From Flea Market Bikes to Family Miles: Why I Joined BicycLincoln
By Jeff Henson
Some of my earliest memories of biking take place on a dead-end pea gravel road in rural central Missouri. My siblings and I had bikes from the local flea market—nothing fancy, but they gave us the freedom to connect with neighbors and explore our world on our own terms. Biking was how we got around. It was independence, friendship, and summertime all rolled into one.
And then, for a long time, biking disappeared from my life.
That changed in 2011, when we moved to Lincoln. We lived near East Campus, where a trail connected our neighborhood to my job, our oldest daughter, Ella’s, daycare, and my classes on campus. That bike trail became a lifeline—part necessity, part joy. I bought a cheap bike at a university auction, strapped a child seat to the back for Ella, and off we went. When she got a little older, we graduated to a tag-along bike. Suddenly, biking wasn’t just about getting from Point A to Point B—it was about time together, trips to the farmers market, and building a shared love for two wheels.
That relationship we built—between biking and fatherhood—has grown every year since. Last summer, Ella and I rode in RAGBRAI together. It was a big ride, yes, but also a big moment for us. We wrote daily blog posts and shared them on my company’s intranet, reaching more than 200 colleagues. Afterward, coworkers from across the region asked about our ride. For many, it sparked something: maybe I could do that. Maybe I could ride again.
That’s one of the coolest things about biking—it’s contagious in the best way.
For me, RAGBRAI wasn’t just about miles. It was about moments. Like the one in Greenfield, Iowa, where we rode into a community still reeling from a devastating tornado. That ride sparked a conversation with Ella about resilience and how our firm, JEO Consulting Group, might be able to help. Not long after, we were selected as the city’s engineering partner for their rebuilding efforts. It was a full-circle moment—where riding bikes, community service, and professional purpose all met on the road.
Today, biking is something my whole family shares. Our six-year-old, Mara, is now riding the same tag-along Ella once used. She learned to ride on her own last year, and every spring day since, she’s asked, “Can we go ride?” Biking has become our family’s rhythm. It’s how we spend time together, how we teach perseverance, how we build trust—not just in each other, but in ourselves.
That’s why I said yes to joining the BicycLincoln board.
This is my way of giving back—to Lincoln, and to the biking community that’s given so much to us. I’m especially passionate about helping families discover how biking can fit into their daily lives, and how we can make Lincoln even more accessible for riders of all ages and abilities. As a planner and someone who works in engineering and design, I see how active transportation connects directly to livability. And I believe we can keep improving our infrastructure to make Lincoln safer, healthier, and more vibrant—one bike lane, one trail, one family ride at a time.
You’ll probably see me around on the trails, riding casually with kids in tow. Feel free to wave or say hi. And if you’re wondering whether biking can be a bigger part of your life—my answer is simple:
Absolutely. Just start pedaling.