Huot Brothers use cycling adventures to promote Black Hills as outdoor destination

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI

It’s night rides on M Hill, lunch hour treks on Skyline Drive, and quiet, fresh powder expeditions on Needles Highway — whatever the season and whatever the weather the Huot Brothers are there documenting the beauty of cycling in the Black Hills and sharing it with the world.

The avid bikers have ridden trails all over the country from Utah to Arkansas, but believe the Black Hills are better. “We usually go someplace twice a year, but everywhere we go does not have as nice of biking as here,” said Michael Huot. “I honestly think it is a gold mine that has been largely untapped. I think biking in this region, if promoted, can be the number one tourist attraction in this area.”

Michael and his older brother Christopher are doing their part to do just that. Three years ago, the brothers created an Instagram account (@huotbroscycling) to show both locals and outdoor enthusiasts what the area has to offer.

“The geography, the amount of snowfall, the gentle rolling hills — all these things are perfect for biking,” Christopher said.

MICHAEL'S BACKYARD BIKE SHOP HAS A PLENTIFUL AMOUNT OF TOOLS, SKIIS, AND RACE PLATES.

by Andy Greenman

“We are just prime for cycling, especially with days like today,” Michael said of the 60-degree February afternoon. “Often in Rapid you can cycle year-round.”

Since they were out cycling nearly every day anyway, the brothers decided to record their adventures and the surrounding scenery. “We are not photographers, but if you are always outside you come across some really cool pictures, and a lot of times it is just the setting. We thought it was good for people to see what we have in the Hills. A lot of people that live here don’t even know,” Michael said, adding that Iron Mountain Road is Bicycle Magazine’s No. 2 ride in the United States for road biking. “The world knows, but I’d say not many people locally know that we are sitting on one of the best road routes in the country.”

With more than 3,000 followers, the duo’s social media presence is spreading. Their account has been mentioned by cyclists from Michigan to the Big Horns. “Even though 3,000 to us doesn’t seem like a huge following, we hear a lot of good feedback, so I think we have really good engagement,” Michael said. Cyclists coming to the area reach out to the brothers wondering the best trails to ride and hoping to bike with them. “We are getting a lot of tourist traffic on our little Instagram account.”

huotbroscycling Three different tunnels frame Mt. Rushmore on Iron Mountain Road. #bikesandbeers

Christopher and Michael, who both work full-time as doctors, said they would like to do more in promoting the area for biking if they had time.

The free time they do have is spent on the trails.

“We are trying to have Huot Bros be a vehicle to support the community,” Michael said.

Christopher, an ophthalmologist, and Michael, an anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine doctor, grew up riding bikes around their West Rapid City neighborhood. “When we were kids, we biked all over the place,” said Michael, who lives in their childhood home, and even has their first bike hanging in his cycle shed. Both left to attend medical school and residency and after years returned to a more outdoor recreation-focused city.

“Rapid City nowadays has such great trails between Skyline Drive and Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park,” said Christopher, who lives directly across the street from Michael. “This stuff wasn’t here when we were kids. What we have now is phenomenal for anyone that likes to mountain bike, hike, trail run…”

BROTHERS CHRIS AND MICHAEL HUOT TAKE A BREAK FROM BIKING ATOP SKYLINE DRIVE.

by Andy Greenman

While advancements have been made in creating trails, the brothers said more could be done to make the area a true destination biking community. “Imagine what could happen if you put more resources into building up the trails in the area,” Christopher said. “So many are unofficial trails scratched into the ground that people just keep riding. Rapid City could really benefit by having more close-to-town trails where the city is the nucleus, and you can go in all different directions. We have some of that, but there is so much more opportunity.”

As physicians, Christopher and Michael also see their social media as promoting a healthy lifestyle. “If you want to stay healthy you can willpower yourself to go to the gym, but I think that will fail for people," Michael said. “You almost have to have it part of your identity on some level. I think for every dollar they spend on trails in town they can save a dollar in health care for the community.”

They said that more people are looking for a healthy vacation option. And both have enjoyed seeing locals, especially families, utilizing the area’s outdoor recreation opportunities.

Instagram: huotbroscycling

by Andy Greenman

When the two aren’t shredding the trails, they are riding tandem bikes with their wives, Lisa and Kirsten, and sometimes Michael can be spotted riding his modern penny-farthing, a bike with large front wheels developed in the 1870s, along the bike path.

Just like when they were kids, the two brothers meet out on the road – Michael riding from his bike shop and Christopher from his garage, and bike through the city. Only now they have traded neighborhood streets for miles and miles of trails. They are excited to be a part of the continued growth of outdoor recreation in the area, and to document the progress.

“We want to build up the community of bikers and recreationists,” Christopher said. “People who like human-powered recreation and build up these trails and hopefully some day take the resources we have and turn them into something greater than they are today.”

Instagram: huotbroscycling

by Andy Greenman