Missouri Bicycle News

The arrival of new activities could be seen Sunday at Lake Springfield, where several bike shops and the Ozarks Cycling Club held the first of a series of cyclocross races, a cycling sport that combines road racing, mountain biking and jumping hurdles on foot. . . .

Springfield is part of a growing national trend of offering residents a variety of athletic, quality-of-life and educational programs along with parks, said Jennifer Hoyer of the National Recreation and Park Association.

"I think they're really going toward the health and physical activity, the healthy lifestyle, the community focus," said Hoyer, a sports and physical activity specialist.

In that trend, Springfield is leading, not following, she said.