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Amgen Tour of California Cancelled for 2020, Plans 2021 Return

Cycling West
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Amgen Tour of California Cancelled for 2020, Plans 2021 Return

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 29, 2019) – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, today announced that they will put the Amgen Tour of California race on hiatus for the 2020 racing season.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, but the business fundamentals of the Amgen Tour of California have changed since we launched the race 14 years ago,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “While professional cycling globally continues to grow and we are very proud of the work we have done to increase the relevance of professional cycling, particularly in the United States, it has become more challenging each year to mount the race. This new reality has forced us to re-evaluate our options, and we are actively assessing every aspect of our event to determine if there is a business model that will allow us to successfully relaunch the race in 2021.”

Victory salute Egan Bernal (Team Sky). Men's Stage Six, Folsom to South Lake Tahoe, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
Victory salute Egan Bernal (Team Sky). Men’s Stage Six, Folsom to South Lake Tahoe, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)

The race has become California’s largest annual sporting event, contributing more than $3.5 billion¹ to the state’s economy over the years. Each year since 2006, the cycling road race has showcased some of today’s best known and most decorated international cyclists, including numerous World, Olympic and National Champions. The international competition also carries the distinction of being the only U.S.-based event that has both its men’s and women’s races listed on the UCI WorldTour calendar while being the only event of its kind that concurrently produces men’s and women’s stage races that offer equal prize money.

“Cycling West proudly covered the Tour of California many times in the past, most recently in 2018. We are glad to have taken part in this amazing race and sad to see that it won’t be held next year. We hope it will be back in 2021,” said Dave Iltis, editor of CyclingWest.com. “The break for the Tour of California leaves the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah as the highest profile stage race in North America. It will be interesting to see what new teams will come to the race now.”

Check out Cycling West’s coverage of the Amgen Tour of California over the years.

“On behalf of USA Cycling, I would like to thank AEG, Kristin and her team for providing an outstanding showcase for the sport in America and for our American Athletes,” said Bob Stapleton, Chairman of USA Cycling. “We stand ready to help rally additional support and resources in the hopes of resuming this event in 2021.”

The competition has also been praised for creating a global platform to feature current and next-generation U.S. cyclists, showcase the picturesque state of California, introduce the sport to millions of new fans and promote cycling as a healthy lifestyle.

Snow remains at the top of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort high above the riders on the final climb of Women's Stage Two, South Lake Tahoe, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
Snow remains at the top of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort high above the riders on the final climb of Women’s Stage Two, South Lake Tahoe, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)

Klein continued, “I would like to sincerely thank the teams, the cyclists, sponsors, volunteers, elected officials, host cities, and all of the fans that helped make the Amgen Tour of California ‘Americas Greatest Race.’ Most of all, I would like to recognize the hard work and dedication of my team who have tirelessly worked alongside me, each and every year, to develop the renowned event. I also would like to thank our governing body, USA Cycling, UCI and Amaury Sport Organisation for their continued support.”

“We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Amgen for their incredible support and partnership from day one,” Klein added. “We are proud to have stood together with them to create this amazing legacy.”

Past men’s race champions have included Tour de France General Classification Winners Egan Bernal and Bradley Wiggins; as well as Tour de France Stage Winners George Bennett; Levi Leipheimer; Michael Rogers; Peter Sagan (record 7-time Tour de France Points Classifications winner, and record 17-stage winner at the Amgen Tour of California); and Tejay van Garderen. Additionally, 10-time Stage Winner Mark Cavendish has won 30 stages at the Tour de France (2nd all-time for both races).

The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM has featured an equally impressive field of competitors including three-time Olympic gold medal winner Kristin Armstrong; current race champion, Olympic gold medalist and world champion, Anna van der Breggen; Chloe Dygert, Olympic silver medalist, current UCI world time trial champion and six-time UCI gold medalist; and Coryn Rivera who in 2019, at age 26 holds 72 national titles.

¹Based on an economic impact by Beacon Economics

 

Salt Lake City 2019 Mayoral Election Candidate Survey — Updated

Cycling West
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Salt Lake City 2019 Mayoral Election Candidate Survey — Updated

Salt Lake City 2019 Mayoral Election Candidate Survey — Answers from Luz Escamilla and Erin Mendenhall

Will the new mayor of Salt Lake City be a bicycling mayor? See Cycling Utah's 2019 Mayoral Candidate Survey. Photo by Dave Iltis
Will the new mayor of Salt Lake City be a bicycling mayor? See Cycling Utah’s 2019 Mayoral Candidate Survey. Photo by Dave Iltis

October 29, 2019 (SALT LAKE CITY, Utah) – In the fall of 2019, Salt Lake City will elect a new mayor. The mayor sets policy for all areas of the city and, in particular, transportation and bicycling. As such, it’s important for voters to know what the candidates think. Cycling Utah sent out a questionnaire to each of the mayoral candidates to ask them their views on bicycling, transportation, air quality, Vision Zero, climate change, and more. We reached out to all of the following candidates: Jim Dabakis, Luz Escamilla, David Garbett, Richard Goldberger, Rainer Huck, David Ibarra, Erin Mendenhall, and Stan Penfold. We received responses from six of the eight candidates.

The general election will be held on November 5, 2019. The election will be held both in person, and vote by mail. Information on the election is below. Vote by mail is going on currently.

For the survey answers, please see the page for each candidate:

Voters will choose between the following two candidates in the general election. 

The following candidates were eliminated in the primary (with links to their answers):

Election information:

The 2019 Salt Lake City Mayoral Election is primarily being held by mail. General Election ballots were mailed out on October 14, 2019, and all eligible voters should have their ballots soon after. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than November 4, 2019. All eligible voters may vote in the County Clerk’s Office (County Government Center, 2001 South State Street, South Building, First Floor, Room 200) weekdays from October 30-November 4, 2019. The general election, for those who did not vote by mail, will be held on November 5, 2019. 

Voters may register in person up to 7 days prior to the election, or in person on election day – registration information.

Election information is available here: https://www.slc.gov/attorney/recorder/elections/

To register to vote, visit https://slco.org/clerk/

Three city council districts in Salt Lake City are also holding elections.

Will the new mayor of Salt Lake City be a bicycling mayor? See Cycling Utah's 2019 Mayoral Candidate Survey. Photo by Dave Iltis
Will the new mayor of Salt Lake City be a bicycling mayor? See Cycling Utah’s 2019 Mayoral Candidate Survey. Photo by Dave Iltis

Past Survey Responses:

2015 Salt Lake City Mayoral Candidate Survey on Bicycling (all candidates)

2015 Survey – Mayor Jackie Biskupski’s answers on Bicycling

References:

  1. Salt Lake City Transportation Plan 1996:http://www.slcdocs.com/transportation/Master/PDF/MasterPlan.pdf
  2. Salt Lake City 2015 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan:https://www.slc.gov/transportation/bike/pbmp/
  3. Vision Zero: https://visionzeronetwork.org
  4. EPA and Transportation CO2 Emissions:https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions
  5. Salt Lake City Complete Streets Ordinance:http://www.bikeslc.com/GetInvolved/MasterPlansandPolicies/PDF/CompleteStreetsOrdinance.pdf
  6. Funding Our Future: http://fundingourfutureslc.com
  7. Cycling Utah People First Transportation Plan:https://www.cyclingwest.com/advocacy/editorial-salt-lake-city-needs-sustainable-progressive-safe-people-first-transportation-policy/
  8. Cycling Utah Affordable Transportation Plan:https://www.cyclingwest.com/advocacy/cycling-utah-calls-for-10000-wheels-initiative-for-affordable-transportation-in-utah/
  9. Cycling Utah Recreational Cycling Plan:https://www.cyclingwest.com/advocacy/a-proposal-for-a-salt-lake-city-recreational-cycling-plan/
  10. UCAIR:https://www.ucair.org/sources-of-emissions/
  11. Life on State: https://www.lifeonstate.com

Discovering the Trails of St. George, Utah

David Ward
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Discovering the Trails of St. George, Utah

By David Ward –

Thanks to Karma’s (my wife) and my travel bug, our mobile children, and mostly our globe-trotting, Foreign Service employed daughter, I have had the opportunity and joy of riding a bike at various destinations nationally and internationally. From urban mountain biking in Kathmandu to exploring the Balkan countries of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, and from riding the famous cols of the Tour de France to pedaling my way around Acadia National Park, I have been fortunate to experience these exotic locales on the seat of a bicycle.

David Ward on the Barrel Roll Trail in St. George, Utah. Photo by Karma Ward

So it was not without some degree of amazement that I have realized that some of the most exotic and beautiful bicycling to be had is only a few hours away in sunny St. George, Utah. It is only in the last month or so that this realization dawned on me, largely the result of my daughter, Marinda, and her family having recently moved there.

I had, of course, already ridden in St. George on a few occasions. Years ago, when I was a competitive road racer, I journeyed to St. George a few times to race. When racing, of course, you are mostly focused on the wheel just in front of you rather than the surrounding countryside. But even then, I remember being impressed by the colorful green foliage and contrasting red sandstone from Veyo down past the Gunlock Reservoir. It still remains one of my favorite sections of road for an enjoyable ride on my road bike.

But a month ago, when Karma and I went to St. George to help Marinda and her family move in, Karma suggested taking our mountain bikes for a little off-road riding. Taking a cue from some friends, we drove out past Hurricane to log a few miles on the JEM trail. From where we parked, we rode along the rim of the Virgin River for a short distance, enjoying some lovely river overlooks, before following the trail out onto the broad plateau where we bumped and rolled along for a couple of hours.

I had the good fortune during this ride of running into an old friend and teammate from our VMG/Utah Premier days, Ellen Guthrie. It was a delight to introduce her to Karma, reminisce about our racing days and exchange news of our children. Later on this same ride, I ran into another old Utah Premier teammate, Todd Taft, along with Shane Dunleavy, my physical therapist from when I had my left hip replaced. All these people were there pre-riding the course for the next day’s 6 Hours of Frog Hollow mountain bike race.

Later during that same trip, when Karma and I had only a couple of hours, we did a shorter ride on the Barrel Roll Trail, only a few miles from my daughter’s new home. It was in locating and doing these two rides that I came to understand how much mountain biking is available in the St. George area, terrain that will satisfy everyone from the novice to the hardcore.

Then just this last week, we were again in St. George. I had been told that St. George had a good network of separated, paved bike paths. Since Karma is not a big fan of riding in traffic, especially when there is not a marked bike path, we decided to take our road bikes and try this out. I planned specifically to take my fixed gear bike which I had just broken out of the cellar for the first time in a year and log some miles on it. I love riding this bike, but living up a canyon where the road is always either uphill or downhill is not conducive to this.

[For those who may not know, a fixed gear bike is a single speed bike with the single rear cog firmly “fixed” to the rear axle. As a result, if the wheel is turning, so are the pedals. You can’t coast, nor shift gears for changes in terrain, which is what makes riding a fixed gear bike somewhat challenging and uniquely fun.]

Before riding, I found my way to St. George’s Red Rock Bicycle Company to ask about local paved bike paths. A friendly, helpful sales associate took time to show me on a bike path and trail map a paved all-purpose trail along the Virgin River as it flows through the middle of St. George. This map, the “Trail Map & Guide for: St. George, Hurricane & Zion NP, Utah” put out by Adventure Maps, Inc., is a great map for road cyclists, mountain bikers and hikers. With no hesitation, I pulled out my credit card to pay the $12.99 it cost.

The recommended trail, the Virgin River Trail, virtually all flat with no traffic, appeared to be perfect for what Karma and I were looking for. We were able to pick up the trail just off I-15 on Dixie Drive, about a 4 mile ride from my daughter’s home.

The ride turned out even better than we had hoped. After hopping on the trail, it ducked underneath I-15 then took us northeast along the Virgin River. On our left we had urban development, and on our right was the beautiful Virgin River landscape cradling the river itself. We pedaled north till we reached Fossil Falls Park where the local high schoolers were out in the river enjoying their skimboards.

After that we doubled back a couple of miles and then crossed to the south side of the river by way of a dedicated bike/pedestrian bridge. From there we wound our way back, passing several nice parks along the way, before crossing another bridge back across the river to return to where we had first picked up the trail. Instead of tracing our route from here back to our daughter’s home, however, we continued on the pathway as it headed west along the Santa Clara River till the trail finally ended at Cove Park. From there, it was just a short ride of less than two miles to our daughter’s home.

So this last month has been a time of awakening for me to the much more varied possibilities for enjoying the thrill of riding a bike in St. George. I already knew of the scenic rides in Snow Canyon and along the Veyo/Gunlock stretch of road. Now I know of the many mountain biking options of which I have only experienced a couple so far. And I have found a fun, relaxing path for enjoying the unique sensation of riding my fixed gear bike, with even more separated bike paths to explore and ride.

What can I say? St. George, which is now home to my daughter, her husband and an 18 month old grandson I adore, beckons to me with a plethora of cycling options. And I have a great map with which to explore.

Karma on the Virgin River Trail recreational bike path. Photo by David Ward
Karma on the JEM Trail. Photo by David Ward
David Ward on the JEM Trail in St. George, Utah. Photo by Karma Ward

Report: City Bike Stress Rankings

Charles Pekow
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Report: City Bike Stress Rankings

How much is your city doing to help you bike to work? Researchers at the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota looked at bicycle infrastructure in the nation’s 50 largest cities and ranked them according to the stress involved in biking to work.

The report gave all cities two rankings: how well the created infrastructure so riders could get to jobs via “low-stress” routes (defined mainly as separated bike lanes); and “medium stress” (bike lanes on streets, streets with sharrows).

You might not have expected it, but when it comes to low-stress routes, New York City proved the best place to cycle to work, no matter how long your commute takes. Memphis, TN finished last. In the Mountain West, Denver ranked fourth; Salt Lake City 13th, Phoenix 14th; and Las Vegas a disgraceful 40th.

When it comes to medium stress, Denver again finished fourth; with Salt Lake City up a notch at 12th, Phoenix 16th and Las Vegas 31st.

See Across America: Biking 2017 at http://access.umn.edu/research/america/biking/2017/

 

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike Path to Open on November 16, 2019

Cycling West
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Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike Path to Open on November 16, 2019

According to Bike East Bay, after more than twenty years of advocacy, an unused shoulder on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge has been converted into a bike path, and is slated to open on November 16, 2019.

The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike and pedestrian path, as depicted in a design rendering, is slated to open on November 9, 2019. Photo courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Throughout this project, officials in Marin County have pushed back, advocating for more accommodation for cars. Through relentless advocacy Bike East Bay not only managed to get buy-in from the Metropolitan Transit Commission, but were able to win an additional $500,000 in funding. In addition, they achieved better ferry service and bike lane connections to connect Richmond neighborhoods to the bridge, the waterfront, the ferry system, and other East Bay neighborhoods.

The argument is always the same: more lanes for cars, at the expense of bicycle and pedestrian access on the bridge. Opponents are not talking about how this project affects residents of Richmond neighborhoods near the bridge, why commuter traffic to Marin is increasing, or how we make transportation decisions as a region.

Bike East Bay’s role as a regional organization is to see the big picture and create connections across boundaries wherever we can: bridges, transit, and networks especially. We shaped the agreement for bicycle access on the bridge. When attempts were made to commandeer the project for cars, we pushed back, and asked for more, winning an additional $500,000 for improvements to connect Richmond neighborhoods to the bridge, the waterfront, ferry service, and each other.

…

The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge project is about the reality of what it costs to commute to, but not live in, Marin. More workers are crossing the bridge because they can’t afford to live in Marin County. Congestion will continue to be an issue no matter how many vehicle lanes are opened if Marin County doesn’t address its woeful lack of affordable housing.

Source: https://medium.com/rideon/raising-the-bar-on-the-richmond-san-rafael-bridge-c9558a2d7f82

According to the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC):

Performance of the new bike/ped path will be monitored and assessed continually as hard data becomes available on the use of the path by bicyclists and pedestrians, and operational adjustments will be made as needed. This evaluation will include a before-and-after study conducted by Caltrans and the University of California’s Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology (PATH) program.

Source: https://mtc.ca.gov/whats-happening/news/barrier-installation-begin-week-new-richmond-san-rafael-bridge-bikeped-path

The study is slated to be completed in mid-2020, at which time the MTC will be able to make recommendations on how to better integrate the new bike path on the bridge with infrastructure projects in both Marin and western Contra Costa counties.

Brandon Semenuk Ties Record for Most Red Bull Rampage Wins

Cycling West
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Brandon Semenuk Ties Record for Most Red Bull Rampage Wins

Virgin, Utah (Oct 25, 2019) – Great things come to those who wait, and that was evident at Red Bull Rampage 2019, where a windy morning gave way to immaculate contest conditions, giving the world’s best freeride athletes a perfect playground to display their abilities. In the end, the Canadians rose to the occasion to sweep the podium, with Brandon Semenuk taking first place, Brett Rheeder claiming second, and Tom Van Steenbergen placing third on a sunny day in the Utah desert. Semenuk started his run with a massive 360 and highlighted it with an incredible backflip into a lily pad double drop. For his efforts, the 28-year-old British Columbia native was awarded his third career win and fourth career podium at Red Bull Rampage, tying Kurt Sorge for the all-time record in each of those respective categories.

Brett Rheeder, Brandon Semenuk, Tom van Steenbergen podium at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, USA on 25 October, 2019. Photo Credit: Paris Gore / Red Bull Content Pool

20 of the world’s top freeriders participated in the 14th edition of the world’s premier freeride mountain biking competition, as thousands of fans watched in person and around the world live on Red Bull TV. Once again this year, viewers were aided by an improved augmented and virtual reality experience available on the Red Bull TV app, which allowed fans to scale and explore a photorealistic, 3D model of the mountain course while watching the thrilling competition. Fans interested in reliving all of the action can still rewatch the contest anytime, and enjoy the AR/VR experience on redbull.tv/rampage.

This year’s edition set a new standard of precision in the course’s build. By building out the 2019 event zone in the same area as 2018, dig teams were able to add additional intricacy into how they interweaved different lines with one another. And, by building features on top of existing lines, dig teams were able to create a bigger course than ever before, sculpting perfect takeoffs and landings for riders to fully showcase their riding abilities.

Semenuk was the eighth rider on the course and approached the starting gate with one thing on his mind–redemption. After failing to finish his line at Red Bull Rampage 2018, Semenuk chose to ride the same line this year, threw down a monster first run–greasing a cork 360 on a rebuilt feature that he wasn’t able to land last year–and scoring a sterling 92.33 as a result. In his eighth Red Bull Rampage appearance, the phenom from Squamish was left watching as the rest of the field fought to catch up to him for the remainder of the event. Ultimately, that never happened, allowing Semenuk the luxury of indulging in a victory lap to the delight of the roaring crowd.

“Making it to the bottom of the hill, period,” said Semenuk when asked what he enjoyed most about winning this year’s Red Bull Rampage. “That makes a big difference.”

And despite already having two wins under his belt, the gravity of his record-tying third victory wasn’t lost on the Canadian freeride virtuoso.

“It’s hard to say,” Semenuk said when asked how this win compared to his prior wins. “Obviously, the last two wins were great too, but to take the third one, I’m speechless. I don’t know. It’s awesome.”

RED BULL RAMPAGE 2019 FINAL RESULTS

  1. Brandon Semenuk (CAN) – 92.33
  2. Brett Rheeder (CAN) – 91.00
  3. Tom van Steenbergen (CAN) – 89.66
  4. Brendan Fairclough (GBR) – 87.66
  5. Tyler McCaul (USA) – 87.00
  6. Szymon Godziek (POL) -86.66
  7. Ethan Nell (USA) – 86.00
  8. Carson Storch (USA) – 85.66
  9. Kyle Strait (USA) – 83.33
  10. Vincent Tupin (FRA) – 81.33
  11. Reed Boggs (USA) – 80.00
  12. Emil Johansson (SWE) – 79.00
  13. Graham Agassiz (CAN) – 76.33
  14. Thomas Genon (BEL) – 74.00
  15. Reece Wallace (CAN) – 72.00
  16. DJ Brandt (USA) – 70.33
  17. Andreu Lacondeguy (SPN) – 52.33
  18. Kurt Sorge (CAN) – 51.66
  19. Bienvenido Agua Alba (SPA) – 45.33
  20. Cam Zink (USA) – 36.66

Best Trick Award Presented by Maverik

The most progressive freeriding tricks are displayed at Red Bull Rampage every year, and in the 2019 edition of the competition, the bar was once again raised as Brett Rheeder landed a huge can-can backflip to claim the Best Trick Award, Presented by Maverik.

People’s Choice Award Presented by Utah Sports Commission

Thousands of fans voted online throughout the live Red Bull TV broadcast to determine the athlete that would take home the People’s Choice Award presented by Utah Sports Commission. Szymon Godziek took home the People’s Choice Award winning fans over with his bold choices throughout the contest.

Kelly McGarry Spirit Award Chosen by the Athletes

To commemorate the life of mountain biking legend Kelly McGarry, the participating athletes named local favorite Tyler McCaul as this year’s recipient of the Kelly McGarry Spirit Award. The criteria for the vote was to select the peer they thought most embodied McGarry’s spirit.

Digger Award Presented by Venmo

To honor the hardest working Red Bull Rampage dig team this year, the Digger Award, presented by Venmo, was introduced. Voted on by the internal team that chooses and builds the Red Bull Rampage Course every year, Brett Rheeder’s team was chosen as the inaugural winner of the Digger Award for exemplifying perfect team chemistry and hard work in their quest to build the most progressive line on the course.

The Red Rock Canyon Cruise Highlights Las Vegas Geology

Wayne Cottrell
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The Red Rock Canyon Cruise Highlights Las Vegas Geology

Vegas, baby! When winter settles in to northern and central Utah, it is a fine time to head south. Utah’s warm-weather winter playground begins in the southern part of the State, and extends southward into Nevada, and perhaps southeastward into Arizona. The Las Vegas area has grown at astronomical rates over the past few decades, with urbanization gobbling up previously undeveloped land. Fortunately, the sprawl has extended only so far, leaving the parks, conservation areas, and recreational spots on the Vegas perimeter in their natural state. These areas are where the best road riding is located. One of the most popular rides in town travels through Red Rock Canyon, a National Conservation Area (NCA) – whatever that is (why not just make it a National Park?) – on the western edge of the Vegas valley. On weekends, you are likely to see a steady stream of cyclists making their out and back along Red Rock Canyon and Blue Diamond Roads. The canyon is far away from the Las Vegas Strip, and the glitz and maddening crowds, offering the visitor an entirely different experience.

A rider contemplates a trip to White Rock Trailhead while circling Red Rock Canyon’s Scenic Loop Drive by Wayne Cottrell

The Red Rock Canyon Cruise is a 43.7-mile counterclockwise loop through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and the communities of Blue Diamond and Summerlin. Elevations range from 2,571 feet in Summerlin to 4,774 feet in Red Rock Canyon. Most of the climbing and descending is long and gradual. Always take plenty of liquids with you when riding in the Las Vegas area. Start the ride in Summerlin, at South Tower Park, which is located at 1022 Park Vista Drive. The GPS coordinates are 36.162031oN 115.345844oW. Summerlin is a master-planned community (not part of the city of Las Vegas) developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation. The population was about 100,000 in 2010, and still growing! Head south on Park Vista, and make a left onto Vista Run Drive. Bear right at the traffic circle onto Vista Center Drive. Turn right onto Charleston Boulevard, which is State Highway 159, and head west. Out here, you are effectively at the western edge of development in the Vegas valley, and very quickly enter the Red Rock Canyon environs. The desert landscape is dry and bleak – until you look more closely. Red Rock Canyon Road, on which you are now riding, climbs gradually. At mile 5.1, turn right onto Scenic Drive. This is an optional but highly recommended loop, in which it is possible to see some of Red Rock Canyon’s plants and wildlife. Plants include the Joshua tree, Mojave and banana yucca, Creosote bush, and beavertail cactus, among others. Wildlife include bighorn sheep, wild horses, and desert tortoise. The star attraction, however, is the geology. The Keystone thrust fault has lifted a crustal plate over some younger rock, creating a stunning display of rugged colors. The older, gray carbonate mineral rock overlays younger tan and red sandstone. As the lighting changes, the colors range from brilliant to vivid. Although the Scenic Loop has a fee ($3 for bicycles), and is closed at dusk, it is certainly worthwhile. Once past the entrance station, turn right onto the drive (that is, do not head to the Visitor Center). The loop itself offers a few challenges, including a few short, steep climbs and descents. The highest elevation of the ride (4,774 feet) is along the loop. The road is one way, so there is no need to worry about oncoming traffic.

Exit the loop at mile 17.7, 2.2 miles downstream of where you entered the loop, and turn right onto Blue Diamond Road. The road, which continues State Highway 159, features a wide shoulder. There is a cattle guard shortly after the turn. Continue past enticing scenery and turnoffs, such as those to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and Bonnie Springs (tourist-oriented Western-theme town). Leave Red Rock Canyon NCA at mile 22.3, and then, after another cattle guard, leave the canyon environment altogether at mile 25.3. The road skirts the edge of the small community of Blue Diamond (population 290 in 2010). Turn left onto State Route 160 at mile 26.8 – you are still on Blue Diamond Road. This is a wide, fast and gradually downhill highway with a good shoulder. Enter the community of Enterprise, which had a rapidly-growing population of 108,481 in 2010. Enterprise is the home of Allegiant Air. Look for Fort Apache Road after 3.5 miles on the highway. Turn left here and head north. The expansion of Las Vegas is evident out here, as you are bound to see a collection of houses under construction. The road itself may be under construction, as well (it was being widened when I rode it during the spring of 2014).

After crossing Warm Springs Road, enter the community of Spring Valley, which had a growing population of 178,395 in 2010. Spring Valley is known as the home of tennis pros Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and comedian Carrot Top. After a few more traffic signals, turn right onto Tropicana Avenue, at mile 38.0. After just one-tenth of a mile, carefully cross over Tropicana to access the I-215 West Beltway Trail. This is a 5-mile long bike path that parallels the freeway (which is actually not an Interstate freeway, but a County route, also known as the Bruce Woodbury Beltway). The bike path climbs gradually from 2,600 to just under 3,100 feet of elevation. Although there is not much to look at out here, except for the freeway, you should be able to see the uplifts of Red Rock Canyon to your left, and the Las Vegas skyline to your right. At Charleston Boulevard, carefully cross the road, and turn left. Turn right at Vista Center Drive, followed by a left at the traffic circle – be careful navigating this – onto Vista Run Drive. Finally, turn right onto Park Vista Drive to conclude the ride, at South Tower Park.

For more rides, see Road Biking Utah (Falcon Guides), written by avid cyclist Wayne Cottrell. Road Biking Utah features descriptions of 40 road bike rides in Utah. The ride lengths range from 14 to 106 miles, and the book’s coverage is statewide: from Wendover to Vernal, and from Bear Lake to St. George to Bluff. Each ride description features information about the suggested start-finish location, length, mileposts, terrain, traffic conditions and, most importantly, sights. The text is rich in detail about each route, including history, folklore, flora, fauna and, of course, scenery.

Wayne Cottrell is a former Utah resident who conducted extensive research while living here – and even after moving – to develop the content for the book.

Free Bike Share on 10-26-19 in Salt Lake City, Boise, Park City, & St. George

Cycling West
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Free Bike Share on 10-26-19 in Salt Lake City, Boise, Park City, & St. George

SelectHealth Sponsors Free Bike Share Rides on October 26, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY (October 24, 2019) — On Saturday, October 26, 2019 SelectHealth is teaming up with GREENbike Bike Share in Salt Lake City, Summit Bike Share in Park City, Boise Greenbike, and LiVe Well St. George Bike Share in order to offer free rides all day to the public.

  • On Saturday, all Salt Lake City residents and visitors will be able to ride GREENbikes for free during the 24-hour period by using the promo code “2019” at any GREENbike kiosk. 
  • Boise residents will not need a code.
  • St. George residents use the code: LIVEWELLUTAH
  • Summit County and Park City residents use the code: free26
Bike Shares will be free on Saturday, October 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Boise, St. George, and Park City. Photo by Dave Iltis
Bike Shares will be free on Saturday, October 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Boise, St. George, and Park City. Photo by Dave Iltis

“GREENbike is a fun and versatile way to exercise and enjoy our great city,” said SelectHealth Public Relations Manager Greg Reid. “It complements our mission of helping people live the healthiest life possible.”

Over the past six years, the Salt Lake City GREENbike program has offset more than 4.7 million pounds of CO 2 from entering the air and avoided more than 5.2 million vehicle miles from impacting local roads. GREENbikers burned nearly 72 million calories—roughly 252,000 slices of pizza—in the process. The local non-profit bike share system is dedicated to offering the community an affordable, convenient and sustainable transportation option.

“None of this would’ve been possible without the support of SelectHealth,” said Salt Lake City GREENbike Executive Director & Founder Ben Bolte. “Now we have the opportunity to offer folks familiar or unfamiliar with the program another chance to ride for free.”

To find a GREENbike station, download the Bcycle app or go to https://greenbikeslc.org/station-map .

In addition to free bike share rides in Salt Lake City, SelectHealth will also be offering the public a chance to ride for free on the respective bike share systems in Park City, St. George and Boise!

Utah Cycling Association Announces Annual Members Meeting & Election

Steven Sheffield
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Utah Cycling Association Announces Annual Members Meeting & Election

The Utah Cycling Association (UCA) is the official Local Association of USA CYCLING for Utah, Eastern Idaho, and Western Wyoming, and represents the interests of racers, race directors, and officials in the region. Each Local Association is a non-profit organization consisting of a Board of Directors elected by the local members.

In an email sent to all individual members of the Utah Cycling Association on October 24, 2019, Marty Slack (Executive Director) announced that the Utah Cycling Association’s Annual Members Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:00pm MST. The location of the meeting will be the Lone Peak Park Pavilion, 10140 South 700 East, in Sandy, Utah.

In accordance with their current Bylaws, the Association is announcing a call for nominations to the Board of Directors, requests to reserve dates on the 2020 Race/Event Calendar, and any potential Bylaw Amendments.

The UCA Board of Directors is comprised of five people serving two year terms. Currently, the Board members are:

  • Marty Slack, Executive Director
  • Marek Shon
  • Rob Smallman
  • Lance Gamero
  • Scott Powers

Rob Smallman, Lance Gamero, and Marty Slack are at the end of their current terms. 

Set a Calendar Reminder (.ics/iCal format) UCA Annual Meeting & Election

The UCA is asking for nominations for Executive Director as well as Board Members (Directors). One of the Board Member positions will be a one-year term in order to realign the terms to match Bylaw requirements. The second Board Member position as well as the Executive Director position are two-year terms.

After serving one term as Executive Director, Marty Slack is not seeking reelection. Lance Gamero has been nominated and is seeking election for the Executive Director position. Rob Smallman is seeking reelection for the one-year term. There are currently no nominees for the remaining two-year term. Any additional nominations for any of the open seats are welcome.

Requests to reserve dates on the 2020 Race/Event Calendard should be sent to Board Member Marek Shon at [email protected].

Nominations for the Executive Director position or either of the open Board Member seats must come from Member clubs or teams.

The following Member clubs or teams based in Utah & Eastern Idaho are currently in good standing:

  • Ascent Cycling p/b RB Health
  • Bingham Cyclery Peak Fasteners
  • Bountiful Mazda Cycling Team
  • BPD Studios
  • Cicada Racing Inc.
  • DNA Pro Cycling Team
  • EPIC Cycling Team
  • Hangar 15 Bicycles
  • Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts
  • ImpactDevo
  • Johnson Elite Ortho
  • Killin’ Time Cycling
  • Mi Duole Cycling
  • Pavestone Capital p/b Silverhawk Enterprises
  • PLAN7 DS Cycling Team
  • Porcupine/Cityworks
  • SaltCycle-Kestrel Wellness
  • Ski City Cycling
  • Society Cycles
  • Velosport Racing
  • Zone Five Racing

At this time, no clubs or teams based in Western Wyoming are Member clubs of the Utah Cycling Association.

Any clubs or teams interested in submitting items for the agenda, changes to the UCA Bylaws, or wishing to nominate an individual for election to the UCA Board of Directors should send an email to [email protected]. Agenda items and Bylaw Amendments must be submitted by November 5, 2019.

Any club or team not listed above that wishes to submit a nomination and/or to vote in the election needs to become a Member club in good standing by paying annual membership dues of $75.00 per calendar year prior to the meeting, which can be done at https://www.bikereg.com/uca-teamclub-dues0.

Location Map: Lone Peak Park Pavilion, 10140 South 700 East, Sandy, Utah 

5 Tips to Make Drivers Notice You

Cycling West
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5 Tips to Make Drivers Notice You

By Utah Department of Public Safety – Every season is a beautiful season in the West and a great time to enjoy the outdoors, especially on a bike. Here are some simple tips to help keep you safe while cycling Western roads.

A cyclist takes the lane in Downtown Salt Lake City. Photo by Dave Iltis


Tip 1: Ride Defensively and Predictably:

  • Go with the traffic flow. Always ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles.
  • Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle on the road and must obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.
  • Be predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal moves to others.
  • Stay alert and look before turning. Try to avoid using personal electronics when you ride as it hinders your ability to listen for traffic and avoid dangerous situations. Always look before turning to avoid being surprised by a red light runner or distracted driver.
  • Watch parked cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening or cars pulling out).

Tip 2: At Dawn, Dust, and Dark Use Reflective Gear, Especially Below the Waist

  • If you want drivers to see you wear reflective gear. And make sure you wear enough reflective gear. The small reflective piping found on most athletic garments is not enough to make a difference. The more reflective you can become the better.
  • If you want drivers to recognize you as a cyclist, wear reflective gear on your shoes, around your ankles or wear full reflective leg coverings. By incorporating reflective gear below the knee you highlight the movement of cycling or the up-down motion of cycling. This motion is much more likely to grab the attention of the driver, alerting that driver to your presence.
  • The road is full of lights: street lights, reflective signs, other cars, motorcycles. Too often drivers see a light in the distance but can’t recognize what that light means until the object is quite close. By utilizing both light and motion you actually communicate, “cyclist here, please share the road.”

Tip 3: Wear Flourescents in the Daytime

  • Research has shown that drivers consistently recognize fluorescent colors faster, more consistently and from farther away than standard colors. So when picking cycling gear go for fluorescents.
  • There isn’t any research pointing to which fluorescent color is best, so you’re on your own there. However, fluorescent orange is always a good pick because drivers already associate that color with caution.

Tip 4: Use Lights Always

  • Utah law states that any cyclist riding during dawn, dusk or dark is required to have a white headlight, red tail light or reflector, and side reflectors (41-6a-1114).
  • But remember these are the minimum requirements. You can use lights both day and night. You can also get creative with lights. For example putting small lights on the back or front of your shoe will, like the reflective gear, highlight the motion of cycling.

Tip 5: Educate Others

  • A large percentage of crashes can be avoided if motorists and cyclists follow the rules of the road and watch out for each other. When riding in groups or with friends encourage others to ride safely.
  • If you see unsafe behavior among fellow cyclists make sure to address it and educate friends and family, especially those who may not ride, on how to share the road with cyclists.

To learn more visit: https://highwaysafety.utah.gov/pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety/bicycle-safety/

 

Training in the “Off-Season:” Get Out the Door!

Mark Deterline
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Training in the “Off-Season:” Get Out the Door!

By Mindy McCutcheon with Mark Deterline – Growing up in Northern Michigan, I was no stranger to the outdoors – or crappy weather. Despite the oft freezing temperatures and bone-chilling wind off the Great Lakes, I remained active year-round. Of course, it wasn’t always easy dragging myself out of bed for a 6am run or shoving my feet into ski boots for ski practice, knowing my feet would be frozen within minutes. However, one thing always remained true: When they say “getting out the door is the hardest part,” they are totally right.

Ski touring is a great way to stay in shape during the winter so that when the bike season starts up, one will be ready to ride. Make sure to take an avalanche safety class and go with a partner. Photo by Mindy McCutcheon

I’ve spent thousands of hours outside in the rain/cold/wind/whatever, and can’t think of a single workout I regret. So, the most important thing, no matter what you plan on doing, is to get out the door!

For starters, I don’t really consider the “off-season” off. More appropriately, it’s an opportunity to do all the other activities I love, but can’t focus on during the cycling season. As much as I love being on the bike, there are many other activities that keep me moving once the seasons shift.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but we Utahns live in a pretty cool state that offers many diverse activities, and many of our Western neighbors likewise enjoy an abundance of outdoor and indoor sports opportunities, so why limit ourselves to just one? With this, I offer you my three basic rules for training in the off-season.

Rule #1- Own Lots of Clothing

Dressing for success not only applies to the workplace, folks. Layering and wearing proper clothing for your outdoor adventures is key to success, in any weather condition. I own approximately ten pairs of cycling gloves, all meant for slightly different conditions. Although that seems excessive, you will often discover you’re in need of the one pair you didn’t think you’d need that day. So, when heading out for said adventures, I highly recommend packing several clothing options, whether you think you’ll need it or not. Why? Because weather predictors suck and you can never be certain.

Fingers aside, you have the rest of your body to worry about. I recommend a healthy collection of buffs, socks, base layers, jacket liners, shells, booties, and boots. Most importantly, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you own too many jackets; they simply don’t know what they’re talking about.

Rule #2- Own a Lot of Gear

In Utah, we have a plethora of outdoor adventure options. No matter where you live in any of our state’s valleys, you can be alpine or Nordic skiing, fat biking, snowshoeing or running in under 45 minutes. In virtually all of our Intermountain and Western States, there are great fitness opportunities awaiting athletes willing to stray from habit.

Winter is a great opportunity to mix up your typical routine and work other muscles. I promise you, no matter how strong your cycling legs, they will still burn while doing Tram laps at Snowbird. Seriously, I can’t seem to get past that. And if you live in Utah and you haven’t skied, shame on you! If you don’t own gear, don’t stress; you can rent nearly anything you need from places like the University of Utah outdoor rec center or REI at reasonable prices. Or if you’re looking to buy used gear, check out GearRush.com.

If all else fails, there’s always the gym or the dreaded trainer. Riding indoors on a trainer is perhaps the least expensive, albeit, most boring way to keep up with your cycling fitness during inclement weather, but it includes a bonus: you get to catch up on all your favorite shows you haven’t watched for the past eight months, while you’ve been too busy training and/or racing to turn on your TV… Or, maybe that’s just me.

Another affordable (and fun!) option for your winter training in the Salt Lake area are winter cycling programs like Plan 7’s “House of Watt’s”, Jeff Louder’s “Ride Louder,” or the Sports Mall’s Power Cycling Camp. These programs offer personalized and consistent training from November through March. Even better, you’re with a group of people, so it’s not quite as torturous as riding your trainer alone at home. These are an awesome solution for keeping up your cycling fitness so you can hit the road hard come Spring.

Rule #3- Don’t Be a Wimp

Seriously. You’re a big kid. In Utah, we live in, or are surrounded by, beautiful mountains. Unless we’re suffering through a bout of inversion, you have no excuse to not be outside and moving your body, or at least hitting the gym. Do I love riding my trainer when the daylight disappears? Hell no, it’s miserable and I hate it just as much as you do. While I suffer through trainer sessions on weekdays, you can find me venturing through the Wasatch Mountains every weekend.

Bottom line: Make your fitness a priority during the winter months, just like you do during the sunny months. If you do, there’s no need to “get back into shape” come spring, because you won’t be starting completely over. Aim for a variety of activities five days per week. There are options for everyone. You don’t have to be outside if you can’t manage the cold, but you do have to commit yourself to something that will keep you moving.

As a bike racer, Mindy has been a Western States golden girl for multiple seasons, graduating to the pro ranks in 2016 as part of Utah-based pro women’s team Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling. She had cut her teeth as a dedicated bike racer through her association with Canyon Bicycles Cycling Team, moving up the category ranks to become one of Utah’s best elite female racers as part of Canyon’s racing program. The neopro had only begun showcasing her new team’s colors when she took the win at Crusher in the Tushar, followed by impressive placings in national level pro races. She is known as an extremely likeable and approachable athlete, as well as a feared competitor. She credits cross-training as a key to her success in cycling.

Red Bull Rampage Returns to Utah on October 25, 2019

Cycling West
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Red Bull Rampage Returns to Utah on October 25, 2019

VIRGIN, Utah (October 22, 2019) – From its inception in 2001, Red Bull Rampage has always been about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on two wheels. Nearly two decades on, that premise has not changed and, in the build-up to this year’s Rampage on October 25 in Virgin, Utah here’s all you need to know about the annual mountain bike spectacular.

Andreu Lacondeguy rides at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, USA on 21 October, 2019. Photo by Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool

– The event is open to just 21 riders from all around the world, all of whom have to be invited to qualify or take part in the competition. Each rider gets two runs each using whatever tricks they see fit. They are judged by a panel of their peers and the highest score wins.

– The course is effectively made by the riders. A designated start and finish line is marked out by organisers, and the competitors have four days and the use of two shovel-wielders each – but no power tools – to create a stunning and challenging course in between the two points.

– The course has a vertical drop of 237 metres (780 feet) with often strong winds to contend with and no tree line to block out the elements.

– Last year, the event was won by Canadian Brett Rheeder, who produced a flawless run down the course near Zion National Park, where it relocated to last year.

– The first event back in 2001 – set up off the back of the rise in freeriding – was won by another Canadian and freeride pioneer in Wade Simmons.

– There are a host of previous winners taking part this year among them Rheeder, countryman and three-time winner Kurt Sorge, Kyle Strait from the United States, and Spaniard Andreu Lacondeguy.

– Strait still holds the record as the event’s youngest ever winner, taking the top prize all the way back in 2004 as a 17-year-old. He even competed in the inaugural event in 2001 and became Rampage’s first multiple winner in 2013.

– In all, 10 riders were pre-selected by organisers with another eight awarded subsequent wildcards and three men: Reed Boggs, Juan Salido and DJ Brandt making up the numbers via a new-for-2019 athlete qualifier back in September.

– The full line-up is: Kurt Sorge (CAN), Cameron Zink (USA), Ethan Nell (USA), Brandon Semenuk (CAN), Brett Rheeder (CAN), Thomas Genon (BEL), Carson Storch (USA), Kyle Strait (USA), Tyler McCaul (USA), Tom van Steenbergen (CAN), Bienvenido Aguado Alba (ESP), Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP), Brendan Fairclough (GBR), DJ Brandt (USA), Graham Agassiz (CAN), Reece Wallace (CAN), Emil Johansson (SWE), Reed Boggs (USA), Juan Diego Salido (MEX), Szymon Godziek (POL), Vincent Tupin (FRA).

– UCI World Cup Downhill racer Gee Atherton and Antoine Bizet were among the invited wildcard entries but both sustained injuries in recent weeks.

– Canada has been the dominant force at Rampage, winning eight of the 13 instalments including the last four.

You can watch Red Bull Rampage live on Red Bull TV.

Kyle Strait competes at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, USA on 26 October, 2018. Photo by Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Brandon Semenuk competes at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah on October 26, 2018. Photo by Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool

Film Review – Any One of Us: Paul Basagoitia’s Recovery from SCI

Steven Sheffield
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Film Review – Any One of Us: Paul Basagoitia’s Recovery from SCI

From 2008 to 2014, Paul Basagoitia was one of the stars of the annual Red Bull Rampage, which takes place each October near Virgin, Utah. On October 16, 2015, after a devastating crash in practice, his life changed forever. HBO’s excellent new documentary Any One of Us, much of which was filmed by Basagoitia himself, tells the story of the crash and Basagoitia’s road to recovery from a severe spinal cord injury (SCI) which left him paralyzed from the waist down.

The film, which is due to premiere on HBO on October 29, 2019, opens with scenes of Basagoitia preparing for his practice runs, interspersed with snippets of a number of different people telling the stories of their own spinal cord injuries.

Some were athletes, like Basagoitia. Others were simply people going about their ordinary lives; a mother-to-be getting an epidural before delivering her baby, a woman injured in a scaffolding collapse at a party, another injured in a car accident, a guy playing basketball with his friends, a soldier, along with a number of others.

Basagoitia’s own injury came not after the backflip over a canyon, not after the hip jump, or the gap jump. After landing a 40-foot cliff jump awkwardly, Basagoitia was riding it out when his pedal got caught in the branch of a bush on the side of the trail tossing him over a 5 foot ledge and onto his back, shattering his T12, the largest and lowest of the thoracic vertebrae.

From that day forward, Basagoitia’s life became about recovery, from initially having to insert a catheter into his urethra so that he could urinate, to being able to stand on his own, and ultimately to being able to walk again with the use of a cane. One of his biggest steps forward was the day that he was able to stand up and pee on his own, without a catheter.

Today, four years after the accident, Basagoitia still has problems walking without a cane, but is able to ride a bike again with electric pedal assist.

While the film is primarily about Basagoitia’s recovery, the interviews with all the other people really helps put a human face on people with spinal cord injuries; it’s not always about someone doing something stupid and a broken back or neck is the consequence. It can happen to anyone.

This year’s Red Bull Rampage takes place on October 25, 2019 just outside Virgin, Utah.

Salt Lake City Bike Collective Wins Planet Bike Super Commuter Award

Cycling West
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Salt Lake City Bike Collective Wins Planet Bike Super Commuter Award

Madison, WI (August 8, 2019) – A Super Commuter rides through every season, in all types of weather, day and night. Choosing the simplicity, health and pleasure of bicycling, a Super Commuter simply prefers to ride a bike.

Bike Collective volunteers keep the organization running. Photo by Amy Nguyen Wiscombe

Planet Bike has been recognizing Super Commuters from across the country for the past 15 years. Never before have we awarded this distinction to an organization. That is until now. We are very happy to announce that the good folks propelling the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective are our newest bunch of Super Commuter honorees.

Since 2002, the Bicycle Collective has been promoting the power of the bicycle to effectively and sustainably serve Utahns as a clean, safe and healthy form of transportation and recreation. The Collective runs a wide range of programs that include  educational clinics for kids  and adults, an earn-a-bike program, a  community bike shop  that sells refurbished bicycles and a  bike valet service  for community events. The result is that they are inspiring their larger community to make life better by bike.

The Bike Collective staff. Photo by Donna McAleer

The Collective’s staff and volunteers’ practice what they preach. Individually they rack up the miles on their two wheeled ponies. More importantly, they give their neighbors the tools and knowledge to utilize the bicycle as a reliable form of transportation that can be used to complete daily tasks such as getting to work and going grocery shopping. Since 2012, the Collective has touched the lives of over 40,000 community members and created countless new Super Commuters along the way. My goodness! That is an upward spiral of cycling righteousness.

Congratulations to the SLC Bicycle Collective. Your work is inspiring! As Super Commuter honorees, they will receive a $100 gift certificate for Planet Bike products and a few of the much-coveted Super Commuter t-shirts so they can proudly show that they embody the spirit of the SUPER COMMUTER!

 

Entry to Driggs, Idaho’s Horseshoe Trail System to Improve

Charles Pekow
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Entry to Driggs, Idaho’s Horseshoe Trail System to Improve

The steep entry to the Horseshoe Trail network around Driggs, ID should become easier for less advanced riders. Mountain Bike the Tetons (MBT), the local advocacy group, just received a $4,500 grant from People for Bikes (PFB) to make the 1.3-mile route less steep and easier to sustain.

The MTB Project of REI Coop describes the trail as a “very steep climb with only a small downhill section at the end. The trail can get pretty steep in places for those who aren’t used to climbing” (https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/5575799/bovine).

MBT budgeted about $20,000 in all for the project as PFB likes grantees to pay at least half of project costs, says Zoe Kircos, PFB director of grants and partnerships. The plan calls for MBT to complete the improvements by the 2020 riding season, she says.

 

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