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Joseph ﾓJoeﾔ Gasko retired to Marlinton in 1995. He'd been living in north Jersey and working construction on highways and bridges for a labor union. After moving to Pocahontas County, Gasko found he finally had time to do things he enjoyed. The Greenbrier River Trail became an outlet for exercise and relaxation.

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ﾓI started biking down here. I did a little biking up there in my spare time, which wasn't much. You know how it is in the city,ﾔ joked Gasko. ﾓWhen I came down here, my wife bought me a Huffy from Richardson's. I started off with that.ﾔ

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At this point, Gasko figures he rides about 2,000 miles on the trail every year.

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ﾓI've been biking probably for ten years. I ride three or four times a week, whenever I can get it in. There's nothing like the Greenbrier Trail. You go down there and the further you go, the better it gets. You get your exercise, you see wildlife. I've seen everything from a squirrel to a bear.ﾔ

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Ten years riding the trail has produced all sorts of adventures and stories for Gasko and he's built a reputation for himself on the trail.

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ﾓI was down there on the bridge about eight miles, and I was talking to some people who came up from Charleston. We were talking ﾗ this husband and his wife. They asked me where'd I get my bike and this and that. I told them down in Charleston, at the Charleston Bike Shop. And they said 'that's where we got ours.' And we talked for a little while longer, and she says, 'you mind if I ask you something?' I said 'go right ahead.' She says 'are you Greenbrier Joe?'

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ﾓI almost fell over. I'll tell you where it came from, The Charleston Bike Shop started that. I've been dealing with them for years down there. I thought that was so funny.ﾔ

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Gasko can't believe that more local folks don't take advantage of the opportunities the trail offers.

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ﾓPeople don't know what they have down here,ﾔ said Gasko. ﾓYou'd be surprised how many people use that trail that are from out of state. That's always the way it is though. I lived in New Jersey all my life, how many times did I go to New York City? I can count 'em on my hands.ﾔ

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The hobby has become a family affair. Gasko always looks forward to rides with his wife, children and grandchildren when they come to visit.

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ﾓWe're a bicycling family when they come around. I keep a bunch of bikes in the garage.ﾔ

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Gasko's family always tries to participate in the Greenbrier River Race, but he is especially looking forward to this year because his 15-year-old granddaughter, Maggie, will be racing for the first time.

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ﾓHer dad rides it all the time, but this is her first year. I'm gonna ride part of the trail back with her, the bicycle part. You know, to give her some support.ﾔ

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For Gasko, it doesn't even feel like exercise because he enjoys it so much.

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ﾓIf it's exercise you enjoy, you tend to do it more often. I used to love to walk the trail, but it takes so long,ﾔ laughed Gasko. ﾓYou even walk five or six miles, you're talking a couple hours. The bike, I'm done in an hour and a half. I used to run a lot, but when you get a little older, it gets rough on your knees. A bicycle can be a whole lot easier on you.ﾔ

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