Caught On A Bike: Zach Pina and Jodi McLean - Two Love Birds Who Love Bikes

(Photo credit: Christy Punkin Pants Jens)

Jodi and Zach were kind enough to ride their bikes out on a cold and rainy Sunday morning to meet up and talk about bicycles. Zach,known for his mashing skills around Salt Lake,is dating Jodi,who kills it in the saddle. Together they make up one of Salt Lakes finest cycling couples. Read more about their experiences riding bikes around the salty city.

Names: Jodi McLean and Zachary Pina

Ages:
Jodi: 29
Zach: 28

Occupations:
Jodi: Dental Assistant
Zach: Copywriter

Hometowns:
Jodi: Bountiful, Utah
Zach: Traverse City, Michigan

Years together:
A year and a half. Jodi got hit by a car on her way to meet Zach at 9th & 9th for their first date. Zach went to the hospital to make sure she was okay and ended up meeting her parents.

How they met:
Zach: Jodi moved in next door. She had a really dirty bike, but it had been loved. It needed some work done to it so I did a little work on it.
Jodi: He left a note on my bike that said, "A little bit of TLC and a bike will run forever."


On riding together:
Zach: For someone who hasn't ridden her whole life, Jodi holds her line really well. We've done some screaming descents and she holds my wheel.

Number of bikes you own:
Zach: Three
Jodi: Two


Favorite place to ride in Salt Lake:
Jodi: There are so many good places. The ride from downtown to Big Cottonwood Canyon is good. Riding the hills in Bountiful is fun, too. Trappers Loop is great. But I like having my cowbell and riding SAG as much as I like riding.
Zach: Emigration to Big Mountain and back.


Favorite restaurant:
Jodi: My new favorite is Chanon Thai, but we like Eva's and Oasis too.
Zach: All those places have stuff we can order without asking what is in it. Some restaurants just aren't accommodating to people with food allergies. (editors note: Jodi has severe food allergies that include gluten, rice, dairy, and corn)


Most embarrassing bike moment:
Jodi: I was just getting used to riding clipped in and we were going to the Farmers Market. I was in a sundress and forgot to clip out and fell!
Zach: When I was working as a messenger for Salt City I garage saled on tile floors a few times. But a few weeks ago I was riding to meet the work van and my tires slipped out from under me on a patch of black ice, pretty embarrassing.

Bike Accessories you can't live without:
Jodi: Velocity hip pouch and Smiths with interchangeable lenses, and in the winter, my Outdoor Research gator.
Zach: My velocity hip pouch and a pair of perfectly matched sunglasses.

Advice you would give to new commuters:
Jodi: Cycling can be easy, but a little of patience is necessary. You can get yourself into a bind if you are overly confident in your ability. The amount of awareness that is needed to ride a bike cannot be down played.
Zach: The sidewalk is the most dangerous place to ride in the city. You don't need every (bike) thing at once. If you have never ridden a bike in your life, don't buy a $5,000 bike and go group riding right off the bat. Everyone should start with an aluminum or steel frame.

Hopes and Dreams for Cycling:
Jodi: I want cycling to be like skiing, something I can do forever.
Zach: I want to be able to bike to the ski resort, ski, and ride home . I want cycling to be more accessible.
Jodi and Zach: Salt lake biking infrastructure is amazing compared to a lot of cities, traffic is a lot less agro here. Everyone who drives a car should be sentenced to riding a bike for a week if they get a speeding ticket, instead of traffic school and how to ride your bike should be taught in drivers ed. You aren't as aware of cyclists unless you have been on a bike. When you are riding in a car you don't always remember what happens from point A to point B. On a bike you remember everything.

CPPJ

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