I recollect how, at your age, I would close fast on an advanced being’s bumper. I’d mutter, "Oh, for gosh sakes, lady, p-u-h-l-e-a-s-e step on it!"

I ride a bike-bike now—an old fat-tire friend retrofitted with fenders, kick-stand, no-hunch handlebars, botoxed seat, and, the wheelbarrow of bike-bikes, a requisitioned milk crate strapped in back. Riding to the market or library, I made a deliciously surprising discovery. At busy intersections, I never need to lip-read a silently muttered oath. Rather, when I’m on my bike-bike, hectic intersections are opportunities for civility. Drivers stop well short of the crosswalk, let loose a big smile, wave me through, and then heartily bob their heads at my mouthed "Thanks!"

On a faraway day, should you discover that, holy cow, there you are at the far edge of advanced-middle-age, try turning a formerly serious bike into a bike-bike. When you keep on pedaling an old life path, you keep on lovin’ Sun Valley.

"Because of Bald Mountain, Idaho Mountain Express, Smoky, Boulder, White Cloud, Sawtooth and Pioneer mountains. Wood River. My friends and the other people who live here for those same reasons. Where else would you go?"
Dick Dorworth

"Because I can walk into the post office and see 5 people I know, and then less than 10 minutes later I can be hiking out Trail creek and not see a single person. It’s an amazing mix of community and serenity."
Rebecca Kinman

"Because you can spin a Tibetan prayer wheel while chewing on a strand of hay."
Denise Simone

"Because people walk around the grocery store with their ski boots on.
Emilie Dupont

"Because there are more stars in the sky than city lights."
Thia Konig

"Because there is always a reason to drink in this town, which usually involves some ’80s ski costume and a lot of chest hair."
Sarah Lyle

"Because you can wear cowboy boots to work then straight out to dinner (and feel dressed up)."
Eliza Buck

"Because it is the small mountain town we always dreamt of yet an amazingly sophisticated community. "Melissa Graves Brown

"Because the time I spend talking to friends in the grocery store is directly proportional to the amount of money I spend on groceries."
Ron Taylor

"Because tourists get excited when they find out you live here—full time."
Suzanne Buchanan

"Because I know the cell phone number of the firefighter who’s protecting my house from a wildfire in my backyard (and he answers when I call at 2 a.m.)"
Bass Sears