Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Home Blog Page 290

Just Do It – Advice from Five Women Bike Tourers

Lou Melini
-
0

By Lou Melini

How do you go from riding a bike around town, to venturing off on a bike packed with all of your necessities, for periods of time ranging from 3-weeks to 3-months. The following women have each done multiple tours in various parts of the United States and abroad. For obvious reasons, most women long-distance bike tourers are either before or after child rearing. These women range from the mid 40’s to mid 60’s. A high degree of athleticism isn’t needed, as they will all tell you it is about desire, attitude and learning a few basics from easily obtainable sources.

Cheryl Soshnik, who I consider the true Queen of bike touring, completed her first major tour (Minnesota to Newfoundland) in 1975, the same year I rode across the U.S. Barb Hanson and Angie Vincent ventured into bike touring in the past few years. Both completed cross-country tours in 2009. Lucy Ormond joined Barb in her cross-country trek after taking a 20-year break from her last bike tour. Julie Melini has three 1500-mile bike tours to her credit over the past 5 years.

Cycling Utah: One of the first questions one gets asked to bicycle tourists is what bike do you ride; so what brand of bike do you each ride?

Cheryl Soshnik: I ride a Co-Motion Americano with S & S couplers for traveling.

Barb Hansen: I also have a Co-Motion but the Nor’wester model also with S & S couplers. It is the smallest stock size they make.

Julie Melini: I use a Waterford custom, the T-14 touring model. It has an identical paint job to your Waterford Adventure Bike.

Lucy Ormond: I have a Bike Friday

Angie Vincent: I have a Jamis Aurora and my husband uses an REI Randonee.

Cycling Utah: What was your first bike tour like? How did it happen?

Cheryl Soshnik: A lot of my friends did bike touring through the Minnesota Rovers Outing Club. So the Minnesota to Newfoundland trip seemed natural given the environment of friends. I bicycled 6-weeks and 2500-miles for my honeymoon. We averaged 70-miles/day. I made my own panniers, cooked on a sterno stove and used a tube tent. It rained for 5 of the 6 weeks, but we were in love so it didn’t matter.

Lucy Ormond: I did a week-long 300-mile bike tour in Southern Utah when I was 45. Elliot Mott put together a bike tour and invited me along. What could go wrong on the first day did go wrong. I tipped over after putting my panniers on backwards, I pedaled 50 miles uphill into a wind blowing sand into my teeth, got a flat, and had my brakes rubbing for the last 25 miles. Fortunately there were 8 others to help out and kept me going.

Barb Hanson: Cheryl took me on my first self-supported bike tour in 2007. It was 150-miles over 4 days plus a day for hiking in the Grand Canyon.

Angie Vincent: I did an overnight bike tour to Rockcliff State Recreation campground in 2007. You (Lou), Cheryl, and Ron Wheeler put this together to introduce others to bike touring. It was a lot of fun.

Julie Melini: I (well we) went on a bike tour in 1983. The weather suddenly became extremely hot so we only did 2 of the 5 days we had planned. My being 5 months pregnant also didn’t help. That was your fault.:)

C.U. What have you accomplished since that first tour? Which was the most memorable?

Cheryl: I did a 6 week tour of Tasmania early in 2009 with my travel companion Randy. I’ve done 2-months in New Zealand (twice), 6-weeks in Ireland, twice to France, Italy once, plus a bunch of 1-2 week tours in the U.S. over the years. The Ireland trip was the best.

Lucy: Barb and I did 3,725-mile tour across the northern U.S. in 2009. This is the most memorable ride.

Barb.: I’ve done a total of 4 tours. I went with Zig Sondelski from San Diego to Phoenix in 2008 (Zig then rode solo to Jacksonville, Florida). [Editor’s Note: see our August 2009 issue online for a story of that tour] I also did the 3-month trip with Lucy. The 3-month trip is my favorite, with more trips to come!

Angie: My husband and I rode to Savannah, Georgia from Salt Lake City in 2009, our longest and best tour.

Julie: After our youngest boy graduated High School in 2004, I’ve done three 3-week trips, plus several shorter trips 2-9 days in length. The first 3-week trips took me up to Montana and back to SLC. I circled the state of Wisconsin on my 2nd tour and last year did 1600 miles around the state of Washington. They were all great trips. The Montana trip was my first long tour so there was the excitement of that and Wisconsin gave me a perspective of my home state that I hadn’t seen before.

C.U.: Was there anything that helped you go from short tours to extended tours? What were some of the sources for your best advice?

Lucy and Barb: Your seminar at REI on self-contained bike touring really helped. You gave a lot of things to think about regarding clothing and equipment (everything should have 2 purposes), travel companions, tire selection, etc. Also using Crazyguyonabike.com for travel advice and opinions helped with route planning and other details of our trip.

Angie: The overnight trip to Rockcliff really helped. I got to see what others did, and I got a feel for traveling on my bike. There are numerous books and websites as well that helped with our planning of the longer tour.

Cheryl: Most helpful tips came from other cyclists. I used WarmShowers (warmshowers.org) to ask about local riding advice that was very helpful for my Tasmania trip. Adventure Cycling (Adventurecycling.org) has a really good advice section for touring.

Julie: With each tour, I learn more and more. Nothing beats just going out and doing it. Of course it helps to have someone close that loves to bike tour and does a lot of the initial planning. But I feel more comfortable doing my share now.

C.U.: Do you have any advice for other women who wish to bike tour?

Julie: If you wish to bike tour, Just Do It! Do an overnight ride or several. Get a bike that fits and is comfortable including a women’s specific saddle. Go with someone who has similar expectations during the tour. Plan a few less miles than you can actually do just in case you have to go further than planned. You don’t need to be in super athletic shape, just be fit enough to get through the first week then increase your mileage. Be comfortable with your tour. For some camping doesn’t work, for me hotel rooms are claustrophobic. Also if you travel as a couple, use a 3-person tent. The extra weight is insignificant on a bike, and you will appreciate the extra room.

Barb: The Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire recommendation was the best advice I received. I had no flats due to the tires, though I had a couple due to my carelessness. Try to keep the weight of your equipment down and try to have items that serve more than one purpose. Talk to people who have done tours, read crazyguyonabike.com, and check out gear lists.

Angie: Think of a long bike tour as a series of back-to-back 4-day tours. We carry basically the same things for 4 days as we do for 3 weeks. We may tweak the equipment a little depending on the time of the year or the potential need to filter water. Also be flexible with how far you travel each day, when and where to stop, whether you cook or eat out or camp or stay in a motel

As Barb mentioned earlier, good tires to reduce maintenance worries, but you should take a short course in basic bike mechanics

Lucy: Carry a compass and be able to read a map. Don’t be afraid to ask directions. Be sure you bike is not too big for you. The Bike Friday I have works great.

No offense Lou, but ask other women questions. Women bike tourists see things differently when on a tour. I focused on the flowers, birds, wildlife, scenery and the people to meet along the way. Most men were focused on the destination, how fast they could ride and the number of miles. Also I know you and Julie cook in camp mostly, but I sent my stove home. I carried food I could eat cold, ate at deli’s, grocery stores, McDonalds, the town diner or in the homes of people we met.

Cheryl: There are many resources to communicate with others in the area you are planning to tour. (Warmshowers.com, Crazyguyonabike.com, Adventurecycling.com blogs) Don’t be afraid to contact people in the area you are planning to tour to get up-to-date information. In addition you will receive a lot of invitations for places to stay. I highly recommend joining Warmshowers.

C.U.: What is the ideal group size for you?

Cheryl: If you do long tours that are spontaneous and without a lot of detailed planning, then 2 people max. With 2 people I have found that there is always room at backpacker hostels or pretty much anywhere. With every person you add, you are adding one more opinion and compromise and perhaps conflict. If you have places to stay arranged ahead of time, the size is not such an issue. I’ve done two southern Utah rides with 14 people on one of the trips without problems.

Angie: I have a “built-in group”- my husband. I do like to meet up with others at the end of the day to talk about the experiences of that day. In general, the ideal size would depend on the duration and schedule of the trip. I think the longer the trip you should think having fewer people. On our trip to Savannah, we tended to make decisions and changes almost daily. I’ve gone on awesome trips with about 20 others, but we had a schedule with all stops decided upon up front.

Julie: I like touring with one other person, and as Angie said, I have my touring partner. As Cheryl said, with each additional person you spend more time deciding about going sightseeing, where to eat out, or what to cook on the stove, how far to ride, etc.

C.U.: Have you ever done supported tours either commercial or with a group where the gear is carried? Do you prefer to be self-supported and why?

Cheryl: I have done several, but they weren’t very satisfying. These are not “bike tours” in my mind. With self-supported tours there is the adventure of new things and meeting lots of interesting people. It’s also an inexpensive holiday.

Angie: I enjoy both. On commercial trips I get to meet new people but you are not sure who the players are until the start. I love self-supported trips because I’m usually not on a time schedule and can go at my own pace. On our trip to Savannah we changed our schedule and route numerous times from advice we received from bike shops along the way.

Julie: I did the White Rim trail through the Bonneville Cycling Club. It was nice not to have to worry about finding water. I may want to do a European commercial tour to help with the language issues. But overall I prefer the flexibility of the self-supported tour. We are always changing our plans based on how we feel nearly every day.

Barb: I enjoyed the commercial tours, but I started thinking how much fun it would be to be able to stray from the route if you found something interesting you wanted to see or stay longer somewhere to explore. You can’t do that if you have an agenda to keep with a commercial group.

Lucy: I have done numerous commercial tours. I have even organized and lead numerous tours in the Southern National Parks. I do like the luxury of having my stuff carried but I don’t care for the herd mentality. Self-contained tours give me the total freedom of decision-making and the rush of not knowing where I’m going to sleep at night.

C.U.: What are the logistics of your tour? How much camping did you do? What are some of the costs?

Barb: We did our 3-month tour to be comfortable and not cheap. We did a month of motels, a month of camping and a month of staying in homes. I spent $3800-4000 including airfare to Seattle and home from Maine. So my expenses worked out to less than $40/day for the bike tour less airfare.

Julie: On our 3 week trips we do almost all camping in commercial campgrounds mainly for the showers. A few times we’ve been invited into homes, and occasionally we will stay in a motel due to heavy rain or if no campgrounds are available. We cook in camp mostly, but try for breakfast in diners once in a while. We like it simple, so for the 2 of us we have done trips from $33 to $47/day.

Angie: We were on vacation so we averaged $76 per day. We stayed in motels for 15 days (20% of the total trip) and 10 days in people’s home. Most of the cost is due to eating out in diners the whole time but it was a lot of fun to meet the locals.

C.U.: Has bike touring changed your life?

Cheryl: I think ANY potential vacation as a biking opportunity!

Barb: I’m hooked. I found out I could do some things I never thought I could do! It really helped my confidence level.

Lucy: Last summer’s tour across America was life changing. “Living a life of simplicity and peace within” is now my mantra.

Angie: Self-supported touring has definitely given me self-assurance that I can do anything. It’s a great sense of accomplishment when you plan and execute a trip. You can take the time to truly enjoy the beauty and vastness of the world around you. I met so many wonderful people. Having our bikes loaded up would be an open invitation for people to stop and talk to us.

Julie: It has given me a sense of accomplishment. It has also been very good for my (our) marriage, time alone without lots of interruptions; e-mail, phones or commitments.

C.U.: So what is next?

Cheryl: I’m mulling over a new week-long trip in Southern Utah for this Spring or Fall. I’d like to go back to Europe. I have some ideas for a Scotland-Wales-England tour as well as Eastern Europe. The dollar-euro exchange rate may have to be more favorable before I go to Europe however.

Angie: Vince and I will begin a trip in San Francisco and end in Salt Lake City that will “officially” complete our trans-continental ride.

Julie: For 2010, we will just do a very short tour, as we do backpacking trips on the even years. In 2011 we will do another 3-week bike tour, perhaps in Wyoming.

Barb: New Zealand from January 25th to March 20th. Short trips after that as my daughter has house sat and tended my cats for my tours is going back to Seattle.

Lucy: Watch for me coming through Salt Lake City in the spring from my home in Southern Utah. I will be doing the Little Red Riding Hood ride and the Diabetes Tour-de-Cure before heading further north.

Touring Note: The 4th annual overnight bike ride to Rock Cliff Recreation area will be held on June 12 & 13. For information contact Lou Melini [email protected]

Bikes for Kids Utah Draws Hundreds of Local Cyclists to Annual Fundraising Rides and 1,000 Utah Children to Bike Safety Expo

Cycling West
-
0

Bikes for Kids Utah Draws Hundreds of Local Cyclists to Annual Fundraising Rides and 1,000 Utah Children to Bike Safety Expo

Cyclists ended their 5K, 50K and 100K rides where children pre-selected to receive brand new bikes were learning about nutrition and bike safety

SALT LAKE CITY – May 8, 2010 – Today Bikes for Kids Utah hosted successful 5K, 50K and 100K fundraising bike rides for nearly 260 cyclists at the same time the students pre-selected to receive brand new bikes participated in the bike safety expo. The rides supported Bikes for Kids Utah’s mission to annually provide 1,000 underprivileged Utah second graders with free, brand new bicycles. 

“The riders’ enthusiasm for cycling and the kids excitement about their bikes made this a really fun day for everyone,” said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. “The international shipping crisis has delayed the bikes’ arrival, but hasn’t prevented us from celebrating the fact that Bikes for Kids Utah, with all its sponsor, rider and volunteer support, has succeeded again in getting 1,000 more Utah children on bikes.”

The sunny weather made for overall pleasant conditions for the cyclists, students, school administrators, families and volunteers attending the safety expo.

In 45 minutes or less, more than 60 Family 5K riders of all ages completed a 2.5-mile loop through 4800 South. The Half-Century 50K took 70 riders on a 30-mile, 1.5-hour loop with a turnaround rest stop and a Café Rio meal at the finish line. The longest ride was the Metric Century 100K that took more than 120 riders 65 miles around the Salt Lake Valley, with four “Tour of Europe” rest stops.

Veronica Larvie of Salt Lake City had a great time riding the 50K course for the first time with her friend Monisha Pasupathi. “Today we rode by some places today that I have driven by, but never really seen, like residents’ gardens,” Larvie said. “This has been a great opportunity to ride for a good cause. My kids are nuts for their bikes because they started riding them early on.”

Greeted by nearly 90 volunteers, students and their families walked from tent to tent participating in educational presentations about healthy nutrition by Committed Health and Fitness, helmet fittings and finally, a Bike Safety Rodeo where they learned about the bike rules of the road.

Godfrey Egburohe, father of Franklin Elementary School second grader Alma, appreciated this opportunity for his son to learn about bike safety. “This bike rodeo makes an impression on the kids more than a single parent can,” Egburohe said. “This is going to let me let Alma ride more, knowing that he and his buddies know the different rules and signs.”

Melissa Paramore, a Sandy Elementary School student, is excited to have her bike delivered to her school in a couple of weeks. “My brother has a bike and my friend has a bike, and I want one too so I can ride bikes with them.”

Due to increased demand for cargo boats in the Pacific, the Bikes for Kids Utah branded bikes did not arrive in time for the giveaway. The bikes will be delivered to pre-selected students at their schools before the end of the academic year.

The next Bikes for Kids fundraising event will be the charity dinner and silent auction held Thursday, September 30 at La Caille Restaurant. More information about the time trial and auction will be available soon.

The Bikes for Kids Utah event is made possible through multiple individual and corporate sponsors who provide time, product and funds. Sponsors of this year’s event included:

Title sponsors:
Alder Construction, Costco, Intermountain Financial and Mass Mutual

Platinum sponsors:
Murray Rotary, Revolution Café Rio Racing and SOAR Communications

Gold Sponsors:
BlackBottoms Cycle Wear, Elements Wilderness Program, La Caille, Skyline Electric Company and Utah Food Services

Silver Sponsors:
Intermountain Healthcare, J.R. Smith Coaching, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) and Healthy For Life

Bronze Sponsors:
A-Core Concrete Cutting, Honey Bucket, Lights and Colors Inc., Waxie Sanitary Supply and Workflow One

About Bikes for Kids Utah
Bikes for Kids Utah is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 that provides bicycles for underprivileged children throughout the Salt Lake Valley. It generates support for its cause through its event registration proceeds, auctions, and private and corporate donations. Bikes for Kids’ annual bicycle fundraising events, including casual road rides, timed road races and a dinner auction, raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with new bicycles each year. For more information about the events, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.comor call 801.656.0472.

Utah’s Squire Competes in UCI World Cup in Houffalize

Cycling West
-
0

Koerber finishes second in Houffalize, leads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

Houffalize, Belgium (May 2, 2010) – The second round of the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup saw an American woman grab the World Cup leader’s jersey for the first time since Alison Dunlap in 2002. Willow Koerber (Durango, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) earned the silver for the second time in as many weeks of World Cup action to earn the coveted leader’s jersey. After finishing on the podium in last week’s opening World Cup round American compatriot Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna) came in 14th.

Following an early flat by eventual winner Eva Lechner (ITA), Koerber led much of the slick, 26-kilometer race. The Italian however surged to meet Koerber on the fourth and final lap. The pair then apparently bumped wheels forcing Koerber to put a foot down and allowing Lechner to build the five-second gap she help until the end. The silver-medal finish however gave Koerber a 65-point advantage over Lechner in the overall World Cup standings and thus the jersey following the second of nine events.

Americans Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) also finished 18th and Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-Notubes) 23rd to put four U.S. women inside the top 25. Pua Sawicki (Yucaipa, Calif./Okolestuff.com) also finished 31st.

In the men’s contest, Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized) was the top American finisher in 26th, while former USA Cycling National Development Program rider Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont../Subaru-Gary Fisher) came in 38th and reigning USA Cycling National Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) was 63rd. Nineteen-year-old current USA Cycling National Development Program rider Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) managed a top-100 result finishing in 99th place, just ahead of veteran Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) in 108th. The remainder of USA Cycling’s young development riders finished laps down on the infamously treacherous Houffalize course.

No Americans contested the 4X portion of the Houffalize World Cup.

The third of the nine-round UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will continue in Moribor, Slovenia, May 15-16. For more information on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, click here.

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2
Houffalize, Belgium
May 2, 2010

For complete results, click here. To view the complete World Cup standings following two events, click here.

Elite Women’s Cross Country
1. Eva Lechner (ITA) 1:40.30
2. Willow Koerber (Durango, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) +0:05
3. Elisabeth Osl (AUT) +0:36
14. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna) +5:54
18. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher ) +6:48
23. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-Notubes) +8:25
31. Pua Sawicki (Yucaipa, Calif./Okolestuff.com) +10:52

Elite Men’s Cross Country
1. Jose Antonia Hermida Ramos (ESP) 1:44.19
2. Manuel Fumic (GER) +0:57
3. Wolfram Kurschat (GER) +1:25
26. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized) +7:19
38. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont../Subaru-Gary Fisher) +8:50
63. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) +11:33
**99. Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) +15:25
108. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) +17:15
**120. Tad Elliott (Durango, Colo.) -1 lap
**146. Ethan Gilmour (Ludlow, Vt.) -1 lap
**161. Travis Livermon (Winterville, N.C./Cannondale) -2 laps
**162. Tristan Cowie (Brevard, N.C.) -2 laps

League of American Bicyclists Awards Salt Lake City Silver Status as a Bike Friendly Community

Dave Iltis
-
0

By Dave Iltis

On April 28, Salt Lake City was awarded Silver status by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), a leading bike advocacy organization, in their spring 2010 Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) awards. Sixteen new and five renewing cities were named Bicycle Friendly Communities. Salt Lake City along with Flagstaff, Arizona, were the only two communities to move from Bronze to Silver status. Regionally, Victor, Idaho received an honorable mention.

Salt Lake City received Bronze status in 2007 based on its commitment to bike friendliness that began close to 25 years ago under Mayor Palmer DePaulis in partnership with the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC). Following this designation, the City furthered its initiatives to become more bicycle friendly. The MBAC put forth the Silver City Initiative to promote new ideas for bike friendliness and to address feedback from reviewers of its 2007 application. Major components of the Initiative included extending the Complete Streets Policy, increasing police department outreach and enforcement, holding an annual bike summit, hiring a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, and increasing expenditures on infrastructure improvements.

Starting in 2008, under the leadership of Mayor Ralph Becker teaming with Salt Lake City Transportation Department head Tim Harpst and Engineer Dan Bergenthal, Councilman Luke Garrott, and the MBAC chaired by Dave Iltis, Salt Lake City’s investment in bicycling leaped forward.

“We are excited to be recognized as a bicycle friendly community with a Silver level by the League of American Bicyclists,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. “Being one of the two cities nationally to surpass the Bronze level status is an honor that signifies the effectiveness of our cycling initiatives throughout Utah’s capital city,” said Mayor Becker, a regular cyclist.

Salt Lake City used the BFC program to catalyze its push for bike friendliness. Over the last two years, funding in Salt Lake City’s budget for bike specific programs has increased ten-fold to $500,000 a year. Becka Roolf was hired in 2009 as Salt Lake City’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and Dan Bergenthal was promoted to City Trails Coordinator to oversee trails and pathways. The Complete Streets Policy was put into city code in 2010. All abandoned bicycles collected by the Salt Lake City Police Department are donated to the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective to be reused in the community. The police department also has a dedicated liaison to the bicycling community. In 2009, 38 new lane miles of bike lanes were added. Innovative green ‘sharrow’ bike lanes, developed by Bergenthal, were tested in downtown Salt Lake City on 200 South. Under Councilman Garrott’s direction, Salt Lake City also hosted a citywide bike summit in 2009 and a statewide summit in 2010. Salt Lake City’s growing bike commuter population is four times the national average.

Today, the City is not resting on its laurels. The MBAC recently held a retreat to bring a host of new ideas to the table and is in the process of finalizing the Gold City Initiative — More Bikes, More Places, More Often! In 2010, Salt Lake City is working towards adding more new bike lanes, releasing an updated bike map, connecting the Jordan River Trail to the Legacy Parkway Trail, opening the Bicycle Transit Center at the Intermodal Hub in cooperation with UTA, and increasing the application of sharrows throughout the city.

“Communities from all areas of the country, climates and populations see bicycling as an integral component of building livable communities. The Bicycle Friendly Community program is recognizing those leading the way,” said Andy Clarke, LAB President.

For more information on the Salt Lake City’s bike program , visit slcgov.com/bike. For more information on LAB’s Bike Friendly Communities program, visit bicyclefriendlycommunity.org.

Cycling Utah May 2010 Issue

Cycling West
-
0
Cycling Utah May 2010 Issue

The May 2010 issue of Cycling Utah is available as a pdf.

Articles include a bike month preview, Tour of the Depot, and an interview with Darren Alff, the Bicycle Touring Pro, Foot Pain, Road Bike Tire Pressure, and more.

New Wasatch Wilderness Proposal

Cycling West
-
0

By Sarah Bennett

The announcement of the Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act being proposed by Representative Jim Matheson earlier this month has given many Salt Lake area mountain bikers pause in recent weeks. Losing sections of the Wasatch Crest Trail, or other well-loved trails in the central Wasatch Mountains due to resource protection measures may someday be a reality, but today it is not.

The wilderness proposal that will soon go before Congress and took two years of stakeholder meetings to craft, is a good thing. It will put constraints on ski area development, protect the quality of our watershed and a help sort out competing winter recreational use in the high peaks. Wilderness designation is the highest level of protection there is for public land and will ensure that these areas of the Wasatch will be left untrammeled, regardless of the whims of future state or federal administrations. “Something had to be done,” said Carl Fisher, Executive Director of Save Our Canyons, the organization that has lobbied for expanding Wasatch wilderness areas for most of a decade, “We all agreed that if we don’t protect some of these areas from development now, no one will be using them for any kind of recreation in the future.”

This bill is largely about water and the protection of the watershed that provides clean drinking water to an ever-increasing and thirsty population along the Wasatch Front. Since the first Wasatch wilderness areas were established in 1984 Salt Lake County’s population has mushroomed from 678,000 to over a million. Some 26,000 acres will be added to the Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, and Lone Peak wilderness areas with helicopter access being allowed on roughly 10,000 of those acres. This was a key piece of the proposal that allowed for some resolution of conflicts between backcountry skiers and those who pay top dollar to fly to the top of fabled Wasatch powder runs. Two other key pieces of this legislation will prevent Alta from building a lift up Flagstaff Mountain and disallow the expansion of Snowbird into the White Pine drainage. The inclusion of White Pine in the wilderness expansion and resulting loss of access to mountain bikers irked a few hearty souls but generated only a few calls to Forest Service offices.

The interests of mountain bikers were represented early on in the process by former International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) representative for Utah, Ryan Miller, who consulted with Fisher from Save Our Canyons, the driving force behind the legislation.  IMBA’s Wilderness Coordinator, Ashley Korenblatt, based in Moab was also included in discussions. A representative from the Wasatch Area Freeride Trails Association, (WAFTA) participated in early discussions as well, and IMBA signed off on the proposal after wilderness boundaries were drawn to exclude sections of the celebrated Wasatch Crest Trail, the Mill D spur, and the Pipeline Trail in Millcreek Canyon. Access to trails traditionally used by mountain bikers was preserved although scant consideration was given to future trail development in the Wasatch.

The extension of the wilderness boundary into Parleys Canyon with this proposal may affect trail development there and possibilities for connections to the Summit County trail system, but there are currently no plans or trail alignments for that area. Other restrictions to access for mountain bikers where wilderness designation is concerned will be the recently approved 23-mile section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail that will stretch from the mouth of Parleys Canyon to Draper. Several sections of this trail thread through wilderness areas just above I-215, Wasatch Boulevard and east-side subdivisions making more than 70% of the trail off-limits to mountain bikes.

The Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act has a long way to go before it is enacted but its chances for success look good. It has been introduced to the house and is waiting to be heard and debated at a Congressional hearing. It will then go before the House Natural Resources Committee and will then move along to the Senate for approvals before reaching the President’s desk. Likely by this time next year we can gaze to the east and feel rest assured we will have a little more clean drinking water to count on running out of the peaks, in an otherwise unknown future.

Build it Strong, Keep it Simple, Make it Work

Greg Overton
-
0

Innovator and Cycling Industry Legend Phil Wood Passes

By Greg Overton

Phil. One word mentioned in a conversation regarding bicycle bottom brackets or hubs is all that’s required to more or less finish the conversation. Phil Wood introduced the first sealed bearing bicycle hub in 1971, and a legendary company was born. The quality and durability of Phil Wood & Co. products, which also included the first sealed bearing bottom bracket and pedals and a host of other well designed and rock solid products always reflected the company motto to ‘Build it Strong, Keep it Simple, Make it Work’. The man who started his namesake company was driven to innovate back then by the poor quality and unavailability of bearings for the hub in his daughter’s bicycle wheel. A conversation with another legendary figure changed the course of his life and the cycling industry. Phil Wood passed away from cancer at his farm near Baxter, Iowa, on March 19, 2010. He was 84 years of age.

Out of frustration back in the early 70’s, Wood turned to Spence Wolf, himself an innovator and component maker, and proprietor of the famous Cupertino Bike Shop, to search for replacement bearings for his daughter’s bicycle wheel. The ensuing conversation evolved into Wood asking Wolf why no one had developed hubs with sealed cartridge bearings. Wolf’s reply was, ‘I don’t know, you should do it.’ When Wood later left the shop, he quickly turned and stepped back inside and asked Wolf how many he should make. After taking a second to recall what it was that Phil was asking about, Wolf replied, ‘Make fifty.’

At the time, Phil Wood was a restaurant equipment employee and machinist, solving design and maintenance problems for Food Machinery Corporation. But it wasn’t very long before he was the founder and proprietor of San Jose based Phil Wood & Co. and maker of the bicycle industry’s first modern hubs with sealed bearings and oversized aluminum axles. Soon, Wood’s company would build a name for itself as the upgrade of choice, even the choice over world leader Campagnolo in hubs, and would follow that with sealed bearing bottom brackets, and pedals. Over the ensuing decades, Phil Wood would introduce a wonderful spoke cutting and threading machine that would become the industry standard, the first ovalized tubing specifically designed for tandem bicycle frames, and the staple of shops and home mechanics alike, Phil Wood Grease in the familiar green tube, and Tenacious Oil in a similarly colored bottle. In my own three decades in the bicycle industry, I have yet to hear a disparaging comment on the design or quality of a Phil Wood product or a complaint directed at the company itself.

It is extremely rare in this industry that a company can achieve what this one has achieved. The company has remained small, employing only 20 people, and has retained all production in-house in San Jose, resisting the temptations to outsource production abroad, and to maintain a level of recognition and reputation that has always been at the highest level. Even the simple trademark logo of ‘Phil’ in a cursive signature style, painted in red on its products has remained the same and still signifies quality, no frills, and perhaps a lifelong product. Stories of Phil hubs and bottom brackets working wonderfully for decades are not uncommon. Many tourists have logged tens of thousands of miles in all types of conditions on their Phil hubs and bottom brackets. And just as many racers have had similar service from their Phil components, which are as beautifully finished as they are beautifully designed.

Along the way, Phil Wood & Co. made pedals and one of the first disc brakes ever designed for bicycles. These were exemplarily innovative and well made also, but the progress of change sounded their death tolls as clipless pedals came along, and the world was not yet ready for disc brakes when Phil Wood was. Phil would regularly make his company’s services available to high school, college and university design students and inventors, making prototypes and offering assistance. And even though his products were unique in many ways, and certainly eligible for many patents, Wood chose never to patent them, making them available to anyone, and at times offering advice and help to competitors.

Wood sold the business to Peter Enright and a group of investors and employees in 1991, and a short time later he and his wife Lavada moved to a farm near Baxter, Iowa, where he remained out of cycling and in retirement farming. Enright has continued the legacy that Wood began, holding tight to the company’s motto, while staying current and sometimes ahead of the fast moving cycling industry in the past two decades. The company has developed new lubricants, new alloys, and new designs, and is still considered to be of the highest quality and one of the most sought after product lines for discerning cyclists.

Company sales are kept close to the vest, but Phil Wood & Co. marked its surpassing of the $2 Million annual sales figure early in this decade and has continued to grow since. In a 2007 interview with the San Jose Business Journal, General Manager Garrett Enright was asked to comment on the number of items produced of any one product line in a year, and he could not quantify it in those terms. Instead, he measures production in the amount of raw material used per week, commenting that in the early days the company went through about 500 pounds of aluminum every two weeks. Today it produces products from more than 2,500 pounds weekly.

“We’re always back-ordered,” said Marketing Director Darla Sasaki in that same interview. “When the drawer is empty, we just make more.” And at Phil Wood & Co., they just continue to build it strong, keep it simple, and make it work.

A memorial service for Phil and his wife, Vada, who passed away December 18, 2009, will be held on April 17, at the Calgary Baptist Church in Los Gatos, California, at 11:00 a.m. Phil is survived by their six children.

Cycling Utah’s April 2010 Issue Available as a PDF

Cycling West
-
0
Cycling Utah’s April 2010 Issue Available as a PDF

Cycling Utah’s April 2010 Issue is now available as a PDF (6.6 mb download) – Annual Club Guide, Desert Rampage, Utah Bike Summit Preview, dznuts Review, Tubeless Systems, Tour del Sol, Chase Pinkham and Alisha Welsh profiles, Frozen Hog, Bike Friendly SLC Businesses, Phil Wood Profile, My Way to Zion Tour, Results, Commuter Column, Mechanics Corner, Calendar and More!

The U. of U. cycling team and Bikes for Kids Utah co-produced a race series that generated close to $1,000 to get about 20 more Utah children on bikes

Cycling West
-
0

University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium Draws Hundreds of Cyclists

The U. of U. cycling team and Bikes for Kids Utah co-produced a race series that generated close to $1,000 to get about 20 more Utah children on bikes

SALT LAKE CITY – March 30, 2010 – The University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium, held March 26-27, ended Saturday after two days of cycling races in the Salt Lake Valley that attracted professional, collegiate and recreational cyclists and spectators from the Intermountain region.

The Bikes for Kids Utah Hill Climb Time Trial, Stage 2 of the omnium, held Saturday morning raised nearly $1,000 for the Bikes for Kids that will allow the organization to give about 20 new bikes to Utah children in need. Proceeds from Stage 1 Criterium and Stage 3 Circuit Race will support the University of Utah cycling team in its racing efforts.

“Hosting our Hill Climb Time Trial during the omnium made it more visible and gave it a substantial participation boost,” said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. “The U. of U.’s hard-working cycling team has been an amazing partner and put forth great effort to help us make this first omnium the success that it was.”

The Bikes for Kids Hill Climb Time Trial, starting at the intersection of Bangerter Parkway and 13800 South in Draper, took about 130 racers on a four-mile (6.4 km) climb with 1,300 feet (396 m) elevation gain up Traverse Ridge Road.

“I enjoy participating in race events that benefit a charitable organization,” said Steven Rogers, a Category 4/5 omnium participant from Lehi. “Each stage of the U. of U/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium had really well-marked courses.”

The first place time trial winners in the Pro 1/2, Women 1/2/3, Men 3 and Master Men A categories won a series of cash prizes. First and second place overall omnium finishers in the Men 4/5, Women 4/Masters and Men B/55+ and won Bikes for Kids Utah branded bikes to give to a child in need of a bike. The University of Utah, the collegiate team with the fastest overall time for the omnium, won $500 donated by Intermountain Financial Group.

“The charity aspect was definitely a motive to race in all of the omnium stages,” said Category 4/5 racer Tyler Matson of the Weber State cycling team. “This was my first stage race and I’d rate it with the LOTOJA. By the end, my legs were heavy.”

The University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium was the first omnium event in Utah and most riders’ first pre-season race.

“I raced on the East Coast last year and really liked the omnium format, but there weren’t any other omniums in Utah until this one,” said Cameron Patch, a Category 3 racer of Revolution Racing. “In a regular stage race if you don’t finish one of the stages you don’t qualify for the others. This omnium allows you to race and get points even if you can’t participate in each stage.”

Still, the majority of the cyclists that raced in the omnium included the time trial in their line up, according to Bradlee Duncan, the race director of the University of Utah cycling team.

“We owe a great deal to Bikes for Kids Utah for helping generate such a great turn out for this pre-season race series,” Duncan said. “To our surprise, we maxed out the Men Category 4/5 at the circuit race and had to turn people away. We’re proud to add such a strong event to the Utah race calendar and help grow Utah’s cycling community.”

The time trial and the criterium, with about 130 participants each, and the circuit race, with just under 250 participants, had nine categories including Men Pro 1/2, Women 1/2/3, Men 3, Masters Men A 35+/45+, Men 4/5, Masters Men B/55+, Women 4/Masters, Junior Men and Junior Women, with a time trial category for non-USA Cycling racers and charity riders.

Complete race results from the omnium’s Electric Park Criterium, Hill Climb Time Trial and Circuit Race are on the University of Utah cycling team Web site, utahcycling.org.

More information about Bikes for Kids Utah annual fundraising events, including its fundraising bike rides and fall dinner auction, is on www.bikesforkidsutah.com. Details about the Bikes for Kids Utah fundraising bike rides on May 8 and its fall dinner auction are forthcoming.

About Bikes for Kids Utah
Bikes for Kids Utah is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 that provides bicycles for underprivileged children throughout the Salt Lake Valley. It generates support for its cause through its event registration proceeds, auctions, and private and corporate donations. Bikes for Kids’ annual bicycle fundraising events, including casual road rides, timed road races and a dinner auction, raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with new bicycles each year. For more information about the events, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.com or call 801.656.0472.

Cycling Utah March 2010 Issue

Cycling West
-
0
Cycling Utah March 2010 Issue

The March 2010 issue of Cycling Utah is available as a pdf.

Cycling Utah March 2010 issue cover: Lukas Brinkerhoff on the Prospector Trail in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in St. George. Photo: Bryce Pratt, crawlingspidergallery.com
Cycling Utah March 2010 issue cover: Lukas Brinkerhoff on the
Prospector Trail in the Red Cliffs
Desert Reserve in St. George.
Photo: Bryce Pratt,
crawlingspidergallery.com

Contents:

Trek: An American Bicycle Company – from a Dairy Barn to the Champs Elysees

Becka Roolf Interview

David Bernstein: The FredCaster

How to Replace a Chain and Cassette

Tara McKee profile

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Trails

Early Season Racing Tactics

Against the Wind: A 24 Hour Ride from Wyoming to Arizona

The Skinny on Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape

Tour Around the Oquirrhs has Great Variety of Environments

 

UCI awards 2012 and 2013 Elite Cyclo-cross World Championship events to Louisville, Ky.

Cycling West
-
0

UCI awards 2012 and 2013 Elite Cyclo-cross World Championship events to Louisville, Ky.
First Cyclo-cross World Championships to be held outside of Europe

January 29, 2010 (Tabor, Czech Republic) – USA Cycling is honored to announce that Louisville, Kentucky today was chosen by the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s international governing body, to host the 2013 Elite Cyclo-cross World Championships and the 2012 and 2013 Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships.

This historic appointment is the first time the Cyclo-cross World Championships will be held outside of Europe in the 50 plus year history of the championships. These events will mark the first Elite Cycling World Championship of any discipline held on U.S. soil since the Track World Championships took place in Los Angeles in 2005.

“After more than a decade of working closely with American promoters and the UCI to grow our international calendar of cyclo-cross events, Louisville’s winning bid is a testament to the success of those efforts and to the extraordinary quality of ‘cross racing in the U.S.,” USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said.

US Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross (USGP) promoters, Bruce Fina and Joan Hanscom, will produce the races in partnership with the Louisville Sports Commission and USA Cycling.

“This is thrilling news,” said Fina. “We have worked for six years with the USA Cycling National Team and six years on the USGP to further develop the sport in the U.S. to the point where our riders can be competitive on the global stage. Hosting the Worlds in the U.S. is the next logical step. We hope to see a continued increase in the number of professional cross racers in the states and hope this venue will enhance that goal. “

Louisville has hosted a stop on the USGP since 2007, as well as multiple USA Cycling Masters National Road Championships demonstrating a vibrant cycling community and tremendous local support of the championships.

“I was impressed with the vision and detail of the plans to develop the area into a cyclo-cross race venue,” said UCI technical delegate Simon Burney. “The area, terrain and surroundings lend themselves perfectly to a major race venue, and with the city of Louisville firmly behind the project the opportunity for world class events certainly looks exciting.”

Under the leadership of Mayor Jerry Abramson, Louisville is building America’s first permanent, major-city cyclo-cross facility at Eva Bandman Park, near downtown. Working with local cyclo-cross enthusiasts, Louisville Metro Government is developing a venue that can support local races and youth riding programs, while also hosting national and international races. The course at Eva Bandman also will serve as the home to the USGP and as a year round cycling park.

“I’m so proud that Louisville is the first city outside Europe to be awarded the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships,” said Mayor Jerry Abramson. “We’re turning Louisville into one of our nation’s most bike-friendly cities by investing in bicycle infrastructure, listening to the needs of local cyclists, and hosting events that draw more attention to cycling. Our local cyclo-cross teams are among the nation’s best, and we’re developing a venue that will help them keep their competitive edge.”

The Louisville Sports Commission and the community of Louisville also voiced excitement and support of the event.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Louisville Sports Commission and the entire local community, we want to thank the UCI for awarding the World Cyclo-cross championships to Louisville,” said Karl Schmitt, Executive Director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “We also appreciate the confidence that the USGP of Cyclo-cross and USA Cycling have in our ability to host these prestigious events.”

Salt Lake City Council Approves Resolution to Donate Unclaimed Bikes to the SLC Bike Collective

Dave Iltis
-
0

Salt Lake City Council Approves Resolution to Donate Unclaimed Bikes to the SLC Bike Collective

11-6-09 (Salt Lake City) — The Salt Lake City Council unanimously approved a resolution last night that will allow Salt Lake City to donate all unclaimed bicycles held by the Salt Lake City Police Department to the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective.

“We have experienced a tremendous demand for bicycles this year and this influx of bicycles will help those in need, specifically those in need of transportation,” said an elated Jonathan Morrison, Executive Director of the Collective.  “The Collective would like to publicly thank the Mayor’s Office, specifically Matt Lyon, David Everitt, and Mayor Becker as well as the City Council for collaboration on this resolution.”

SLCPD holds bicycles that are abandoned, recovered as stolen property, or as evidence in cases. The bikes are held for a specified amount of time (generally 90 days) and attempts are made to contact the owner of the bicycle.  If the bicycle is unclaimed after that time period, then the bikes are deemed surplus and have in the past been auctioned off or disposed of.

The new program will see that the bikes are put back on the streets to serve the residents of Salt Lake City and County.  The Collective will repair and service the bikes as needed and provide those bikes to low-income residents or non-profit organizations. Putting the bikes back on the streets helps to increase the level of cycling in Salt Lake City and benefits the City and its residents by reducing air pollution and carbon output, increasing the health of its residents, and providing transportation solutions to its low-income residents.

The resolution was the result of a year-long process of that required the drafting of an agreement between Salt Lake City and the Collective, conducting a Doug Short analysis to show that the donated items would improve the public good, and much hard work from Matt Lyon of the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office. The Mayor’s Office, the Collective, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, SLC Police Department, the Salt Lake City Council and Staff, and the City Attorney’s Office contributed to the process.

The approval of the resolution should result in the donation of approximately 100-200 bikes per year to the Collective given current levels of unclaimed bicycles.  The resolution provides for a cap of 400 bikes per year to be donated to the Collective.

The draft agreement and resolution can be viewed here: http://www.slcgov.com/council/agendas/2009agendas/Nov5/110509C5.pdf

***

The Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC) is an all volunteer advocacy organization whose purpose is to promote, enhance, preserve and, where necessary, restore physical, social, political and economic environments in which bicycling is recognized as an essential element of a clean, healthy, and vital community.  For information, contact Dave Iltis, Chair  [email protected] or visit slcgov.com/bike.

The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society.  For more information, including crank addiction, visit www.slcbikecollective.org or call 801-FAT-BIKE.

FredCast Podcaster Wins Top Social Media Award

Cycling West
-
0

The FredCast Cycling Podcast Wins People’s Choice Award at World’s First Social Media Awards

Press Release:
PARK CITY, UT (November 6, 2009) — The FredCast Cycling Podcast, one of the internet’s most popular weekly audio programs about cycling, was awarded the coveted People’s Choice Award at Friday night’s Utah Social Media Awards, the first event of its kind ever held anywhere in the world.

In awarding the People’s Choice Award to David Bernstein, the show’s host, creator and producer, the show’s masters of ceremonies noted that out of more than 200 nominations, The FredCast had received the largest percentage of votes.

The assembled sell-out crowd was told that the judges called The FredCast “the cream of the crop,” and commented that The FredCast “profoundly influences the cycling community.” In talking about the podcast’s accompanying web site, the judges praised thefredcast.com for “tons of new content . . . and a crisp site layout.”

In his acceptance speech, Bernstein suddenly found himself without words. “I’m a Podcaster,” he said, “so I am usually not at a loss for words. I am honored and humbled by this award and by your votes.”

Bernstein went on to explain why the show is called The FredCast. “Freds are men and women like me. We love riding our bikes, watching professional cycling, buying new bikes, clothes and gadgets for cycling. We aren’t always going to be the first to finish a race or get to the top of a hill, but we’re always going to look good doing it!”

The FredCast Cycling Podcast, now in its fifth year of production, is the highest ranked cycling-related podcast on iTunes and is consistently ranked in the Top 100 of all sports podcasts, thanks to a five-figure weekly subscriber base of enthusiast amateur recreational and endurance cyclists or so-called “Freds.” The FredCast has been nominated for numerous previous awards including Podcast Awards, People’s Choice Podcast Awards, and Podcast Peers Awards. Most recently, the show’s host was chosen to host the official InterbikeTV “Live From The Show” video showcases, highlighting more than 60 exhibitors and products from the 2009 Interbike Expo. Information, show notes and subscription links can be found on the web site at http://www.thefredcast.com.

The Utah Social Media Awards are sponsored by the Social Media Clubs of Salt Lake City, Utah Valley and Cache Valley. The Awards recognize excellence in social media practitioners and practices throughout the state of Utah. For more information, visit http://www.utahsocialmediaawards.info.

Idaho’s Armstrong opens UCI Road World’s with time trial gold

Cycling West
-
0

Armstrong opens UCI Road World’s with time trial gold

Mendriso, Switzerland (September 23, 2009)—The 2009 UCI Road World Championships started off with a bang for the United States with Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho/Cervelo-Lifeforce) earning her second world title in the women’s time trial on Wednesday. Armstrong’s time trial gold gave the United States its third world championship in the event in the last four years. Defending world champion Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif./Equipe Nürnberger) finished sixth while Jessica Phillips (Aspen, Colo./Team Lip Smacker) was 14th. Tejay Van Garderen (Superior, Colo./Rabobank Continental) was the top American finisher in the U23 men’s time trial in 13th while Peter Stetina (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) was 20th.

“This is exactly what we expected,” stated Jim Miller USA Cycling’s Director of Athletics and the women’s team director for the road world championships. “It’s not easy to win world titles, there were 4-5 women who had a great chance of winning today. It comes down to who has prepared the best, and who has it on the given day. Today that was Kristin.”

Armstrong recorded a time of 35:26.09 over the 27-kilometer course to post the fastest time of the day by more than a minute. As the seventh seed however the Olympic gold medalist still had to endure six of the world’s best, including her American teammate and defending world champ Neben. Armstrong’s time did in fact hold more than 51 seconds ahead of silver medalist Noemi Cantele of Italy and nearly a minute better than the bronze medal mark set by Linda Melanie Villumsen of Denmark. Neben’s time of 36:55.83 put her in sixth place, while Phillips, after holding the top slot for much of the contest, finished in 14th.

Arguably the most decorated female cyclist in history, Armstrong added her second world title to an Olympic gold medal. Armstrong remains the fourth American ever to win an elite women’s time trial world title, joining Amber Neben (2008), Mari Holden (2000) and Karen Kurreck (1994). Her victory also pushes the United States past France for the most world titles in the event with five since it was made a world championship discipline in 1994. The 36-year-old Armstrong confirmed she will retire following the race.

“I can’t think of any better way of saying goodbye to the sport,” Armstrong said. “I had a little bit of motivation today. Now I hope another American can come out on top on Saturday.”

Armstrong’s victory marks the third world championship title for Americans this year. She joins Taylor Phinney (pursuit) and Donny Robinson (BMX) as a world champion in 2009.

“Kristin is the leader of this team, she’s the most decorated American woman cyclist in history, and when you have your leader win, it starts the week off on a good foot,” stated Miller. “We have unfinished business with the road race. This was the best possible way to start the week for the women’s team.”

In the U23 men’s time trial, Van Garderen recorded a time 42:09:08 over the 33.5-kilometer course to finish 1:24.29 off the winning pace in 13th. Stetina, who finished sixth in last year’s contest, posted a time of 42:28.92 which put him in the 20th spot.

Jack Bobridge of Australia earned the U23 men’s world title with a time of 40:44.79. Completing the podium were silver medalist Nelson Oliveira (POR) and last year’s silver medalist Patrick Gretsch (GER).

The last American U23 time trial world title was in 2001 when Danny Pate brought home the gold.

Van Garderen and Stetina are just two of the latest American U23 athletes to illustrate their potential at the world-class level. Just a couple of weeks prior, Van Garderen placed second overall at Tour de L’Avenir as a member of USA Cycling’s National Development Team.

The 2008 UCI Road World Championships continue on Thursday with the elite men’s time trial. Representing the U.S. in the 50-kilometer race against the clock will be Tom Danielson (Durango, Colo./Garmin-Slipstream) and Tom Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Bissell), the silver medalist from this month’s USA Cycling Professional Time Trial Championships.

2009 UCI Road World Championships
Mendriso, Switzerland
Sept. 23-27:

For full results, click here.

Elite Women’s Time Trial
1. Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) 35:26.09
2. Noemi Cantele (ITA) +0:55.01
3. Linda Melanie Villumsen (DEN) +0:58.25
6. Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif.) +1:28.27
14. Jessica Philips (Aspen, Colo.) +2:11.43

U23 Men’s Time Trial
1. Jack Bobridge (AUS) 40:44.79
2. Nelson Oliveira (POR) +0:18.73
3. Patrick Gretsch (GER). +0:27.66
13. Tejay Van Garderen (Fort Collins, Colo.) +1:24.29
20. Peter Stetina (Boulder, Colo.) +1:43.23

To view photos from the event visit the USA Cycling photo gallery, here.

Zabriskie wins Tour of Missouri and 2009 Pro Tour

Cycling West
-
0

Zabriskie wins Tour of Missouri and 2009 Pro Tour

September 15, 2009
David Zabriskie (Salt Lake City, Utah/Garmin-Slipstream) used his overall and stage five time trial wins at the Tour of Missouri to earn the third USA Cycling Professional Tour overall individual title. Zabriskie wrapped up the season-long title with 342 points over runner-up and 2007 champion Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif/Astana) who finished the season with 244 points. Click here for complete results from the Tour of Missouri.

In the team standings, the two North American based UCI Pro Tour squads finished neck-in-neck with Team Columbia-High Road edging Zabriskie’s Garmin-Slipstream squad 469-408.

Volodymyr Starchyk (UKR/Amore & Vita) gathered both the overall and road race victories at the Univest Grand Prix over the weekend. The event, in Souderton, Pa., also took place over the weekend and helped wrap-up the 2009 USA Cycling Pro Tour. Click here for complete results from the Univest Grand Prix.

Just as with Christian Vande Velde (Lemont, Ill./Garmin-Slipstream) in 2008, the Tour of Missouri’s general classification winner once again took the overall Pro Tour title as Zabriskie used the final race’s points to surge past Leipheimer. Zabriskie also won the USA Cycling Professional Time Trial title and finished second overall to Leipheimer in the Pro Tour’s opening contest, the Tour of California.

Having just finished its third year, the USA Cycling Professional Tour consists of all the internationally-sanctioned events in the United States and USA Cycling’s three professional road championships in the disciplines of criterium, time trial and road racing. After eight events in 2009, Vande Velde and Leipheimer were by far the most dominant in these races, followed by Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo), George Hincapie (Greenville, S.C./Columbia-High Road), Mark Cavendish (GBR/Columbia-High Road) and Tom Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Bisssell).

The final 2009 USA Cycling Professional Tour standings are as follows:

Individual Standings
1. David Zabriskie (Salt Lake City, Utah/Garmin-Chipotle) 342
2. Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif./Astana) 244
3. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo) 127
4. George Hincapie (Greenville, S.C./Columbia-High Road) 125
5. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Columbia-High Road) 112
5. Tom Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Bisssell) 112

Team Standings
1. Team Columbia-High Road 469
2. Garmin-Slipstream 408
3. Astana 290
4. Team Saxo Bank 248
5. Kelly Benefit Strategies 217

1...289290291Page 290 of 291
 

EDITOR PICKS

More stories

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

About Cycling West: Cycling West is a print publication and website that works to grow, connect, and inform the cycling community in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, N. Arizona, N. California, and Western Colorado. We have a complete calendar of events in the region, and strive to reach cyclists of all types. We distribute approximately 13000-15000 copies each month throughout the region. We also post the issue for digital download. Our mission is to make the world a better place through bicycling. Please join us! Contact us: [email protected]

Contact us: [email protected]

FOLLOW US

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv

Terms and Conditions