MCBC Volunteer Spotlight Hilary Hyde: Life Is Better When You Bike
“Life is better when you bike!”
Volunteer wisdom from Hilary Hyde of Mill Valley.
MCBC owes tremendous thanks to the hundreds of volunteers that make our work possible each year. Every volunteer shines with their generosity in time and skills, contributing to the larger goal of safe and fun cycling in Marin County.
Hilary Hyde of Mill Valley has volunteered many hours with MCBC for such events as Bike to Work Day, the Dirt Fondo, the Marin Century, as well as significant support in the MCBC office. She is also a longtime donor and active MCBC member. We wanted to get to know Hilary a bit better as a part of the MCBC community.
Hilary has been riding in Marin for close to a decade and is now retired so she can “bike, hike, and volunteer more.” Mt. Tam is her favorite place to cycle, and we can’t blame her for that – we’re lucky to have such a beautiful place to ride right in our backyards.
Read on to hear about her cycling experience and positive perspective!
What bicycle do you like the best?
My Santa Cruz Mountain Bike
What part of your ride do you like the best?
Going up the trail with friends early morning when it’s less traveled, appreciating the beauty of the mountain, and then descending knowing that a good cup of coffee awaits. Feeling so much better after our ride.
What do you like best about the benefits of riding your bike?
Exercise/health, being outdoors, and seeing up close what’s happening on the mountain.
What would you have liked someone to tell you when you started?
Thankfully, I had friends to learn with when we started, so we helped each other out.
Where do you most like to ride your bike?
Usually Tam, but China Camp is a good alternative. But riding over the Golden Gate Bridge at 8 AM New Year’s Day is a fantastic way to start the new year.
Why would others like to ride in Marin?
We live in an incredibly beautiful spot, so get on a bike and enjoy it. Avoid traffic and commute on your bike.
What is your favorite ride/route?
Ross Common to Lake Lagunitas and meditation at a bench.
What part of riding would you most like to improve?
Open Alto Tunnel so we have a safer, continuous route north/south.
What is your favorite vision of the bicycling in the future?
More bikes (including e-bikes) used for commuting and pleasure, like many other countries. Take SMART and your bike and avoid the freeway traffic. Open Alto tunnel.
Finally, if there’s a further message you would like to share with the people who ride bikes in Marin County – whether simple, encouraging or aspirational – what would that be?
Even if you haven’t been on a bike in years, try it again and you will be so happy you did. Life is better when you bike!
“Thank you!” to Hilary and all of our valued MCBC volunteers. Come out and volunteer with us and you might just be featured in our next spotlight!
Contact Volunteer Coordinator Annie Leverich for upcoming opportunities to be part of the MCBC volunteering experience.
