The wind in your hair, the sun blazing down, legs pumping hard— bike riding may be seen to some as a child’s game but I’ve noticed many adults still revel in this activity.

Here in Vicksburg we have the Vicksburg National Military Park that gives riders rolling hills to travel up and down through shade trees, open fields of grass, monuments as far as the eye can see and a cemetery or two. I personally have not taken to the park on a bike yet because I don’t have a bike here, but I intend to some day challenge myself on the rigorous terrain.

My father got into bike riding about six years ago and brought me in on his newfound hobby not long after. Fortunately there are plenty of picturesque trails were my parents live too, and we would take advantage every day we could to go on rides. Sometimes we even ventured to the streets, but I never enjoyed that very much.

A couple groups that aren’t as skittish about hitting the road on bikes have made their way through Vicksburg over the past month.

The Texas 4000 rolled into Vicksburg just a couple weeks ago during a 70-day, 4,000-mile journey from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. The cyclists are students at the University of Texas in Austin and chose to embark on the ride to raise money for cancer research and awareness for cancer detection and prevention.

The group comprised of 67 riders total broke up into three groups and the 22-member Ozark group was the one that visited the South and Midwest before meeting up with the other two groups in Canada to make the final journey to Alaska.

I went to listen to the cyclists speak at Church of the Holy Trinity the night they were in town and it was inspiring to say the least. Each one had a story of how cancer impacted them and their loved ones. These students gave up their summer, which they could have used to intern for a company or waste away in front of a television, but instead they chose to challenge their mind, body and spirit for the betterment of society.

Two weeks ago the group had raised $500,000 of their $825,000 goal. To keep up with their journey, visit texas4000.org.

The second cycling group I had the pleasure of speaking with was comprised of seven cyclists from the Central Mississippi area that took the complete 450 mile journey of the Natchez Trace, from Nashville to Natchez, in seven days.

The group would set out at 7 a.m. and reach their daily destination by 1 p.m. traveling about 65 miles a day. Some of the cyclists joined the venture to mark it off their bucket list and others just wanted to enjoy the scenery. The increased traffic and construction around Tupelo was difficult, but it was all worth it to see wildlife and enjoy the peacefulness at French Camp, where the group spent one night.

The Fourth of July is as good a day as any to take to the trials, ride safe and enjoy the great outdoors Vicksburg has to offer.

Alana Norris is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. Reach her at alana.norris@vicksburgpost.com.