Why I Ride: Steve Reed Rides Bike Daily for Better Health & Sheer Joy of It
While 67-year-old Steve Reed of Carl Junction, Missouri, spends a lot of time bicycle riding these days, the active gentleman spent more time keeping his feet solidly on the ground until an injury a few years ago prompted a redirect in his physical fitness journey to a greater emphasis on pedaling.
“I was a hard-core runner most of my life until I tore my labrum in my left hip,” Steve says. “I had it surgically repaired in 2013 but was never able to run pain-free after that. So, that’s when I took up cycling. It has kept me in shape, and I found I enjoyed it just as much as I did running for exercise.
“Bike riding is so much easier on my joints, and I like to go fast when I can. Well, as fast as I can go, anyway.”
Steve has fond memories of a favorite bike as a young lad, and when asked for recollections on his earliest ride from all those years ago, he says, “It was a blue Schwinn Stingray.
“It had a banana seat, a wide slick-back tire, like a drag racer, and those high handlebars you see on some motorcycles. I thought I was one tough dude cruising around the neighborhood on that bad boy.”
Fast forward to today, and Steve says, “I have four bikes. My favorite is a Lynskey Titanium Frame Bike. It’s a lightweight feel with a bike cassette (cluster of 7-13 stacked, toothed sprocket gears mounted on the wheel hub) for faster rides. The tires are made to take the abuse of riding on gravel trails. It’s a fun ride.”
While Steve isn’t so much into competitive bike riding as far as trying to be the best of the best, there are several events that are enjoyable for him. He says, “I regularly participate in the Maple Leaf Bike Festival (Carthage, Missouri).
“There’s also a big event in Columbia, Missouri, called the Pedaler’s Jamboree. And I do several rides with the Joplin Cycling group, like the Vines to Steins and the Tour de Vineyards.”
When it comes to training for competitive biking events, Steve’s mindset is simple. He says, “I ride every day, rain or shine. Hard work and staying consistent is the key to anything that’s done well.”
There’s a balance to it all for Steve, and he says, “The things I do for fun at altitude require a high level of fitness. You just can’t go from 800 feet elevation to more than 14,000 feet elevation without making fitness a priority. Mostly, though, I ride my bike because it brings me joy.”
Steve appreciates the health benefits of bike riding and says, “It’s a great way to improve your cardio-pulmonary fitness. It’s so great for your mental attitude, and it’s friendly on old knee and hip joints.”
Whether it’s for competitive reasons or simply biking for enjoyment, Steve’s commitment to riding sparked a journey that allowed him to amass more than 4,000 miles of pedaling last year.
“Motivation follows discipline,” Steve says. “I made the decision once upon a time to ride every day I could, so I don’t rely on motivation to get me out the door on wet or cold days. It’s a strong commitment for me.
“Are there days I don’t want to ride? Absolutely. But I just made the decision to ride a long time ago and I don’t waver with it. I might grumble about it, but I just layer up and ride.”
Steve doesn’t have any regrets getting his bike out and pedaling away on those daily treks. He says, “Almost without exception, I am always glad I rode when I get back to the house. And for the record, I rode 4,046 miles outside in 2025.”
There isn’t necessarily a daily regimen for his rides.
“I ride a variety of distances from day to day. I’ll go 10 miles one day, then 22 the next, etc. My typical week is 90 to 100 miles.”
Steve likes to keep the timing for his rides routine when heading out for daily workouts. He says, “If at all possible, I prefer the morning, so I ensure it gets done. Sometimes, appointments or work interferes, and I’ll ride later in the day.”
Several appealing courses in and around the Joplin area provide Steve ideal settings for every ride.
“I absolutely love the trails around here. We’re blessed to have the trails that we have here.
“There’s the Ruby Jack Trail (starts in Carthage to the east and finishes at the Kansas state line to the west), as well as the Thoms Station Trail and Lakeside Park Trail that are both in Carl Junction, and the Frisco Greenway Trail in Joplin.
“I like the trails because there’s no vehicular traffic on them. I can occasionally see quite a bit of wildlife on them as well if I’m out early enough. You would be amazed how many deer there are around the Frisco Trail and wild turkey around the Ruby Jack Trail.”
At its core, bike riding helps Steve maintain a healthier lifestyle and keeps him pedaling on a discovery adventure of a lifetime. He says, “Staying physically active keeps my rheumatoid arthritis under control.
“Also, I never want to become one of those ‘old people’ who retire, sit down and decline in my later years. It’s a big, beautiful world out there. I want to get out there and explore it while I still can.
“I just love to be physically active and have fun outdoors. I always have. Cycling fits the bill for me on both counts.”
When Steve considers what makes this recreational sport such a thrill, he chuckles and says, “Well, there’s always that big dopamine hit after a good ride, ha-ha.
“Mostly, though, there’s just such a sense of accomplishment for me in knowing that I did something that’s good for me. And the bonus is that I also truly enjoy doing it.”
Steve would love to see many others take up biking and says, “To all the Show Me The Ozarks Magazine readers out there, you don’t need to go fast or go far, just go. Ride at your own pace and in your own space, and I think you will discover the joy of cycling, too.”
Steve Reed Why I Ride Fast Facts
Age: 67 years old
Family: Wife, Angie Casavecchia; sons, Kevin Reed & Mark Reed; and stepdaughters Hannah Booher & Lucy Ashens
Hometown: Carl Junction, Missouri
Career Most of Adult Life: Director of Public Information at Cottey College (Nevada, Missouri) for more than 30 years. Currently retired.
Hobbies: Cycling (of course), reading, backpacking, and camping and climbing mountains in Colorado.
