Bierly lives life with a single-track mind1 min read

By
Andrew Pardiac
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Craig Bierly stands next to his van outside a local bike shop on Tuesday, April 15. Bierly has ridden his mountain bike in 49 states and through most of the trails in Sedona. Bierly recommends that riders of any level take a lesson before hitting Sedona’s trails.
Andrew Pardiac/Larson Newspapers

In all the U.S., few places present the challenges and scenery that Sedona’s mountain bike trail system offers.

That’s something Craig Bierly can speak to, having ridden 49 states since he uprooted himself from his Spokane, Wash., home in 2008.

“I took off. I sold my house, I quit my job and I set out to mountain bike the states,” Bierly said.

Even if residents haven’t seen him riding, his motorized vehicle stands out as well — a large, green van specked with bumper stickers and a bike rack.

Andrew Pardiac

A 2008 graduate of Michigan State University, Andrew Pardiac was a Larson Newspapers' copy editor and reporter from October 2013 to October 2017. After moving to Michigan, then California, Pardiac was managing editor of Sonoma West Publishers' four newspapers in Napa and Sonoma valleys until November 2019.

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Andrew Pardiac
Andrew Pardiac
A 2008 graduate of Michigan State University, Andrew Pardiac was a Larson Newspapers' copy editor and reporter from October 2013 to October 2017. After moving to Michigan, then California, Pardiac was managing editor of Sonoma West Publishers' four newspapers in Napa and Sonoma valleys until November 2019.