GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — With 300-plus days of sunlight, flat terrain, and miles of bike lanes, the Grand Valley is ripe for bicycle commuting.

That’s what management at DT Swiss recognized when they came up with a “Bike to Work” employee program.

Plus it just made sense, after all DT is a premiere bicycle component manufacturer.

So, they ran with the idea, or should we say, pedaled off with it.

That was last fall.

Wednesday, nine DT Swiss employees received brand new commuter bikes — a gift from the company.

Hayley Hart, manufacturing sales support for DT, was one of the recipients of a 24-speed road bicycle.

“I’m very excited. I plan to ride to work for sure,” said Hart, who has a four-mile commute.

A salesperson at DT originally floated the idea for the program, but it was Kory Moore, operations manager, who put the wheels in motion (pun intended).

“It took a while to put the program together ... alot of research to find the right bike manufacturer, the right partner, and the right bicycle,” to fit six girls and three guys, Moore said.

“We hope to promote health and less car usage, and to promote cycling in the valley.”

As an added incentive, employees who ride their bikes to work can earn extra vacation days.

“My goal is to ride (to work) twice a week ... 26 miles round trip,” said Moore, who lives in Palisade.

Moore and a few others spent Wednesday morning putting together the bikes, with an assist from Nate Wilson of Brown Cycles.

“He fine-tuned our work,” Moore said.

Wilson teaches a two-day intensive bicycle assembly and repair course out at Western Colorado Community College.

DT Swiss sponsors employees who wish to take the $325 weekend class.

Hold on, though, DT’s generosity doesn’t end there.

Moore said the company also plans to outfit the new commuter bikes with fenders and a rack.

Reach Tracy Dvorak at tdvorak@gjfreepress.com.