Have Bikes, Will Travel
Grace Finley, a PICL rider from PGH North had the adventure of a lifetime this past year. She, her parents, and two sisters took a 6 month family sabbatical traveling to 14 countries all over Southeastern Europe. Both Grace and her dad (Brian, Team Director of PGH North) packed their bikes and got in some epic rides throughout their journey!
From riding along the coastal towns of 4 different seas to lift served bike parks deep in the mountains of the former Yugoslavia, they encountered some very off-the-beaten path cycling destinations. A few cycling-centric highlights from this incredible trip include biking down the 1984 Olympic Bobsled track in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, riding throughout an abandoned military base in Pula, Croatia, and braving the rocky trails around Mt. Olympus in Cyprus.
“Stopping into bike shops along the way was a great way for them to learn local trails and share the love of riding with those from other cultures.”
On the advice of one bike shop owner, Grace and Brian competed in a race in Romania called Prima Evadare - a 55k mountain bike race with >2,000 riders from across Europe. Although grueling, Grace and Brian finished 2nd in the parent/daughter category, earning a great international win for PICL!