By Dave Iltis — Gran Fondo Kootenai is a fully-supported, multi-day cycling event held in the remote northwest corner of Montana. This year’s edition occurs on July 1 and 2. The ride starts in Libby on Day 1 and travels to Eureka. The ride then returns to Libby – via a different route – on Day 2. The back-to-back, “stage” fondo is augmented with a short, unofficial, fun ride along the Kootenai River on check-in day (June 30).
We asked organizer John Weyhrich to tell us more about the ride.
Cycling West: Tell us about the three courses. What is the scenery like? How are the climbs?
Gran Fondo Kootenai: In general, we designed our routes to take in the region’s abundance of spectacular scenery along National Forest Scenic Byways, and to take advantage of its exceptionally lightly trafficked roads. Each day, riders will see snowcapped peaks, deep green valleys, grand lake vistas, and majestic mountain views. And, due to the remoteness of these routes, cyclists will also encounter very few motorized vehicles along the way
Our Day 0 “Fun” ride, is 17 miles long, with a minimal amount of elevation change. It helps orient new riders to the area, and follows the Kootenai River for a stretch along roads which we don’t otherwise ride during the actual event.
The Day 1 route is 76 miles long, with 4700’ gain, and three aid stations. It features continuously rolling terrain with a few short, steep climbs and a fabulous downhill run into the town of Eureka, just a few miles from the Canadian border.
The Day 2 route is 98 miles long, with 6000’ gain, and four aid stations. It boasts several stellar climbs through lush forests and long, fun descents along rushing streams. This route also includes a mile-long unpaved section, a legitimate Euro-style climb (10-miles, ave. grade 7%; max. grade 12%), and is considered by many to be one of the top routes in the nation – it’s truly an epic ride!
Nearing the top of the fearsome Yaak Divide climb in the Gran Fondo Kootenai. Photo by John Weyhrich
CW: What support is available to riders each day? What are the highlights of the rest stops? Where do riders stay in Eureka?
GFK: We offer full support during the entire weekend. That includes mechanical and nutritional support along the ride routes, as well as chip timing. Our aid stations are manned by members of regional service organizations, and their additions of home-baked goods, fresh fruit, and cool treats provide a little local flavor – figuratively and literally – to a full complement of Hammer Nutrition products and other standard ride fare. We also transport luggage and gear (clothes, tents, sleeping bags/pads, etc.) to/from Eureka, where we take over the school complex on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, provide warm showers, and a fantastic catered dinner and breakfast. Most participants overnight in their tents on school grounds, though some choose to sleep inside on the gym floor. A few choose to stay at one of the limited indoor lodging options in Eureka (at their own expense); if so, we’ll transport luggage to/from those locations, as well. Essentially, riders show up, hand us their gear, and simply focus on riding to their day’s destination.
Crossing Lake Koocanusa on Montana’s highest bridge in the Gran Fondo Kootenai. Photo by John Weyhrich
CW: Tell us about the natural features and geography of the area. What are some of the highlights?
GFK: The area is renowned for its abundance of natural resources, spectacular scenery, wild lands and its small, but hearty population. One of the most prominent features of the region is Lake Koocanusa, which we spend a considerable amount of time riding along (and across!). Technically, this body of water is a reservoir, but it’s in a scenically spectacular setting and it provides a fantastic backdrop for the event. We’ll ride for nearly 50 miles along the U.S. portion of the “lake,” but there is a whole other half of the lake in Canada! In fact, the name is a conglomeration taken from the Kootenai River which flows into/out of the lake in Canada and the U.S.A., respectively. And, speaking of the Kootenai River, Kootenai Falls – made famous in the film The River Wild with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon – lies just downstream from our start point in Libby. With the heavy snows received in the Kootenai region this past winter, the falls should be raging during this year’s event! The river bisects the rugged Cabinet Mountain range, still home to a modest population of grizzly bears. We’ll also pedal through the legendary and wondrous Yaak Valley, made famous in writings by Rick Bass and other authors for its quiet remoteness. Glacier National Park, and all its majestic grandeur, lies only an hour and a half to the east.
A tranquil stretch in the Yaak Valley in the Gran Fondo Kootenai. Photo by John Weyhrich
CW: Tell us about the history and the local people.
GFK: The name pertains to the ancient homeland of the Kootenai Indians, which reaches from northwest Montana to northern Idaho and southwestern Canada. In more modern times, the region has been susceptible to the rises and falls of the timber industry. Additionally, the town of Libby, in particular, was beset by the revelation that a local mine produced an asbestos-laden byproduct which caused severe medical and economic hardships for hundreds of the town’s residents. Libby is still recovering from that blow, and proceeds from the gran fondo go toward aiding that process.
CW: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
GFK: Gran Fondo Kootenai welcomes all interested cyclists. This event provides opportunities to be as challenging or as leisurely as desired. Our relatively small size – typically less than 100 riders – allows us to provide personalized service and a special, intimate experience. And, our close proximity to Canada draws many of our cycling neighbors from the north; come be part of a fun, friendly international rivalry.
Event Details:
July 1-2 — Gran Fondo Kootenai, Libby, MT. A two-day, point-to-point, chip-timed fondo featuring fully supported riding through the spectacular landscapes of Montana’s remote northwest corner. Located on National Forest Scenic Byways, our routes take in the stately Cabinet Mountains, serene Lake Koocanusa, and the legendary Yaak Valley. Proceeds benefit local charities, John Weyhrich, 406-241-2829, [email protected], gfkootenai.com
Boulder and Colorado Springs will get a new boost to promote bicycling this summer. New Belgium’s Tour de Fat traveling beer and bike festival will be adding those cities to its list this year, as well as returning to Boise, ID, Fort Collins, CO and Denver. But the events, which raise money for local bike advocates and other non-profits, are taking a different shape than they traditionally have.
Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewery is expanding its road show from 12 to 33 cities in this 18th year of the tour. To do so, it is replacing the daytime weekend events with evening activities, some on weeknights as it would run out of seasonal weekends otherwise. This means ending the traditional costumed bike parades as traffic gets heavier later in the day and it’s harder to get permits. New Belgium still encourages attendees to wear costumes. And this year, the tour has booked bigger acts, and so is charging admission for the first time.
After touring the East and South earlier, the show returns to New Belgium’s home region in Boise on Saturday, August 12 at Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Garden. Rock band Blackberry Smoke will headline. The Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association, Boise Bicycle Project and Treasure Valley Cycling Association will split the proceeds.
Then the show rolls down to Colorado for four performances, starting Friday, August 25 in Boulder, at Boulder Theater, where rock band Wilderado performs. Community Cycles benefits.
The following evening, you’ve got your choice of attending an event at the National Western Complex in Denver to listen to the pop duo Capital Cities among other entertainment to support advocacy group Bike Denver and the ride organizer Denver Cruiser Ride. Or you can get another shot at hearing Wilderado at Pikes Peak Center for the benefit of Upa Downa (that’s an outdoor adventure promoter, not a musical act).
Finally, as the summer season winds down, New Belgium’s touring act returns home to Fort Collins on Labor Day Weekend, with performances Saturday, Sept. 2 by rockers All American Rejects and X Ambassadors in Civic Center Park to benefit Bike Fort Collins, the Overland Mountain Bike Club, Ft. Collins Bike CO-OP and the Ciclismo Youth Foundation.
If you’re looking to improve your running off the bike be sure and incorporate brick workouts into your training. A brick workout is where you go from one activity immediately into the next. Generally a cycling workout immediately into a run is ideal. Be careful not to add too many “brick” workouts into your training as to compromise the effectiveness of each discipline. Once a week during race season is ample. A simple example of a brick workout would be: cycling 25 miles followed by a 3 mile run. I generally I like my athletes to set the pace that they want to run in a race the first half-mile off the bike. It’s good to get the body accustomed to changing disciplines rapidly and will improve your race experience. Happy training!
Coach Lora
About the coach: Lora Erickson aka Blonde Runner is an experienced USA Triathlon run & swim certified coach and athlete with over 30 years of experience. To learn more visit BlondeRunner.com
By Dave Iltis — The DinoTri is one of Utah’s classic triathlons. Held each June in Vernal, it draws racers from around the West. No wonder. The course is incredibly beautiful, and the event is very well run. This year’s event will be on June 24, 2017.
We asked organizer Emilee Johnson to tell us about the event.
Cycling West: Tell us about the DinoTri course. What are the three sections for the sprint and Olympic?
DinoTri: The race starts at the stunning Red Fleet State Park. Olympic swims the 750-meter circle twice, the Sprint swims it once. Then you bike a steep hill out of the park before hitting the canyon where you’ll glide downhill into town. The sprint will go 13 miles to the transition and the Olympic will take a turn in town and go up Dry Fork Canyon before coming back to the transition for a total of 24 miles. Then everyone runs around the roundabout on beautiful new Main street, the Olympic doing two circles for a 10K and the sprint doing one loop for a 5K.
Sage Maaranen won the women’s Olympic open category at the 2016 DinoTri in Vernal, Utah. Photo by Dave Iltis
CW: What is the scenery like? What are the highlights during the event?
DT: The scenery is amazing. Triathlon magazine called it one of their top 10 destination races because you can’t beat the brilliant red rocks of Red Fleet or the amazing views as you head through the canyon into town. And Aggie Ice Cream, recently voted Utah’s number one ice cream, is waiting at the end.
CW: Where can people stay in Vernal? Is there camping too?
DT: The Marriott Hotels have offered a discount to anyone that mentions Vernal DinoTri when they call in for a room. There is camping at the KOA in town or at Steinaker State Park.
The climb out of the Red Fleet Reservoir is a tough way to start the bike leg of the DinoTri. The course flattens out a bit afterwards, but the beautiful scenery continues throughout. Photo by Dave Iltis
CW: What are some of the options for families when the race is over, or for the rest of the weekend? Tell us more about the region.
DT: It’s a great place for a full weekend. There is a dinosaur museum in town, and Dinosaur Monument just outside of town where you can see actual fossils still in the rock. You can also hike and camp and see petroglyphs and a historic cabin. There is hiking and mountain biking throughout the area. There are also beaches at Red Fleet and Steinaker State Parks if you want more water fun. The Outlaw Trail Festival will also be going on at the Western Park. The highlight is Singing in the Rain, the live musical put on by the town every evening.
CW: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
DT: The DinoTri is a great race where the entire community comes together and makes it happen. Live music at check in the night before sets the stage. And live local artist singing The Star-Spangled Banner with a helicopter fly over to start the race is really something to see.
Event Details:
June 24 — DinoTri, Vernal, UT, Sprint and Olympic Distance Triathlon with relay options. Race starts with an open swim at Red Fleet state park. The bike starts with a crazy hill climb out of the park and heads into town for a run and finish at Utah State Extension. One of the most beautiful triathlons in Utah! Emilee Johnson, 801-520-0921, [email protected], dinotri.com
By Jamie Morningstar — Scott Larsen is a forty-something software engineer who work for Provo-based Qualtrics. Scott recently discovered the joys of commuting by bike, in part because of the strong cycling culture at Qualtrics.
Here’s what Scott has to share about why he chooses a bike for his 14-mile round-trip commute.
Scott leaving the Qualtrics building in Provo, Utah. Photo by Jamie Morningstar
Cycling West: When did you start cycling?
Scott Larsen: My cycling story is probably pretty similar to that of a lot of commuters out there. I really like my cycling commute, but I don’t even remotely consider myself a cyclist.
When I was young, I played lots of soccer, ran the hurdles, and have wonderful memories of running in the rain at night. But in my youth I shattered both of my calcaneus (heel) bones taking an unexpectedly high fall during a nighttime game of hide and seek and was told that I would spend most of my life in a wheelchair.
Eventually I healed enough that I was able to walk again, but any exercise that involves impact is still strictly forbidden.
In college, I had a friend that enjoyed mountain biking. I went with him a few times and it was a nice social thing. But I didn’t share his love for mountain biking (in fact, I was a little intimidated by it) and stopped riding when he graduated.
CW: What caused you to rediscover cycling?
SL: My feet still keep me from running, but I have a lot to be grateful for. Between a job that I love and my 8 children, whom I love spending time with, there isn’t a lot of time left over for hobbies.
One year ago, I took a job at Qualtrics in Provo. Shortly after moving to Utah Valley from the east coast, my daughter and I decided to hike Mt. Timpanogos. It was a pretty big hike, and I realized “I’m getting older faster than I want. It’s time for me to grow younger instead!”
In the process of relocating cross-country, I had sold my old commuter car. On that hike, I started to wonder what would happen if I bought a bike instead of another car. I live seven miles from work, and had no idea if I could ride that far! Remember, it has been 20 years since I had ridden a bike, but I was game to find out if a bike would help me get in shape and save us some money, so I thought I’d give it a try.
That was 10 months ago and I’ve ridden to and from work pretty much every day since.
CW: Wow! What keeps you committed to your commute? What do you like about it?
SL: By car, my commute costs 30 minutes (15 minutes each way). By bike, it costs 60 minutes (30 minutes each way). So I see the “cost” of cycle commuting as the incremental 30 minutes each day it takes me to commute by bike.
But I get so much back from that 30-minute investment! I get 60 minutes of sharpening-the-saw time. Sometimes I listen to podcasts. Sometimes I actually stop and talk to random people on the trail. Sometimes I ride hard, and sometimes I let go, sit up straight, roll my shoulders back, and “smell the flowers” along the way. I love riding in the rain, and the snow and ice are nice mix-ups to my day.
Almost all of my seven-mile route is on the Murdock Canal Trail, a multi-purpose trail that runs for 20 miles north-to-south through northern Utah County. The trail is wide, level, and well-maintained – they even plow most of it in the winter. I love it that I don’t have to worry about cars except at a few easy crossings.
The bottom line is that my time with my family and time at work are both better because of my time on the bike — it’s good for my soul. And, yes, now I’m getting younger faster than I’m getting older!
CW: How do you deal with the practical considerations of a longer commute? What about the weather?
SW: I ride nearly every day to and from work in basically any weather: rain, snow, sun, whatever. I’ve learned the value of carrying a bag with a flat kit and a pair of waterproof pants.
I picked up some TorrentShell pants from Patagonia and they’ve been a lifesaver. I also have a similar rain jacket. I carry them most days and I just pull them on when it’s raining hard enough that I’d have wet clothes at work. They’re comfortable pants and I haven’t found them to be hot even though they’re waterproof – after all, I come from the East and would rather bike in the rain then in the desert any day.
In the summer I bring an extra shirt to change into when I get to the office. In the winter I take off my base-layer during the work day and leave a pair of work shoes in the office. I don’t bike with cleats, but in the winter I wear a pair of hiking boots that are too heavy and hot to wear around the office.
CW: What do you consider essential commuting gear?
SL: I started with a stock midrange mountain bike: a Cannondale Catalyst. Over time as I got familiar with commuting and as the weather turned colder I added fenders, a rear rack, and a bunch of lights. I purchased some wind breaking gloves, and a base layer to block the cold winter wind.
To carry my computer and work essentials, I started out with a backpack. Unfortunately, I hadn’t padded my laptop well and bruised my spine, so I transitioned to a pannier bag. That worked wonderfully until one particularly cold January day when one of the plastic clips got too brittle and broke when I went over a curb. So for now I’m back to the backpack again, which is working fine now that I’ve properly padded my laptop. I’ll choose metal pannier clips next time!
CW: What was the biggest challenge in your initial weeks of bike commuting?
SL: When I started, I was too worried about how long my commute would take, so in the interest of time I pushed too hard and strained my legs. It took several weeks of going really easy to recover, and then I eased in more gently after that. Now I’m comfortable with my performance and have learned to just enjoy whatever the day’s commute is going to bring.
CW: How has working for a cycling-friendly company impacted your commuting?
SL: A bike-friendly office makes all the difference. If I have a flat on the way in, I don’t have to worry that someone’s going to give me grief for getting in late. If I need a shower when I get in, no problem, there’s a shower in the office gym. I can store my bike in a special room with high-quality racks. The room is only open to cyclists in the company, and has proper surveillance – I don’t even use my lock anymore when I store it inside. Plus, there’s a good cycling community at work and people are always happy to share advice, experience, gear reviews, and tall tales.
CW: Has your love for cycle commuting translated into recreational riding?
SL: Not really. My children have started riding around town, and they love it – but we haven’t done any bigger family rides yet.
There are a lot of people at Qualtrics who ride, and many of them are pretty serious. Recently I was invited on a Saturday training ride and I thought to myself “why on earth would I want to do that?” So I’m not sure I’m a real cyclist, and I don’t know if I ever will be. There are so many things in my life that are more important to me than spending more time on the bike. On the other hand, I’m finding that my daily commute by bike makes all other aspects of my life so much better, so who knows where cycling may lead me!
Note: Jamie and Scott both work at Qualtrics, a Provo, Utah based software company.
If you have a suggestion for a commuter profile, have a commuter question, or other comments, please send it to [email protected]
The 2017 Tour of Utah will see a return to the Utah Capitol Stage. Photo by Dave Iltis
Tour of Utah Unveils 600-Mile Race Route with Three Mountaintop Finishes for August
Big Cottonwood Uphill Individual Time Trial New for 2017
SALT LAKE CITY (May 25, 2017) – Press Release – The 13th edition of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah will feature 600 miles of racing and 36,525 feet of elevation gain for the seven-day, men’s professional stage race. Detailed maps are below and informational videos for each stage, held July 31-August 6, are now available on the official website, TourofUtah.com, and on social media channels. Three mountaintop finishes are part of “America’s Toughest Stage Race” in 2017, with one finish including an uphill individual time trial.
Sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Tour of Utah course will offer a total of eight Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain (KOM) climbs and 11 Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines.
Returning to the Tour for the first time since 2011 is the individual time trial (ITT), which will be a six-mile, uphill race against the clock to a finish line at Brighton Ski Resort at the uppermost section of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Also returning, for the first time since 2009, is the fan-friendly final stage in Salt Lake City, with finishing circuits around the Utah State Capitol buildings and Avenues neighborhood.
The signature “Queen Stage” of the Tour has been reconfigured this year, but remains one of the toughest finishing climbs for any UCI stage race, featuring the hors category (HC, or beyond classification), six-mile ascent of Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird Resort. The other mountaintop finishes are on Stage 2 at Snowbasin Resort and on Stage 3 with the ITT in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
2017 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Route Highlights
• 600 miles/965 kilometers
• 36,525 feet/11,133 meters of elevation gain
• 3 mountaintop finishes
• 8 Utah Office of Tourism KOM climbs
• 11 Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines
• First individual time trial since 2011
• Second time race has started in northern Utah
• Third time race has extended outside Utah (Bear Lake region of Idaho)
• One time trial, one circuit race and five road stages over seven days
The first five stages feature morning start times, which will accommodate live national television broadcasts on FOX Sports Network (FSN) for race finishes at approximately 1:30-2 p.m. MT. Saturday and Sunday stages will begin at 1:10 p.m. and are scheduled for a 2-4 p.m. MT televised time slot across the United States. FSN will also broadcast evening highlight shows, and TourTracker will provide start-to-finish live race coverage via web cast and mobile applications all week. More details regarding TourTracker coverage and regional programming will be made available in July.
Four of the 10 host venues are anchoring a start and/or finish line for the first time — Brigham City, Big Cottonwood Canyon, South Jordan and Layton. Salt Lake City and Snowbird Resort have the longest tenures as host venues, each being part of the race for 10 of the 13 years. Logan will serve as race headquarters for overall start festivities, including the Team Presentation on Saturday, July 29, which is free for spectators. Bountiful returns for a third year as a stage finish, and Heber Valley returns for a second time as a stage start, which will also host the start for The Ultimate Challenge citizens ride presented by University of Utah Health.
“We are proud to design and orchestrate new race courses each year. This year’s Tour of Utah brings back the individual time trial and the circuit race at the Capitol, which will both challenge the professional athletes and energize our fans. With live broadcasts each day on Tour Tracker and FOX Sports Network, we can bring the excitement of the race and the beauty of Utah to fans all over the world,” said Jenn Andrs, executive director of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.
Stage 1 presented by America First Credit Union is the longest day of the Tour of Utah at 132 miles. Home to Utah State University, Logan previously served as the overall start community for the 2015 Tour of Utah. This is the same route used two years ago, rolling across scenic roads in two states and testing the legs with 6,550 feet of elevation gain. The peloton begins on Monday, July 31 heading through Logan Canyon, a rugged area that offers a Utah Office of Tourism KOM climb in both directions. From Garden City, the first Utah Sports Commission Sprint line will await on the Idaho state border. The route will navigate clockwise for 48 miles around Bear Lake, known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its turquoise-colored water. Returning through Garden City and Logan Canyon to the Cache Valley, there will be two circuits in downtown Logan for fans to watch, with the finish along North 100 East and Federal Avenue.
Stage 2 will debut a new start in picturesque Brigham City, nestled against the northernmost section of the Wasatch Front. The 94-mile climbing affair on Tuesday, Aug. 1 begins with two neutral laps in downtown Brigham City, starting on Main Street near 100 South. It only takes 11 miles into the stage before the racers encounter the first of three Utah Office of Tourism KOMs, which total 6,900 feet of elevation gain for the day. This is the first time the Tour will climb Sardine Canyon, which sits next to Mt. Sterling. After circling the Wellsville Mountains in a counter-clockwise direction, the route returns through Brigham City for a Utah Sports Commission Sprint line on Historic Main Street. The route will turn south and follow State Highway 89 to reach the North Ogden Divide. After passing on the east side of Pineview Reservoir, the route will launch the climbers for the first mountaintop finish of the week at Snowbasin Resort. The final climb is a double-pitched incline to the resort covering six miles with a six percent average gradient, and has not been used in the race before.
Stage 3 on Wednesday, Aug. 2, marks the return of the popular ITT. In 2011, American Tejay Van Garderen won the Stage 3 ITT on his 23rd birthday at Miller Motorsports Park. This year, the ITT will look nothing like the flat course of the race track. Starting at an elevation of 7,300 feet, the course climbs 1,725 vertical feet and provides a tough 5.6-mile ascent of Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, from the Donut Falls Trailhead parking at Reynolds Gulch to the front door of Brighton Ski Resort. The route passes Solitude Ski Resort and the turnoff to Guardsman Pass, flanked along the road by towering spruce trees and rock vistas that are part of the Uinta- Wasatch-Cache National Forest. With a 5.5 percent average gradient, the course should favor a strong rider who excels at high altitude.
Stage 4 presented by Workfront covers new territory across 125 miles in Salt Lake, Tooele and Utah counties on Thursday, Aug. 3. The stage begins with the inaugural start/finish in South Jordan, located on Redwood Road next to South Jordan City Park. The race will use 11400 South to reach the Mountain View Corridor and head to the west desert and Rush Valley. A surprise for the riders will be Faust Road, 10 miles of maintained dirt and gravel, which will connect to the old Pony Express Trail. The course will cross Five Mile Pass, a former thoroughfare in the 1800s for the stagecoach and pioneer families heading west. Here in the shadows of the Oquirrh Mountains, riders will find little protection from the wind. Two Utah Office of Tourism Sprints will be contested on the out-and-back section of SR 73 at Cedar Fort. With 4,000 feet of elevation gain, this should bring a Wild West finish back into South Jordan. There will be two finishing circuits of three miles each around South Jordan City Park.
Friday, Aug. 4, brings Stage 5 presented by Zions Bank back to Davis County for a third consecutive year. New for 2017 will be an inaugural stage start in Layton. The 112-mile course rolls toward Hooper and the Great Salt Lake for 53 miles of rural roads in Davis and Weber counties. Passing through downtown Layton for a second time, the Utah Sports Commission Sprint line will be staged at Wasatch Drive. A new section of the course will take State Road 93 to access Hill Air Force Base, using the South Gate Entrance, for the first time. The route will follow Foulois Road to Wardleigh Road on the base, exiting near the Hill Aerospace Museum, the largest museum west of the Mississippi River. Heading for the traditional finish in Bountiful, the route will follow sections of U.S. Highway 89 and Mountain Road to reach the nine-mile circuit. After two crushing climbs across the Bountiful Bench, each designated with a Utah Office of Tourism KOM, the 4,200-feet of climbing of the stage will end on Main Street at Center Street, with the peloton racing in the northbound direction.
Saturday, Aug. 5, marks the return of the “Queen Stage” of the Tour of Utah, Stage 6 presented by University of Utah Health. This year’s course uses the original route over Alpine Loop that was introduced in 2006. At 61 miles in length, the course is much shorter than previous editions, but not easier. This stage begins for a second time in the southeast corner of the Heber Valley in the shadow of Mount Timpanogos at the stadium of Soldier Hollow. The racers will only have a few miles around Deer Creek Reservoir before tackling the Alpine Loop, a Category 1 climb through American Fork Canyon, passing Sundance Resort and Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The route travels through the cities of Draper and Sandy before passing huge crowds at Tanners Flat for the final fireworks on the Hors Category climb to Snowbird Resort through Little Cottonwood Canyon, the signature six-mile ascent featuring 8-12 percent gradients. The Ultimate Challenge presented by University of Utah Health will take place on Saturday as well, allowing recreational cyclists to tackle the same route as the professionals.
The Ultimate Challenge will begin at 9:30 a.m. MT in the Heber Valley at Soldier Hollow. Participants receive ride support, as well as a timed section along the Little Cottonwood Canyon climb to allow them to compare personal ride times to those of the pros. All participants of The Ultimate Challenge will receive post-ride food and beverages with a reserved space to watch the finish of Stage 6, expected between 3:30-4 p.m. This marks the eighth year for this non-competitive, gran fondo-style bicycle ride. Registration for The Ultimate Challenge is available online for $140, with a team discount offered for groups of eight or more.
Stage 7 presented by Utah Sports Commission brings back the overall finish to Salt Lake City for the first time since 2009. This 6.8-mile circuit is the same course that was first introduced in 2013 for a Friday stage, but this time the distance has been doubled to a total of 71 miles with 5,450 feet of climbing. There will be a total of 11 total laps, including intermediate sprints on laps three and seven, plus a time bonus at the finish. The course begins and ends on the east side of the Utah State Capitol, with an uphill finish along State Street and at the summit of East Capitol Boulevard. Other viewing areas include Bonneville Boulevard around City Creek Canyon and the serpentine turns around Reservoir Park. The overall champion of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah could be decided on this seventh day of racing.
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah gained international accreditation in 2011 when it was first sanctioned by the UCI. In 2015 the race was elevated to the 2.HC ranking, one of only two such multi-day events in North America. This year’s Tour of Utah will continue as the first internationally-sanctioned cycling competition in North America for men following the Tour de France. To date, 14 of the final 16 men’s professional teams have been confirmed to compete, with rosters expected the final week of July.
More information about the Tour of Utah, host venues and professional teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com.
Park City Bike Demos is hosting a party and bike demo day on May 27, 2017. Photo by Dave Iltis
May 24, 2017 – Park City, Utah – Park City Bike Demos will host a bike demo day and party on Saturday May 27, 2017 at the their Park City location at 1500 Kearns Blvd. The event will take place from 9 am to 6 pm.
They sent Cycling Utah the following invitation:
To celebrate the start of the 2017 cycling season, Park City Bike Demos is having a party on Saturday, May 27th, at their Park City demo center. There will be a special one-day demo-rental rate of just $25 for all road and mountain bikes and they’ll be serving hot dogs and cold drinks. This is a great opportunity to check out the latest and greatest in road and mountain bike technology. Park City Bike Demos carries road and mountain bikes from BMC, Felt, Argon 18, Devinci and Knolly. All bikes will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis so get there early if there’s a specific bike you’d like to try. For more info on the event, please visit the Spring Demo Event web page. To browse all bikes in the PCBD demo-rental fleet, please visit the Park City Bike Demos bike shop page: http://www.parkcitybikedemos.com/
Cycling Utah and Cycling West Magazine’s May 2017 Issue is now available as a free download (9 mb download), Pick up a copy at your favorite Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, W. Colorado, N. Arizona bike shop or other location!
May 2017 Cover Photo: Big air at Trailside Park in Park City, Utah. Photo by Dave Iltis
Contents
May is Bike Month! It’s Time to Ride! –page – 3
Scott Larsen Commutes with Strong Company Support –page – 4
Tips from Qualtrics on Creating a Bike-Friendly Workplace page – 4
17 page – 5
Too Early, Too Cold, Great Ride –page – 6
New Utah Law Helps Cyclists Get Full Value For Damaged Bikes –page – 7
The Virtues Of Suffering –page – 8
Cycle The Sierra Ride Travels Through the Western Sierra Nevada –page – 9
Love and Hate at the Tour of the Gila –page – 10
Getting Back on the Bike After Time Off –page – 10
E-Bike Expo Coming to Salt Lake City, May 19-21 page – 10
The Tour of Utah Announces Initial Team Selection to 2017 Race –page – 11
Different Bikes, Same Fit Position? –page – 15
New Trails to be Built Near Grand Junction page – 15
5 Ways You Can Support Better Bicycling During Bike Month –page – 16
Promoting Sustainable Transportation in Downtowns page – 16
Randy Boyd is Riding Across America to Stomp Out Shame –page – 17
Holley and Stuart Take Intermountain Cup’s Cactus Hugger –page – 18
Emerson and Beyer Top the Podium in East Canyon Road Race –page – 19
Outerbike Offers Opportunity to Demo New Bikes in Festival Atmosphere –page – 20
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway by Bike – Evanston, Wyoming to Bald Mountain Pass –page – 21
SLCBAC News for May 2017 page – 31
Rule on Planning Input from Bike Organizations to be Overturned page – 31
Rule to Protect Cyclists from Quiet Hybrid Cars on Hold page – 31
A Summer Tour of Southwestern Montana by Bicycle –page – 32
Mayor’s Bike to Work Day Highlights 900 South Bike Park
Bike to Work Day in Salt Lake City is on May 23, 2017. National Bike to Work Day is May 19, 2019. Photo by Dave Iltis
Press Release: On Tuesday, May 23rd , 2017, join Mayor Jackie Biskupski on a fun ride for Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bike to Work Day.
The event will highlight the City’s newly constructed 900 South Bike Park at 905 South 700 West. The Mayor will peddle with the public, Salt Lake City employees, and event partners Bingham Cyclery, Cycling Utah, Green Bike SLC, Salt Lake Valley Trails Society, and Wasatch Community Gardens to downtown Salt Lake City.
“Mayor’s Bike to Work Day is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy a beautiful spring morning on two wheels,” Mayor Biskupski said. “The ride will promote fitness, clean air, community building, bike safety, and celebration of the new bike park and the sights of Salt Lake City.”
The Bike to Work Day route will feature the 9 Line corridor along 900 South and protected bike lanes in downtown Salt Lake City. A police escort will assist with the crossings of busier streets and TRAX routes.
The 900 South Bike Park is an enhancement of the community-created 900 South bike pump track, now adding larger jumps and practice areas for BMX and mountain bikers. A bike park is the bicycling equivalent of a skate park.
Arrive by 7 a.m. and enjoy complimentary snacks, coffee from Badass Coffee, music provided by Power 94.9, community booths from our event partners, and a demonstration from riders at the newly constructed bike pump track. A donation bin from the Utah Volunteers of America will be accepting donations at the event that can provide youth with any biking related items, sunscreen, lip balm, and bug spray. The bike ride to the Salt Lake City and County Building begins at 8 a.m.
WHAT: Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bike to Work Day
WHO: Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski
Salt Lake City Parks and Public Lands
Salt Lake City Transportation
Event Partners: Bike MS, Bingham Cyclery, Contender Bicycles, Cycling West – Cycling Utah, Green Bike SLC, Salt Lake Valley Trails Society, and Wasatch Community Gardens
WHEN: Tuesday, May 23, 2017
7 a.m.: Complimentary snacks, coffee, and music
8 a.m.: Bike ride to downtown Salt Lake City begins
ROUTE START: 900 South Bike Park (905 South 700 West, Salt Lake City)
ROUTE END: Salt Lake City and County Building
451 South State Street, Salt Lake City
Route Map:
2017 Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bike to Work Day Route Map.
For more details on the event and the bike route, please visit:
Do you like beer and bikes? Spoke Sessions will take place on Saturday May 20, 2017. This new event is a celebration of National Bike Month and of American Craft Beer Week. It will showcase beer from several local brewers including Red Rock, Bohemian, Epic, Proper, RoHa Brewing, Moab Brewery, Shades of Pale, Garwood’s Ginger Beer, and 2 Row Brewing. Bike events will take place throughout the day, including tall bike jousting, mini-velodrome races, knife fights (a type of bike event), and slow races. 3 local bands and a DJ will provide music throughout the day.
There will also be workshops on bike maintenance, repair, and bike sizing. At least 4 bike shops will take part in the festivities too.
Bike registration will be available from the Bicycle Collective, and fun will be had by all. The event is free, and will take place at 128 E 800 S Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (in the back of Crank SLC, a bike shop located on 749 S. State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111).
For more information, call Crank SLC at 385-528-1158.
Spoke Sessions will celebrate bikes and craft beer on May 20, 2017 from 12 noon to 8 pm near Crank SLC (749 S. State Street) in Salt Lake City.
Wild Rose Sports is closing after serving Salt Lake City residents for 32 years.
Tim Metos, owner of Wild Rose Mountain Sports has announced his retirement and the closing of the iconic Salt Lake Avenues bicycle and ski store he co-founded thirty-two years ago.
This Thursday, May 18th at 10am, Wild Rose will open for a Retirement and Closing Sale.
“Everything is on Sale.”
The store will be closed today (May 16th) and tomorrow (May 17th) for re-pricing at healthy discounts.
Wild Rose Mountain Sports is located at 702 3rd Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT.
Further announcements may be posted on the Wild Rose website and on their facebook page.
As for reasons behind the announcement, a number of factors weighed on the decision. At the fore-front, Metos acknowledged “it’s just time.” While pressure from online competitors has made competing more difficult, in particular the erosion of margins in bicycle components, the Rose’s very healthy service-side of the business and the winter-side ski business has mostly off-set growing pressure from e-commerce.
The service-side of the business will likely continue throughout June and maybe into July.
Over the years, Metos has been an important supporter of the Utah Nordic Alliance and a generous supporter of Avenue’s neighborhood events and causes.
This story is evolving and will update as news becomes available.
By Nate Gibby — HURRICANE, UTAH — Kuhl rider Chris Holley won the Elite Men’s division while Storm Cycles Park City’s Ami Stuart took top spot on the podium of the Elite Women’s category at the Intermountain Cup’s inaugural Cactus Hugger X-Country MTB race on April 22, 2017 near Hurricane, Utah.
Racers power down the course of the Intermountain Cup’s Cactus Hugger with the majestic peaks of Zion National Park in the distance. Photo by Nate Gibby
With the majestic white, cathedral peaks of Zion National Park looming on the horizon and a slight breeze in the face, nearly 300 riders kicked off the second race of the Intermountain Cup’s X-country series. Comprised of segments of the famous JEM Trail system, the course featured an 8.6-mile loop with approximately 550 feet of climbing per lap.
Kuhl’s Chris Holley crossing the finish line for the victory in the Elite Men’s division. Photo by Nate Gibby
In the Elite Men’s division, Holley, Spanish Fork, Utah, Bryson Perry, Draper, Utah (Rouleur Devo PB DNA Cycling and Summit Cyclery) and Cameron Larson, Pleasant Grove, Utah (Competitive Cyclist Summit) were able to create separation from the rest of the field on the single track section of the first lap. “The three of us stayed together, testing each out in certain sections for the first three laps,” said Holley. “Halfway into the fourth lap, I was able to get a gap on them and stay away from them the rest of the race.” Averaging a scorching 30-minute lap, Holley powered his way to a +1:00 victory.
Ami Stuart of Storm Cycles Park City (left) and the rest of the Elite Women riders prepare for the start of the Intermountain Cup’s Cactus Hugger. Photo by Nate Gibby
In the Elite Women’s category, Stuart, of Park City, Utah, started out strong off the line for an early lead, but was soon caught by Anne Perry, Draper, Utah (Bingham Cyclery – Peak Fasteners), Jeanette Peterson, Sandy, Utah (Team Ron) and Jen Hanks, Park City, Utah (Pivot/DNA Cycling Race Team). Stuart and Perry distanced themselves from the group in the single track of the second lap. However, Stuart pulled ahead on the decent of the third lap on her way to a 20-second margin of victory. “[Perry] is a strong rider who almost caught me again on the last climb of the third lap,” said Stuart. “I managed to get ahead of her on the downhill for the win.”
Jacob Draper, 15 (Maybird Reyes-Psych), races through the Intermountain Cup’s Cactus Hugger on April 22. Photo by Nate Gibby
Stuart’s notched her first X-country victory in the Elite Women’s category at the Intermountain Cup’s Cactus Hugger. With only three years of experience mountain biking, she finished near last in the Expert Women category two years ago. “My husband has been racer for 20 years,” she said. “So I started racing with him. Two years later, a lot of skill acquisition and lot of confidence gained, and I won my first [Intermountain] Cup.”
The EBike Expo is coming to Salt Lake City from May 19-21, 2017 at the Smith’s Ball Park. Photo courtesy EBike Expos
May 1, 2017 – Starting on Friday May 19th at 3:00 pm, the Electric Bike Expo, with Presenting Sponsor Bosch eBike Systems, rolls into Smith’s Ballpark at parking lot at 77 West 1300 South, Salt Lake City Utah 84115. The event is completely free and offers the public 16 and older the opportunity to test ride over 120 of the premier and emerging eBike models on a special Trek Sponsored 25,000 sq. foot enclosed loop track, with Cannondale as theTerrain Trail Sponsor.Children under 16 can ride as cargo bike passengers to share the excitement. The Expo hours are: Friday 3pm-7pm; Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. Friday prior to the event opening there will be two professional workshops hosted.
The Ebike Expo is an excellent opportunity for residents interested in Utah Clean Energy’s Zoo-m Go eBike program to test ride many of the model’s covered in the program. Through the Zoo-m Go program residents are being offered he chance to purchase a new eBike for up to a 45% discount from 17 different participating manufacturers from 9 participating retailers.The program runs through May 31st. Details and the online sign up form can be found here: utahev.org/about-zoom/about-zoo-m-go-electric.
May 19-21 — 2017 Electric Bike Expo|, Salt Lake City, UT, National e-bike expo with test rides, manufacturers, discounts, sales, education, booths, and more! Held at Smith’s Ballpark at the parking lot on 77 West 1300 South, Salt Lake City Utah 84115, Friday 3pm-7pm; Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm, free to the public!, Electric Bike Association , 702-626-0925, [email protected], electricbikeassociation.org/events/saltlakecity/
The EBike Expo is coming to Salt Lake City from May 19-21, 2017 at the Smith’s Ball Park. Photo courtesy EBike ExposThe EBike Expo is coming to Salt Lake City from May 19-21, 2017 at the Smith’s Ball Park. Photo courtesy EBike Expos
The Canyon Pro Cycling team of Paco Mancebo, Chad Beyer, and Rob Squire motoring on the backside of Hogsback in the East Canyon Road Race, April 15, 2017. Photo by Dave Iltis
By Dave Iltis – On a sunny and crisp spring day, the Sports-Am East Canyon Road Race took place at East Canyon Resort on April 15, 2017. With a light road racing schedule in Utah this spring, the race had great attendance with over 240 racers lining up at the start.
The 60 mile course was changed this year to start at East Canyon, instead of the top of Hogsback. This meant riders only had to climb the stairstep climb twice rather than the usual three times. But this didn’t keep the climb from being a major factor in the race.
In the pro men’s race, locally-based Canyon Pro Cycling kicked off the fireworks from the gun with three riders setting a hard tempo. The pack held together for about three-quarters of the way up the first ascent of Hogsback, out of the East Canyon Reservoir. Paco Mancebo (Canyon), former winner of the Tour of Utah, and internationally known pro racer, attacked near the top bringing Fat Bike World Champion Rob Squire, and Arizona-based pro Chad Beyer with him.
Rob Squire (center), Chad Beyer (left), and Paco Mancebo (right) lead at the front of the pack just before establishing the winning break. Beyer would go on to win the race. East Canyon Road Race, April 15, 2017. Photo by Dave Iltis
The trio of pros rode strong over the next 50 miles and were able to keep the peloton at bay despite a lot of work from the various teams.
At the finish, Mancebo dropped off, and Beyer and Squire sprinted for the line with Beyer taking the win over Squire. In the field, the high-powered Canyon squad formed a lead-out train for Erik Slack, who finished fourth. Joe Waters and Rob Smallman rounded out the top 6.
In the women’s field, the three women fought it out over the classic course. Mary Emerson (Plan 7) was dropped on the first climb, but regained contact. She attacked after the turnaround, but was unable to hold it. Alison Frye (Ski Utah), Jillian Gardner (Canyon), and Emerson traded pulls over much of the course until the climb back over Hogsback. Gardner was dropped, then Emerson, with Frye going over the top first. Emerson caught back on the descent, and then attacked Frye to solo in for the win.
Other category winners were: Lindsey Stevenson (Team Endurance 360) – Women 3-4-5; Kelly Hunsaker (Plan7 DS) – Master 35+ Women; Mark Otterson (Zanconato Racing) Men’s 35-44; Ben Nichols (Canyon) – Men’s 45+; Mark Schaefer (Maddog Racing) – Men’s 55+; Darren Tuckett (Total Care) – Men’s Cat 3-4; Samuel McBride Men’s Cat 4; Jeff Phillips – Men’s Cat 4/5 35+; Owen Ala- Men’s Cat 5; Hunter Munns – Junior Men.
The women’s master 35+ field on the backside of Hogsback in the East Canyon Road Race, April 15, 2017. Kelly Hunsaker (red jersey) went on to win the category. Photo by Dave IltisThe East Canyon Road Race has beautiful scenery and a great course. Photo by Dave Iltis
Bike to Work Day in Salt Lake City is on May 23, 2017. National Bike to Work Day is May 19, 2019. Photo by Dave Iltis
Each year since 1956, America has celebrated May as Bike Month. What better month to ride? The weather is great, school is out or winding down,and the flowers are out! Established by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike Month is a time to celebrate the bicycle and what it means for fun, transportation, competition, health, and the environment.
A great way to participate is to take part in the National Bike Challenge (nationalbikechallenge.org) where riders keep track of their mileage and rides throughout the month. In Utah, with the recent purchase of Strava data for bike planning, consider using the Strava app to track your rides and get better data for the state.
In Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, W. Colorado, N. Arizona, Nevada there are tons of great events to participate in.
May 15-19 is Bike to Work week. May 9 is Bike to School Day. And, on May 14, Cyclofemme rides for women only take place throughout the world (cyclofemme.com).
Also, on May 17, the international Ride of Silence takes place in communities around the globe to honor cyclists killed or injured riding on the roads. (rideofsilence.org).
Take a some time to ride with others this month and celebrate May is Bike Month!
We present a calendar of regional events below:
Bike to Work Day in Salt Lake City is on May 23, 2017. National Bike to Work Day is May 19, 2019. Photo by Dave Iltis
May 1-29, 2017 — Monday Night Night Rides, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, Joaquin Park, 400 E 400 N, 9 pm every Monday in May, a casual ride through the streets of Provo, Aaron Skabelund, 385-207-6879, [email protected], bikeprovo.org, facebook.com/events/1895586710717790/
May 2, 2017 — Bike to Work Day in Provo City, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, Provo businesses will host stations located throughout the city and hand out free breakfast, drinks, and other treats to people who arrive by bike from 7:30 – 9:00 am. (Provo City’s breakfast station will be open at 6:30 am for early bird riders.) Pick up some breakfast and coffee, get to know your fellow commuters, have your bike looked at by a pro mechanic, and connect with the Provo Bike Committee and other community volunteers., Aaron Skabelund, 385-207-6879, [email protected], bikeprovo.org, facebook.com/events/1628006487239757/
May 11, 2017 — Ogden Trails Shindig, Utah Bike Month, Ogden, UT, Fundraising event and party to benefit the Ogden Trails Network and The Ogden Bike Park May 5th 5:30-8:30 pm – The Front Climbing Club 225 20th St, Josh Jones, 801-629-8757, [email protected], ogdencity.com, facebook.com/events/1071396846232542/
May 13-20, 2017 — Boise Bike Week, Bike Month, Boise, ID, A celebration of cycling in all of its forms, Boise Bike Week take place in the middle of National Bike Month and recognizes National Bike to Work Day on Friday May 19th. There is something for everyone: Mountain bike clinics, gravel rides, movies, women’s rides, Bike to Work Breakfast, Market rides and commuter seminars. It all culminates with a big block party on Saturday May 20 in downtown Boise. Come ride with us!, Lisa Brady, 208-761-8507, [email protected], boisebikeweek.org, biketreasurevalley.org
May 13, 2017 — Cyclofemme Ride, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, Women’s only ride. Join us for the 4th Annual CycloFemme ride. We are teaming up with the Provo Bicycle Collective and Provo City to make this ride a great. This will be a casual ride for all ages. The ride will start at Center Street and University Ave. at 2 pm at the Historic County Courthouse and will take a nice slow paced 5 mile ride around Downtown Provo ending at Joaquin Park., Heather Skabelund, 971-404-1557, [email protected], Jennifer Messenger, [email protected], cyclofemme.com
May 13, 2017 — Great Reno Bike Swap, Bike Month, Reno Bike Week, Reno, NV, Buy or sell a bike and benefit the Kiwanis Club and the Nevada Colon Cancer Partnership., Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance , 775-323-4488, [email protected], bikewashoe.org
May 13, 2017 — Reno River Roll, Bike Month, Reno Bike Week, Reno, NV, A seven mile family-friendly slow roll along the Truckee River. Costumes welcome, Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance , 775-323-4488, [email protected], bikewashoe.org
May 14, 2017 — Cyclofemme Reno, Bike Month, Reno Bike Week, Reno, NV, Riders of any gender, join the casual six mile ride to celebrate all women, Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance , 775-323-4488, [email protected], bikewashoe.org
May 15-19, 2017 — Bike to Work and School Week, Utah Bike Month, Logan, UT, Bike to Work & School Week offers free commuter breakfasts and raffles to win a new bicycle. Breakfasts, bike tunes, weeklong discounts at local businesses, custom gear, and a bike-in concert are all part of the fun, Dayton Crites, 435-755-1646, [email protected], trails.cachecounty.org, aggiebluebikes.org
May 15-19, 2017 — Bozeman Bike Week, Bike Month, Bozeman, MT, Celebrate bike commuting with the Bozeman cycling community the week of May 16 – 20. There will be morning stops each day and an end of week party on Friday!, Alex Lussier, [email protected], Megan Lawson, 406-570-7475, [email protected], Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club , [email protected], gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org, gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org/community-events/bike-to-work-week/
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Utah Bike Month, Salt Lake City, UT, Cyclists will take to the roads, escorted in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, meet at 6:30 at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Ride leaves at 7 pm. Bike ride at 10 to 12 mph, mostly flat or minimum grade, about 11 miles., Tegan Feudale, 717-503-4275, [email protected], rideofsilence.org
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, Join the Provo chapter of the Worldwide Ride of Silence on May 17th to ride to honor people who were killed or injured while biking this last year and last several years. We will begin at Dixon Middle School and go for a short, slow, silent ride with brief stops at the ghost bike memorials for Doug Crow and Mark Robinson, and return to Dixon Middle School where we will have light refreshments. Meet at 6:30. Dixon Middle School, 750 W 200 N. 7 pm., Lucy Ordaz, 801-787-4384, [email protected], rideofsilence.org, facebook.com/events/850656535006205/851159871622538/
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Bike Month, Prescott, AZ, Ride to honor dead and injured cyclists and to honor Amber Harrington who was killed by a drunk driver in 2015. Organized by Greater Prescott Bicyclists Coalition, Eric Post, [email protected], rideofsilence.org
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Bike Month, Las Vegas, NV, Ride to honor dead and injured cyclists. Register 6:00 until 6:50 in the parking lot of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Building (RTCSN) at 600 South Grand Central Parkway south of the intersection of South Bonneville (Alta Drive) and South Grand Central Parkway. Ride starts at 7., Jim Litttle, 702-360-4751, [email protected], rideofsilence.org
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Bike Month, Boise, ID, Ride to honor dead and injured cyclists. Camels Back Park at 6pm., Lisa Brady, 208-761-8507, [email protected], rideofsilence.org, biketreasurevalley.org
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Bike Month, Heyburn, ID, Ride to honor dead and injured cyclists. The event gets underway at 7pm Mountain time and starts and finishes at the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce. There is usually police escort. For more information or in case of inclement weather call Rocks Cycling and Fitness 208-678-3764 for rescheduling details., Kim Walton, 208-678-3764, , rideofsilence.org
May 17, 2017 — Ride of Silence, Bike Month, Carson City, NV, All cyclists are welcome to join us. What: Ride of Silence – An 8 mile slow ride (10-12 mph) around Carson City, ridden in complete silence as riders wear black arm bands. When: Wednesday, May 17th 7:00 pm (meetup at 6:30 pm to get signed in and listen to safety brief, ride starts rolling at 7:00 pm). Where: Telegraph Square (http://tinyurl.com/ktabfrv) Why: To honor those cyclists who have been killed or injured while sharing the road with motorists, Randy Gaa, [email protected], rideofsilence.org, musclepowered.org/bike-month-2017
May 18, 2017 — Bicycle Pit Stops, Utah Bike Month, Salt Lake City, UT, 7 a.m.-9 a.m. Morning commuter pit stops throughout Salt Lake City on popular bicycle routes. Snacks, safety info, bike maps. See facebook the week before for locations., Salt Lake City Transportation , 801-535-6630, [email protected], bikeslc.com, facebook.com/bikeslc
May 19, 2017 — Bike To Work, School, and Play Day, Utah Bike Month, Park City, UT, Kickoff Celebration with Mayor & Council, 7:30 am, Meet at Olympic Plaza (next to Squatters), The group will bike to Park City Library. Bike support station available. Bike to Work, School & Play Celebration, 7:30 to 10:30 am, Park City Library, 1255 Park Avenue, Pet-friendly & family-friendly. Free raffles, snacks, bike tune-ups & e-bike demos. Bike to School with Park City Police, 7:30 am Meet at one of the following locations to bike to McPolin Elementary School with Park City Police Officers: PC MARC, Aspen Villas apartments, Arches Park at the end of Comstock, Heinrich Deters, 435-649-8710, 435-659-1188 , [email protected], Julia Collins, [email protected], mountaintrails.org, basinrecreation.org
May 19, 2017 — Ogden Mayor’s Bike to Work Day, Utah Bike Month, Ogden, UT, Ride to Work with the Mayor – We will meet the Mayor at the South end of the Dee Events Center Parking lot 1300E 4600S on his ride into work at 8am, the group will ride with the mayor to the Ogden amphitheater (343 25th st) for a breakfast hosted by Ogden City, Threshold Gives, UTA , and WOBAC. Can’t make it up to ride with the mayor? Then just pedal on down for breakfsat. See you there! Food served until 10am, Josh Jones, 801-629-8757, [email protected], ogdencity.com, facebook.com/events/1080722501970185
May 20, 2017 — SLUG Cat Bicycle Scavenger Hunt, Utah Bike Month, Salt Lake City, UT, This exciting event features a scavenger hunt bike race all that takes you all over Salt Lake City. Build a team of the coolest cats you know and win awesome prizes from our local sponsors! 5th Annual, Angela Brown, 801-487-9221, [email protected], John Ford, 801-487-9221, [email protected], slugmag.com
May 20, 2017 — Provo Bike Picnic, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, There’s no sweeter way to spend your Saturday afternoon than a bike picnic. Meet us at 4pm at Utah Lake State Park for a fun, causal bike ride. We will pedal on over to Lakeview Park to enjoy a homemade picnic. Be sure to pack your own food and blankets. Meet @ 4:00 pm, Ride starts at 4:30 pm Meet at Utah Lake State Park (4400 Center St, Provo) – Picnic @ Lakeview Park (2825 W 1390 N), Aaron Skabelund, 385-207-6879, [email protected], bikeprovo.org
May 23, 2017 — Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bike to Work Day, Utah Bike Month, Salt Lake City, UT, A mellow ride with Mayor Jackie Biskupski under police escort. Breakfast, music, and more at 7:30 am, beginning at the 900 South Pump Track at 905 S, 700 W. Bike ride begins at 8am and ends at the Salt Lake City and County Building., Tara Olson, 801-535-6167, [email protected], slcgov.com/biketoworkday
May 26, 2017 — Pedal Provo Ghost Tours, Utah Bike Month, Provo, UT, Friday the 13th Ghost Ride, sponsored by Provo Cycling Ghost Tours, Memorial Park (800 E Center Street) 9-11 pm, Aaron Skabelund, 385-207-6879, [email protected], bikeprovo.org
June 10, 2017 — Bike Prom, Utah Bike Month, Salt Lake City, UT, Bike Prom, the Bicycle Collective’s annual fancy bike party. Gallivan Center, 293 Main St. Wear your prom outfits. Pre-prom ride: 6:00pm starting at Pioneer Park., Clint Watson, 801-328-2453, 801-400-3072, [email protected], bicyclecollective.org, bikeprom.com
