Radios Keep Young Mountain Bikers and Their Coaches Connected and Safe on Cortez Trails

Youth interest in mountain biking in Cortez is exploding. High Desert DEVO, a youth cycling program with a focus on equity, empowerment, and mentorship, has seen 40 percent growth in ridership already in 2023. In order to prevent local trails from becoming congested, High Desert DEVO coaches are taking riders out in small groups, which requires regular communication between groups. The trouble is many of the trails are in canyons or hill country where cell service is unreliable, making staying connected to other rider groups challenging. So the coaches came up with a solution: Equip coaches with radios that work even in undulating terrain to keep riders connected and safe. LOR’s funding will help support the purchase of 18 radios.