The Utah Dept. of Transportation along with the Federal Highway Administration will prepare a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Interstate 15/Green Spring Drive Interchange (Exit 10) and surrounding roadway system in Washington City. The agencies conducted a public meeting in Washington City in August 2018, followed by a public comment period that ended Sept. 14, 2018.
Six alternatives are under study, ranging from doing nothing to adding traffic capacity to reducing traffic, a combination of actions, etc. The public will get another chance to comment after the draft plan is written. The matters of concern include bike crossing for each possibility.
Cycling Utah and Cycling West Magazine’s Fall 2018 Issue is now available as a free download (8 mb download), Pick up a copy at your favorite Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, W. Colorado, N. Arizona bike shop or other location!
Cover Photo: The peloton descends Cedar Canyon from Cedar Breaks to Cedar City during stage 1 of the 2018 Tour of Utah, August 7, 2018, Cedar City, Utah. Fall 2018 Cycling West Cover Photo by Cathy Fegan-Kim, see more at cottonsoxphotography.net
Contents
Kuss Wins 2018 Tour of Utah in Tour de Force –page – 3
BMC Racing Team Scorches Prologue in St. George with 1-2-3 Finish for Hot Start at Tour of Utah page – 3
Bikes versus Cars Under the Law –page – 4
Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat — 14 days on the Great Divide –page – 6
Mountain Bike Park and Trails Planned for Jackson, Wyoming Area –page – 8
Studies Look at New Ways to Separate Bikes from Cars page – 8
Park Service Release Guidebook for More Biking in National Parks page – 8
Calton and Sheridan Top the Elite Division Podiums at Grueling Powder Mountain Race –page – 9
Translate Your MTB Skills to Cyclocross –page – 10
Training and Nutrition to Maintain a Happy, Healthy Heart –page – 11
‘Good Times!’ – The Bicycle Art of Bernadette Regnier –page – 12
Washington City, Utah UDOT Interchange May Affect Bikes page – 13
Las Vegas Area Lee Canyon Ski Resort May Add Mountain Biking –page – 13
Stage 1: McCabe Conquers Cedar City Sprint with Third Career Win at Tour of Utah page – 17
Stage 2: Kuss Soars Up Mount Nebo for Race Lead at Tour of Utah page – 17
Tour of Utah Photo Gallery – A Few of Our Favorite Shots! –page – 18
Stage 3: American McCabe Rockets to Second Stage Win on Longest Day of Weeklong Tour of Utah page – 20
Stage 4: Belgian Philipsen Ignites Crowd with Stage 4 Photo Finish Win in Salt Lake City page – 22
Stage 5: American Kuss Reigns at Queen Stage of Tour of Utah andRetains Overall Lead for Fourth Day page – 22
Stage 6: American Kuss Conquers Another Mountain to Win 2018 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah page – 23
Tour of Utah Photo Gallery – A Few of Our Favorite Shots! –page – 28
2019 Tour of Utah page – 30
Cyclist Covered in Black Smoke in Apparent “Rolling Coal” Incident –page – 31
Overnight Bike Touring to Antelope Island, Utah –page – 32
Behind the Scenes with the Silber Pro Cycling Team at the Tour of Utah –page – 33
How to Travel Internationally With Your Mountain Bike –page – 34
Riding the Colorado Rockies — Bikepacking Doesn’t Need to be Expensive –page – 36
Wind –page – 38
Follow Yellow Creek Road Ride is a 35.5 Mile Jaunt Through Southwest Wyoming –page – 39
Move Utah: The intersection of transportation choices, including biking and walking, and healthy communities
By Heidi Goedhart
Utah is experiencing significant growth. We have the fastest growing economy in the country, with low unemployment and a high rate of job creation. We are doubling in population, with analysts projecting that we will add a city the size of Taylorsville to our state every year for the next forty years.
While our growth is impressive, equally important to our state’s continued success is howwe grow. With close collaboration between local communities and transportation partners, we can see that how our communities are planned, designed, and built has a direct impact on communities’ health and well-being. As we plan for this future growth, transportation choices are needed to meet communities’ needs. In transportation, Utah is shifting its focus to measure success by moving people, not cars, which expands the conversation about transportation to include transit, walking and biking.
In support of this shift in focus, UDOT has developed the Move Utah program. The program provides local communities across the state with support and guidance as they plan, develop policies, and build infrastructure that supports biking and walking. UDOT has strong partnerships with the Wasatch Front Regional Council, the Mountainland Association of Governments, the Utah Department of Health, the Department of Public Safety, Bike Utah, the Utah Highway Patrol, and many others. Together, these agencies are looking at ways to make transportation part of a healthy lifestyle and thriving communities.
Move Utah is supported by a team of active transportation experts to provide technical support, resources, and funding opportunities at no cost to local communities to help them build a solid foundation for biking and walking. The program focuses on a context sensitive planning approach that includes engaging with diverse stakeholders through the following strategies:
Emphasize integrated transportation planning
Identify benefits of health and activity
Improve quality of life for communities
Support law enforcement through education
Encourage respect between roadway users
UDOT, in conjunction with several program partners, is hosting the inaugural Move Utah Summit to provide the only event in the state that brings together health and transportation experts, local and state officials, community leaders, and others to discuss the (literal and figurative) intersection of health and well-being with transportation choices.
The event is being held on Wednesday, September 26th at the Little America hotel from 7:30am to 4:00pm.Register at moveut.org to participate in a unique opportunity to learn from industry experts and local officials regarding how you can make a difference in your own community and Keep Utah Moving.
By Dave Richards — Colorado has long been known as a haven for serious cyclists. This has resulted in a large, enthusiastic fan base that came out in droves to cheer on riders in major races such as the Red Zinger, Coors Classic and the USA Pro Challenge. Unfortunately, like we’ve seen recently with other established races, financial complications caused their demise. In 2017 a new race organizer, RPM Events Group, stepped up with a new race called the Colorado Classic. The 2nd edition of the Classic was held this year in August 16-19, the week following the Tour of Utah. I decided it was high time that I get over there and cover the race.
Majestic sandstone walls flank the riders as they roll through Red Rocks Park. Men’s Stage 3 road course starting in Denver running out west up Lookout Mtn, then Red Rocks with a loop back to Denver. 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
The race followed a unique format in that rather than travel from town to town all four stages were based out of two locations – Vail & Denver. Stage 1 was a circuit race around Vail with the Stage 2 Time Trial on the I-70 frontage road course made famous during the Coors Classic years. Stage 3 was a road race that started in downtown Denver then headed west to climb the infamous Lookout Mountain and passed through Red Rocks Park before returning to the start-finish line (Note: the women rode a criterium in Denver while the men were out on the road which seemed odd and I feel shortchanged the women). Stage 4 wrapped things up with a circuit race through downtown Denver.
The event ran both the men’s and women’s stages back to back on each day. Also unusual was that the race was promoted as part of the “Velorama” music festival. The musical performances occurred late in the day in Denver after the races when the cyclists & fans were long gone. I think the jury’s still out on how that will work going forward.
With the race designated as high level UCI 2.HC, several men’s World Tour Teams competed as well as some top women’s teams. United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team dominated both the men’s and women’s podiums with Katie Hall & Gavin Mannion taking the overall wins. UHC also took the team prizes. It was a bittersweet moment since the highly successful UHC teams’ sponsor has pulled out and this was the final season for them.
At any rate, the racing was aggressive and the riders were cheered on by many fans lining the courses. Like any new race, there were some logistical kinks to work out, but it was good to see top level road racing return to Colorado. Here’s hoping that the Colorado Classic flourishes and builds on the long tradition of Colorado racing. In the meantime, I’ve put together a small gallery of my photos from the race for you to enjoy.
Dave Richards is a Utah-based photographer. You can find his work at daverphoto.com and in the pages of Cycling West.
Climbing high up above Vail in the Aspen trees. Women’s Stage 1 Vail Colorado, 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)Carlyn Jackson (Orion Racing) gathers her focus on the start ramp of the stage 2 time trial. Women’s Stage 2 Time Trial Vail Colorado, 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)Trek-Segafredo rider escapes the grip of Satan and his minions. Men’s Stage 2 Time Trial Vail Colorado, 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)EF Education riders lead the charge out of Red Rocks Park. Men’s Stage 3 road course starting in Denver running out west up Lookout Mtn, then Red Rocks with a loop back to Denver. 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)Jennifer Valente (Twenty20 p/b Sho-Air) raises her arm in victory after winning the bunch sprint to take Women’s Stage Four, a 4 lap circuit race around downtown Denver. 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.comTravis McCabe (United Healthcare) takes the victory on Men’s Stage Four. 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)Final leader jersey winners L-R: Sprint Leader – Jennifer Valente (Twenty20 p/b Sho-Air), Queen of the Mountains – Leah Thomas (United Healthcare), Race winner – Katie Hall (United Healthcare), Best Young Rider – Gillian Ellsay (Rally Cycling), Most Agressive Rider – Flavia Oliviera (Fearless Femme). 2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)Final jersey leaders: King of the Mountains – Hugh Carthy ( EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale), Best Young Rider – Daniel Martinez ( EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale), race winner – Gavin Mannion (United Healthcare), Sprint Leader – Joe Lewis (Holowekso Citadel p/b Arapahoe), Taylor Phinney ( EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale)2018 Colorado Classic cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
Park City Bike Demos, a try before you buy concept bike shop, is up for sale. Photo by Dave Iltis
September 5, 2018 – Park City Bike Demos, a Utah based bike shop, is being put up for sale by owner Andre Shoumatoff. Despite having a novel and successful business model according to Shoumatoff, the business suffered from early cash flow issues that hindered the now successful business. The shop worked in a different way than most shops in that one could test out any bike before purchasing on the trails and roads of Park City. The first $600 of rental costs can be applied to purchase, thus allowing a customer to test out multiple bikes before purchase. Park City Bike Demos has a number of lines including Felt, Intense, BMC, and Transition. If the shop doesn’t sell, they plan on closing the doors in the near future.
The complete ‘for sale’ information is posted below.
We’ve invested approx $1M into this business over 4 years and have built it into one of the region’s strongest bike shops. We maintain 12 premium brand dealerships but our model is so strong that we are in charge of what we sell – we don’t need to rely on the brand’s marketing. As long as the bike pedals well, we sell it well as customers try the bike first. This also lets us instantly competed in the saturated Park City bike shop market to about $1/2M annually and over 4000 total rental days, business to date. Store is 2500 sq feet and looks like an Apple Store. It’s welcoming and all riders feel at home (read our reviews – we’re the top-rated shop in Park City). It’s a great location with thousands of cars daily. EBIDTA has been approx 16-24% on average which is approx twice the national average.
But, we didn’t start it with enough $$, a lack of clear direction, and we made a bunch of expensive mistakes. We then started borrowing to keep the business going because we knew it would work. However, our debt is now sucking the life blood out of the business so we are force to sell or we will have to close. Just being completely transparent. So this is an opportunity to buy a ~$1M business for whatever we can get.
We’re looking for $60K min, to about $120K. (this goes to pay creditors in good faith, no $$ for us,- just doing our best in closing, as well). The sale is an “asset transfer” where you get none of the liability, but we transfer the actual business assets (stellar low cost lease in our prime location in Park City, website, phone numbers, name of the business, etc) to the new buyer.
You will have to buy new bikes and inventory only (needed anyway). We retain the debt in bankruptcy & closing as our existing LLC. The new buyer gets a fully functional business that will be likely become one of the strongest bicycle businesses in the region (top 5 in the state, estimated). We will show you how to run it for at least 2 months. It also comes with a clear financial road map. The odds of failure are extremely slim, in my humble opinion. PLEASE look closely & validate our model.
Here are some of the accolades.
– On the cover of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News in April of 2016 as an innovative, outside the box business that is bringing in revenue from new opportunities (in our case, rental) to solve age-old problems in the bike business. Industry leading EBIDTA, as noted above.
– Hundreds of thousands invested in a deep omni-channel online experience that ranks first page for most of our terms, NATION WIDE. This means nearly all of our business comes from online. We aren’t like a retailer, for that reason.
– Our model takes advantage of rental and demo bike pricing, so we get extended payment terms and better pricing. Then we produce another $125,000 of annual revenue from rental. Finally, 1 in 8 renters buys a bike from us. So we’re not only a bike shop, but our model “supercharges” the output of the business bring us an additional slew of bicycles sold. This has let us become the top dealer in the state for most of our brands Likewise, the two largest concerns with the bike business (poor margins and crappy terms ) are circumvented. Finally, our employees are paid better and are generally happier.
– Because our website searches well, hundreds of customers who fly to Park City to ride out bikes. Our competition is Sea World and Disney Land, rather than other local rental and bike shops. This means that regardless of how many shops are in Park City or local market forces, we are somewhat immune. We also sell more than 1/2 of our bikes to renters or online customers, also making us immune to local market forces.
So, this is basically the ultimate way to get into the bicycle retail business, if you’re interested. we designed all this on purpose.
You have to call me and/or move quick’y because otherwise we will be shutting the business down shortly if we can’t get it sold. Open to offers.
Part of the trail that will be used for the Race the Rails event in Ely, Nevada on September 9, 2017. Photo courtesy White Pine County Tourism & Recreation Board.
[Updated article for 2018] – A new and unique experience is on the horizon. Ely, Nevada is home to one of the nation’s largest time capsules, the Nevada Northern Railway. Here you will find coal fired steam engines that are over 100 years old still billowing their plumes of steam as they lumber down the track. Now add beautiful mountain trails and the Loneliest Highway in America, Highway 50, and you have the makings of an epic exhibition bike race that is fun for the whole family!
On September 8, 2018 racers will get the chance to see if they have the steam to beat the train! Both road and mountain bike racer will have the opportunity to test their mettle. Road bikers will begin with a short ride to the entrance of the Robinson Nevada copper mine where they will circle a 240-ton haul truck. On their descent toward Ely, they will find themselves side by side with the giant iron horse. The road bike course spans approximately 25 miles with an elevation gain of 820 feet. Mountain bikers will ride over 11 miles on single and double track trails with an elevation gain of 1400 feet. Registration is $75.00 ($85 day of). All racers will receive a race shirt, finisher’s medal, swag bag, BBQ ticket and train ride voucher which may be used to get the racer and their bike to the start line (bike spaces are limited) or on one of the regular train excursions scheduled throughout the weekend. Those wishing to board the train will begin loading at 8:00 am at with an 8:30 departure time scheduled. Race start is at 10:00am from the Keystone Bridge.
The BBQ will take place at the depot beginning at 1:00 p.m. and extra tickets for family and friends are available. A variety of vendors will be open at the depot starting at 10 a.m. There will be a small triathlon for kids beginning at 11:30 a.m.
While you are in the area you won’t want to miss visiting some of the other area attractions. Great Basin National Park and the Lehman Caves, located approximately 68 miles south east, offers beautiful scenic drives and hikes, 60 & 90 minute cave tours and amazing night time sky presentations. Hike, fish, kayak or just relax 13 miles outside of town at Cave Lake State Park or take your time and explore our Outdoor Murals, Renaissance Village, Ely Art Bank, White Pine Public Museum, or the McGill Historical Drug Store. Come join us for a great time for the whole family!
You can register for the race at www.elynevada.net. More information on the area is also available on the website or call the Bristlecone Convention Center at 800-496-9350.
Event details:
September 8, 2018 — Race the Rails, Ely, NV, Race the train in Ely! Fun for the whole family! Race a coal fired steam engine that is over 100 years old. The event will accommodate both road and mountain bike riders of all ages., Meg Rhoades, 775-289-3720, 800-496-9350, [email protected], www.elynevada.net
The road to Cave Lake is pretty, and isolated. Photo courtesy White Pine County Tourism & Recreation Board.
Larissa Connors won the Park City Point 2 Point women’s race by 10 minutes, and then went out and rode an additional 28 miles after the event. Photo by Jay Dash Photography
Saturday September 1, 2018 saw the 10th edition of the Park City Point 2 Point endurance mountain bike race in Park City, Utah.
In its tenth year, and ninth consecutive sellout, the Point 2 Point reached new heights in racer satisfaction and competition. With a field of 350 hearty souls and some the North America’s best mountain bike racers toeing the line, the Point 2 Point got rolling just as the sun crested the mountains; seventy-five miles of endless singletrack and over 10,000 feet of climbing lay ahead.
Riders come from all over to enjoy and suffer on the miles and miles of Park City’s IMBA Gold certified mountain bike trails capping off the racing season and hopefully taking home some cash and prizes too.
Giving away almost $12,000 in cash for podium finishers and thousands more in prizes, the Point 2 Point gives riders everything they could imagine and more. And once they throw in unique prizes like the “I am Somebody Prize,” a free Scott bike that goes to a randomly selected race finisher and the Red Lantern prize package, every participant has a chance to come away with more than just an exceptional singletrack experience.
This year’s event saw top-notch riders like Geoff Kabush (Yeti/Maxxis), teammates Ben Sonntag and Russell Finsterwald (Clif), Aussie Ryan Standish (Orange Seal/Merida), 6-time P2P winner Alex Grant (Cannondale/Gear Rush), Jamey Driscoll (Pivot/Maxxis), and youngster Zach Calton (Spry/Legacy).
The leaders started off on what seemed a leisurely pace for the first hour before Jamey Driscoll heated things up getting off the front and creating the first selection of the day.
The chase group made contact with Driscoll around mile 30, with all the top talent still represented in the group. Rob Squire briefly gave it a go trying to break things up on the long Corvair and John’s trail descents but couldn’t shake the top talent.
On the subsequent climb Finsterwald, Grant, and impressive 21-year-old Zach Calton began their rise to the top of the race.
At the Park City feedzone, mile-53 in the race, this trio attacked the final big climb of the day wheel to wheel. The climb up Armstrong trail is over 1,000 vertical feet of winding singletrack and unrelenting elevation gain. It has also been the location of the decisive attack in each of Alex Grant’s six previous P2P wins.
“We we’re rolling up Armstrong at a pretty good pace,” Grant shared after the finish. “Russell was leading and seemed to be feeling strong. I could feel Zach suffering a little bit and suddenly Russell said ‘I gotta stop’. I wasn’t sure what was up.”
After a few soft pedals to see if Finsterwald would continue on, Grant decided this was his time to go. The Cannondale rider flexed his climbing muscles and quickly opened a gap on his breakaway compatriots.
Behind the leader, Calton moved into the runner-up spot as Finsterwald was forced to dismount to negotiate a natural break of a secondary nature.
Sonntag, Standish, Driscoll, and Kabush were chasing hard behind.
Calton started to feel the first 55 miles in this final stretch and drifted back to the chasers with the Clif duo of Finsterwald and Sonntag shuffling Calton into the four spot.
In the end, no one could bring Alex Grant back. After missing several years because of injury and family life, Grant was back on the top step of the Park City Point 2 Point taking the win by over 4 minutes. This time greeted by his wife and daughters at the finish line.
Grant, the lone leader, was followed by Russell Finsterwald who was just seconds in front of his teammate Ben Sonntag.
Zach Calton looked poised to take the final podium spot. He put his head down sprinting toward what he thought was the line. In heartbreaking fashion however he missed the final turn into the finish. Calton was in sight of the finish line arch as dozens of spectators yelled, waived, jumped up and down and did anything they could to get his attention.
Sadly for the youngster, by the time he had corrected his route Jamey Driscoll and Geoff Kabush had snuck in to take the final step on the podium. Calton, recent winner of the Crusher in the Tushar, would have to settle for sixth.
Kabush had put in his familiar fast finish over the last 20 miles of the race. The former Canadian national champion passed Standish on his way to the finish before disaster struck almost within sight of the line.
“I was on the final rocky descent and things were going really well until they weren’t.” said a bruised and battered Kabush at the finish. “I felt like I was downhilling really fast until I hooked a tree and ended up on the ground.”
Unfortunately for the Canadian, he went down on the Iron Bill descent which has almost no actual “ground’ as it is mostly just rocks piled on top of rocks. Kabush limped in for the final podium spot with torn up shorts, a bleeding hip, deep abrasions down his back, and a deep laceration on his left elbow that would require stitches to close.
Women’s Race
One of the most talented women’s field ever assembled for the Park City Point 2 Point took the start Saturday morning. Defending champion Larissa Connors (Twenty20/Felt) would be challenged by previous P2P winner Evelyn Dong (Spry Cycles/NoTubes), Singletrack 6 winner and Canadian Jena Greaser (Gear Hub Sports/Rocky Mountain), Aspen Power of 4 winner Marlee Dixon (Pearl Izumi/Pivot), and 23-year-old Luna rider Hannah Finchamp.
As she did last year, Larrisa Connors got off to a fast start already opening up a big lead by the first feed zone at Deer Valley resort. Not far behind was Evelyn Dong and Marlee Dixon who followed in third after getting past Greaser and Finchamp.
Connors appeared to be on a tear as she crested the first big climb before the Corvair descent. Dong continued to occupy the runner-up spot followed by Dixon with Finchamp closing in.
Dixon was able to hold off her challenger through the aspen-tree-maze of John’s trail but on the subsequent climb Finchamp’s climbing legs kicked in and she caught and passed Dixon opening up a several minute gap before the next descent where Dixon closed down the advantage to mere seconds before Finchamp dealt the final blow on the Armstrong climb.
All the action behind did nothing to bring back the sole leader as Larissa Connors’ lead continued to grow reaching just over 10 minutes by the finish.
Evelyn Dong rolled in second followed by Finchamp and Dixon in fourth.
The final podium spot of the day went to KC Holley (Kuhl) who is a veteran of the P2P and turned in one of her best rides overcoming Greaser, Meghan Sheridan (Bingham’s), and Nicole Tittensor (Scott) on her way to the podium.
As impressive a win as it was for Connors, what she did after the race was perhaps the highlight of her performance.
For the second year in a row, Connors, a school teacher, donated her $2,000 winner’s check to the Summit Bike Club junior development program. And after 75 miles and over 10,000 feet of climbing Connors took her turn on the podium, grabbed a bite to eat and went out to ride another 28 miles. Why? Because she wanted to get over 100 miles in for the day.
With all the podiums done and most the riders on their way home one prize was left for Jay Burke and the Park City Point 2 Point staff to hand out: The Red Lantern Prize Pack. An annual recognition of the final rider to cross the finish line, the red lantern is a special acknowledgement of the rider who pushed themselves the most to earn the title of Point 2 Point finisher.
This year’s lantern went to open women’s rider Lucie Kayser-Bril. Kayser-Bril dug deep and persevered to finish with a time of 12 hours and 45 minutes. Crossing the finish line just before dark with her husband and children cheering her in.
Over six hours after race leader Alex Grant finished, Lucie Kayser-Bril marked a successful end to the tenth edition of Utah’s premier mountain bike event; the Park City Point 2 Point.
Shannon Boffeli is the managing editor for mtbracenews.com and part of the @pearlizumi_pivotmtb_team
Alex Grant won his 7th Park City Point 2 Point. Photo by Jay Dash PhotographyThe Park City Point 2 Point traverses 75 miles of Park City’s IMBA Gold level trails. Photo by Jay Dash PhotographyFist pump at the finish of the 2018 Park City Point 2 Point. Photo by Jay Dash PhotographyThe Park City Point 2 Point runs over the beautiful Park City mountainside. Photo by Jay Dash PhotographyHigh 5 at the finish of the 2018 Park City Point 2 Point. Photo by Jay Dash Photography
All the team bikes lined up on trainers ahead of the Prologue Time Trial, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. Sheffield
Cycling is a team sport; races may be won by individuals, but those individuals generally would not be successful without the support of a good team behind them, a team not only of riders but of support personnel as well, from the Directeurs Sportif, to the mechanics and soigneurs.
It’s really easy to see this support at the biggest races, like the Tour de France, but it is no less important at smaller events as well, like the UCI 2.1 Tour of Utah. For some of the smaller UCI Continental teams on the professional circuit, the Tour of Utah is their Tour de France.
One such team is the Silber Pro Cycling team, based in Montreal, Quebec.
For Silber, none of this could have happened without the dedicated support of Team Principal Scott McFarlane, Directeur Sportif Gord Fraser, soigneurs Emilie Roy and Caroline Lachance, and mechanics Yohan Patry, Christian Leduc, and Richard Knutson.
Like many UCI Continental teams, Silber Pro Cycling team grew out of a local team in Montreal, Quebec tied to Scott McFarlane’s Toguri Training Systems, which is where McFarlane initially met Arthur Silber, sponsor of the team for the past 5 seasons.
With Silber’s support, the Canadian squad has become one of the most successful teams on the UCI Americas Tour, and thus far has graduated 4 riders to the Pro Continental ranks, and numerous Canadian National Championships, including U23 ITT champion Adam Roberge, and National Criterium Champion Nickolas Zukowsky, both of whom are on the Tour of Utah roster.
Now, at the end of a solid 5-year run, the team has announced that Silber’s sponsorship is ending, and the team is actively searching for a new title sponsor. A good showing at the Tour of Utah would only help their chances.
Speaking before the prologue, DS Gord Fraser indicated that the Tour of Utah is not just the hardest race in North America, but that it is also one of the hardest races on the UCI calendar, behind the Grand Tours.
“We’ve got a couple of guys who are capable of a decent GC result, but the biggest thing for us is to show that we belong, and to give the guys the experience they need against world class riders if they are to make the next step.”
With U23 ITT Champion Adam Roberge turning in a very respectable prologue time trial, coming home in twentieth place, just 15 seconds behind stage winner Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team), the team is off to a good start.
While the two long climbs to Cedar Breaks and Bristlecone certainly made their mark on the first road stage of the 2018 Tour of Utah, Stage 1 was actually being billed as a sprinter’s stage, and Silber’s plan for the day was to take advantage of that.
A huge part of a team’s success is dependent on the strategy for the day as set by the directeur sportif, and in Gord Fraser, the Silber team has one of Canada’s most prolific winners, with over 200 victories during his career including the 2004 Canadian National Championship, stages in numerous European races, such as the Critérium International and the GP du Midi-Libre, and a 7th place on the first stage of the 1997 Tour de France, while racing for the French La Mutuelle du Seine-et-Marne team.
The first part of the plan for the day was to stay active at the front in the early part of the stage, not necessarily to instigate a breakaway, or to make sure that one didn’t get away, but rather to try to ensure that the break was small, with just 3-4 riders, big enough to manage to stay away for most of the day, but small enough that the peloton did not feel any urgency to shut it down and were content to mostly ride tempo for the stage, and then if the stage did come down to a spring as anticipated, to help position sprinters Pier-André Côté or Emile Jean well to take advantage of the work of the larger teams
The other part of the plan for the day was to help protect GC hopeful Adam Roberge, to keep him in the running for a good overall GC position.
Unfortunately, the day’s plan didn’t’ quite come together as hoped for, with Adam Roberge the first to come off the back of the peloton shortly after the field started the first 15-mile climb through Brian Head to the summit at the entrance to Cedar Breaks National Monument, cresting at 10,453 feet. Sprinters Émile Jean and Pier-André Côté soon faded as well, while the rest of the team hung on to the lead group with 19-year old Charles-Etienne Chretian coming in a very respectable 12th place in the final sprint to the line.
With Roberge’s GC chances dashed, and three more climb-heavy stages on tap, the team’s focus shifted towards trying to infiltrate the breakaways, stage wins, and fine-tuning form for the upcoming Colorado Classic.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, it was business as usual for the soigneurs and mechanics.
Each day, soigneurs Emilie Roy and Caroline Lachance prepare about 100 ice socks, to be distributed to each of the team cars, as well as kept in cooler in the van heading to the feed zones, to help insure that the riders can keep their core temperatures cool in the searing Utah summer heat. In addition, they also prepare about 200 bidons of water and drink mix, make sure the riders have plenty of food in their pockets to start each day’s stage.
Meanwhile, the team mechanics do final preparations on both the race bikes and backup bikes for the day, making sure that the backup bikes are properly secured to the roof of the two team cars, that tools and spare wheels are loaded into the back seat of the cars, along with coolers filled with the ice socks and bidons that the soigneurs have prepared.
At races like the Tour of Utah, Silber brings three mechanics; one for each team car, and one to transfer the team truck and trailer from the start to the finish if the race does not start and finish at the same venue.
The mechanic always sits in the right rear passenger seat for quickest and safest egress from the car when service is needed by a rider. Typically, the mechanic will have access to a portable tool chest on the rear driver’s side, and often will have the most commonly needed tools in a pouch hanging from the back of the front passenger’s seat.
Generally, in a race the size of the Tour of Utah, there will be two cars for each team. The lead car, driven by the directeur sportif, will carry most of the spare bikes with those belonging to the team leaders secured to the outside for easiest access by the mechanics should they be required mid-stage.
The second team car may carry one or two spare bikes, and if any of the team’s riders make it into the break of the day, that rider’s spare bike may be moved from the lead car to the second car, which will then move forward to cover the breakaway.
The mechanics will often be the ones responsible for listening to Radio Tour and keeping track of which riders from which teams are in the breakaway, to help keep the driver’s distractions to a minimum. On a good day for the mechanic, this will be their only duty for the duration of the race, and they can relax in the back seat, knowing that the busiest part of their day will come late in the afternoon or early evening.
While the mechanics make their final preparations in the team cars, the soigneurs take off about 5 minutes before race start to shoot ahead to the feed zone and prepare for the riders to come through a couple of hours later.
In addition to the above, Émilie and Caroline are also responsible for daily massages for each of the riders, doing all of the team’s laundry, food preparation for the riders when meals are not being provided by the race organization, as well as doing all the shopping for important items like the nylon stockings used to make the ice socks.
According to Ms. Roy, who was once a professional rider herself, the two soigneurs also act as team mothers and psychologists, whether just listening to the riders during their massages, or helping riders cope with the difficulties of being constantly on the road traveling from city-to-city to race.
While the soigneurs are busy taking care of the riders after a stage, the busiest part of the mechanics’ day is about to begin.
Silber’s three mechanics for the Tour of Utah are Canadian Yohan Patry, American Richard Knutson, and Frenchman Christian LeDuc, who after a career running and coaching junior teams in France, is now living in Quebec, and offering his experience to the young Canadian squad.
After each stage, the three mechanics set-up for cleaning and tuning each of the race bikes and spare bikes. At the Tour of Utah, Richard Knutson was tasked with washing the bikes, Christian LeDuc with cleaning team wheels and replacing tubulars if necessary, and Yohan Patry did the tune ups on the freshly cleaned bikes.
The three mechanics definitely have their system down, as it takes each man about 10-12 minutes per bike to complete each task, allowing them to complete the evening’s duties in about 2.5 to 3 hours, at which point, it’s time to kick back and relax, with a couple of ice-cold beers before the process starts anew the following morning.
Nicolas Zukowsky pushing towards the finish line. Prologue Time Trial, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge leaving the starting gate for the prologue time trial. 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge screaming down the descent towards the finish line. Prologue time trial, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldNicolas Masbourian on the Mount Nebo climb. Stage 2, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge on the Mount Nebo climb. Stage 2, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge on the Mount Nebo climb. Stage 2, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldSoigneurs Émilie Roy and Caroline Lachance preparing ice socks for the days stage. Between a stash given to each of the team cars, a cooler full to hand up in the feed zones, and more to help the riders cool down after a hot stage, they prepare around 100 ice socks per stage, in addition to nearly 200 bottles of water or drink mix. Stage 4, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldSoigneur Émilie Roy hands up a fresh bottle and an ice sock to Nicolas Masbourian, with Danick Vandale following close behind. PC: Steven L. SheffieldMechanics generally travel with their own tool kits, ensuring they have everything they need to support the team over the course of a several day stage race. This tool kit belongs to master mechanic Christian LeDuc, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldMechanic Richard Knutson washing the team bikes after Stage 5, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAfter the bikes and wheels are all washed, Yohan Patry makes sure that all bolts are tight and everything is tuned to perfection. Stage 5, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldMechanic Christian LeDuc gluing up a new set of tubulars after Stage 5, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldNicolas Zukowsky on the climb to Empire Pass, Stage 6, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldNicolas Zukowsky on the climb to Empire Pass, Stage 6, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge on the climb to Empire Pass, Stage 6, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldNicolas Masbourian on the climb to Empire Pass, Stage 6, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. SheffieldAdam Roberge on the climb to Empire Pass, Stage 6, 2018 Tour of Utah. PC: Steven L. Sheffield
By Greg Hoole — The beauty and serenity of an early morning canyon ride is unmatched. And, there is no more abundance of beautiful canyons in all the world than right here along the Wasatch Front. Many cyclists will enjoy a (literally) breath-taking ride up one of these canyons and then call it a day. Some will occasionally string a few canyons together to up the ante. But how many cyclists have tackled all five of the major riding canyons surrounding Salt Lake City—in one day?
Wheels of Justice is throwing down the challenge to every cyclist who is looking for a new conquest. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, a new ride in the Salt Lake valley will take place on September 8, 2018. Wheels of Justice is a local cycling club dedicated to ending child abuse. A nonprofit corporation, it raises money to support two outstanding organizations making a difference in our community: Prevent Child Abuse Utah (“PCAU”) and the Children’s Justice Center (the “CJC”).
The mission of PCAU is to prevent child abuse through public awareness and educating children and adults about such things as appropriate relationships, bullying, and internet safety. The CJC is an award-winning program that helps children who have been abused. The CJC’s expert staff help break the cycle of abuse and empower victims to become survivors.
Wheels of Justice recognizes that even the most serious of problems can be addressed in a fun way. Hence, a bike club and an amazing annual ride.
The ride will start at the Black Bear Diner in Sandy, where the good people there will provide participants with a free pancake breakfast. Then it will ascend all five of Salt Lake City’s riding canyons: Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, Emigration Canyon, and then City Creek Canyon. Riders can choose one, two, three, four, or all five canyons. Those who conquer all five canyons will receive a killer finisher’s medal, courtesy of Utah-based DNA Cycling (Drive Marketing).
The Black Bear Diner and DNA Cycling are just two of the many companies that have stepped up to partner with Wheels of Justice in this effort. The list includes local bike shops, ski resorts, and restaurants, as well as many other local businesses. DNA Cycling has also made its coveted BIO Fit jersey and Elite bib shorts (custom made in Italy) available to Wheels of Justice members (it costs nothing to join) at a steeply discounted price to assist in its fund-raising efforts. These kits are now available at Flynn Cyclery in Holladay.
All riders, regardless of how many mountains they conquer, will receive a free Specialized 2nd Gen Big Mouth water bottle, courtesy of UtahBikingLaw.com. There will also be some very cool prizes awarded in a number of different categories, including ski passes, backpacks, bluetooth speakers, gift cards, and more.
More information about Wheels of Justice and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is available at WheelsofJusticeUtah.org.
Ride Details:
September 8 — Wheels of Justice, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough|, Sandy, UT, The ride will ascend each of Salt Lake City’s five riding canyons, for a total of 116.3 miles and 14,272 feet—one of the most challenging one-day bike rides in Utah!, Greg Hoole, 801-272-7556, [email protected], wheelsofjusticeutah.org
World’s Leading Off-Road Triathlon & Trail Running Races Return to Utah for 15th Year
XTERRA is coming to Ogden, Utah on September 14-16, 2018. XTERRA Elites Josiah Middaugh from the U.S. and Bradley Weiss from South Africa charge down the East Fork downhill near Snowbasin Resort at the 2017 XTERRA Pan American Championship triathlon. Photo by Jesse Peters
Press Release – OGDEN, UTAH – It’s long been said that XTERRA is more than just a race, it’s a lifestyle. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in Ogden, Utah where the Mayor, Mike Caldwell, was the founder and race director for the first XTERRA event in Ogden back in 2004.
Mayor Caldwell and a collection of the most welcoming locals to be found anywhere rallied the entire community to bring off-road triathlon to their hometown 15 years ago and are themselves everyday XTERRA people. They swim, bike, and run in the mountains, have fun, eat well, laugh, and unpretentiously perpetuate the sports’ motto to “Live More.”
“XTERRA is a unique event for our community that has grown and progressed into a world class event,” said Caldwell. “It is a huge part of our community’s DNA. These athletes and race organizers have become part of our family providing an opportunity for us to form lasting friendships with people from all over the world. Not only do I enjoy the homecoming feel the event brings, it also has great economic impact for Ogden. Our hotels sell out and our restaurants fill up. It is the perfect fit for Ogden, and I look forward to this weekend every year.”
Athletes also look forward to this event every year, and more than 800 of the very best amateur and professional triathletes and trail runners are traveling to the State of Sport to battle for the title of XTERRA Champion.
“We love bringing the XTERRA Tribe together in Utah, the energy level is just incredible,” said Janet Clark, president of XTERRA. “Ogden and Snowbasin are simply the best – between the facilities at Snowbasin, the great restaurants and atmosphere along Historic 25th Street in Ogden, and the unbelievably supportive community – we can’t ask for a better venue.”
The main event, the XTERRA Pan America / USA Championship triathlon is the culmination of a series of off-road triathlons spanning South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the U.S.
It starts with a one-mile swim in Pineview Reservoir (4,900-feet elevation), follows with an 18-mile mountain bike leg that climbs more than 3,000-feet to the top of Sardine Peak (7,300-feet elevation), and culminates with a 7-mile trail run featuring another 600-feet of climbing on trails around Snowbasin Resort in the Wasatch Range. There is also a half-distance sprint off-road triathlon and relay-team options.
The fastest racers in each five-year age group will be honored as the XTERRA Pan American Champion, and the fastest American in each of those divisions will be celebrated as XTERRA’s U.S. National Champion.
Elites will be competing for $80,000 in prize money, and cameramen will position themselves around Wheeler Canyon and the Wasatch Range to capture all the action for a nationally syndicated one-hour TV show that exposes the beauty of northern Utah to the masses.
The triathlons are Saturday, September 15 and on Sunday, the 16th, it’s the trail runners turn on the mountain.
The XTERRA Trail Run National Championship half-marathon features scenic views, technical trails, and big climbs. The half-marathon, plus the 5K and 10K trail runs are open to everyone, and it’s important to note that you don’t have to be fast to join in the fun. For some, it’s just about finishing and that’s okay as XTERRA is all about perpetuating the healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle.
In addition to the weekend races XTERRA will host an expo in downtown Ogden on Friday with free run and bike races for kids, a full-on Kids Zone, Suunto demos, triathlon clinics, and the Paul Mitchell hair cut-a-thon for charity.
There is great entertainment to be found at Snowbasin Resort highlighted by the spontaneous, ecstatic, and sometimes tear-jerking displays of emotion at the finish line for the races.
This year, experience it for yourself. Have a look at the schedule for places and times, and whether you race or not – join in the fun and excitement of XTERRA. For more info and links to registration visit www.xterrautah.com, or call toll-free to 877-751-8880. Live More!
PRO RACE
The elite’s racing at the XTERRA Pan America Championship are among the best off-road triathletes in the world. The men’s race features the last three XTERRA World Champions with Bradley Weiss from South Africa (2017 Champ), Mauricio Mendez from Mexico (2016 Champ), and American great Josiah Middaugh from Eagle-Vail, Colorado (the 2015 Champ).
The women’s race is highlighted by two-time XTERRA World Champion Lesley Paterson from Scotland, XTERRA Pan Am Tour leader Fabiola Corona from Mexico, and America stand-outs like Julie Baker and Kara LaPoint.
Follow the elite race live on twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am on Sept. 15.
The 2018 XTERRA Pan Am Championship triathlon and XTERRA Trail Run National Championship are presented by the Utah Sports Commission and Paul Mitchell. Partners include Gatorade Endurance, Suunto, GOAL Foundation, OOFOS, Maui Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the U.S. Forest Service.
About XTERRA
XTERRA is a sports lifestyle brand that produces authentic race experiences and apparel for the outdoor enthusiast. In 2018, XTERRA will offer more than 300 off-road triathlon and trail running events in 30+ countries. XTERRA also offers premium, performance apparel and accessories for the trail and beyond. Learn more at xterraplanet.com.
– more –
XTERRA Pan America Championship and
XTERRA Trail Run Nationals Event Schedule
Sept 14-16, 2018 // Ogden/Snowbasin, Utah
Friday, September 14
Opening Festivities in downtown Ogden @ Ogden’s Amphitheater Park (corner 25th/Grant)
10-6pm Expo and XTERRA Kids Zone Challenge Stations Open
10-6pm Registration and Packet Pick-up (All events – XTERRA Utah/XTERRA Pan Am Championship/
XTERRA Trail Run Nationals, 10K and 5K)
12-5pmPaul Mitchell Cut-a-thon, benefit for the Challenged Athlete Foundation
3:00pm XTERRA Tri and Trail Run Regional Champion Introduction
4pm XTERRA Kids Bike Race (free)
5pm XTERRA Kids Sprint (free)
5-6pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Art of XTERRA
with Lesley Paterson and Josiah Middaugh
6:00pm XTERRARace Briefing (mandatory for Pan American Championship triathletes)
Saturday, September 15 – XTERRA TRIATHLON at Snowbasin Resort
6:30am Late packet pickup at Snowbasin (no registration)
6:30am T2 open for Set-up at Snowbasin
6:30am Shuttle operating from Snowbasin to Port Ramp Marina, Pineview Reservoir
6:30am T1 open for set-up at Port Ramp Marina, Pineview Reservoir
6:30am Body marking, timing chip and swim cap distribution at Port Ramp Marina, Pineview Reservoir
8:20am Last shuttle from Snowbasin to Port Ramp Marina
9:00amXTERRA Pan American Championship Startat Port Ramp Marina(1.5k swim, 29k mtb, 10k run)
9:45am XTERRA Utah Start – Sprint Course at Port Ramp Marina (750m swim, 19k mtb, 5k trail run)
10am-3pm Registration and packet pickup for XTERRA Trail Runs – Nationals, 10K and 5K
10am-2pm Expo area open at Snowbasin – exhibits, food service
10:30am-2:30pm Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon – benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation
10:30am XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – The Art of Trail Running –
with Tina Wiessauer and Brett Hales
11:20/11:50am XTERRA Pan American Championship Male/Female Winner Expected
11:30am XTERRA Utah Sprint winner expected at Snowbasin
11:30am Athlete Post-Race meal served in Earl’s Lodge
2:20pmXTERRA Cut-off at T2
1:30pm XTERRA Utah Awards Ceremony
2pm XTERRA Pan American Championship/XTERRA USA Champs Award Ceremony
6:30pm XTERRA Dinner and After Party @ Hub801 (3525 Riverdale Road, Ogden). Complimentary entry to XTERRA Pan Am Championship athletes. XTERRA Utah athletes, friends, family welcome (tickets online, at registration and at the door, if available)
7:30pm XTERRA Pan American Tour introduction of Champions and race highlight video
9:00am-2:00pm Paul Mitchell Cut-a-Thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation
9:20am/9:40am 5km/10km winners expected
10:06/10:19am Men’s and Women’s National Championship male/female winners expected
11:00am XTERRA Kids Sprint (free)
11:00am XTERRA 5km and 10km awards ceremony
11:45am XTERRA National Championship race awards ceremony
12-5:30pm “Blues, Brews and BBQ” on the patio at Earl’s Lodge, free concert – 12:30pm Timmy the Teeth and 3pm Folk Hogan
2:00pm XTERRA Expo closes
After Party in downtown Ogden
6:00pm XTERRA After Party @ TBD. No host dinner and drinks.
7:00pm Video Highlights
For more info and links to registration visit www.xterrautah.com, or call toll-free to 877-751-8880. Live More!
Update:
A note from the Race Organizers regarding the algae bloom in Pineview Reservoir:
NO SWIMMING IN PINEVIEW RESERVOIR UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The Weber-Morgan Health Department issued a public safety warning for Pineview Reservoir August 31, 2018, after environmental health staff confirmed the presence of a harmful algal bloom.
On Saturday, September 1, the same algal bloom was NOT seen by health officials. Regardless, for your own safety, do not swim in the Reservoir until further notice.
The Reservoir will be tested by Environmental Health officials at the Port Ramp Marina area where the XTERRA swim is on Tuesday, September 4, and results should be available by Friday, September 7.
XTERRA is in direct communication with Health Department officials and the U.S. Forest Service and will provide updates as they become available.
While we are optimistic that we will be able to swim, we do have a plan B in place, and will communicate details of it on September 7.
Salt Lake City will be considering an update to its Property Clearing and Weed Control Ordinance on September 4, 2018 with a vote scheduled for September 18, 2018.
Cycling Utah submitted the following comments in regards to the ordinance.
Puncturevine or Goatheads are awful for bikes and lead to many flat tires.Puncturevine seeds shown here can puncture bike tires or animals feet. Photo by Dave Iltis
The Property Clearing and Weed Control Amendments rewrite is missing a key weed and how to control them, along with some other items. It also has some poorly constructed requirements and remedies.
Puncturevine, or Goat Heads, are dreadful for bicycling, dogs, and any other animals, including human feet.
They have been added to the Utah State Noxious Weed list, and are also on the Salt Lake County Noxious Weed list.
But, the weed ordinance doesn’t cover their control or mention them explicitly.
Puncturevine is a ground level weed that very very rarely ever gets to a height of 6” or more, and hence the control of it won’t fall under the ordinance.
Currently, it appears as though the lists have the same plants, but this is not always the case.
The weed is particularly harmful to bicycling in Salt Lake City and on the Jordan River Trail, and can cause multiple flats for cyclists. Imagine a family ride where everyone gets flat tires.
With the amount of money SLC spends on trails such as the Jordan River Trail or the Folsom Trail, a solid ordinance and plan for Puncturevine is imperative.
The weed is found all over the city, sometimes in parking strips, parking lots, abandoned or empty lots, etc. It is difficult to eradicate, but can be controlled, especially if the weeds are pulled earlier in the year. Mulching is not a good idea later in the year since this will only serve to plant the seeds in the ground.
The following section of the code would be useless for Puncturevine because of the 6” height limitation, and is likely useless for many other weeds on the state list (e.g. bindweed, Bermuda grass, garlic mustard, Myrtle Spurge etc. that are noxious even when less than 6” in height). This would not be in compliance with the state or county noxious weed program.
9.16.030: REAL PROPERTY TO BE KEPT CLEAN AND SECURED:
A. It is unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership or other legal entity owning real
property in Salt Lake City to fail to maintain the height of weeds, as provided in section 9.16.040
of this chapter; or to fail to remove from the property any cuttings from such weeds, or any solid
waste, unsightly or deleterious objects or structures, or to fail to effectively secure any vacant
structure after having been given written notice to do so from the Division or inspector.
B. It shall be the duty of every property owner to remove all weeds and noxious vegetation from
the area of land located between the parcel’s property line and the roadway. Failure to remove
such weeds and noxious vegetation in accordance with the specifications set forth in section
9.16.040 shall constitute a violation subject to the abatement procedures and penalties set forth in
this chapter.
9.16.040: WEED CONTROL SPECIFICATIONS:
A. Weeds shall be maintained at a height of not more than six inches (6″) (15.2 cm) at all times,
and the cuttings shall be promptly cleared and removed from the premises.
B. Weeds which are eradicated by chemicals must be done so before their height exceeds six
inches (6″) (15.2 cm), or they must be cut at a level not exceeding six inches (6″) (15.2 cm) in
height.
C. Weeds which are rototilled or removed by the root must be buried under the soil or removed
from the property.
4
D. When, in the opinion of the inspector, the large size of the property makes the cutting of all
weeds impractical, the inspector may, by written order, allow and limit the required cutting of
weeds to a firebreak of not less than fifteen feet (15′) (4.6 m) in width cut around the complete
perimeter of the property and around any structures existing upon the property
The council really needs to revisit this ordinance and make changes to it so that it covers Puncturevine, the height of weeds, and is compliant with the state noxious weed list. Weeds are not just plants that grow higher than 6”.
Puncturevine should be explicitly addressed in the updated ordinance given its impact on alternative transportation.
August 28, 2018 – Andrew Danly was out on a ride on August 25, 2018 on Highway 14 near Cedar Breaks, Utah while his friend Michael Conti waited to photograph him on his bike. Danly was racing in the Hoodoo 300 bike race, a long distance 300 mile solo ride through some of Utah’s most beautiful roads. He received an unwelcome cloud of black exhaust in what appears to be an example of “Rolling Coal”.
Andrew Danly rides in a cloud of black smoke, apparently from the pickup truck. The incident took place on Highway 14 near Cedar Breaks, Utah on August 25, 2018 during the Hoodoo 300 Bike Race. Photo by Michael Conti
Conti happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture the following images of a pickup truck apparently emitting a large cloud of black exhaust in the direction of his friend.
Conti summarizes the incident in a Facebook post:
“WELCOME TO UTAH. This is something that unfortunately happens to all cyclists out on the road. All of us cyclists have WAR stories about some A..hole that rolls coal on us or intentionally tries to run us off the road. You can see in the third picture that this was intentional and the kids were looking back to make sure they covered my friend Andrew Danly “Metal” in black exhaust. I was lucky enough to be in the right place with a great camera to capture this and turn it into Utah Highway Patrol. I was using a long lens and the kids were shocked when I was standing in the middle of the road giving them the universal bird.”
Conti contacted the Highway Patrol, “basically it’s not illegal they say. They were bothered I called. I’m persistent.”
(2) (a) Except while the engine is being warmed to the recommended operating temperature, the engine and power mechanism of a gasoline-powered motor vehicle may not emit visible contaminants during operation.
…
(c) A person who violates the provisions of Subsection (2)(a) is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined:
(i) not less than $50 for a violation; or
(ii) not less than $100 for a second or subsequent violation within three years of a previous violation of this section.
The penalties are relatively light for this, with only a $100 fine for the first infraction.
Conti would like to see the law changed, “It seems like even with the evidence we have they don’t seem to want to do anything. It’s dangerous for the rider.”
Conti just finished 5th overall in the Race Across America. He commented, “Going across the country it happened multiple times between people trying to hit me or rolling coal. They are picking on a person who can’t match their speed or chase them down. Cyclists deal with this all the time. I don’t know why.”
[Editor’s Note: Cycling Utah has contacted Rep. Romero to ask her to bring the bill back again in 2019.]
Andrew Danly rides in a cloud of black smoke, apparently from the pickup truck. The incident took place on Highway 14 near Cedar Breaks, Utah on August 25, 2018 during the Hoodoo 300 Bike Race. Photo by Michael ContiThe pickup truck occupants look back. The incident took place on Highway 14 near Cedar Breaks, Utah on August 25, 2018 during the Hoodoo 300 Bike Race. Photo by Michael Conti
August 12, 2018 – The 2018 Tour of Utah returned to Park City for the final stage. Sepp Kuss took his third stage win and won the overall too. Cathy Fegan-Kim, Cottonsox Photography, captured this set of behind the scenes and finish line photos.
After a few weeks of having Bird and Lime scooters in town, I feel like I can give an adequate review. My conclusion is that, while dockless scooters might be a fun novelty for downtowns, they will never be a useful, serious transportation solution, especially for neighborhoods like mine. Read further to learn how I came to that conclusion.
I have been trying to use Bird and Lime to fill a transportation need in my daily life. Just about every day, I walk from my home to the Power TRAX Station, which is a distance of 0.8 miles or about a 15-minute walk. “Map1.jpg” shows my walk in yellow. To mix things up, I usually walk one way to TRAX and the other way home. Alternatively, I could also ride the bus (route 217) part of the way to get me to TRAX, but I rarely do, since catching the bus requires me to leave home at the same time as walking anyway. “Map2.jpg” shows my walk in yellow and route 217 in blue.
“Map1.jpg” shows Mike’s walk in yellow.“Map2.jpg” shows Mike’s walk in yellow and route 217 in blue.
Lime scooters have been rare in my neighborhood. So rare that I have only been able to take two Lime rides. Both times, the scooters worked well and felt solid. The one thing that I dislike about Lime is that the app requires me to turn on my smartphone’s GPS in order to use the app, which is unnecessary.
Bird scooters on the other hand have been plentiful in my neighborhood. However, also on the other hand, Bird scooters leave much to be desired. Out of several dozen attempts to ride Bird, only a handful have been successful. I haven’t kept detailed records, but probably only one in four rides has been successful. Many of the failed attempts to check out a scooter have resulted in messages that either the system can’t communicate with the scooter or the scooter has been reported damaged. In the other failed attempts, I was able to unlock the scooter, but the motor wasn’t powering up, which renders the scooter useless, since the dead motor actually drags against the wheel. Fortunately, when I’ve reported this to Bird, they’ve refunded my credit card. Additionally, my other huge complaint with Bird is that they are unavailable between 9 pm and 7 am.
I did have one troubling experience with a Bird scooter last Friday evening. Upon arriving home, I discovered that the scooter’s motor was still spinning the wheel at full speed, even though my thumb was not pushing on the throttle! I had to give the scooter a couple hard shakes to get the motor to stop. Out of curiosity, I hopped back on the scooter, and the motor stuck wide open again! I contacted Bird support through the app, and they didn’t seem the least bit concerned about what I would consider a major safety concern.
My general view of dockless scooters and trying to use them as a serious mode of transportation is that they waste far more time than they save. The biggest issue is that without any stations it is an annoying hunt to try to find one. All of the hunting and defective scooters has caused me to miss many of the TRAX trains that I had intended on catching. Also, due to the cost structure of the scooters, I don’t see them as ever being more than a novelty. Without any kind of a cost-effective monthly or annual subscription, they will never be more affordable as the sunk costs of already owning a car, already having a monthly UTA pass, and/or already having an annual GREENbike membership. For example, I have never ridden Bird or Lime downtown, because I already have an annual GREENbike membership, and since I am already familiar with all the GREENbike stations, GREENbike is far more convenient. I also don’t see dockless scooters as ever being useful for low-income individuals, since both Bird and Lime require smartphones and credit/debit cards to use.
However, the infusion of scooters into Salt Lake City, especially downtown, has only served to highlight the necessity of improved bicycle infrastructure. While we label it as “bicycle infrastructure,” it serves everyone that falls into the category of being faster than pedestrians but slower than drivers. The vast majority of scooter users that I’ve observed have been riding downtown and have been riding on sidewalks. They ride on sidewalks for the same reasons that bicyclists do. They do not feel safe riding in the street. Until Salt Lake City invests in infrastructure that will make people feel safe to ride off of sidewalks, it is futile for Salt Lake City’s administration to expect people not to ride on sidewalks!
Gallery of E-Scooter and Bike Photos in Salt Lake City by Dave Iltis
Meghan Sheridan won the women’s pro divions in the 2018 Powder Mountain Intermountain Cup. Photo by Nate Gibby
August 25, 2018 – Eden, Utah—Meghan Sheridan (Bingham Cyclery Peak Fasteners) won the Elite Women’s division while Zach Calton (Spry Cycles/Legacy Properties West) took first in the Elite Men’s category at the Intermountain Cup’s series conclusion at Powder Mountain on August 25.
The finale of the Intermountain Cup series took place just east of the Ogden Valley at Powder Mountain This year’s elite division competitors faced two laps with a total of 35 miles and 4,600′ of elevation gain. The course included some of the resort’s pristine new mountain bike trails, allowing participants to be the first to experience the terrain.
“All you need to know is that Meghan Sheridan left everybody else in the dust on the first climb,” said Anne Perry (Bingham Cyclery Peak Fasteners) who placed second in Elite women’s. Sheridan credits her consistent lead to the six-day Breck Epic race in Colorado, where she placed 3rd in her division just two weeks ago. On Saturday’s victory, she says, “I went my own pace and kept hammering, just kept pushing through and tried to ride really smart.” She believes that the 40-mile per day riding there as well as her acclimation to riding in Park City altitude helped keep up her pace and stamina throughout the race. Sheridan had a great experience with the terrain, saying, “the course was really fun, no sustained climbs or descents, just continuing to roll the whole time. I had a great time.”
Anders Johnson and Zach Calton battle it out in the Powder Mountain Intermountain Cup on August 25, 2018. Photo by Nate Gibby
In the elite men’s category, Zach Calton and Anders Johnson (Whole Athlete p/b DNA) stayed in a fierce competition for the top of the podium throughout the majority of the race. Calton said, “I got away with about 2 miles to go. I had tried to hit every single fire road as fast as I could earlier in the lap and I think that wore both of us out pretty bad by the end.” This year, Zach Calton has also placed first in the Cactus Hugger and Rage at Snowbird I-Cup races.
Justin Lindine (Apex Hyperthreads) came in third for elite men, and KC Holley (Kuhl Cycling) was third in elite women.
The high school level brought out some serious challengers for the Intermountain Cup’s final race of the season, with the first five varsity boys ending with times in the 1 hour 19 minutes range. The varsity races consisted of one 17 mile lap with 2,300′ of elevation. Ultimately, Henry Larson (Rouleur Devo p/b DNA) beat out Jackson Nelson by less than one second in an intense sprint to the finish line. Jack Youngblood (Maybird Reyes-Psych) followed for third about 15 seconds after that.
In the Varsity Girls category, Natalie Quinn (ImpactDevo p/b Bountiful Bicycle) took the win and was followed by Madeline Tanner (Bountiful Bicycle Racing p/b Nate Wade Subaru) in second a few minutes after, with Megan Kitchens (Maybird Reyes-Psych) placing third.
Top Results:
August 25, 2018, Powder Mountain, Intermountain Cup, Powder Mountain, UT
Lil’ Shredders (9 & under)
Beckham MIYA 4:33.39
Griffin HAWKES 4:46.11
Milo YOUNGBLOOD 4:46.86
Urban WALKER 5:38.54
Alexis LAMAY 6:12.60
Shredders Boys (10-12)
Derek SANTORO 16:21.15
Tre LUNDBERG 17:52.74
Bode HIPPLE 21:03.10
Ryder GOFF 23:38.44
Eli HAWKES 23:40.36
Shredders Girls (10-12)
Hazel WALKER 22:08.20
Halle HIPPLE 22:59.30
Elliey HORTIN 23:51.36
Abigail BUTTERFIELD 32:43.51
Hannah LAMAY 33:39.45
Junior High Boys
Isaac HORTIN 40:20.86
Maddux LEONARD 40:35.19
Luke ANDERSON 41:12.56
Stryker MELEHES 44:57.73
Jy FERRY 2:49:55.82
Jake MCCOMBS 2:50:55.82
Junior High Girls
Ellie CREECH 33:48.52
Addisyn LUNDBERG 36:01.51
JV Boys
Carter ANDERSON 1:19:51.00
Jesse GUSTAVESON 1:20:09.75
Kyle BLOMQUIST 1:23:41.29
Sage VENZ 1:25:55.72
Tristan GRIFFIN 1:26:04.08
JV Girls
Maggie YOUNGBLOOD 1:41:54.97
Avery WALLIN 1:56:58.44
Ivy BAILEY 2:03:17.35
Catherine BEST 2:10:28.32
Anna NIELSON 2:13:13.50
Varsity Boys
Henry LARSON 1:19:09.57
Jackson NELSON 1:19:10.29
Jack YOUNGBLOOD 1:19:25.55
Andrew DRAPER 1:19:51.19
Porter HAWKES 1:20:19.27
Varsity Girls
Natalie QUINN 1:36:37.91
Madeline TANNER 1:43:07.60
Megan KITCHENS 1:45:04.49
Leed WESTROPE 2:06:35.38
Fresh/Soph Boys
Samuel JOHNSON 1:33:58.98
Collin SANTORO 1:35:19.47
Noah ISRAELSEN 1:35:51.55
Evan ANDERSON 1:41:22.10
Brigham RANDALL 1:44:50.21
Fresh/Soph Girls
Jane HAIGHT 1:49:58.60
Layla WALKER 1:51:42.38
Kamber SASSER 1:54:55.04
Novice Men
Seth SHEARER 1:40:35.34
Keawe NALUAI 1:45:15.30
Scott STANGER 1:47:44.56
David BEDELL 1:49:54.89
Rod SANTORO 2:02:44.29
Konnor WILLISON 2:46:02.87
Novice Women
Jette YOUNGBLOOD 1:10:40.81
Tracy KENDRICK 3:23:41.24
Sport Women
Traci BULLOCK 1:54:21.36
Lisa MEERTS 1:58:31.57
Lindsay VOTH 2:00:36.31
Amy FINCH 2:01:36.87
Kelly SCUDDER 2:10:13.38
Sport Men Open
Russ JACKSON 1:29:19.84
Ethan ENG-TOW 1:33:15.46
Brione ROBERDS 1:53:39.58
Tyson SCOTT 1:58:53.77
Kelby CALDWELL 2:19:11.77
Andrew BURGON 2:20:55.83
Sport Men 35-49
Lance BAILEY 1:28:59.62
Joel ZENGER 1:30:18.18
Denmark JENSEN 1:31:38.40
Nathan LYON 1:32:11.55
Drew WILLIAMS 1:33:32.22
Sport Men 50+
Gregg BROMKA 1:37:22.74
Darrin MASON 1:37:28.14
Marc ANDERSON 1:43:06.96
Derek ISRAELSEN 1:47:28.44
James KISIELEWSKI 1:52:33.74
Bogdan BALASA 2:07:02.40
Expert Men Open
Kody SANCHEZ 3:32:58.68
Ryan COBOURN 3:46:18.46
Brandon WHEELER 2:10:44.71
Expert Men 40-49
Mick HARRIS 2:47:23.82
John OSGUTHORPE 2:50:07.56
Christoph HEINRICH 2:57:10.35
Kyle SMITH 3:10:27.90
Robert MCCOMBS 3:14:22.73
Expert Men 50-59
Bill HARRIS 2:58:31.90
Bob SAFFELL 3:01:01.74
Paul LASTAYO 3:10:50.98
Reed TOPHAM 3:17:18.44
John PENDLETON 3:25:59.88
John FOWLER 3:36:14.44
Expert Men 60+
Lawrence WOOLSON 1:45:53.47
Ryan SPAINHOWER 1:51:48.79
Dick NEWSON 1:53:14.78
Denny TYNAN 1:54:06.76
Kurt DUDLEY 1:54:39.30
Expert Women
Lauren ZIMMER 1:42:22.02
Arianna HARRIS 1:42:38.49
Elite Women
Meghan SHERIDAN 3:07:43.37
Anne PERRY 3:17:27.22
Kc HOLLEY 3:38:52.18
Erika POWERS 3:44:26.28
Elite Men
Zach CALTON 2:29:32.11
Anders JOHNSON 2:31:00.92
Justin LINDINE 2:33:09.88
Chris HOLLEY 2:35:18.0
Spencer MAUGHAN 2:48:16.99
About Intermountain Cup
Founded in 1991, the Intermountain Cup consists of X-country and endurance MTB races throughout Utah. With seven X-country races of approximately 25 miles and one endurance races of approximately 50 miles, the series covers some of the most pristine and difficult rides in the state.
The Utah Dept. of Transportation along with the Federal Highway Administration will prepare a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Interstate 15/Green Spring Drive Interchange (Exit 10) and surrounding roadway system in Washington City. The agencies conducted a public meeting in Washington City in August 2018, followed by a public comment period that ended Sept. 14, 2018.
