Alyssa Enriquez was elected as president of the Fairbanks Cycle Club at the FCC Annual Meeting in October. Here’s a Q and A and some pics so that we can all get to know her a little better. Thank you for being willing to serve Alyssa!
How long have you lived in Fairbanks?
I have lived in Fairbanks for 8 years and 9 winters.
What keeps you here?
Those 9 winters. Kidding aside—the community!
When did you start cycling?
I was about 3 when I got my first tricycle and 6 or 7 when I got my first bike—black frame with teal, pink, white splatter paint and sparkly dangles! I would say I’ve always loved biking but after a couple of crashes and stolen bikes I stayed off for a long while until a couple of years ago.
What type(s) of cycling do you enjoy? Why?
I really enjoy adventure biking—finding new trails, hopping rocks and riding long gravel roads. I recently got a taste of fat biking and I haven’t smiled that wide in a long time.
Do you have a favorite piece of cycling equipment? If so, what and why?
I really love my older Giant bike. I bought at a yard sale when I first moved to Fairbanks, she’s still my favorite bike to ride.
Do you have a place you like to go cycling around Fairbanks?
I love biking anywhere I can go fishing so CHSR, the Steese. In town I enjoy the Farmers Loop bike path and riding along the river.
Do you have a memorable story you’d like to share from your cycling experiences?
This past summer my adventure partner and I found ways to bike to as many fishing spots as we could. After a long drive down to Talkeetna we decided it might be fun to bike to Clear Creek—after riding through deep rain filled ruts and being absolutely coated in mud, we stopped to check how many more miles were left on worst trail I’ve ever biked. The mosquitoes were relentless, and we couldn’t stop for more than a millisecond before they found any uncovered skin to devour. I asked, “Where’s the bug dope?” My partner looks at me and says, “I thought you packed it.” We were 12 miles in at this point… We didn’t fish that night, and I now always pack the bug dope in my pack.
How have you been involved in the cycling community?
I am part of a few riding groups and try to get folks excited about the freedom two wheels brings!
What do you do when you are not cycling?
Depending on the season I am either skiing, hiking, fishing, paddling, rock/ice climbing, dreaming up an awesome adventure or at work!
Why did you choose to serve on the FCC Board of Directors?
I’d love to inspire folks like myself who felt like maybe they weren’t fit enough or saw a hill and backed off to push on!
I absolutely never thought I would bike 1000 miles in less than 6 months last year.
I found a whole new appreciation for the bike paths around Fairbanks, the single track and just having such a wonderful network of multi-use trails around. This year has been difficult, but I have found such joy in hopping on my bike, alone or with folks I care about. I wanted to be on a board that shares this same sentiment whether you are a casual biker, someone who sends on an MTB or grinds the miles on the Steese. It’s the freedom of two wheels and human power that brings together the cycling community. I would love to see a more inclusive cycle club here in Fairbanks, representative of the diversity of our beautiful home.