The News Feed

Dining out vs. cooking in as inflation rises

by Emaryi Williams-

Restaurants are still open for business on Main Street in Blacksburg, even as inflation rises on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo: Emaryi Williams)

BLACKSBURG — The prices for food increased last year by 10.4%, the largest yearly increase since 1981, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics’s Economics Daily.

The Consumer Price Index refers to the measure of economy-wide inflation, which has impacted many consumer goods and services, including food prices.

“This is important because it gave us important information about cost of living,” said Virginia Tech economic professor Shaowen Luo about the relevance of the consumer price index.

Luo explains that it is not the absolute price changes that are affecting the everyday American, but the relative price change.

“If everything in the U.S. market increased by 10.4%, including your wage, then your life is not affected,” she explained. For those who did not see a 10.4% income increase, Lou says the rise in food prices may impact their lives.

According to Blacksburg officials, the city is currently seeking ways to combat food insecurity in the area.

“We got some ARPA funds from the federal government,” said Blacksburg Town Manager, Marc Verniel. “One of the projects we’re looking at is to fund local nonprofits that are already helping people get good healthy food.”

Virginia Tech Professor of Finance Derek Klock list many factors to consider that have affected inflation, including the coronavirus, the war in Ukraine and increased demand.

“Whenever you have a supply chain disruption to the extent we’ve had over the past three years globally, all prices are going to rise,” he said.

The cost of a dozen large eggs at a grocery store chain in Blacksburg has risen to more than seven dollars due to inflation on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo: Emaryi Williams)

While both stores and restaurants have seen spikes in food prices, according to a 2023 Food Price Outlook created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, between September 2021 and September 2022, the prices of food in restaurants increased up to 8.5%, while the prices of food at stores increased 13%.

“I feel like going out and eating in ends up costing the same in the end because groceries are pretty expensive,” said Emma Larkin, a Virginia Tech off-campus student who frequents Kroger.

Despite price differences, Professor Klock warns the public about assuming that prices at restaurants will always compare better than those at the grocery store.

“Grocery store prices have gone up a lot, and restaurants will have to follow suit. Eventually, restaurants are going to have to pass on those increased prices to consumers,” he predicts.

Klock explains that since the pandemic, restaurants have held back passing raised prices to customers because people have just started eating out again. He says, for restaurants to stay in business, they are going to have to raise their prices soon.

Jan. 30, 2023 – Despite prices in Blacksburg, drivers and customers can be seen flocking to restaurants and bars on Main Street. (Photo: Emaryi Williams)

Professor Luo says, there are many aspects to consider when determining whether eating in or eating out is more costly.

Diet is one that she specified as a critical factor. A vegan and vegetarian diet could cut a person’s food costs by up to one-third, according to a study done by the Lancet Planetary Health.

“Some people may value having food outside much higher than cooking at home,” Luo said. “It also depends on your budget constraint – whether you are high-income people or low-income people. So, it’s complicated.”

Constant congestion on I-81: Are college students to blame?

by Deanna Driver-

Travelers drive on a relatively empty Interstate 81 in Christiansburg, Va. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Photo by Deanna Driver, Jan. 29, 2023.

Around 48,000 vehicles pass through Virginia on Interstate 81 (I-81) in a given day, with 26-35% of that traffic being tractor trailers, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. With this influx of people and large vehicles, 50% of delays on I-81 are due to accidents, compared to only 16% on other major Virginia highways.

Congestion has long been an issue on I-81, especially in areas around Christiansburg and Roanoke. Dan Brugh, executive director of the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), said that interstates like I-495 in Northern Virginia have traffic more so because of volume, not accidents, like I-81.

I-81 cuts through the New River Valley (NRV), which has a population of around 180,000, via their informational site. Included is Virginia Tech, a large state-run university, which houses around 37,000 students and over 2,000 employees, according to their official website. With this many people only miles away from I-81, congestion linked to Virginia Tech students seems to be likely.

While approximately 100,000 students are on the I-81 corridor in Virginia, surprisingly, they don’t necessarily contribute much to accident statistics in the NRV specifically. However, Brugh did state that a lot of accidents on this major roadway can be attributed to “inexperienced drivers,” which is a category college students could arguably fall into.

This is not the case for every area in the state. Ann Cundy, Director of Transportation with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, attributed congestion in the Harrisonburg area more to James Madison University (JMU), especially since the school straddles the major roadway, whereas Virginia Tech does not.

“JMU employs nearly 3,000 people. They are what we call a major trip generator and attractor, so yes, JMU employees and others who live outside Harrisonburg and drive in each day contribute to congestion on I-81,” Cundy stated.

Between the mile markers of 240-250 in Harrisonburg, there is significant congestion in the morning and evening, not only attributable to JMU, but also to large businesses in the area, such as the Cargill and Marshall plants.

One of the main problem areas on I-81 in the NRV is from Christiansburg (exit 114) to Ironto (exit 128) going southbound. Here, the road is two lanes wide and twists through the mountains at differing grades with a speed limit recommending 65 miles per hour.

Though constant congestion is an ongoing problem on many parts of I-81, there are solutions transportation experts have explored. According to the “Virginia Places” website, in 2019, former governor Ralph Northam proposed a toll system on I-81 that would provide funding for roadway improvement projects. This proposal was unfavorable for many, including locals and truckers, and ultimately, didn’t go through.

Despite Interstate 81 being the major roadway in the New River Valley, there are other alternative or connecting routes travelers can take to get from place to place that are likely to be less congested. Photo by Deanna Driver, Jan. 29, 2023.

Despite housing 29 universities/colleges on the I-81 corridor in Virginia, for the NRV, student and faculty runoff does not attribute to a large portion of stoppage concerns. Solutions do not include pushing for reduced student traffic on the roadway.

Ultimately, projects to improve I-81 and overall, reduce traffic incidents, will require a lot of funding and time to fully improve the vehicular flow in these highly congested areas. Transportation directors and officers are actively working to combat this problem and hope to find solutions in the upcoming years.

“Streaming” causing shifts in entertainment industry

by Hannah Williams-

The B&B Theatres parking lot in Blacksburg sits half full on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (Photo: Hannah Williams)

The ways the entertainment industry consumes and disperses art is quickly changing as technology develops more each year. With a rapid rise in streaming services, like Netflix, theaters and performing arts centers are having to adapt to survive. As a result of such services, these establishments are dealing with issues like reduced attendance and low ticket sales.

Streaming services began growing in 2005 with YouTube, a video-sharing website, and its success in the entertainment markets has skyrocketed since then. The biggest catalyst that drew people towards streaming services over theaters and performing arts centers came during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMC Entertainment reported a loss of $4.5 billion in 2020 after having to close all of its theaters for public safety. Cinemark and Regal Cinemas also closed their theaters that year.

Another factor in this shift is ticket costs. The Statista Research Department reports the average price of a movie ticket in the US in 2021 was $9.57. Twenty years ago, it was $5.66. Locally, B&B Theatres in Blacksburg currently prices 1 adult ticket for around $11, while the monthly cost for a Netflix subscription starts at $6.99 and features a wide range of movies and TV shows.

Due to rising costs, some stay home to watch movies, even if it means waiting longer for them to release on streaming platforms. Although, some films, like “Dune”, are released on streaming services the same day as in theaters.

“More movies are being promoted alongside streaming services,“ says Nicholas Powell, a concessions worker at B&B Theatres. “Just about everyone has, or knows someone who has, access to every streaming service. So when those movies come out, I see significantly low amounts of attendance.”

Ticket prices vary for live performances. At Moss Arts Center, prices tend to steer on the higher end. Depending on the seat location, student status and demand, tickets cost anywhere from $10 to upwards of $100.

Box office attendants at Moss Arts Center in Blacksburg wait for customers on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (Photo: Hannah Williams)

Kristen Kim, a box office attendant at Moss Arts Center, says finances greatly impact attendance, particularly for students.

“College is hard. There are times when performances don’t cost $10,” Kim says. “You actually have to save up to buy [tickets]. Going to performances is a luxury from a student perspective.”

When the Moss Arts Center sees a high amount of sales, it suffers with follow-through and ticket buyers showing up. Margaret Lawrence, the Director of Programming at Moss Arts Center, says this is the center’s current concern.

“We’re hearing that students are attending fewer events, much less than before the pandemic,” says Lawrence. “We are concerned about students who have gone through the pandemic having to stream everything and have hit this different stride where going to a big thing in person with all these people doesn’t feel as comfortable anymore.”

The growth of streaming services continues, with 83% of consumers having a subscription to video-on-demand platforms. As the effects of the pandemic still loom, there is much uncertainty about where the entertainment industry is headed.

Managing mental health as a first responder

By Anthony Cusat-

**A Virginia Tech Rescue Squad ambulance is parked outside the station in preparation for a call in Blacksburg, Va., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Photo: Anthony Cusat)**

In the event of some of the scariest medical emergencies, first responders can be seen as pillars of hope and strength. However, it is impossible to assume there is not a mental toll that comes at the price of helping others.

Riley*, an emergency medical technician located in the Harrisonburg area, is one of many emergency medical service (EMS) providers who has seen the intersection between mental health and the job firsthand. When discussing the effect of traumatic calls, Riley said that it is not necessarily the anxiety of performing duties in the moment but the aftermath that leaves a lasting impression.

“When you see family members and friends grieving over the loss of someone, especially in such a traumatic way, it really really takes a toll on you,” said Riley, after detailing a gruesome on-call death. Even years later, Riley still experiences reminders of the incident when passing the spot where it took place.

Unfortunately, Riley’s experience is not unique to first responders. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 30 percent of first responders develop mental health conditions like depression and posttraumatic stress disorder which is 10 percent higher than the general population.

In one study, it was concluded that first responders are at an increased risk of alcohol consumption after incidents that involve the death of citizens or coworkers. Use rose incrementally for eight days and returned to normal after eight months. Riley said, “Something that I feel like has been normalized is coping unhealthily with that stress… It [drinking alcohol] kind of has turned into, for some people, a legitimate problem.”

With these numbers, there is an increased importance for first responders to have access to adequate mental health resources.

Administrative captain of Virginia Tech Rescue, Isabella Filippone, said, “It’s not about experiencing a traumatic event and then taking care of yourself, it’s about taking care of yourself so that you’re prepared to see those types of things.” While the vast majority of calls tend to be minor incidents, Filippone said finding ways to healthily cope with the stress of major emergencies makes a difference on well-being.

*Isabella Filippone standing outside a Virginia Tech Rescue Vehicle in Blacksburg, Va., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Photo: Anthony Cusat)*

Among first responders, consistent themes for positive coping included having outlets to talk to and fostering a culture of openness. Riley, for example, is able to see a therapist that specializes in EMS-related trauma which they said helped them recognize lingering mental wounds.

Additionally, squad members rely on one another for needed support. Cameron Buck, assistant deputy chief of field operations at Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad said, “I would feel comfortable myself going to any of our officers and talking about a tough call, but I would also feel completely comfortable sending someone else to any of our officers.”

When referring to first responders, Buck said, “It’s a group of people who collectively want to serve something bigger than themselves.” Despite the potential tribulations, those who serve as EMS professionals still have unbounded love for what they do.

*For confidentiality purposes, the name Riley is an alias.

Critical analysis of the death penalty

by Jordan Meadows-

Four people on death row have been executed in the United States in 2023. The executions took place in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and two in Texas.

In 2021, Virginia became the 23rd state – and first southern state – to ban the death penalty. Virginia has carried out almost 1400 executions since its inception, more than any other state in history.

A state senator in Virginia, Bill Desteph (R-VA Beach), has proposed legislation that would restore capital punishment. The legislation states that the death penalty could be used when there is “the willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of a law enforcement officer when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties.”

The bill is likely to fail in committee as Democrats hold a majority in the state senate.

One in eight people on death row is eventually exonerated at the federal level. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, in the last 50 years, almost 200 people have been exonerated. In most of these cases, wrongful convictions arose from erroneous eyewitness identifications, false and coerced confessions, inadequate legal defense and more.

In 2018, 79% of all homicide exonerations were due to misconduct on the part of the police or the prosecution – or both. That number grows to 87% for Black exonerees. Black Americans account for 41% of people on death row and 34% of those executed.

There has been a multitude of instances where individuals with mental disabilities and children have been executed – ultimately banned by the Supreme Court in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

Capital punishment costs taxpayers more than if they had non-capital punishment. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2020, the average time between someone being sentenced and executed was 18.9 years. During this time, the government is required to provide resources and funding for people on death row, such as the attorney.

23 people are scheduled to be executed in five different states this year. One state, Ohio, has scheduled inmates to be executed in 2026. President Joe Biden is the first president to publicly oppose the death penalty but has taken no major steps to that end.

What to expect when COVID-19 emergency declarations end

by James Tyler Ennis-

Man getting tested for Covid-19 by a healthcare professional. Photo credit: Kampus Production

New River Valley residents will face increased costs for treatment and tests after federal emergency declarations for COVID-19 end in May of this year.

At-home tests for COVID-19 will no longer be covered by most insurance policies according to an NBC report. This will force NRV residents to pay out of pocket for any future at-home tests. Without emergency declarations, the federal supply of free at-home COVID-19 tests will soon dwindle as well.

Insurance companies had been previously covering up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month since it became required by the Biden administration in January 2022. At-home tests helped reduce strain on testing clinics but have been known to sometimes produce false negatives.

These changes to federal COVID-19 policies come while the country still has about 450 COVID-19 deaths and 40,000 cases per day, according to the New York Times live map. The live map indicates that Montgomery County has about 26 COVID-19 cases per day. The city of Radford has about six cases per day and Pulaski county has about nine cases per day.

According to reports from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), PCR tests will continue to be covered by most insurance policies. However, individuals without insurance will have to pay for PCR tests. The KFF report indicates that most insurance policies will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccinations, as well.

Male patient being prepared for a vaccination by a trained healthcare professional. Photo credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich

Residents of the NRV may not only have to pay to get tested for COVID-19 but could have to start paying for their treatment as well.

Oral antivirals used to treat COVID-19 will continue to be free of cost as long as the national supply lasts. However, NRV residents should expect to start being charged for these treatments once the national supply runs out. According to the previously mentioned KFF reports, most insurance providers will not cover these treatments.

The effects of increased costs for testing and treatment will be felt even worse amongst NRV residents. According to the census reporter, about 21 percent of NRV residents live below the poverty line, which is about double the Virginia average and one and a half times the U.S. average. The end of emergency declarations in May will leave NRV residents vulnerable to a lack of affordable COVID-19 care.

Latest sleep trend: #mouthtaping

by Mary Griffin-

The latest TikTok sleeping hack is designed to turn anyone into a nose breather. Known as mouth taping, Influencers and TikTok users have claimed mouth taping benefits them in ways from snoring less, reducing bad breath, and even sharpening their jawline.

Mouth taping is just as it sounds, it is the act of taping your mouth shut, forcing you to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth when you sleep.

One creator, @courtneysnelll, who creates wellness videos, posted a TikTok stating that “humans are the worst nose breathers in the entire animal kingdom.” As well as claims that mouth breathing causes conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart failure, and dental abnormalities.

The #mouthtaping already has over 54.4 million views on TikTok as well as #mouthtapingforsleep which has over 13.6 million views.

However, despite its popularity, medical professionals suggest the research behind the benefits of mouth taping is lacking and even adds safety risks.

According to an article by Cleveland Clinic, breathing through your nose has several health benefits including lowering blood pressure, filtering allergens, and moisturizing your throat, but sleep medicine specialist Cinthya Pena Orbea, MD, claims that most of this evidence is “anecdotal” and that there is not enough to support that mouth taping is beneficial. Rather than mouth taping, Dr. Pena Orbea states there are “alternative methods to address conditions like snoring and sleep apnea directly.”

Mouth taping, Dr.Orbea also suggests, could cause irritation and even a rash when used. Dr. Orbea suggests discussing this practice with a doctor before putting it into action.

Kaninika Verma, MD, clinical sleep director at OSF HealthCare, discusses mouth breathing in an article published by OSF HealthCare.

Dr. Verma agrees that people are supposed to breathe in and out using their nose, but due to safety reasons mouth taping is not the best practice or technique. According to Dr. Verma, snoring stems from a bigger issue and it is important to figure out the root of the issue rather than forcing the body to breathe through the nose.

Verma also claims that mouth taping is a practice that no physician would recommend to a patient.

Causes of mouth breathing include; snoring, blocked nasal passages, enlarged tonsils, and being a natural mouth breather.

While mouth taping may be trendy, those with health and medical backgrounds tend to stray away from it.

Without state assistance, Pulaski County’s business development moves forward

The Pulaski County Administration Building in Pulaski, Virginia houses the office of Jonathan Sweet–the county administrator. Sweet has had his role since 2016. January 25, 2023.

By: Ben Walls

Though the county remains ineligible for state assistance for communities that once heavily relied on a tobacco economy, Pulaski County has proved to support their business-related growth.

Members of the House of Delegates Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources in the 2023 legislative session voted to table the General Assembly bill which would have added both Pulaski and Giles counties to the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Fund.

“I don’t know why these counties were not included in the original designation as we both have raised tobacco since the beginning of the colonies,” Pulaski County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Laura Walters said. “We are a hole in the middle.”

The commission’s funding specifically applies to economic growth projects in member counties. Officials from both counties–like Chairwoman Walters and Giles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey Morris–said personally they did not know where they would implement their assistance money.

County Administrator Jonathan Sweet says the county has worked extensively for Pulaski to reach eligibility that their neighboring counties have, however. Though Bland, Wythe, Carroll and Floyd are eligible for assistance, Sweet says it is just as important for Pulaski to give back to Southwest Virginia and the residents as it is for them to join the commission itself.

“Though Pulaski County is not in the region, we support through employment opportunities for a lot of citizens who do live in the tobacco region,” Sweet said.

If the tobacco commission were to grant Pulaski its kind of state assistance, the county would like to build a new community college, a regional airport and a regional industrial park. Along with its other priorities with or without the tobacco commission status, Pulaski has a goal for 40,000 residents to call it home by the year 2030 under Sweet’s leadership.

“It just makes more sense to have the resources from that commission to further invest in employment opportunities, educational opportunities and foundational community opportunities for the greater benefit for the citizens,” Sweet said. “Ultimately, that’s what we’re all working toward.”

According to Sweet, Pulaski must enter multi-faceted reform to reach their goal by 2030, including economic, workforce and retail development. Meanwhile, the county economic development authority and its small business solutions subsidiary have a strong presence in the community by helping newer small businesses and startups obtain permits. The small business solutions center also assists established businesses with marketing plans and reviews business plans for county organizations.

“We’ve received a lot of recognition locally for our small business efforts specifically just because not a lot of companies have a person or an office dedicated to small business,” said Pulaski County Small Business Solutions Director Lydia Gilmer, who has become the county’s go-to person for business owners navigating red tape. “What we want to see is a business moving in for a few years, kind of get their feet wet, take advantage of cheaper rent in a small space and then eventually grow out in the community. That’s what we really want to see.”

The Pulaski County Innovation Center in Fairlawn, Virginia houses the county small business solution center. According to county officials, not many counties have similar offices. January 30, 2023.

According to Gilmer, Pulaski has become an ideal locality for businesses for its affordability and accessibility for citizens. 40 of the county’s small businesses today are housed in the county’s innovation center where tenants can take advantage of the small business services and smaller amenities like a kitchen and gym. Gilmer says her attention to small business makes all the difference for business owners.

Under county leadership, Gilmer is confident for Pulaski to look “unrecognizable” within 3 to 5 years.

The real cost of diabetes

By: Tyler McAnany

Blacksburg, Va., Jan. 24 – **An overwhelming supply**: A look at all of the different things that go into daily and weekly diabetes management. Photograph: Tyler McAnany

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that people with diabetes are spending $9,601 more on yearly medical expenses than those without the condition. Between inflating insulin costs, medically excused work leave, hospital trips and increased susceptibility to illnesses, people with diabetes are being forced to pay a price that goes beyond the effects of their already complicated disease.

Clayton Pfeiffer, a type one diabetic, has experienced this first-hand since the age of six. “There have been stories of people not being able to pay and I have also heard stories about people rationing their insulin which is not healthy.”

While Pfeiffer does mention there are insurance plans that help such as an 80-20 insurance split cost (80% covered and 20% out of pocket), it does not change the fact that costs continue to rise and apply more pressure to families.

Modern-day diabetes technology can be quite expensive as an upfront cost but it is the recurring costs of insulin that are what make the financials of diabetes difficult to navigate. Insulin is not that expensive to produce, however, the demand for it has gone up. What was once going for $30 per vial has shot up to prices as high as $300.

Blacksburg, Va., Jan. 24 – **The future for diabetics**: While the cost of care continues to rise, there are things like this Dexcom G6 pump that are making diabetes care much easier. Photograph: Tyler McAnany

The rise in the cost of diabetes care can be attributed to the rise in type two diabetes, which unlike type one, is developed and in some cases can be reversed. Nevertheless, people affected with any variation are outraged by the cost of care. Even medical professionals have taken notice of the business-first mentality that is the pharmaceutical industry.

Heather Mulvaney, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, sees cruelty and unfairness when it comes to the system of purchasing piled on to the management and upkeep already required. “We’re talking about insulin that is keeping people alive and well, this is not something that anyone wants to be on. To have the costs dictate the care is unacceptable.”

While the costs present a real issue for those diagnosed with diabetes, the technology has significantly evolved to a much more hands-off means of finding vital information regarding the body.

Pfeiffer recalled the days of when he was required to prick his finger to draw blood up to six times a day and not always knowing if or when he was “low”. “Technology has certainly come a long way. I now have pumps that regularly monitor my blood sugar levels, as frequent as every 5 minutes, and I can avoid the toll those things took on my skin.”

He even went on to compare the new technology coming out periodically similar to new iPhones. “Always more expensive than the last, but the improved quality and function is undeniable.”

This is not to mean that big changes to the industry are not needed. Opportunities for equipment consolidation, price changes and increased government regulations have all been discussed.

Living a life with extra steps already presents its own hardships, but it is too often overlooked that serious financial commitments are required. As Mulvaney alluded to, people cut corners on their care because of strict financials and that alone may make people question what the intentions of the medical industry really are.

Mountain Biking: A pricey past time

Blacksburg, Va., Jan 26 – Bike Hub: The Bike Hub is the central base for all bike enthusiasts at Virginia Tech. Assisting many bikers every day, Zachary Taub does maintenance on a student’s bike. Photograph: Noah Hayden

by Noah Hayden –

What started as a small club in the 1930’s, has become a worldwide phenomenon that’s grasping the nation. In 2011, nearly seven million people participated in non-paved surface bicycling. That number increased by almost two million by 2021. Mountain biking is only getting more popular and the biking market is expected to grow by at least 3.13 billion between 2023-2027.

While the sport is growing at a tremendous rate, that’s not to say it’s for everyone. The biggest initial challenge for newcomers is understanding the bike market. At a glance, there are tons of price points that would scare any consumer off.

According to long-time mountain biker, Ruben from BikingUniverse, parts for a bike can cost up to $10,000. As daunting as that may sound, there is a bright side. Most bikers are not buying parts for $10,000, especially newcomers.

“You can find hardtails for $5,000,” explained Zachary Taub, Virginia Tech Mountain Biking Club president and Bike Hub employee. “I usually tell people, look on Facebook marketplace first because you could probably find a decent entry-level hardtail for about $500 or so.”

There are other factors that go into the price of a mountain bike. Wheel size, tire material, pedals, type and range of the drivetrain, and even the material of the frame affect the price. When buying a mountain bike for around $500, the main concern revolves around the integrity and performance of the bike. More often than not, one may experience an accident due to malfunctions.

Charles Dye, a 37-year mountain biking veteran, explains that there is some correlation between price and safety. “I generally say to people, don’t spend much less than $1,000,” said Dye. “When you get out on the trails, life is rougher, things break more, you want more features like suspension, and you really need to pony up like $1,300.”

For college students, $1,300 might just mean their entire bank account. How America Pays for College: Sallie Mae’s National Study of College Student and Parents, indicated that in 2021, the average college student in the U.S. borrowed just above $1,300 via credit card. With college students already relying on outside sources for money like their parents, how is it possible for so many to afford such an expensive hobby?

The most common way is by finding bikes or parts for little to nothing. “Get your way in [to mountain biking] however you can get in,” said Dye. “Usually that means borrowing your old uncle’s bike.”

Others will recall long hours working part-time, or doing odd jobs around their neighborhood. Luke Dangel, cinema student at Virginia Tech, opened his own garage biking service in the summer of 2020. Despite the many exhausting challenges to get the money for a mountain bike, he says he would never take that experience back.

“It was incredibly fun and stimulating. I became super invested,” said Dangel. “It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Blacksburg, Va., Jan 26 – Bike Racks: Despite dull weather, students still manage to bring their bikes to campus. There are many bike racks across Virginia Tech that display the vast number of bikers in the student body. Photograph: Noah Hayden