Anne Brooks has always used bikes as a means of transportation — but she never could have predicted the life-changing impact that extreme-distance bike rides would have on her perspective — especially in the later stages of her life.

Brooks hasn’t even been in the Roaring Fork Valley for five years yet, but her extreme interests make her fit right into the fabric of the outdoor community.

After wrapping up her first year as a Significant Support Needs teacher at Glenwood Springs Elementary School at the end of May, Brooks is now preparing to embark on her summer tradition — taking an intense bike trip to help her reset. This June, she will set off on a journey that will take her along the entirety of the Oregon Timber Trail, a route that traverses the spine of the Oregon Cascade mountain range.

“It’s a great way to reset,” Brooks said. “It helps me put everything behind me and appreciate the beauty of our country.”

The ride begins in Lakeview, Oregon’s highest-elevation town, located on the California border, and stretches for more than 700 miles. Over 60% of the trail is open to mountain bikers, offering a mix of rugged terrain and breathtaking scenery. Riders typically take about three weeks to complete the journey.

“We’re leaving on June 17, and depending on snowpack and fire conditions, we should be back by July 4,” she said.

Brooks, however, sees the average timeline as a recommendation — not a rule. She has a history of completing extreme-distance trips faster than most.

Her first introduction to long-distance biking was a supported trip from Oregon to New Hampshire — a 3,500-mile journey that she completed in just six weeks.

“People were commenting on how quickly we were getting it done,” she said. “We dipped our tires in the Pacific Ocean, and didn’t stop riding until we hit the Atlantic. We didn’t feel like we were going particularly fast, but people were saying, ‘You guys are animals.'”

Now, nine years after her first cross-country trip, Brooks is even more hooked. She has since ridden the length of the Great Divide — from the Mexican border to Canada — and the entire length of British Columbia, all without a support van to carry her gear and food. This summer’s Oregon Timber Trail ride will also be unsupported, but Brooks isn’t overwhelmed by the challenge.

“Comparably, this summer should be pretty easy,” she said.

Because she’s taking it “easy” this summer, Brooks is already planning to ramp up the intensity for 2026. She’s preparing for a supported trip from Colombia to Argentina — and if all goes according to plan, it will be the first time her husband accompanies her, though he’ll take on a calmer, cooking-focused role.

“My husband describes me as an ‘I Love Lucy’ character,” Brooks said with a laugh. “I mean, I’ve always enjoyed bike commuting, but I just had an urge to try out long-distance biking. Once I tried it, it changed my life.”

Before her first trip, Brooks was working as an academic advisor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She said the sheer amount of time that long-distance rides offer for reflection helped her reexamine her life and build the courage to make a change.

“I was working a job that I really loved at the university, but I was starting to get tired of it,” she said. “I think taking that cross-country trip helped me gain the courage to make a change.”

Brooks moved to Winter Park after her first adventure — “I wanted to learn how to ski before I was too old,” she said — and later took a job at Glenwood Springs High School. After finishing her first year at Glenwood Springs Elementary, she’s once again preparing to hit the trail to reset her mind — and she can’t emphasize the benefits enough.

“It’s never too late or too early to start,” she said. “I highly recommend it to everyone — the trips are absolutely life-changing. They make me very happy, and it’s been such an amazing boost in my lifestyle.”