Some people bicycle to work. 

For four years, Randy Reichardt’s work was bicycling.

Reichardt wasn’t officially a professional bicyclist, but he was in Boulder, Colo., for four years competing in USA Cycling events and collecting sponsorships. He was an elite rider, competing around the U.S., Canada and Mexico after his University of Iowa days ended without a college degree. “I just wasn’t worried about (education) at the time, but I will probably go back to get my degree,” he says now.

For Reichardt — son of Holmes Murphy and Associates former Chairman Doug Reichardt and grandson of Bill Reichardt, who owned Reichardt’s Clothing — school appealed a lot less than the mountains, the trails and Boulder, where “it’s actually easier to get around on your bike than in a car,” he said. 

He stayed there six years. When he turned 30 he thought to himself, “I need to not be living from paycheck to paycheck.”

That led to Dallas, where he worked for a Des Moines-based company, Live Healthy America, that sold health and wellness programs to companies. Teams of employees would compete to see who would log the most minutes of activity or weight lost.

He met Sarah, now his wife, while he worked in Dallas for four years. 

“I had always loved Iowa, but it was Sarah who said, ‘When are we moving back to Iowa?’ ’’

Now, Reichardt runs RWR Development, which is involved in a variety of commercial developments in the Midwest. 

He recently took over as president of the Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation board, which is planning a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the park that many still don’t realize is bigger — much bigger — than New York City’s Central Park. 

We asked Reichardt a few questions about his journey. 

What was your impression of Des Moines when you left? 
It didn’t have the right vibe. But when we came back to visit family, or ride RAGBRAI, or visit the Iowa Great Lakes, we were amazed by Des Moines’ transformation. The quality of life has improved so much that Sarah and I saw raising our family and being able to balance work and life.

How was Dallas?
I spent four years in Dallas. The 7-mile commute could take 20 minutes or two hours, depending on traffic.

How was your re-entry to Des Moines 2½ years ago?
Sarah was confident the Iowa winter cold wouldn’t faze her, because she lived in Denmark for a time. Denmark is not Des Moines. We drove out of Dallas and it was 75 (degrees) out, and we got to Des Moines just in time for an ice storm. The temperature was in single digits. Sarah had never been so cold. 

What led you to leave Iowa? 
I had started competing in triathlons in Iowa City. Then I thought, “Why give up the bike to go run?” I moved to Colorado, and bike riding was my job. I was never professional, but I was elite and I was on a team. I had sponsors. Now I ride on the Above and Beyond Cancer Cycling Team.

What are your near term goals?
I want to see the Water Works Park phase one completed by 2018. That would mean a new trail tunnel under Fleur Drive. You don’t want to play Frogger on Fleur. It also includes a two-sided stage, revamped gardens, and early work on (a channel) through a wetland area. We’re hoping the smaller side of the stage will encourage a lot of day use, with people going back and forth between Gray’s Lake and Water Works Park. 

How did Des Moines gain so much attention on rankings and the like? 
Our current and past leaders have worked tirelessly to get us where we are. Connie Wimer. Jim Cownie. Fred Hubbell. Doug Reichardt. They have significantly changed the landscape of Des Moines and the metro. They are the reason my wife asked me to move back to Des Moines. We need their mentorship.

What is Des Moines missing?
I want to see things connected. I want downtown connected to waterways and trails. I want them to convert the one-way streets to two-way. The one-ways are extremely unfriendly to visitors. I want murals.