Cycling West Winter Issue - December 2022/January 2023

CYCLING WEST

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Winter 2022 Issue; Volume 30 Number 8; Issue 239

Contributors: Chuck Collins, Heather Casey, Tom Jow, Erica Tingey, Charles Pekow, Dave Iltis, Mike Pribesh, David Bern, Snake River Photo, Darrell Owens, Loren Hettinger, Kendra Blinzinger, Koby Hubbs, Dave Fotsch, Chris Blinzinger, Re Wikstrom, Steven L. Sheffield, Bryan Charette, Peter Yerger, Nicole Kelner

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BIKE TOURING

Going Home: A Bicycle Tour Through Scotland

By Mike Pribesh

Three years. That’s how long I had been planning this trip and how long I was denied the opportunity due to Covid restrictions. I had every nuance planned, every castle, every mile of my route, every imaginable campsite, every possible eventuality. Guess how that worked out.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are from the couple of years I lived in Scotland, way back in the dark ages of the late seventies. I remember becoming completely enthralled with all things medieval, as evidenced by my current way too expensive sword collection. Biking all over the Dunoon area and up through Sandbank to Glen Massan are indelibly printed in my memories, and I looked forward to revisiting the old haunts.

My planned solo trip became a couple’s trip when my girlfriend, Belinda, discovered that she likes bicycle touring. And she’s willing to put up with me for extended periods on the road. Win for me! Together we made our way across the Atlantic, after some delayed and missed flights and a wondrous night in Dallas, and arrived in Inverness ready to hit the road. Dallas was not quite the overnight stay that we had planned in London, but we made the best of it knowing the real trip had yet to begin. Unfortunately, our bikes did not arrive with us in Inverness, and instead showed up a day and a half later. I hope they at least had a scenic journey.

When at last the bikes arrived, thankfully undamaged, we quickly assembled them and set off on our trip. The plan was to do a big, counterclockwise loop from Inverness, along the Great Glen Way to Fort William, then onward through Oban, south through Dunoon, through Glasgow, with a day off to explore Edinburgh before returning northward through the Cairngorms.

We rapidly discovered the Great Glen Way, at least the version of it we did, was no joke. Steep (very steep, stupidly steep) climbs through rough dirt roads and singletrack trails tested our resolve and our legs. Add in some rain on day two, and we were humbled. But the scenery was amazing with views of Loch Ness and some outstanding

riding along the canal. We didn’t see Nessie but did tour Urquhart Castle. One of the must-do’s on our list was

Continued on page 6

Cover Photo: Hannah Otto weaves through sandstone on the classic Porcupine Rim trail section of The Whole Enchilada in Moab, Utah on her way to setting the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the loop. Photo by Re Wikstrom / CompetitiveCyclist.com

Mike and Belinda ready to get going, Inverness, Scotland. Photo by Mike Pribesh

BIKE INDUSTRY

Jordan Weininger of East Bench Composites Talks Carbon Bike Repair

By Steven L. Sheffield

When I worked at A Bicycle Odyssey, in Sausalito, California back in the mid-to-late-1990s, building bikes out of carbon fiber was still a relatively new phenomenon; most of the bikes we sold were custombuilt steel, aluminium, or titanium. Some of us were wary of carbon fiber because it was perceived as being brittle and unrepairable. Over time, of course, engineers and builders at bicycle manufacturers become more experienced with the material, which has now effectively replaced all of the metals previously used on high-end bicycles.

Even so, the fact remained that when carbon fiber fails, it tends to fail catastrophically. As such, even small dings must be investigated to make sure there are no cracks or other underlying damage which could cause a total frame failure. Until recently, damaged frames were generally written off as a total loss that needed to be replaced. However, in the past few years more companies are opening with their primary business being the repair of carbon fiber bicycle frames. One such company is East Bench Composites, based in Ogden, Utah, which was founded in late 2020 by Jordan Weininger. Cycling West recently sat down with Jordan to learn more about his business.

SLS: Jordan, tell us a little bit about yourself; your background and education, and how you came to the sport of cycling.

JW: My first real introduction to the cycling world was in college at Clemson University, when my roommates and I bombed through the woods of upstate South Carolina on Gary Fisher hardtails, with zero knowledge of the sport or cycling culture. We were just having fun (in those few moments we were not going OTB). Eventually, we joined the university’s club cycling team, and I also got a job at Clemson University’s outdoor program managing their bike shop, and leading outdoor trips for other students. Soon I was the kid reading more pinkbike tech articles than anything related to school, but still interested in it from a mechanical engineering perspective.

Professionally, my first introduction to the cycling industry was a job with SR-56; the product development arm for Crankbrothers, Fizik, and Selle Royal, which at the time was based in Ogden, Utah.

SLS: How did you start to work with carbon fiber and other composite materials?

JW: At SR-56, I was a Junior engineer on the Crankbrothers Synthesis carbon wheel line, and I was learning, but just too slowly. Eventually I moved on to a position in the Advanced Composites Office on Hill Air Force Base. With the resources of the aerospace/defense industry, I was able to learn the skills required to inspect damage, design structural repairs, and carry out composite repairs for structural components on various airframes.

SLS: What made you decide to apply your engineering skills and knowledge to bicycles, rather than continuing to work with the Air Force on planes?

JW: Mainly it was for environmental reasons. Once I learned how

taxing carbon development is on the environment, I just couldn’t stay a part of that system. All the red tape involved in aerospace tested my patience, and my values of conservation and efficiency just didn’t align with the Air Force. I always planned to take what I learned back to the outdoor industry eventually, in one form or another.

Meanwhile, I noticed other major cycling communities have a local carbon repair shop: California has Calfee, Portland has Ruckus, and Denver has Broken Carbon. Utah has a HUGE cycling community that I am proud to be a part of. But before EBC, there was no professional local carbon repair company. Which is crazy to me!

I realized that based on my background, I was in a unique position to offer the service I wanted to see in our community. With the help of my friend Clay Ahlf, a long time Enve employee, we got to work starting what has become EBC.

SLS: How is what East Bench Composites does different from other carbon fiber repair companies, such as Ruckus Composites or Calfee?

JW: First of all, I have a ton of respect for Calfee and Ruckus; Their repairs look great, and they have been doing this for a while.

While there are many ways to fix a bike, most other carbon repair companies will use the same layup or a wrap for the similar repairs; (i.e., all mountain bike seat stays get the same layup). This neglects considerations for geometry, and can create large stress concentrations at or near the repair area. For example, a 1” diameter downtube and a 3” diameter downtube require quite different layups to achieve the same stiffness.

By contrast, our repairs use the Scarf repair method taught in the aerospace industry. This method removes the minimal amount of original material necessary, and orients the fibers of each layer to match the original design. This is the best way to replicate the strength and stiffness that the bike manufacturer intended. At East Bench Composites, each bike has a specific layup because the bike was designed to fulfill a specific purpose.

Additionally, we only use prepreg carbon fiber with a toughened epoxy resin system. This means the carbon and epoxy are perfectly mixed from the factory at the correct ratio. Some companies use wet layups for their repairs, and while this requires less specialized equipment and is a cheaper option, it is more wasteful when it comes to processing materials, and the resulting material is often much weaker than a prepreg composite since it is very difficult to get a perfect carbon/resin ratio every time.

SLS: Can you walk us through your process of doing a repair?

JW: The main steps involved in a repair are:

1. Ultrasound inspection to determine the extent of the damage (unless the member is clearly broken all the way through). Sometimes damage is just superficial and no carbon repair is necessary.

2. Sanding away the damaged plies: Carefully sand away the damaged plies of carbon and read the layup. This means determining exactly how many plies, their order, and fiber orientation with a mag-

Step by Step Carbon Frame Repair

process and/or unrepairable frames? Is there a way to recycle carbon fiber, or to dispose of it in an environmentally sound manner?

JW: I started East Bench Composites to reduce waste in the cycling industry. The current carbon fiber industry is not environmentally sustainable at all. While carbon fiber can be downcycled into lower grade materials, such as milled fiber tire levers and 3D printing filaments, it just isn’t the same as recycling. It is extremely rough on the environment to produce carbon fiber bikes (or anything else) and they cannot be recycled, period. So, when a bike gets warrantied, it goes to the dump. With the rate the sport is growing, it is entirely unsustainable for people or manufacturers to simply throw away cracked carbon frames.

We want to give people another option. Instead of throwing out damaged frames, we are taking products that are effectively waste and repairing them correctly, therefore drastically minimizing the resources it takes to get riders back on a bike. We have dialed in our process to use minimal processing materials; for an entire repair the waste created is only about the volume of a baseball. When done right, carbon repair is a perfectly safe, sustainable option.

SLS: I understand that in addition to doing repairs on bikes belonging to individual cyclists, EBC is also acquiring broken frames, repairing them, and then reselling the frames. Can you tell us about that program? Are there any particular manufacturers that you’re working with?

nifying glass. It takes practice, but when we are doing 4 bikes a week, it becomes second nature.

3. Ply tracing and cutting: Once the layup is determined, the outline of each ply is traced and cut it out in the proper orientation. Prepreg carbon fiber with a toughened epoxy resin system is used, with the resin already mixed perfectly; no wet layups.

4. Layup: Each 0.005” thick carbon ply is placed onto the bike in the correct order and orientation. 0.1” of contact is needed for each ply to the matching ply on the bike to ensure proper load transfer from the bike to the patch.

5. Curing: The full patch gets a proprietary combination of release agents, heat conductors, and high CTE uncured rubber added for processing, and is then vacuum bagged for compaction. Then, the repair area is heated at a specific rate to a specific temperature for curing; no need to fully disassemble the bike.

6. Cure removal and finishing: If there is any doubt in the repair, the Ultrasound is brought out once more to inspect the cured repair. The repair is then sanded smooth, and finished with an automotive grade clear coat for ultimate protection. Customers can also pay for a singlecolor paint match.

SLS: I know that building an environmentally sustainable business is part of EBC’s core beliefs, but also that working with carbon fiber is not greenest industry one can be in. How does EBC help minimize their impact on the environment with regards to waste from the repair

JW: We are stoked to formally announce our partnership with Trips for Kids. Trips For Kids national non-profit organization works to make bicycles more accessible to kids in communities across the country. Funding this mission relies on sponsors, volunteers, and donations, including those from the bicycle shipping company BikeFlights.

Here is how it works:

Occasionally, bikes – especially those that have been inadequately packed – get damaged in shipping. After a damage claim is approved and paid, damaged bikes are often donated to Trips for Kids. If these bikes are newer and have repairable carbon damage, East Bench Composites will purchase the bikes from Trips for Kids and repair them for resale. This means that a nonprofit gets the income they need to help get more kids on bikes, and the frames stay out of the landfill and get a second lease on life. It’s a winwin, and we are immensely proud of this relationship.

SLS: Are these frames repainted and sold without the original manufacturer’s branding (or with EBC branding), or are they sold as a used & repaired brand-name/model?

JW: Yes, these bikes are being sold as a repaired, used frame with the company’s branding. We aren’t trying to hide the fact that this is a repaired carbon bike, because carbon is rad. We are proud of the fact that this bike was repaired correctly and can be safely ridden indefinitely.

SLS: Does EBC repair other items, such as carbon wheels, forks, or cockpit components (handlebars/ stems/seatposts), or do you strictly work with frames?

Continued on page 14

After identifying the location of the damage, the frame is undergoes an ultrasound inspection to determine the extent of the damage.

Sanding away the damaged carbon fiber plies.

Each ply is inspected to determine layup order and fiber orientation.

The outline of each ply is then carefully traced and cut from pre-preg carbon fiber sheets.

Each new ply is placed on the bike in the correct order and orientation.

After activation of the pre-preg resin, the patch is vacuum bagged for compaction ...

... and the repair area is then heated to cure the carbon fiber patch.

The patch is then sanded smooth and finished with an automotie grade clear-coat for protection.

A single-color paint match is also an option.

The repaired bicycle is now ready to ride.

Scotland Bike Tour -

Continued from page 3

to see the Jacobite train, aka the Hogwarts Express, cross the viaduct in Glenfinnan, and we got there just in time to hike up to an overlook and watch it come across, puffing steam the whole way. It was easy to imagine Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their way to become wizards and witches. It was well worth the 30-ish mile detour on a scenic road along the edge of Loch Eil. We had a lot of must-dos on our list, so on we went.

The terrain got steeper, if that was even possible, and some questionable navigating by yours truly made for a very long day, in fact well past dark, again. Add in some cold rain and wind, and by the time we reached Fort William, we were pretty well soaked, frozen, and more than ready for a hotel with a hot shower. Camping was not high on the list at that point. Fortunately, the first place we stopped had a room, very reasonably priced for a swanky place, and we settled in for some recovery time so we could continue on the next day.

Belinda and I are somewhat notorious for being slow movers in the morning, but we got going after a lot of breakfast (maybe too much breakfast?) and hit the road in good spirits and much better riding conditions. Our initial plan had been to do an eighty plus mile day to make up some lost time, with a brief stop in Glencoe before making our way to Oban for some muchneeded whisky. The previous couple of days had taken their toll on our bodies, however, so we decided to stay in Glencoe, and I’m so glad we did. We stayed at the Red Squirrel Campground (amazing) and had a stellar evening at the Clachaig Inn just a short walk up the road. If you find yourself in Glencoe, I highly recommend a visit to this Inn/Pub. The exposed wood beams, stone floor, and feeling of cozy age are everything I could ever imagine in a Scottish pub. I introduced Belinda to the wonder that is haggis, played some pool, and sampled some delicious local whiskey while enjoying the ambiance. Belinda also discovered that she absolutely loves steak pie.

The ride out of Glencoe heading

south is the stuff this trip was made for. A long, deep valley surrounded on both sides with looming mountains, lush green contrasted with low hanging clouds and fog, with waterfalls cascading down everywhere. It’s no wonder they chose to film Braveheart and The Highlander there. To top it off, as I rode up the long climb out of the valley, I began to hear bagpipes. Faint at first, but louder as I went on. Much to my surprise and profound joy, there, on the side of the road at a parking area, was a gentleman in full kilt and regalia, playing his bagpipes with the sound cascading down the valley. As a huge fan of bagpipe music, it made my day/week/life to come across this scene. Naturally I had to stop and hang out for a bit and chat.

Belinda was already far up the road ahead of me, and this delay dropped me even farther behind,

so I was getting a little worried when I wasn’t catching up to her. Fortunately, she waited for me at the Glencoe Resort, a mountain biking and skiing mecca. We took a short detour to ride a lift to the top and watch the riders training for the Great Britain Downhill Mountain Bike Championship that was to take place in two days’ time. I was sorely tempted to rent a mountain bike and take a few runs down the course myself, but I know my luck (and skill level) and probably would have broken something vital.

As we made our way toward Dunoon, we passed (and stopped at) numerous castles, stone bridges, and quaint villages and the Rest and Be Thankful Viewpoint. It’s a tough slog getting up there, but worth it. I can never get tired of any of those. In Dunoon we stopped briefly at the house I lived in as a child, went by my old school, and I generally bored Belinda to tears with stories from my preteen childhood. As we rode through my old neighborhood, I had flashbacks to my first “racing” days on a bike. My friends and I had a loop where we would race NASCAR style, complete with pit stops and rider changes. I was fast(ish) once upon a time.

My father passed away a few years ago, and I took this opportunity to scatter some of his ashes in Holy Loch where he had been stationed for the Navy many years ago. It was a surprisingly challenging moment for me emotionally, but good. I didn’t expect it to be that hard. I clambered out on the rocks during low tide, beneath the ruins of the old pier that was the access point to the Navy ships out in the loch and took a few moments to recall my dad and record a video for my daughter. By the time we arrived in downtown Dunoon, the rain had begun again in earnest and the temperature was dropping rapidly, so we elected to stay there in a warm hotel rather than continue on. Glasgow has been there for a long time, one more day probably wouldn’t make a difference.

The ride through Glasgow was rife with navigational challenges, technical malfunctions, and torrential rain. Those all may have been related. Glasgow roads and traffic were difficult to navigate, and there was a fair bit of profanity (only from me) as we struggled through wrong turns and going around in circles, but we made it through and enjoyed the Caledonian Canal all the way to see the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, both modern marvels and major bucket list items. It’s odd that I’m an enormous geek about all things medieval, but I was super excited to see these two sites from far more recent history. The Falkirk Wheel is an engineering marvel connecting two canals, and the Kelpies are two enormous horse head sculptures. From there it was a short jaunt into Edinburgh for our planned rest day, and that’s where things started to go downhill.

Our rest day itself wasn’t the issue. We spent the day walking the Royal Mile, touring Edinburgh Castle, buying yet another sword, and generally being the tourists we were supposed to be. We had lunch at the World’s End Pub and marveled at how a city could still look pretty much the same today as it did four hundred years ago.

The next day, we decided to take a train to Stirling rather than backtrack the forty miles we had just ridden, and while waiting in the station, we grabbed a couple of sandwiches from a coffee shop. I will never eat a Chicken Caesar sandwich with bacon again. The food poisoning that hit me later in the day was epic. Long story short, we toured Stirling Castle (amazing), and I spent the next three days holed up in bed and breakfasts wishing I was dead. I lost twelve pounds in those three days, and while I’m okay with the weight loss, it was definitely not my preferred method. Belinda was a trooper, nursing me back to some semblance of health, and somehow didn’t smother me to death with a pillow in my copious sleep. I guess a small silver lining was seeing the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands

in Carrbridge (also home of the World Porridge Championship) that we otherwise would not have seen.

Once I was capable, we continued on back to Inverness with stops at the Tomatin Distillery, Clava Cairns, and Culloden Battlefield. It was an easy day of riding through rolling farmland to finish the trip, and we took our time with lots of stops for rest and photos. Neither of us was ready to be done. Scotland is so rich in fascinating history that it would be impossible to see all the sights in a lifetime. I guess we’ll just have to go back sometime.

Part of the reason for this trip was to see just how much things were either the same or different from my childhood memories. In a country known for its history going back over a thousand years, I didn’t expect a lot of significant change, and was surprised that my memory was accurate after forty plus years. I recognized buildings and landmarks, street names and locations without any problem at all. It made me happy to think about things staying the same in such a rapidly changing world.

While this trip deviated from all the planning I had done, I wouldn’t change anything. Well, maybe the food poisoning. Definitely would not recommend. In many years of bicycle touring, I have finally learned that you can’t, and shouldn’t, plan for everything. It’s the nature of the beast that things will wander off course, and sometimes it will be awful, but usually it will be epically better. I got to cycle around a gorgeous country with an amazing and beautiful woman (and she didn’t kill me, again), and see some of the most stunning landscapes on the planet. Would I do it again? Absolutely and in a heartbeat. But my return to Scotland will have to wait. This is a great big world with lots to see by bicycle, and while I know I won’t get to it all, I certainly want to try.

If you go:

• Some thoughts on routes. I planned with RidewithGPS. It’s a great tool for finding bike friendly

A Glencoe bagpiper. Photo by Mike Pribesh

The Kelpies. Falkirk, Scotland. Photo by Mike Pribesh Leaving Culloden Battlefield on singletrack. Photo by Mike Pribesh

roads, but don’t trust it blindly. It will lead you through some truly questionable areas and pathways, including down staircases and literally through buildings. Cross referencing with Google Maps Streetview is highly recommended.

• The Great Glen Way is a popular route between Fort William and Inverness and is well worth it for the scenery, but it is tough, and a lot of it is more suited to mountain bikes rather than fully loaded touring bikes. There are several versions of the trail and finding the right path for your needs and equipment can be challenging.

• Scotland has multiple routes on their National Bike Network that are for the most part very well signed and easy to find. They keep you off of main roads and onto lesser used, smaller roads and bike paths. Look for the little blue numbered signs or in the case of the Great Glen Way, thistle signposts.

• Although many of the roads are tiny, one lane paths, we found Scottish drivers to be amazingly patient and considerate. Many times, they would wait for miles for a safe place to pass, even when we were crawling up steep climbs. Yes, they drive on the wrong side of the road, but they can be forgiven.

• Speaking of riding on the wrong side of the road. There’s a sharp learning curve there when looking for oncoming traffic. Be careful. Cars are not always where your brain tells you they should be.

• Camping in Scotland is easy and beautiful. Their land use code allows camping virtually anywhere that is not obviously fenced and posted. Just leave no trace or leave it cleaner than you found it. Paid campgrounds are numerous and not hard to find, most for about twenty dollars per night. Hotels/bed and breakfasts are reasonably priced and easy to book online. We took advantage of that

fact more than we had planned due to illness, and glad we did. Food poisoning and a tent would have been a very bad combination.

• We averaged around 50-55 miles per day. In past tours, and this one, I have found this to be a pretty good distance to allow plenty of time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Remember it’s not about get-

ting from point A to point B. It’s about seeing all the sights along the way, and if that means stopping for a couple of hours to crawl around some castle ruins, all the better. At that distance per day, there’s plenty of time for sightseeing.

• Be flexible. I tend to over plan because I like to know what’s coming. The best laid plans invariably

change, whether it’s due to weather or a wrong turn or there’s somewhere you just want to see more of. Roll with it and enjoy.

• Embrace the local food. It’s fantastic. It may have funny names like haggis or spotted dick, but give it a whirl. You won’t regret it. Unless it’s a cold sandwich from a train station.

Belinda on the last day of the tour of Scotland. Photo by Mike Pribesh

Scotland’s National Bike Network is extensive and well signed. Photo by Dave Iltis

HEALTH

A Cancelled Bikepacking Trip: When Health Issues Keep You from Riding Your Bike

By Chris Blinzinger

I awoke at 3 a.m. and realized I couldn’t swallow and had severe Vertigo. My head was spinning and causing nausea. During the next few hours, as the vertigo worsened, I pulled my phone out on camera mode to check my smile for uniformity. As a three-decade veteran of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) I checked myself for signs of stroke. All my checks were negative. I finally called 911 as symptoms were not improving and I was concerned.

So, what do you do when health issues impact your bike riding/touring/commuting? Here is my story.

My friend Lou Melini and I had planned a version of the Idaho Hot Springs loop for a couple of weeks at the end of July 2022 and into August. The preplanning had been done, maps purchased, GPX files downloaded and arrangements for parking a car during our ride. This has been on my “want to do list” for several years.

In mid-June I was deployed to Flagstaff, Arizona for the Pipeline Fire. I work with a regional Incident Management Team for large wildfires. I also work for a local fire department in Utah, so I can represent and contribute to the response for large wildfires outside our response area. After 8 days on the fire, I tested positive for COVID as it had found its way onto our

Command Post.

I was directed to isolate myself in a hotel room when 2 days later at 3 a.m. I had the stroke.

I was transported to Northern Arizona Medical Center where they diagnosed me with a Cerebellum Stroke. I could not swallow for several days, and my eyes were so blurry I couldn’t make out anything. As the news sunk in, I was numb.

Interestingly, my biggest concern was the inability to swallow. How would I give my body nutrition to support my lifestyle that includes bike touring/ bikepacking and commuting and being active?

One of my fellow Incident Team members arrived at the hospital and began making notifications to my family, boss in Provo and the Incident Commander on the Pipeline Fire whose direction I was working under while in Flagstaff.

I thought I was speaking clearly but asked the dispatcher on 911 if they could understand me. They advised that they understood everything I was describing from symptoms to location.

EMS did a few more assessments and discovered an “Arm Drift” which is a sign of stroke. I neglected to test this on myself. EMS transported me to the hospital. I couldn’t use my phone at all while in the hospital because of vision problems, so I handed it off to my team member then my wife who kept family and co-workers informed of my status. Many tests were completed to confirm it was a stroke.

I couldn’t swallow for days and had a mild headache. I was suctioning saliva to keep from choking on my own spit. I was given tongue exercises and ice to suck on. The tongue exercises were hard.

After several days, the speech therapist came in with a small container of applesauce and crackers. I verbalized that there was no way I would swallow that. I took a spoonful of applesauce, and I was able to swallow it. It tasted delightful. It was delicious and I don’t normally eat it. I was put on a minced and mashed diet so everything from beans to pork loin was ground up.

After 6 days in the hospital in

Flagstaff with speech and limited physical therapy, I was transferred to a Neuro Hospital Unit in Provo, Utah. Still on a minced and mashed diet. I spent 8 days there re-learning to walk, swallow and participate in cognitive testing.

While there I managed a message to Lou who is a retired PA and advised that I couldn’t do the trip in Idaho. I was so bummed and wondered how bike riding would be for me moving forward. Without missing a beat, he responded that we would plan it for 2023.

During physical therapy I was asked to do things that were scary.

Walk across a short piece of grass on uneven ground. I made it across, walking like Frankenstein. The Frankenwalking continued to creep into my gait. Also, I had to walk up a therapy sized stair prop and on a treadmill with assistance. Those were all hard, but I could feel incremental improvement and my visitors could see much more improvement than I could.

During outpatient physical therapy my therapist and I talked bikes. He rides a lefty and we found ourselves continually talking about bikes. I had considered my ability to get back on a bike but was afraid to jump right back on. So many things I’d done in the past were now required to do again for the first time. Driving, cooking, showering, climbing stairs and riding a bike.

I am 53 and fairly active. I have a blood clotting disorder which I knew about before I had the stroke. I set up my Disc Trucker on a trainer downstairs and got on. It felt so good to be pedaling, I felt balanced, and it was a good first back on a bike. I wanted more. I asked my doctors and therapists about riding again. They were supportive due to my progress in therapy but cautioned me to be careful as I was no on blood thinners.

My wife has been my rock through this whole recovery process, so she supported me trying to ride on the grass field at the school nearby. I unloaded my bike and rolled it over to the grass field. I was scared to get on. I threw a leg over, looked at my wife and pushed off to pedal forward. I immediately fell over onto the

Continued on page 14

Chris arriving back to Utah. Photo by Kendra Blinzinger

Trying out a new cane. Photo Kendra Blinzinger Chris’ first day back on a bike following a stroke. Photo Kendra Blinzinger

Chris testing pavement by Kendra Blinzinger

Hey Joe Safari Route. Photo by Koby Hubbs

Hey Joe Safari Route. Photo by Koby Hubbs

Tips for Storing Your Bike for Winter

By Erica Tingey

For many mountain bikers, winter has arrived. While some fourseason-climate dwellers extend their riding season with frequent trips to warmer biomes, others take a break for a few months (absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all). If you fall in the latter category, we highly suggest taking a half hour to prep your bike for storage — you and your bike will thank us in the spring! Here is a checklist to ensure that your bike hibernates peacefully:

• Clean your bike.

Remove dirt from the frame and components with soft-bristle bike brushes. Wipe off finer dust with a rag or an old T-shirt. If your bike is muddy, spray it down with a hose using low pressure. Don’t spray directly into any screws or joints. You can use a mild cleanser (like dish soap) to get grease off your frame. Use a degreasing solvent with a brush and/or a chain cleaner to remove grease from your drive train. Rinse.

[See the next article for brake and shock maintenance]

• Dry your bike.

In order to prevent rust, be sure your bicycle and all components are thoroughly dry before storing it!

• Lube your chain.

A lubed chain will also help protect against rust.

• Shift into your smallest gear. This will ensure that the chain and derailleur are relaxed. (Notice when your bike is in the biggest chain ring in the back that the chain and derailleur are “working”. If you

store it like that, you run the risk of stretching your chain which will require you to replace it sooner than necessary.

• Check your tire pressure.

Inflate to recommended pressure to keep the tire on the bead. Especially if you will be storing your bike on its wheels (i.e. not hanging), check periodically to make sure the tires are still inflated to avoid rim damage.

• Give your bike a checkup.

Look for damage to the frame and components — now is a great time to take your bike to the shop for repairs since they usually aren’t as busy and can hopefully give your bike a little extra TLC.

• ALWAYS store your bike with the dropper post in the UP position.

This will place less tension on the spring or hydraulic system, and extend the life of your dropper. (Psst… while we’re on the subject… never lift or hang your bike by the saddle unless the dropper is in the maximally raised position.

• Hang correctly.

If you are hanging by only one wheel, hang your bike by the rear wheel. Hanging the bike from the front wheel can put too much torque on the front fork.

• Set a calendar notification for a month before spring riding begins.

Take your bike in for a tune-up before the spring rush! (We’ll try to remind you as well…)

Give your bike a loving pat and thank it for all the joy it sparked this year!

MECHANIC’S CORNER Clean Your Brakes and Shocks

By Tom Jow

By the time you read this, we will be well into the winter season. Snow came early this year and if you are like me, your summer bike gear is all but put away. But before we hang up the bike, we should clean it and perform some essential annual service.

Why now? One reason to do this maintenance now is it only needs to be done once or twice a year; so why not before we store it? Another reason, as my old friend Flo Irizarry says, “it is not good to store the bike with those dirty fluids inside”.

One system that should receive annual service is the hydraulic brakes. Because the brake pads are self-adjusting, hydraulic brakes rarely exhibit signs of needing service. It is very important however, to bleed and replace the brake fluid annually. The reason is that the fluid becomes contaminated with dirt and moisture. How does the brake system get contaminated? There are small rubber seals behind the brake pads where dirt and moisture can enter the system. Dirt, and brake pad material, in the brake fluid

can cause premature wear of the seals and therefore allow fluid to leak through. Moisture can enter the system because DOT (automotive) brake fluid attracts and absorbs moisture. This moisture decreases performance by lowering the boiling point of the brake fluid. The minimum recommended fluid replacement interval for brakes using DOT fluid, SRAM for example, is annually. While mineral oil brake systems, such as Shimano and Magura, are affected less by moisture absorption, they are equally subject to dirt contamination.

Mountain bike suspension systems are also affected by dirt contamination through rubber seals. Ever notice how dirty the upper fork legs are after a dusty ride? There are seals that keep the dirt out of the internals. If the seals were so tight as to keep all this dirt out the suspension would be very harsh. Also, think about how many times that seal goes up and down that dirty fork leg in any single ride. It’s impossible to keep all the dirt out. So, to help keep dirt out of the lower leg and bushings is an oil-soaked foam ring under the seal. This foam ring catches much of the dirt that gets past the rubber seal. Eventually, the foam ring becomes saturated with dirt, slowing down the fork

action and potentially contaminating the oil in the lower fork legs. This is why both RockShox and Fox Shox recommend replacing seals every fifty hours. In addition to new seals and foam rings, the lower legs should be cleaned, and fresh suspension fluid added.

Keeping our bikes clean is an important investment of time. Dirt in moving parts wears them out faster. Cleaning the exterior of the bike is easy; the task and reason are obvious to all. Dirty brake and suspension systems are less obvious. The internal systems of hydraulic brakes and suspension are hidden but the potential for premature wear is the same. There is no excuse to not take care of it now. Winter is here and there is plenty of time before the new season. Storing the bike clean means it’s ready to ride as soon as the new season arrives. Fully maintaining the bike before storage means it’s ready to roll for the whole first part of the season before needing service. Put it away clean, inside and out.

Got a bike question? Email Tom at runnerrunner.rider@ gmail.com

The telltale signs of a worn fork bushing. A ring of oil on the stanchion tube and around the lip of the seal. Photo by Tom Jow

A black cloud of dirt and brake pad material afloat in pink brake fluid.

Photo by Tom Jow

A dirty fork seal, a dirty black foam ring below and a fork bushing. When new, the foam ring is the same color as the bushing.

Photo by Tom Jow

MOUNTAIN BIKING Hannah Otto Sets Fastest Known Time on Moab’s Whole Enchilada Loop

HEALTH

Prioritize Your Gut for Prime Health

4. Lessen your stress levels

Stress can contribute to several gastrointestinal issues, but did you know that stress directly impacts the gut microbes in your body, too? Stress may lead to inflammation by reducing the amount of SCFAs. If you recall, SCFAs are crucial for your immunity! Chronic stress can also affect the durability of your intestinal barrier, leading to leaky gut syndrome, a condition that increases inflammation in your body.

5. Get Dirty!

By Heather Casey

intolerance.

By Dave Iltis

MOAB, Utah — Utah mountain bike racer Hannah Otto set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Moab’s Whole Enchilada Loop. The loop isn’t just the well known and epic 26 mile descent, it’s also the 29 mile fire road climb to the top with no shuttling involved. Otto’s time of 5:50:38 posted on October 11, 2022 beat the previous FKT of 6:46:05 set in 2017 by Slash! (on Strava).

Hannah, sponsored by Pivot and DT, worked with Competitive Cyclist to document the ride.

We caught up with Hannah and asked her some questions about the ride:

Cycling West: What made you decide to tackle the Whole Enchilada Loop?

Hannah Otto: When I first rode the Whole Enchilada trail several years ago, I absolutely fell in love. In my opinion, the trail is everything that mountain biking should be. The trail covers a wide variety of terrain from high-alpine aspen groves to desolate desert terrain. It forces a rider to constantly adapt and overcome. It takes every rider on an adventure that is sure to highlight both strengths and weaknesses. Add the climb to the top, and you add the fitness component as well. I had been dreaming of doing this FKT for a couple of years, and finally everything aligned to make it happen. My hope is that it will inspire others to go out and experience all this trail has to offer as well.

Cycling West: Have you attempted any other FKT’s?

Hannah Otto: I’ve never attempted another FKT of this magnitude before because most of my performance goals are generally set around racing. I’ve always enjoyed challenging myself on the occasional Strava QOM/KOM as a part of my training, but this was my first experience attempting an “official” FKT. I had a blast and I hope to tackle some more FKTs in the future!

Cycling West: Did you do any special preparation for the Whole Enchilada FKT?

Hannah Otto: Since I had been racing all season, I relied on all of my race experiences and training for my fitness to be high enough to tackle this challenge. My primary preparations that were specific for this FKT

were planning and research oriented. I practiced the descent several times in order to dial in both my line choices and my equipment choices for this attempt.

Cycling West: Any tips for others attempting the Whole Enchilada Loop?

Hannah Otto: I think one of the most exciting things about this route is how many different variables there are to account for and consider. It seems like the planning and advice for a route like this could truly be endless. If I had to pick just one piece of advice then I would tell people that “smooth is fast.” On this type of terrain there is a tendency to want to take risks to gain a couple seconds here or there, but mistakes, crashes, and mechanics will be the slowest way to tackle this challenge. Minimizing mistakes will be the fastest way to ride.

Cycling West: What are your racing plans and goals for 2023?

Hannah Otto: In 2023 I plan to tackle the World Cup XCO Calendar with a big overarching goal of being on the Olympic team in Paris in 2024. I also plan to apply to race the Lifetime Grand Prix Series here in the United States.

FKT Stats: 55.27 miles

8,011 feet of elevation gain

Lowest Elevation: 4,004 feet

Highest Elevation: 11,146 feet

Finishing Time: 5 hours 50 minutes and 38 seconds

Previous Fastest Known Time on this route (Male or Female): 6 hours and 47 minutes

Equipment Hannah used:

Bike: Pivot Mach 4SL

Wheels: DT Swiss XRC 1200 Carbon

Wheels

Power Meter: Stages Dual-Sided

Power Meter

Cycling Computer: Stages M200

Dash Cycling Computer

Glasses: Julbo Fury Glasses

Grips: ESI Fit CR Grips

Fork: Fox Factory 34 120 mm Fork

Suspension: Fox Factory DPD Rear Shock

Dropper: Fox Transfer SL Dropper

Post Cockpit: Race Face Next SL Bars and Stem

Tires: Kenda 2.4 SCT Booster Tires

Did you know that diverse bacteria in the gut are responsible for 70% of the body’s immune function? “A whopping 70%, says David Heber, MD, Ph.D., professor emeritus of medicine at UCLA Health. He further adds that nutrition is “a key modulator of immune function.”

When this microbiome achieves balance with good bacteria, it can boost your immunity and support your emotional well-being. Your diet contributes to your mood and keeps your gut microbes happy or sad. You choose! To help you treat your gut better, here are five ways you can improve your gut health and immunity.

Five ways to improve gut health for better immunity

1. Have a field day with plantbased foods

Fruits and vegetables are beautiful on your plate but also crucial as diverse sources of fiber! Many fruits and vegetables are rich in microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs), and they set the stage for diverse microbial populations in the gut. Our bodies’ superheroes are dietary fiber, gut microbes, and the gut mucosal barrier. They all work together to defeat the bad guys (pathogens) in your gut. You’ll keep these superheroes strong with a diet of varying fiber sources! If your diet lacks fiber, significant amounts of beneficial bacteria are lost, and their health benefits also get sacrificed.

2. Increase Probiotics

Probiotics are microorganisms in the gut that provide health benefits for your body. Regarding immunity, some probiotics increase lymphocytes (white blood cells) that protect against infection and inflammation. Other probiotics speed up healing from ailments while minimizing inflammation-associated tissue damage in the body. You can find probiotics in kimchi, kombucha, and other dietary supplements. These foods and supplements are an excellent way to check in with your bio-individuality! Not everyone can tolerate probiotic-rich foods (hello, bloating!), and they’re also not advisable if you experience immunosuppression or have histamine

If you can incorporate probiotics into your routine, slowly add them to your diet. Discuss probiotic supplementation with your healthcare provider first (especially if you have gastrointestinal issues).

How to introduce more probiotics into your meals:

Substitute yogurt or kefir with “live active cultures” in your cereal, oatmeal, or smoothies instead of milk.

Fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut or kimchi are a flavorful condiment and a fun side dish.

Choose naturally fermented pickles instead of vinegar pickles when making tuna salad, sandwiches, and burgers.

3. Pile on Prebiotics

Once you’ve added probiotics to your diet, you’ll need plenty of prebiotics to help your gut flourish. Prebiotics are different from probiotics as they are the non-digestible food ingredients that “feed” the probiotics.

Let’s liken the microbiome to a garden; the flowers are the probiotics, while the fertilizer, water, and sunlight that help the flowers blossom are the prebiotics. By assisting probiotics to “grow,” prebiotics ultimately determine the gut’s bacterial composition. Prebiotics also generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that regulate the immune system by positively affecting the surrounding immune cells. Just like probiotics, not everyone can tolerate prebiotics well. Some people (including those with IBS) are sensitive to them, so starting with small portions of prebiotic-rich foods can be crucial to estimating your prebiotics’ tolerance.

How to incorporate prebiotics into your diet:

Cashews, pistachios, apricots, dates, figs, and watermelons are just a few of my favorite nuts and fruits with prebiotic-rich fibers.

Swap out one meat-based meal weekly for a plant-based meal made with garlic, onions, and legumes. They are all great sources of prebiotics.

Love tea? Sip on a teacup of chicory root or fennel tea to have that sweet kick of prebiotics!

It doesn’t hurt to get dirty, and here’s why: one teaspoon of soil contains one billion beneficial microbes! Overly sanitized environments significantly decrease gut microbe diversity, which is why you should get dirty!

Get Dirty:

Seek adventure hiking, trail running, and even skiing is perfect for getting dirty.

Shift one or two of your hobbies to the outdoors.

Dig deeper! Even if you don’t have a green thumb, potting a few plants is a great way to expose yourself to soil microbes!

Trust your gut

When your heart (or, in this case, your gut) tells you something isn’t right about your body, it can come through as an emotion, such as fear, or a physical symptom, such as gastrointestinal distress. Listen more often to what your gut tells you; perhaps you’ll begin to make choices more aligned with health, wellness, and overall immunity.

Heather Casey and her husband Pat own Peak State Fit Performance Center located in Salt Lake City, UT where they specialize in bike fitting, coaching, and nutrition services. Heather is a 5 X Ironman finisher including Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Heather’s professional experience includes NSCA, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Precision Nutrition Master level sports nutritionist, 500-hour Yoga Instructor, PNOE Metabolic Health Specialist.

Hannah Otto rides through technical chunky rock on the classic Porcupine Rim Jeep trail section of The Whole Enchilada in Moab, UT. Photo by Re Wikstrom / CompetitiveCyclist.com

Sauerkraut, Kimchi, and supplements are great ways to get probiotics.

Photo by Dave Iltis

ROAD RACING

Borstelmann and Pannecoucke Win 40th Annual LoToJa Classic

strong cyclists who ride and win LoToJa. There were approximately 1,500 USA Cycling licensed and unlicensed riders at this year’s start line. There were 31 start groups, which included licensed race categories, race relay teams, cyclosportive ride categories, and ride relay teams. LoToJa start groups left Sunrise Cyclery in 4-minute intervals as part of LoToJa’s Covid-19 Adaptations.

Winner: Aileen Pannecoucke (Team Zone 5) celebrates after winning the Women Pro 123’s in the 40th annual LoToJa Classic at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Sept. 10. She set a time of 9:58:00 in the 203-mile road race. Behind her is Hallie Megan French (Team Type II Fun), who won the Women Masters 35-plus category. Photo courtesy of Snake River Photo

By David Bern

After four consecutive decades, the LoToJa Classic’s fame as a hard, 203-mile road race remains indubitable: of the many cyclists who ride it, only the strongest win.

Cat. 1 pro road and gravel racer John Borstelmann (Team Voler Factory) and Cat. 2 Aileen Pannecoucke (Team Zone 5) convincingly won their Pro 123 categories in the 40th annual LoToJa on Sept. 10.

With 200 meters to go, Borstelmann, 31, of San Luis Obispo, California, sprinted away from last year’s winner Cat. 1 Nathan Spratt (Team Hangar 15) to the line at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with a time of 8:41:43.

“It was a long, hard day on the bike,” Borstelmann said, who has won Gravel Worlds twice and excels at endurance cycling events. He was happy with the win, and pleased with his effort.

“It felt good to climb with Nathan,” he said while noting respect for Spratt’s climbing talent. “It was a confidence booster for sure.”

Pannecoucke, 25, of Pocatello, Idaho, defended her title from 2021 by outsprinting four other women at the finish. Her time was 9:58:00.

“I needed a re-do from last year’s finish,” she said. “I am very happy to come out first, to actually win it.”

It was 45 degrees and clear skies when Borstelmann and the 20-rider field of Men Pro 123s and 22-rider field of Men Master 35-plus rolled away from the 5:30 a.m. start at Sunrise Cyclery in Logan. He said three riders launched off into the dark soon after the peloton passed the neutral roll-out on 1000 West.

Although renowned for making long, solo efforts, Borstelmann chose to sit in and wait for the day’s first climb to Strawberry Canyon’s 7,424-foot-high summit (57mi/92km).

“I’m not the best climber,” he said. “But I knew if I could hang in there over the top, or be in a good chase group back to the leaders, I’d have a good chance in the sprint.”

His plan paid off. Borstelmann not only managed to “hang in there” over Strawberry, and 6,923-foot-

high Geneva Summit (84mi/135km), he made it to the base of the day’s last major climb within an elite group.

That group consisted of 2018 LoToJa winner and current men’s course record holder (8:18:29) Cat.

1 Spencer Johnson (Team Johnson Elite Orthodontics), 44, of Riverton, Utah; Cat. 1 Matt Bailey (Team Intermountain Healthcare), 41, of South Jordan, Utah; Cat. 3 Danny Van Wagoner (Team Johnson Elite Orthodontics), 30, of Farmington, Utah; Cat. 1 Nathan Spratt (Team Hangar 15), 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah; his brother Cat. 2 Marc Spratt (Team Hangar 15), 27, of Millcreek, Utah; and Borstelmann.

And that last major climb was 7,630-foot-high Salt River Pass (106mi/171km), which features a nine-percent gradient during the last mile and King of the Mountain/ Queen of the Mountain status at the top for the fastest male and female racers.

“Nathan attacked at the bottom and I followed him,” Borstelmann said. “I stayed on his wheel the entire climb. … We had a 15-second gap over the top.” The two climbed the four-mile-long pass in 12:28:21 with Borstelmann winning the KOM at the line.

The two flew down the other side of Salt River into Star Valley. They stayed away from the chase group to the finish, despite Spratt suffering a flat before Alpine Junction (156mi/251km), and shifting issues after the wheel change. Borstelmann said the gap was over eight minutes by Alpine Junction. It held through Hoback Junction (178mi/286km), and grew to over 12 minutes by Teton Village.

Borstelmann said he felt good and had recovered from the day’s climbs as he and Spratt traded pulls during the race’s last seven miles on Village Road.

“I’m a strong sprinter and Nathan was hurting,” Borstelmann said. With 200 meters to go, he sprinted away from Spratt to finish alone. Spratt crossed the line four seconds later with a time of 8:41:47.

The chase group arrived several minutes later with Johnson in third at 8:54:30, Van Wagoner in fourth at 8:54:31, Marc Spratt in fifth at

Strawberry descent: John Borstelmann (Team Voler Factory) is closely marked by Marc Spratt (Team Hangar 15) and two other cyclists while descending into Bear Lake Valley from the summit of Strawberry Canyon in the 40th annual LoToJa Classic on Sept. 10. Borstelmann won the Pro Men 123’s and Spratt took fifth. Photo courtesy of Snake River Photo

8:54:31:30, and Bailey in sixth at 9:11:51.

“I’d like to come back next year,” Borstelmann said. “… The whole experience and the beautiful country were amazing.”

Although Pannecoucke won the Women Pro 123s in 2021, she was not the first woman to finish. That honor went to her Cat. 5 teammate Melissa Aitken, who was with her and Cat. 2 Jenny Leiser (Team Coda Coaching) in a three-woman break.

After the trio crossed the biker’s bridge at Wilson with seven miles to go, there was a near mishap with a pedestrian cyclist, which created a gap between Aitken, Leiser and Pannecoucke. With teammate Aitken up the road, Pannecoucke knew it was Leiser’s job to close the gap.

Also, because Pannecoucke wasn’t sure of Leiser’s sprint, she didn’t want to close the gap and possibly let Leiser beat her and Aitken at the line. Aitken soloed to the finish for the Women’s Cat. 5 victory.

Regardless of category and age, all licensed women cyclists in LoToJa start together because of lower field numbers. They are also allowed to ride together, but respective category wins are maintained despite mixed-category finishes.

Which is why Pannecoucke, who hails from Belgium and began racing at 16, was eager for a “re-do” from last year and to beat every Pro 123, Cat. 4/5, Cat 5 and Master woman to the line. So eager, she even ignored some pre-race advice from her parents, who flew in from Belgium to watch her race.

“My dad told me, ‘The one thing you don’t want to do is go off the front,’” Pannecoucke said.

But that’s exactly what she did. Shortly after the neutral roll-out in Logan, Pannecoucke attacked alone, yet was quickly caught by the 44-women field. As soon as she was caught, she attacked again and got away.

“I attacked to get a good time and to make the race hard,” she said. “I’m an OK climber and knew they would catch me on the climb [Strawberry]. I rode alone for the next two hours and they caught me about two miles from the summit.”

Pannecoucke was joined by her

Zone 5 teammate Cat. 3 Ashley Kline, 33, of South Jordan, Utah, and eight other women cyclists from different categories. The break rode over the summit, down into Bear Lake Valley and Montpelier, and over Geneva Summit.

Pannecoucke said the break was down to a handful of riders as it approached the bottom of Salt River Pass, with Cat. 5 Autumn Vegh (Unattached), 28, of Denver, Colorado, off the front.

After the pass, the break consisted of Cat. 5 Master 35-plus Hallie Megan French (Team Type II Fun), 37, Salt Lake City, Utah; Cat. 5 Master 45-plus Nicole Lunsford (unattached), 47, Troutdale, Oregon; Cat. 4/5 Brittany Paige Mercier (Team Creepe), 33, Lethbridge, AB, Canada; and Pannecoucke. French won the QOM with a time of 17:35.

The break caught Vegh in Star Valley and the five women worked together through Alpine, Hoback Junction and toward the finish.

“Autumn [Vegh] went to the front with 1K to go,” Pannecoucke said. “I thought, ‘Oh, this is perfect! I’ve never had a lead-out like this before.’ I think she was trying to drop us. She cursed when I came around her. She was surprised.”

Pannecoucke crossed the line alone, followed by French in second at 9:58:02, Lunsford in third at 9:58:05, Vegh in fourth at 9:58:06, and Mercier in fifth at 9:59:42.

Although French took second, she won the Women’s Masters 35-plus, Lunsford won the Women’s Master 45-plus, Vegh won the Women’s Cat 5, and Mercier won the Women’s Cat 4/5.

Kline took second place in the Women Pro 123s with a time of 10:35:15. There was no third-place finisher in the Women Pro 123s.

Pannecoucke was delighted and relieved with her win. So were her parents.

“My dad said, ‘Lucky you were first!’ because of my early attacks,” Pannecoucke said. “If I had lost, I had no one to blame but myself.”

She said she plans to defend her title next year, and she hopes that more women will be on the start line.

The Men’s and Women’s Pro 123s aren’t the only categories with

LoToJa is billed as the longest one-day USA Cycling-sanctioned bicycle race in the U.S., with three mountain passes, and nearly 10,000 vertical feet of climbing. The 203-mile/327-kilometer parcours passes through northern Utah, southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming.

The race was first held in 1983 with only seven cyclists. Now, up to 2,000 participate annually by riding the full-distance or a portion of the route as a relay teammate.

“Our 40th annual LoToJa Classic was a milestone achieved and a tremendous event with great riders and fantastic weather,” said race director Brent Chambers. “I look forward to many more LoToJa’s to come and how the race challenges everyone and brings out their best.”

The 41st annual LoToJa will be held on Sept. 9. The race’s 2023 website will be launched next March with online registration opening in early April.

Chambers expressed gratitude to everyone who helps make LoToJa successful year after year. He especially thanked the event’s team of 650-plus volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and the communities the race passes through.

“Without that support, LoToJa wouldn’t be possible,” he said. “LoToJa also wouldn’t be possible without the support of every cyclist who rides it. I am forever grateful and inspired by everyone who makes the race a reality.”

For complete finish line results of 2022’s race, go to lotoja.com and click on the “results/records” tab in the navigation bar.

Getting Lost on Fitzgerald’s Joyride 2022

By Dave Fotsch

I should’ve known better. It was day three of the Fitzgerald’s Joyride bike-packing race in southeast Idaho. I had just completed the second massive climb of the day and was starting down the other side when I encountered another rider. Brian Rinck stopped, and we chatted for a while, as you do when you finally see another rider. Then I said, “so you must be going clockwise.” He looked at me quizzically and said, “No, I’m going counterclockwise.” Though most go counterclockwise, the course allows riders to go in either direction.

“What? I’m going counterclockwise!”

“No, dude, if you continue down this trail, you’ll wind up back at the market.”

The market he was referring to was Bailey’s Market, a vital resupply point at the bottom of the biggest climb of the entire route, some 3,000 feet. I’d already done that climb and suddenly realized I’d done it twice.

“I’m so confused,” I said with genuine concern.

I had been having trouble with my navigation the entire trip. While I had loaded the route into my Garmin Etrex 30, I couldn’t get the display

to work right. I tried to follow the line, but it wasn’t giving me mileage or other vital information. Plus, the route crisscrosses itself in the middle, and I had already spent extra time and mileage going the wrong way many times.

It was getting late. I followed Brian up the track back to the summit and down the other side. He dropped me because I descended like an old lady. I’m cautious descending after the sun goes down. Five broken collar bones and numerous other injuries over the years will do that to you.

Fortunately, I came upon a couple of other riders, Peter Yerger, and Al Meder, who had been behind me. With all my navigational errors, they could’ve passed me anywhere. One of them was having trouble with the electronic derailleur on his bike. Having resolved the problem, they led me into Soda Springs. I was exhausted. There was no way I was going to try and find a camp spot and sleep in the cold. Only one of the two motels in town had a room. It didn’t matter that it was $87. I was staying there. At the Maverik station, I bought two 32-ounce Budweisers and went to my room. After a shower, I sat on the bed and drank the beers contemplating whether I could go on. I was so tired I couldn’t figure out the TV remote. Then I passed

out.

I had screwed up badly. After completing the big climb out of Bailey’s Market and going down the other side, I stopped for food at a trail intersection. The Garmin indicated I needed to go up a hill when I got back on my bike. Intuitively, I thought I should be dropping into Soda Springs. I had no cell service to check my intuition, but Garmin knows best, right? I didn’t realize that I was climbing the hill I had just come down.

I had come into the race about as unprepared as I had ever been. The original plan had been to do the Smoke ‘n Fire 400 that starts and ends in Boise. True to its name, the race was altered by the all-toocommon summer wildfires. The fires and smoke closed the route north of Ketchum, forcing organizers to change the course, making it an out-and-back along the northern part of the route from Boise to Redfish Lake. The air quality was grim even on the altered path. The last time I’d done Smoke ‘n Fire was five years ago when wildfire had forced organizers to make it an out and back along the southern part of the route. I didn’t want to do that again. The attraction this year was the opportunity to make the entire loop.

Fitzgerald’s Joyride, which start-

ed three days after Smoke ‘n Fire, was in a part of the state essentially free from wildfire smoke. I had friends doing the race, so I changed my plans at the last minute and caught a ride to Idaho Falls with Louie Konkol. Louie shared some of his route beta. That’s all the research I did, outside of downloading the course into my Garmin.

With my Garmin failing to give me mileage without switching between screens, I wasn’t entirely sure where I was at any given time, even as I tracked my progress on my Apple Watch. I didn’t know where the big climbs were or how long they would be. I only knew where I could resupply and get water. If I could cover at least a hundred miles a day I’d still have a ride home.

At an informal racer gathering the night before the race started, I told Boisean Clint Boltz that he was my backup ride home. Louie, who had done the race the year before, was determined to finish in three days. I couldn’t do that. Louie would be on his way home while I was still churning out the miles.

The racers gathered in the chilly morning air in the parking lot of Fitzgerald’s bike shop in Idaho Falls. The Fitzgerald crew was kind enough to have some snacks and, most importantly, coffee waiting for us. Race organizer, Kevin Emery, called everyone around for a brief talk before the start at eight o’clock. As with most of these races, there are no entry fees or prizes, though Kevin offered the winner a bag of Idaho potatoes. Self-support means finding your own food and water, though Kevin said he might pop up from time to time with a little ‘trail magic.’ Otherwise, you’re on your own in bike-packing races.

Without much fanfare, we rolled out on pavement heading south into farmlands and the nearby mountains. We shed layers as the day warmed up.

In races like this, you tend to find ‘your people,’ the ones who ride at your speed. After passing some and being passed by others, I was mostly on pace with Clint Boltz and Cody Heiner, both from Boise. I appreciate Clint correcting me as I got off course multiple times, a theme that resonated throughout the race. We decided to ride a few more miles together in the dark at a late-night dinner stop in Lava Hot Springs

before collapsing exhausted into our sleeping bags. Our impromptu camp was a cow patty-splattered wide spot on the side of the road where someone had mowed down the tall thistle plants. We had covered 111 miles.

Cody was the first up the following day. The noise of him packing was my cue to get up and go, no matter how tired I was. It was about 6:00 a.m. Slowly we climbed the four miles to a summit that would’ve been a much better camp spot if only we had the energy to get there the night before. From there, it was a fun descent into the Gentile Valley, the nearly full moon and Jupiter still visible on the horizon.

I diverted off Cleveland Road unintentionally into the tiny town of Thatcher. I got a sighting of another rider going the other way. I think it was Jackson Long who ultimately won the race. I waved, but he didn’t. I sat on the Thatcher schoolhouse steps and had a snack. This town is one of the cross-over points on the route, where clockwise and counterclockwise paths converge. I had to backtrack less than a mile to get back on course.

One of the promises of this ride was the possibility of hot springs soaks at Lava Hot Springs and Maple Grove Hot Springs. Lava was out of the question because I got there so late. Maple Grove was hosting a special event and wasn’t open to the public. At this point, I had been leap-frogging with Brian Charette, who though faster than me, was on a more leisurely pace, stopping frequently to, uh, enjoy mother nature, shall we say? Regretfully, Brian and I filled our water bottles, gnawed on energy bars, and moved on. We had the big city of Preston to visit!

Preston, Idaho, is famous for being the setting of the cult favorite movie Napoleon Dynamite, and that is all. The route intentionally passed the iconic house featured in the movie, though I missed it because I was too concerned about missing turns on the way into town. I was focusing on my Garmin and not the scenery. I caught up with Clint and Cody again, though we were at different fast-food restaurants.

The author looking heroic. It was only day one. Photo courtesy Dave Fotsch

Kevin Emery addressing the racers. Note the bag of potatoes leaning against the bike stand. Photo by Dave Fotsch

The Napoleon Dynamite house Preston, Idaho. Photo by Bryan Charette

Camp one. The tired can’t be too choosy. Photo by Dave Fotsch

The southern part of the route is flat and largely paved. It makes for fast travel, even if it isn’t as interesting. All around us was farmland. It’s a wide-open valley ringed by distant mountains. By 4:30 Sunday afternoon, we were at the turnaround point in Logan, Utah, taking selfies in front of Joyride Cycles. Nearby was a Mexican restaurant. I have a philosophy about eating on these kinds of adventures. When you have the opportunity for a sit-down meal, take it. You can only eat so many Clif Bars before you’re sick of them.

La Tormenta translates to The Storm, but to us, the restaurant’s name was The Torment. It offers genuine Mexican cuisine prepared by Mexicans, who hardly spoke English. While well-meaning, the cute teenage girls taking orders behind the counter couldn’t understand what we wanted. We were each asking for a meal to eat in, and bean and cheese burritos to-go. When the first bean and cheese burrito came out on a plate, Cody, who had done his mission in Ecuador, stepped in with his limited Spanish to try and explain. Eventually, we all got what we had ordered, and after a bit of a wait, our burritos to-go.

We made good time on the paved roads as the sun dropped in the sky. I got lost in Smithfield. I didn’t hear Clint yelling at me, and then I couldn’t figure out where he and Cody had gone. I wasted precious time going back and forth over the same roads until I found my way back onto the route. Damn you, Garmin! This getting lost thing was getting old. If only that had been the end of it.

It was nearly 8:00 p.m. when we rolled into Richmond. Needing a boost, we drank cups of strong gas station coffee. There had been foolish talk of trying to push onto Soda Springs, still some 90 miles away. I don’t mind riding in the dark, especially now that I have good lights, but my lights would long outlast my legs. We had already covered about a hundred miles at that point, so we lowered our expectations and targeted the Albert Moser campground only about 20 miles off in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. We pulled into the campground late. It was nice to have a decent place to pitch a tent and a pit toilet! I had covered about 130 miles, more than my riding companions because of my wayward ways.

We awoke early again on Monday. Cody and Clint were packed and ready to go before me. I wanted to use the pit toilet before I left the campground. “I’ll see you down the road,” I said as I grabbed my toilet paper and A&D ointment and headed to the loo. That was a fateful mistake.

It’s not unusual to be tired and not thinking clearly after pounding out hundreds of miles in a couple of days. Well, I sure could’ve used a

cup of gas station coffee that morning. From the campground, I turned left when I should’ve turned right. I thought things were going well as I cruised downhill. The road changed from gravel to pavement. Then I saw two things that made me slam on the brakes. A dead raccoon and a flashing sign for a nearby cabin. “%$&*!”

I screamed to myself. “I went the wrong way!”

Last night, I’d seen that sign and the dead raccoon as we climbed to the campground. The same road looks so different in the daylight.

There was only one thing to do – turn around. I’d only gone down the road about a mile and a half, but I had to reclaim the distance and elevation I’d lost before I could even start to catch up with my companions. I was hoping to join them on our second pass by Maple Grove Hot Springs, but sadly never saw them again.

I followed the Birch Creek drainage into Mink Creek and picked up Highway 36 for a few miles before the turn-off to Maple Grove Hot Springs. As I was dropping into the Bear Creek drainage, I encountered a father and son from Utah. They were only doing part of the route, having started in Logan. The father, who was closer to my age, told me they had stayed in one of the cabins at Maple Grove.

“I don’t know when they clean the rooms,” he said. “But the door is open, and there are wristbands for the hot springs.”

That’s all I needed to hear. I was planning on soaking anyway. I was filthy from two days of dust and sunscreen. I eagerly covered the few miles to the hot springs. Just as he said, the cabin was open. I leaned my bike against the picnic table outside and got ready to soak. Clint and Cody were nowhere around. They later told me the place was closed when they got there. First, I went into the changing room and showered the grime off my body before getting into the big pool behind the main building.

A young woman was soaking nearby. I asked her if this was as hot as the pools get. She said there’s an even hotter pool close to the river. I gathered up my dirty clothes and headed that way. There I found two lovely middle-aged women, Linda, and Sondra. We engaged in some pleasant conversation, playing a guessing game, trying to figure out where we were from. I let the hot water purge my aching body of all the abuse it had suffered over the past few days while Sondra performed provocative stretches on the side of the pool.

Sufficiently soaked, I bid farewell to my newfound friends and returned to the cabin where I changed into a clean kit for the first time since Saturday, ate, and packed up to leave. The proprietor came around the corner just as I was zipping closed the last bag.

“I thought you guys already left.” I guess all cyclists look alike. “Oh yeah, it’s a long story,” I lied. “But I’m out of here now. Thanks for your hospitality.” I smiled knowingly to myself and hit the road.

I passed through Thatcher again, this time going the right way, and pedaled to Bailey’s Market, where I feasted on Chili Cheese Fritos and Pepsi from the soda fountain. I topped off my water bottles and started what everyone said was the biggest climb of the route. It was as hot as it had been the entire weekend. It should be no surprise that there were a few wrong turns before the summit and lots of hike-a-bike sections. From the top, I dropped down to the other side. And then the stupidity happened.

I awoke at six Tuesday morning with a hangover. I was still out of sorts from being such an idiot the day before. There were roughly a hundred miles between me and the finish in Idaho Falls. The forecast called for overcast skies with a chance of rain. I texted my wife and told her I wasn’t sure I could go on. She offered to come and pick me up if I couldn’t go on. My friend Louie, who had finished the day before and spent the night in Idaho Falls, texted and offered to pick me up on his way home. I had options.

My ass hurt from the worsening saddle sores. Eventually, I resolved to give it a go. I made some really bad motel room coffee and started packing up. There was a lovely little café in town that opened at seven. I knew I’d feel better with a good meal in my belly.

Peter and Al were already there when I walked in. I ordered one of my favorite biking breakfasts, biscuits, and gravy with eggs over easy and lots of coffee. The three of us chatted about our adventures, past and present. I told the story of my stupidity the day before. They nodded, wondering what kind of joker was sitting across from them. They had ordered grilled cheese sandwiches to eat later. Brilliant, I thought, but I didn’t order one myself.

Peter, Al, and I rode out of town on a recreational trail that led to gravel roads on the relatively flat area south of the massive Blackfoot reservoir. We passed between a pair of cinder cones called China Cap and China Hat. From there, the route turned into the Caribou Mountains and more climbs.

For the first time in four days on the trail, my Garmin was giving me the information I needed all on one screen. I don’t know what I did to get it to display that way, but I sure wasn’t going to change anything. Peter and Al steadily pulled away from me until they stopped to eat their grilled cheese sandwiches. I was on a mission and told them I would keep going. I put earbuds in and cranked up the tunes. Head down; I pressed onward.

It was windy and cool, but the

rain mostly held off until late in the day. With sporadic cell service, I got a message from Clint, who told me he wouldn’t be able to wait for me because he needed to get home. He had to work the following day at six in the morning. This news gave me something to think about as the miles added up. I had the rest of the week off, so I could probably take the Salt Lake Express shuttle back to Boise.

There are no resupply points on this final stretch. I still had plenty of nutrition onboard, so I wasn’t worried about that, but water became an issue late in the day. According to Louie’s beta, there were a couple of places where I could get water. I never saw the spring water pipe on Brockman Road (mile 366), but I stopped at Willow Creek, about 15 miles from the finish, and filtered enough water to fill two bottles. And then the rain started, light at first and heavier as I approached the finish.

The hills were unrelenting, and I cursed Kevin Emery. Wind turbines on surrounding hills spun in the increasing winds. I got to the top of the final climb and was relieved to see pavement leading into Idaho Falls. With less than ten miles to go, I tucked into my drops and flew toward Idaho Falls in light rain.

Once the road flattened out, I pedaled furiously to get to the finish. At a stop light, I turned around only to see Peter and Al. I had probably given them time to catch up with me at the water stop. Jokingly, I asked them, “Hey, are you guys following me?” We rode together to Fitzgerald’s, where I was surprised to find Clint. He had been texting Louie and decided to wait for me, which was a huge relief.

As with most of these events,

the end was anticlimactic. We took some congratulatory photos and then bid each other farewell. Clint helped me load my bike onto the car, and we hit the road.

I’d done it. With minimal training and no clue about what the route would throw at me, I had completed Fitzgerald’s Joyride. I didn’t die. I was tired and sore but felt a sense of accomplishment.

Every ride provides me with lessons, and this was no different. There’s a saying Louie is fond of sharing with me. You pack your fears. I had many fears because my bike was heavy, tipping the scales at 50+ pounds. On top of that, I wore a Camelback with two liters of water. I carried too much nutrition because I came home with some of it. My gear isn’t the lightest available. I took an extra kit when the faster riders get by with what they’re wearing. There is room for improvement.

And honestly, now that I’ve done the Fitz-Joy, I realize it would be possible to do this ride without any camping gear if you don’t mind riding only about a hundred miles a day. You could easily stay in a motel room in Lava Hot Springs, Logan, UT, and Soda Springs. It is possible to do the race on a ‘credit card tour.’ Just add food and water along the way.

I was the oldest registered participant in the event at age 64, which took a toll on my body. For days after the ride, I suffered numbness in my hands and feet. I had open wounds on my butt from the saddle

Continued on Page 18

Don’t mess around with ordinary coffee, not after 10 hours in the saddle.

Photo by Dave Fotsch

The author, Clint Brotz (l), and Cody Heiner (r) at Joyride Cycles in Logan, Utah. Photo by Dave Fotsch

The road back up to the campsite.

Photo by Dave Fotsch

The author soaks away the pain at Maple Grove Hot Springs. Photo courtesy Dave Fotsch

Dave pushing his bike... Photo courtesy Dave Fotsch

The finish of Fitzgerald’s Joyride 2022. Photo by Peter Yerger

ADVOCACY I’m Not Going To Wait Anymore

By Darrell Owens

Traffic Violence won’t be fixed by planners and engineers who view cities as a means to run an economy over the lives of people in them -only we can fix it ourselves.

Last month, a pedestrian and a cyclist were killed by a driver at the very same intersection in Sunnyvale, California. When Vice Mayor Alysa Cisneros brought the issue to the city council to investigate fixing the intersection, the council majority voted overwhelmingly to reject it and not improve traffic safety. They chose to prioritize the speed of motorists over the lifes of everyone else — at a cost of 40,000 Americans killed and 120,000 cyclists injured by cars a year. This is the norm throughout the United States from major cities to minor suburbs. So I’m forced to ponder: what can we do about this as urbanists?

Nothing, under the current planning regime. Take protected intersections for example. Common outside the U.S. but very uncommon here. When we installed some in my town of Berkeley all hell broke loose. Motorists lost their shit when forced to make safer, slower turns. Neighbors placed bright traffic cones so idiotic drivers who are never expected to be attentive would stop rolling over the barriers and stunning themselves. One irate motorist even spray painted the platforms proclaiming they were illegal by court order (they weren’t).

On the same road, Berkeley spent four years planning to construct a protected bike lane which lead to an uproar by area drivers who insist they’re being persecuted by losing a tiny few on-street parking spaces adjacent to huge parking lots. At the prospect of making a road safer for cyclists AND motorists to use, fanatical NIMBYs now accuse safety advocates of being part of a socalled “bicycle lobby”, evidently out to harm the oh-so-precious driver.

Unfortunately traffic engineers and city planners are some of the weakest and most spineless civil servants in city government — the former especially. If you’ve ever talked to a traffic engineer, you’ll realize quickly that these people are not interested in reducing the tens of thousands of Americans who die annually from traffic-related crashes. Rather, on behalf of city electeds and local businesses, they are first and foremost interested in how quickly they can get employees to work and how quickly their local businesses can fill up their parking.

They have little to no regard for the safety of anyone who doesn’t drive. To traffic engineers, a city is for cars and the people in it are merely in the way. The same applies to fire departments whose fire marshals act as if any reduction in lanes somehow endangers emergency responders — without evidence. A strange American conundrum: carfree and car-lite cities around the world burn to the ground because they lack a giant stroads running through every other place — according to Americans. Total nonsense.

As a result, I’m sad to say there is

no official way we can plan our way into traffic safety. The indoctrination of the automobile and fossil fuel industry is too deeply entrenched in many American’s minds. Even though car-lite policies like safer bike lanes and shrunken roads improve driver safety by forcing them to slow down and keep average people from not having to carry the burden of becoming killers. But the inevitable result of this radical, car-based, speed-first, safety-last planning is that people who go out of their ways to travel sustainably get pummeled or killed often enough that cars become a necessity for all. Well I’m done. As history has frequently demonstrated, if we’re going to get traffic safety, we must fight for it. I’m not going to negotiate my safety or the safety of loved ones with the chamber of commerce, the city council or motorists who think they have a right to drive over every inch of pavement that exists. I’m tired of telling my younger sibling that I don’t want her to ride a bike in Oakland out of fear for her life.

It’s time for people to start forming organizations to protect cyclists, transit riders, pedestrians, and yes — drivers — from car-centrism. I’m not going to spend years writing to city council that I need a crosswalk where I live — I’m just going to paint it now. I’m not going to wait years on hundreds of thousands of dollars for impact studies blocking traffic out of neighborhood streets. We need to just erect the barriers and bike lanes ourselves. Erect the bus benches ourselves. Shrink the streets ourselves. There’s a long history of neighbors taking matters into their own hands. We need to bring tactical urbanism back.

I applaud the work of groups who have shined a light on traffic violence like Rapid Revolt in Oakland and in San Francisco such as Safe Street Rebel. We need to take control of our urban planning now. Form organizations and do the work yourselves. Stop asking for it, because the radical, pro-car, anti-human basis of American traffic planning is never going to give it to you.

Darrell Owens is a housing advocate and analyst for California YIMBY and is based in Berkeley, California. Follow him on Twitter @IDoTheThinking and subscribe to his newsletter: darrellowens.substack.com

Continued from page 4

JW: We have done minor repairs on forks, and wheels can often be repaired depending on where the damage is located. To repair wheels, they need to be disassembled, and the damage cannot be over a spoke hole. Unfortunately, cockpit items are usually not worth the cost of repair. The exception to this is proprietary seatposts and bars for Triathlon bikes and other aero road bikes, which we have done plenty of repairs on.

SLS: What sort of warranty do

A Cancelled Bikepacking Trip -

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grass. I was devastated. If a horse bucks you off… My wife watched and encouraged me to be patient. I threw my leg over again with the same result. My worst fears were realized. I tried a third time and continued forward. I was ecstatic. It felt more of an accomplishment than my master’s degree. I continued to pedal in the long grass and was so happy that I could do it and had a smile like a kid at Christmas. It was a feeling of victory and success. I did have some vision problems with perception, but I felt balanced and made many tracks in the grass while getting my bearings. The long grass was a safe place to land but also exhausting.

I had been in a hospital for nearly 2 weeks and not much activity besides therapy for the past 2 months. I moved over to the basketball courts and rode back and forth trying to get my bearings. When I approached an immovable object, my brain wanted to move away from it rather than ride alongside it. After doing many short practice rides over a period of weeks in safe non-traffic areas, I decided to venture out around the neighborhood. I’d ride for 1-2 hours just focusing on balance and managing the obstacles (parked cars, raised curbs) as I encountered them. I found that turning tight corners to be the most challenging for my balance.

I eventually decided to get back to commuting. My route includes riding to the train station and then from the station to work. This was another first, getting on the train and the obstacles involved. It was scary but I continued to do it. I found that I was much more balanced on my bike than walking. I returned to work 3 months after the stroke. I looked forward each day to riding to or from work. It was so enjoyable and helped me feel a bit more normal.

I work with a guy who is into bikepacking, and we started talking about putting together a manageable ride to test my ability. His wife had a traumatic brain injury 24 years earlier, so he understood some of the challenges I was facing. After a couple of months of discussion, we found a short bikepacking ride in nearby Moab, Utah.

I am new to bikepacking but have bike toured all over the west-

you offer on your various repair services?

JW: All of our bikes come with a 5 year fully transferable warranty on the repair area, including 1 inch in any direction. We record the serial number of every bike we repair, and the warranty applies to anyone who owns that bike. In 2 years and in the roughly 250 repairs completed, we have never had a single warranty claim.

SLS: What do you see for the future of EBC? Are there any plans to invest in tooling to build your own frames and/or components from design up?

JW: Creating new carbon fiber

ern US so am comfortable with carrying my gear on the bike. The weather had been unseasonably wet and cold, but we were committed and had sufficient gear, so we headed out. I had 2 rear panniers, a frame bag and handlebar bag. Bikepacking is much lighter than touring and I need to think lighter. This was planned for a three-day ride. The first day had much more Hike-abike than we anticipated. When we approached early afternoon on the first day, I found myself tired from so much exertion we decided to set up camp and rest.

My riding partner was very understanding, and we set up and discussed the plan for the next 2 days. I’m not even sure of the first day’s mileage but I felt good about my efforts. He noticed how unstable I get when I am tired. He did remark that he observed that I could ride a bike better than I could walk.

The next morning, we headed back to the vehicle to look for a ride with less elevation gain. We found a gravel road that led to a rock that resembled Nefertiti along the Green River, so we parked and rode the round trip 20 miles and headed home. I felt great and although we didn’t complete the ride as planned, I met the objective of putting in some loaded miles on a bikepacking route and testing my ability. I had no regrets about modifying it. I felt accomplished in my performance. It was not easy, but it was much more enjoyable “hard” than going to therapy and tongue exercises.

My cerebellum stroke happened on June 17, 2022, and now it’s December. I face peaks and valleys daily. I continue to improve and have a positive outlook for the Idaho Hot Springs route with Lou next September.

It occurred to me that this story is for everyone as we all can face challenges that disrupt life including hobbies and passions. I was devastated the first 2 attempts to ride the bike in the grass. If I hadn’t tried that third time, where would I be today? My doctors diagnosed my stroke as “mild”, but a mild stroke is still significant to me.

I am thankful for my recovery and the support of my family, friends, coworkers and especially my wife Kendra. I have a hopeful outlook for my bike touring/bikepacking future. It will still take hard work and doing the scary things, including new first’s, to get back to where I was, if that is even possible.

bikes is not something we are interested in due to the environmental cost. Our mission is rooted in reducing waste, and until carbon fiber can be properly recycled, creating more of it is a non-starter for us.

In the immediate future, we are focusing on improving our finishing and paint methods. We are extremely comfortable with the strength of our repairs and the efficiency of our process, but our paint matching is currently a “five-foot match”; meaning you can’t notice the repair outside of five feet. But we hope to improve this to the point where our repairs are not noticeable at all.

The long-term goal is to repair as

I joined my physical therapist Quinn on a ride on our day off. It was great to ride the paved bike path in the canyon.

I know that COVID gets blamed for many things in positive patients. I asked the doctors taking care of me about its contribution to my stroke, but none would state that this was a COVID problem. I did have a clotting disorder already and during testing they found an Atrial Septal Defect in my heart that allowed the clot to pass through the blood/brain barrier.

When I talked to the cardiologist, he advised that there would be no attempt to repair my heart defect. First because the risk was too high for such a small defect and second because I have toured so much and challenged my heart climbing over Bald Mountain Pass and Boulder Mountain on my tours, he encouraged me to continue to ride my bike which was music to my ears. All doctors and therapists advised that my activity before the stroke would contribute to the speed of recovery and the overall recovery itself.

I eat just about what I want now. I can eat popcorn and bread which were a big no when this first happened. I need to have water close in case I choke. That is a rare occurrence now.

I get tired at the end of the day which results in balance problems. I can walk into a grocery store and feel mostly normal but once in there all the stimulation I get from the colors of the products and the obstacles of shelving, people with carts and displays, I lean on the cart because it does something to my brain which gives me balance problems. I am on thinners (Eliquis) for the rest of my life. It won’t keep me from pedaling as I believe there are equal dangers as a motorist during rush hour. I was riding to work until it got cold. Now I ride a stationary at work for an hour or so to build my strength back until it warms up. I still pull out the bike on weekends for short rides. I thought about what it might be for someone facing other health challenges. Don’t lose hope. There are some things that I may never do again and some I will continue to do, even with limited ability.

A good friend in rehab told me that he “would do everything they ask me to do because they’ve given me this opportunity.” I told myself that I would do the same. Happy and safe pedaling.

many bikes as possible, so we can reduce as much waste as possible. In order to do this on an industrial scale, we have to attract OEs to start repairing warrantied frames instead of replacing them. But first, we have to get our repairs to the point where the repair looks factory fresh, which truly is an art form.

East Bench Composites is located at 2374 Harrison Blvd., in Ogden, Utah. They can be contacted through their website at https://www.eastbenchcomposites.com or by phone at 385-240-5265.

Carbon Repair -

CYCLOCROSS

Cyclocross and “That Thing in Your Head”

By Loren Hettinger

It’s that time of year again: the cooler mornings and a few golden leaves on the cottonwoods and willows remind us that cyclocross or CX racing is in full bloom. I can’t remember why I thought it would be a good idea to race CX. It couldn’t have been from spectating at a race in Colorado’s Chatfield State Park, south of Denver where I first witnessed people dismounting and running while carrying their bikes over barriers or up a steep bank. It all seemed counter-intuitive, or downright weird. Yet, there was an attraction--perhaps the challenge of doing something different after a road-racing season. This “something different” included riding on sketchy terrain with off-camber turns, slippery grass, and even ice-infused mud, while trying to stay upright.

For any of us who transitioned to CX from road racing later in life, the process was generally not seamless, as CX was a new and different “animal.” As different as a person proficient at loping around an arena on a horse, maybe doing some pole bending, but then decided to become a trick rider, suddenly attempting forward fenders, one-footed stands, and galloping vaults. Watching the top guys racing CX was vexing: the seamless dismounts, hurdling barriers while carrying the bike, and then remounting as if the barriers hadn’t been there in the first place. A few of us practiced this craft, starting slowly by dismounting to one pedal and then throwing the off leg back over, then gradually dismounting, running with the bike, and trying to remount without inflicting excruciating pain on ourselves. Landing too hard on the saddle, the top tube, or onto the

rear tire was not for those with a low tolerance for pain! We practiced our new craft endlessly, even had some coaching, and watched videos of the Euro pros, as if their awesomeness could somehow transfer to our brains and increase our coordination.

Dismounts and remounts weren’t the only difficulty because CX racecourses were an education in offroad surfaces. I had ridden mountain bikes on Front Range trails, but not raced them yet, and until now had thought the riskiness of a criterium was the epitome of prerace jitters. Moreover, CX course planners looked for the sketchiness, as if a slightly wider, knobby tire could be successfully ridden on any surface. And the treacherous surfaces naturally increased with the onset of winter. Another interesting aspect about this sport was the persona of CX in general—that real CXers thought the sketchier the course and conditions the better. I tried to see this point of view, but secretly thought these people were lying or at least pretended to buy into this macho psychosis while secretly hoping for a dry course on gentle trails like I did. It took a while until I too could revel and smile in the mud.

Then there was the application of infantile skills to courses during a local race. I had never been gassed in a road race to where I actually stopped or plodded up a steep hill in a death-march, bike over a shoulder, breathing like the bellows of hell’s fires, (or as one teammate described, “Like a steam locomotive!”); but CX racing had this effect. Another compounding factor was my first, too large, converted touring bike, which seemed to get taller during a race. Initially, I kept my objectives simple: not crash or fall over and hurt myself, not be rooted somewhere on the course, and not finish last.

Of course, there were more than a few times when at least one of these objectives was not met. Some have remained somewhat vivid; like a race at the Boulder Reservoir when I cut a shin into the sub-cuticle by falling onto my bike in a tangle with other riders. Another episode occurred on a course through the marshes interior to the Mead sportscar racetrack. The driver error consisted of sticking a front wheel into

a hole of muddy water--that I knew should have been avoided--resulting in a face plant and flattened nose. Seeing the bottom of shoes and cleats from ground level as other racers jump over you is disconcerting. Worse than that is searching that puddle, raccoon-like, for a lost lens from my glasses only to find that it was plastered to my beard in adobe-like goo. Riding with cotton gauze hanging from one nostril and one lens to sight the course was somewhat detrimental to not being last. Okay, so many of my objectives could be obliterated at a single race. How about all of them in a single helping?

This larger serving occurred at the Xilinx State Championships one wintry day. I rode several warmup laps and noticed with some interest a large flagstone bridge crossing of a ditch. My concern was the six-inch flagstone edge; however, I “lifted” the front wheel onto it during the first approach and confidently rode on.

The Masters’ group lined up in about three rows of seven across. Starts are generally hectic. All of us want to get toward the front before the courses narrow and enter offroad sections, single-track, or grass chicanes. I sprinted with the rest around a coned parking lot and then into the sand of a volleyball court. I remounted after the sand run, breathing hard. A familiar competitor was in front of me, and in moving to pass him, the flagstone bridge suddenly appeared. I belatedly thought about remedial action, but instead “endowed,” landing mostly on my left elbow—all this occurring in . . . what, under a second? Lying on the side of the stone was at first embarrassing, then disturbing, and finally all that psychological turmoil was replaced with acute physical pain. Other racers went by giving me the look of, “What happened?” or “Better you than me!”

Continuing crossed my mind, but I knew my race was over while attempting to straighten the handlebars and a brake lever. The injured arm responded by circumscribing some airy signals, as if trying to communicate with someone farther down the course that it knew, and I didn’t.

As I retrieved my spare wheels and packed things into the car, the

thought that the injured appendage might not be an easy fix was reinforced by the throbbing and continued uselessness of the arm. By the time I headed back toward Longmont and the retreat toward home--pausing to search for ice at a convenience store--the elbow was the size of a softball.

X-rays later revealed that I had fractured the olecranon process (yeah, the elbow-pointy thing). This culminated in a kind of injury from hell: surgery to install hardware, a second, larger surgery 10 days later to check a nasty staph infection and replace the hardware. Then a Groshong catheter was plunged into my chest for six weeks of antibiotic infusions (when I really seriously considered experimenting with vodka), and finally physical therapy to unfreeze the joint.

I sometimes wondered in growing up and reading adventure stories of the American West if I would have been able to hack the Sundance Ceremony of the Plains Indians. This ceremony consisted of a bone being inserted through the chest muscles of the aspiring warrior who gradually pulled free of it and the leather thongs that were attached to a pole. Or, if I would have had to carry wood and water for the women of the tribe all my life. By the time the catheter was tugged out of my chest, I was more confident of my warrior aspirations and stopped for a double espresso on the way home.

There was another undercurrent to this experience: that the glitches

and driver error-injuries were just reminders of something that we already knew: that bike racing can be dangerous. However, the rewards must outweigh the risks. Or, maybe it’s as Mark Cavendish said, “You know that thing in your head that says, ‘You shouldn’t be doing this?’ Well, we don’t have that!” But about the rewards . . . a sense of achievement, the challenge of a course and whether you could ride it or mostly ride it and with progressively more skill each lap. One could always hope. There is no doubt that for me it was addictive, and it must have been fun too. Because if it wasn’t, why do it? As one of us in the peloton said, “About as much fun as that first kiss by a fourth-grade crush!”

Some of my family and noncycling friends thought that this medical sojourn would be the final nail as a deterrent from the rigors and risks of CX (and perhaps to bicycle racing in general). But the mishaps instead spurred me into increasing the reward side of this risk equation, and somehow becoming better at the craft. In fairness to CX and in defense of my seemingly ineptness, there were a lot of seasons when I had no mishaps needing medical attention. I may have ridden a few near-perfect laps, and the sketchy sections of a course were traversed in an upright, exhilarating manner. Perhaps, it’s not just the pros like Mark Cavendish, but a lot of us CX cyclists don’t have that “thing in our heads.”

Loren Hettinger - “seemed rideable in practice”, Austin, TX Nationals.

Photo by Tom Lebsack

Loren - CX scuffed. Photo by Tom Lebsack

The Sweet Spot Between Ruts and Ice; UCI World Championships, Louisville, KY. Photo by Loren Hettinger

BICYCLE SHOP DIRECTORY

Southern Utah

poisonspiderbicycles.com

Rim Cyclery

94 W. 100 North Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-5333 rimcyclery.com

Monticello

Roam Industry

265 N. Main St. Monticello, UT 84535 (435) 590-2741 roamutah.com

Price Altitude Cycle

82 N. 100 W. Price, UT 84501 (435) 637-2453 altitudecycle.com

St. George Bicycles Unlimited

90 S. 100 E. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 673-4492 (888) 673-4492 bicyclesunlimited.com

IBB Cyclery & Multisport

185 E Center St Ivins, UT 84738

435-319-0011 ibbcyclery.com

Rapid Cycling 705 N. Bluff Street St. George, UT 84770

435-703-9880 rapidcyclingbikes.com

Red Rock Bicycle Co.

446 W. 100 S. (100 S. and Bluff) St. George, UT 84770 (435) 674-3185 redrockbicycle.com

Springdale Zion Cycles 868 Zion Park Blvd. P.O. Box 276 Springdale, UT 84767 (435) 772-0400 zioncycles.com

Northern Utah

Logan Al’s Cyclery / Al’s Sporting Goods 1075 N Main Street, Suite 120 Logan, UT 84341 435-752-5151 als.com Joy Ride Bicycles 131 E 1600 N North Logan, UT 84341 (435) 753-7175 joyridebikes.com Sunrise Cyclery 138 North 100 East Logan, UT 84321 (435) 753-3294 sunrisecyclery.net

The Sportsman 129 North Main Street Logan, UT 84321-4525 435-752-0211 thesportsmanltd.com

Wimmer’s Ultimate Bicycles 745 N. Main St. Logan, UT 84321 (435) 752-2326 wimmersbikeshop.com

Park City/Heber

Cole Sport 1615 Park Avenue Park City, UT 84060 (435) 649-4806 colesport.com

Contender Bicycles 1352 White Pine Canyon Road Park City, UT 84060 435-214-7287 contenderbicycles.com

Jans Mountain Outfitters 1600 Park Avenue P.O. Box 280 Park City, UT 84060 (435) 649-4949 jans.com Mountain Velo 1612 W. Ute Blvd, Suite 115 Park City, UT 84098 (435) 575-8356 mountainvelo.com

Park City Bike & Demo 1500 Kearns Blvd Park City, UT 84060 435-659-3991 parkcitybikedemos.com

Slim and Knobby’s Bike Shop 84 S Main Heber, UT 84032 (435) 654-2282 slimandknobbys.com

Stein Eriksen Sport At The Stein Eriksen Lodge 7700 Stein Way (Mid-Mountain/Silver Lake) Deer Valley, UT 84060 (435) 658-0680 steineriksen.com

Silver Star Ski and Sport 1825 Three Kings Drive Park City, UT 84060 435-645-7827 silverstarskiandsport.com

Storm Cycles 1153 Center Drive, Suite G140 Park City, UT 84098 (435) 200-9120 stormcycles.net

White Pine Touring 1790 Bonanza Drive P.O. Box 280 Park City, UT 84060 (435) 649-8710 whitepinetouring.com

Vernal Altitude Cycle 580 E. Main Street Vernal, UT 84078 (435) 781-2595 altitudecycle.com

Wasatch Front

WEBER COUNTY

Eden/Huntsville/Mountain Green Diamond Peak Mountain Sports 2429 N. Highway 158 Eden, UT 84310 (801) 745-0101 diamondpeak.biz

Ogden

Bingham Cyclery 1895 S. Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84401 (801) 399-4981 binghamcyclery.com

East Bench Composites Utah Carbon Bike Repair 2374 Harrison Blvd. Ogden, UT 84401 385-240-5265 eastbenchcomposites.com

Level Nine Sports

1273 Canyon Road Ogden, UT 84404 801-621-2003 levelninesports.com

Skyline Cycle 834 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 (801) 394-7700 skylinecyclery.com

The Bike Shoppe 4390 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84403 (801) 476-1600 thebikeshoppe.com

Two Hoosiers Cyclery 2374 Harrison Blvd. Ogden, UT 84401 385-238-4973 twohoosierscyclery.com

DAVIS COUNTY

Biker’s Edge

232 N. Main Street Kaysville, UT 84037 (801) 544-5300 bebikes.com

Bingham Cyclery 2317 North Main Street Sunset, UT 84015 (801) 825-8632 binghamcyclery.com

Bountiful Bicycle

2482 S. Hwy 89 Bountiful, UT 84010 (801) 295-6711 bountifulbicycle.com

Bountiful Bicycle

151 N. Main St. Kaysville, UT 84037 (801) 444-2453 bountifulbicycle.com

Great Western E-Bikes

40 W 500 S Ste B Bountiful, UT 84010 801-494-9898 greatwesternebikes.com

Guthrie Bicycle

420 W. 500 S. Bountiful, UT 84010 (801) 683-0166 guthriebike.com

Loyal Cycle Co.

15 E. State St. Farmington, UT 84025 801-451-7560 loyalcycleco.com

Masherz

2226 N. 640 W. West Bountiful, UT 84087 (801) 683-7556 masherz.com

REI 220 Station Pkwy Farmington, UT 84025 801-923-1707 rei.com/stores/farmington.html

Trek Bicycle Centerville 26 I-15 Frontage Rd Centerville, UT 84014 801-609-7877 trekbikes.com/us/en_US/retail/centerville/

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Central Valley

Cottonwood Cyclery

2594 Bengal Blvd Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 (801) 942-1015 cottonwoodcyclery.com

Flynn Cyclery

2282 E. Murray Holladay Rd Holladay, UT 84117 801-432-8447 flynncyclery.com

Hangar 15 Bicycles 3969 Wasatch Blvd. (Olympus Hills Mall) Salt Lake City, UT 84124 (801) 278-1500 hangar15bicycles.com

Salt Lake City

Bicycle Center 2200 S. 700 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 484-5275 bicyclecenter.com

BikeFitr

1549 S 1100 E Suite D Salt Lake City, Ut 84105 801-930-0855 bikefitr.com

Bingham Cyclery 336 W. Broadway (300 S) Salt Lake City, UT 84101 801-583-1940 binghamcyclery.com

Contender Bicycles 989 East 900 South Salt Lake City, UT 84105 (801) 364-0344 contenderbicycles.com

Cranky's Bike Shop 142 E. 800 S.. Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (801) 582-9870 crankysutah.com evo Salt Lake 660 S 400 W Suite 300 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 385-379-3172 campus.evo.com

Gear Rush Consignment 53 W Truman Ave. South Salt Lake, UT 84115 385-202-7196 gearrush.com

Go-Ride.com Mountain Bikes 2066 S 2100 E Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 474-0081 go-ride.com

Guthrie Bicycle 803 East 2100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 484-0404 guthriebike.com

Highlander Bike 3333 S. Highland Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 487-3508 highlanderbikeshop.com

Hyland Cyclery 3040 S. Highland Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 467-0914 hylandcyclery.com

Jerks Bike Shop 4967 S. State St. Murray, UT 84107 (801) 261-0736 jerksbikeshop.com

Level Nine Sports 625 S 600 W Salt Lake City, UT 84101 801-973-7350 levelninesports.com

Pedego Electric Bikes 1095 S. State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111 801-341-2202 pedegoslc.com

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.)

3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84109 (801) 486-2100 rei.com/saltlakecity

Trek Bicycle 247 S. 500 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (801) 746-8366 slcbike.com

Salt Lake Ebikes 1035 S. 700 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84105 (801) 997-0002 saltlakeebikes.com

Saturday Cycles 605 N. 300 W. Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 935-4605 saturdaycycles.com

SLC Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801) 328-BIKE slcbikecollective.org

Level Nine Sports 2927 E 3300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84109 801-466-9880 levelninesports.com

Sports Den 1350 South Foothill Dr (Foothill Village) Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 582-5611 SportsDen.com

The Bike Lady 1555 So. 900 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84105 (801) 638-0956 bikeguyslc.com

Wasatch Touring 702 East 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (801) 359-9361 wasatchtouring.com

South and West Valley Bingham Cyclery 10510 S. 1300 East (106th S.) Sandy, UT 84094 (801) 571-4480 binghamcyclery.com

Electrify Bike Co.

3961 W 9000 S, Suite H West Jordan, UT 84088 801-997-0550 www.electrifybike.com

Go-Ride.com Mountain Bikes

12288 S. 900 E. Draper, UT 84020 (801) 474-0082 go-ride.com

Hangar 15 Bicycles

762 E. 12300 South Draper, UT 84020 (801) 576-8844 hangar15bicycles.com

Pedego South Jordan 651 W South Jordan PKWY South Jordan, UT 84095 801-206-9202 pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/south-jordan

Hangar 15 Bicycles 11445 S. Redwood Rd S. Jordan, UT 84095 (801) 790-9999 hangar15bicycles.com

Lake Town Bicycles 1403 W. 9000 S. West Jordan, UT 84088 (801) 432-2995 laketownbicycles.net

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) 230 W. 10600 S. Sandy, UT 84070 (801) 501-0850 rei.com/sandy

Salt Cycles 2073 E. 9400 S. Sandy, UT 84093 (801) 943-8502 saltcycles.com

UTAH COUNTY

Alpine/American Fork/Cedar Hills/ Lehi/Pleasant Grove/Lindon

Bike Peddler 3600 Ashton Blvd Suite A Lehi, Utah 84043 801-756-5014 bikepeddlerutah.com

Eddy’s Bicycle Barn 550 W State Rd #2 Lehi, UT 84043 801-503-7872 eddysbicyclebarn.com

Fezzari Bicycles 850 W. 200 S. Lindon, UT 84042 801-471-0440 fezzari.com

Hangar 15 Bicycles

1678 East SR-92 Highland/Lehi, UT 84043 (801) 901-6370 infinitecycles.com

Pedego Electric Bikes

4161 N. Thanksgiving Way, #205 Lehi, UT 8411184043 801-405-7383 pedegoslc.com

Timpanogos Cyclery 665 West State St. Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 (801)-796-7500 timpanogoscyclery.com

Trek Bicycle Store of American Fork Meadows Shopping Center 356 N 750 W, #D-11 American Fork, UT 84003 (801) 763-1222 trekAF.com

Utah Mountain Biking 169 W. Main St. Lehi, UT 84043 801-653-2689 utahmountainbiking.com

Payson Ride’ N Bikes 36 W. Utah Ave Payson, UT 84651 (801) 465-8881 https://ridenbikes.business.site

Provo/Orem/Springville

Al’s Cyclery / Al’s Sporting Goods 643 East University Parkway Orem, UT 84097 435-752-5151 als.com

Hangar 15 Bicycles 1756 S State Street Orem, UT 84097 385-375-2133 hangar15bicycles.com

Hangar 15 Bicycles

877 N. 700 E. Spanish Fork, UT 84660 (801) 504-6655 hangar15bicycles.com

IDAHO

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

Idaho Falls Bill’s Bike and Run 930 Pier View Dr Idaho Falls, ID 208-522-3341 billsbikeandrun.com

Dave’s Bike Shop 367 W Broadway St Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208-529-6886 facebook.com/DavesBikeShopIdahoFalls

Idaho Mountain Trading

474 Shoup Ave Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208-523-6679 idahomountaintrading.com

Pocatello

Barries Ski and Sport

624 Yellowstone Ave Pocatello, ID 208-232-8996 barriessports.com

Element Outfitters 222 S 5th AVE Pocatello, ID 208-232-8722 elementoutfitters.com

COLORADO

Element Outfitters 1570 N Yellowstone Ave Pocatello, ID 208-232-8722 elementoutfitters.com

Rexburg

Sled Shed 49 East Main St Rexburg, ID, 83440

208-356-7116 sledshedshop.com

Twin Falls

Epic Elevation Sports 2064 Kimberly Rd. Twin Falls, ID 83301

208-733-7433 epicelevationsports.com

Spoke and Wheel 148 Addison Ave Twin Falls, ID83301 (208) 734-6033 spokeandwheelbike.com

Cycle Therapy 1542 Fillmore St Twin Falls, ID 83301

208-733-1319 cycletherapy-rx.com/

Salmon

The Hub 206 Van Dreff Street Salmon, ID 83467

208-357-9109 ridesalmon.com

Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum

Durance

131 2nd Ave S Ketchum, ID 83340 208-726-7693 durance.com

Power House 502 N. Main St. Hailey, ID 83333 208-788-9184 powerhouseidaho.com

The Elephant Perch 280 East Ave Ketchum, ID 83340 208-726-3497 elephantsperch.com

NEVADA

Boulder City

All Mountain Cyclery 1601 Nevada Highway Boulder City, NV 89005 702-250-6596 allmountaincyclery.com

Sportsworld 1500 E Aultman St Ely, NV 89301 775-289-8886 sportsworldnevada.com

Las Vegas

Giant Las Vegas 9345 S. Cimarron Las Vegas, NV 89178 702-844-2453 giantlasvegas.com

Las Vegas Cyclery 10575 Discovery Dr Las Vegas, NV 89147 (702) 596-2953 lasvegascyclery.com

NEW MEXICO

Bosque Mobile Bicycle Repair Albuquerque, NM bosquemobilebicyclerepair.com

Fat Tire Cycles 421 Montaño Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 505-345-9005 fattirecycles.com

WYOMING

Jackson Area Fitzgeralds Bicycles 500 S. Hwy 89 Jackson, WY fitzgeraldsbicyles.com 307-201-5453

Hoback Sports 520 W Broadway Ave # 3 Jackson, Wyoming 83001 307-733-5335 hobacksports.com

Hoff’s Bike Smith 265 W. Broadway Jackson, WY 83001 307-203-0444 hoffsbikesmith.cm

The Hub 410 W Pearl Ave Jackson, WY 83001 307-200-6144 thehubbikes.com

Teton Bike 490 W. Broadway Jackson, Wyoming 83001 307-690-4715 tetonbike.com

ID 83422 208-354-7669 ridethetetons.com

Peaked Sports 70 E Little Ave, Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2354 peakedsports.com

Sturtevants 340 N. Main Ketchum, ID 83340 208-726-4512 sturtevants-sv.com

Sun Summit South 418 South Main Street Hailey, ID 83333 208-788-6006 crankandcarve.com

Teton Village Sports 3285 W Village Drive Teton Village, WY 83025 tetonvillagesports.com

Wilson Backcountry Sports 1230 Ida Lane Wilson, WY 83014 307-733-5228 wilsonbackcountry.com

WESTERN STATES

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar Guidelines:

Listings are free on a space available basis and at our discretion.

Submit your event to: calendar@cyclingutah.com with date, name of event, website, phone number and contact person and other appropiate information.

Let us know about any corrections to existing listings!

Utah BMX

RAD Canyon BMX — South Jordan, UT, Indoor and outdoor BMX racing. Location: 5200

W, 9800 South, Practice Tuesday 6:30- 8:30, Race Thursday, Registration 6:00- 7:00, Race at 7, May through September (practices starting in April with additional practices on Tuesdays through May), Dallas Edwards, 801-803-1900, radcanyonbmx@radcanyonbmx.com radcanyonbmx.com

Legacy BMX — Farmington, UT, Indoor bmx racing at the Legacy Events center 151 South 1100 West, Farmington, UT., Practice

Wednesday 6:00- 9:00; Race Saturday, May through September, Kevin , 801-6981490, kevin@klikphoto.net lrbmx.com radcanyonbmx.com/Rad_Canyon_Legacy_

Outdoor_Schedule_2014.pdf

March 10-11, 2023 — USA Cycling Collegiate BMX National Championships, Bakersfield, CA, Chuck Hodge, 719-434-4200, chodge@ usacycling.org usacycling.org

May 7, 2023 — USA Cycling Elite BMX National Championships, Tulsa, OK, Chuck Hodge, 719-434-4200, chodge@usacycling.org, usacycling.org

Advocacy

Bike Utah — UT, Utah’s Statewide Advocacy Group. They work on education and other bike related advocacy., Jenn Oxborrow, 385-831-1515, jenn@bikeutah.org bikeutah. org

Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC) — Salt Lake City, UT, Meetings are the 3rd Monday of the month from 5-7 pm in the SLC Transportation Division Conference room., Salt Lake City Transportation , 801-535-6630, bikeslc@slcgov.com bikeslc.com

Salt Lake County Bicycle Advisory Committee

— Salt Lake City, UT, The SLCBAC committee works to improve cycling conditions in Salt Lake County and is an official committee. Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:30 pm and are held in Suite N-2800 of the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St., Salt Lake City, UT,, Helen Peters, 385-468-4860, HPeters@slco.org bicycle.slco.org

Weber Pathways — Ogden, UT, Weber County’s trails group. We are committed to the idea that a non-motorized network of public pathways significantly contribute to our community’s economic vitality and quality of life., Mark Benigni, 801-393-2304, wp@weberpathways.org, Rod Kramer, 801393-2304, rod@weberpathways.org weberpathways.org

Mooseknuckler Alliance — St. George, UT, We accept all types and styles of riders; most importantly we want people to ride their bikes and enjoy doing it. Most of us love riding our bikes in all types of weather and in multiple disciplines. The Alliance is located in Southern Utah and has group rides to help people get out, meet new friends, and most importantly, have fun riding their bikes., Lukas Brinkerhoff, 435632-8215, lukas@mooseknuckleralliance.org mooseknuckleralliance.org

Mountain Trails Foundation — Park City, UT, Park City’s Trails Group, Charlie Sturgis, 435649-6839, charlie@mountaintrails.org mountaintrails.org

Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee — Salt Lake City, UT, Volunteer to help build the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. (801) 485-6974 or visit our web page., Dave Roth, 801-8245339, bonnevilleshorelinetrail@gmail.com bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org

Parley’s Rails, Trails and Tunnels (PRATT) — Salt Lake City, UT, PRATT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, run by volunteers. The mission of the Parley’s Rails, Trails and Tunnels (PRATT) Coalition is to assist city, county, state and federal agencies and other public and private partners in completing a multi-use trail along I-80 via Parley’s Creek Corridor and the Sugar House Rail Spur to connect the Bonneville Shoreline Trail with the Provo/Jordan River Parkway., Juan Arce-Larreta, 801-694-8925, parleystrail@ gmail.com parleystrail.org

Provo Bike Committee — Provo, UT, Please join us every first Thursday of the month at 5 pm at 48 N. 300 W. to help make Provo a more bicycle-friendly community., Heather Skabelund, 971-404-1557, bikeprovo@ gmail.com, Aaron Skabelund, 385-207-6879, a.skabelund@gmail.com bikeprovo.org

Dixie Trails and Mountain Bike Advocacy — St. George, UT, Cimarron Chacon, 970-7593048, info@groraces.com dmbta.org

Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance — St. George, UT, Southern Utah’s road advocacy group., Craig Shanklin, 435-674-1742, southernutahbicycle@gmail.com southernutahbicyclealliance.org

WOBAC - Weber Ogden Bicycle Advisory Committee — Ogden, UT, Josh Jones, 801629-8757, joshjones@ogdencity.com

Idaho Bike Walk Alliance — Boise, ID, Idaho’s Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Cynthia Gibson, 208-345-1105, cynthia@idahowalkbike.org idahowalkbike.org

Greater Arizona Bicycling Association — Tucson, AZ, Arizona’s Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Eric Post, president@bikegaba.org bikegaba.org

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists — Phoenix, AZ, Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Bob Beane, 623-252-0931, cazbike@cazbike. org cazbike.org

Wyoming Pathways — Wilson, WY, Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Tim Young, 307-413-8464, , wyopath.org

Bicycle Colorado — Denver, CO, Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Dan Grunig, 303-417-1544, info@bicyclecolorado.org bicyclecolorado.org

Bike Walk Montana — Helena, MT, Statewide bicycle advocacy organization, Taylor Lonsdale, bznbybike@gmail.com, Doug Haberman, 406-449-2787, info@bikewalkmontana.org bikewalkmontana.org

Salt Lake Valley Trails Society — Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Valley’s natural surface bicycle trails non-profit., Kevin Dwyer, kevin@ saltlakevalleytrailssociety.org saltlakevalleytrailssociety.org

Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP) Jackson, WY, Promotes trails and pathways in the Wydaho area of Wyoming and Idaho., Dan Verbeten, 208-201-1622, dan@tvtap. org tvtap.org tetonbikefest.org

Bike Orem — Orem, UT, The Orem Bicycle Coalition exists to cultivate a more bicycle friendly community in Orem so that more residents will be able and excited to ride in our community. We do this by encouraging bicycle safety, accessibility, inclusivity, and infrastructure to the community and its residents. Come join us! Currently we are meeting on the second Wednesday of each month, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Mad Dog Cycles. The address is 350 North Orem Blvd, Orem, UT 84057, Randy Gibb, 801-222-9577, randy@maddogcycles.com bikeorem.weebly.com

Events, Swaps,Lectures

April 20-23, 2023 — Sea Otter Classic Monterey, CA, Road, Mountain, Gravel, and XC races offered., Sea Otter Classic , 1-800218-8411, info@seaotterclassic.com seaotterclassic.com

May 6-7, 2023 — Park City High School Mountain Bike Team Bike Swap, TENTATIVE, Park City, UT, Benefits Park City High School Mountain Bike Team and the Young Riders Youth Mountain Biking Program. Located at Utah Film Studios: 4001 Kearns Blvd. Park City, UT. Saturday, May 7 8am-5pm and Sunday May 8 11am-3pm. Buy or sell gear.Need a a bike? Need to get some of that old equipment out of your garage? This is the perfect opportunity, and proceeds raised at this event help to fund the Park City High School Mountain Bike Team and the Young Riders organization based out of Park City, UT. To sell your gear you can drop off your bike and fill out the information at Jan’s Mountain Outfitters (1600 Park Avenue, Park City) or White Pine Touring (1790 Bonanza Drive, Park City) during store hours from April 23- May 4, or at Utah Film Studios: 4001 Kearns Blvd. Park City, Utah on May 5, 3-7pm, May 6, 2-8 pm., Lucy Best, 760-815-6043, biglucy2000@yahoo.com youngriders.com

May 15-19, 2023 — National Bike to Work Week, Utah Bike Month, Everywhere, UT, A week to climb out of the motor vehicle and onto your bike on your way to work., None , noemail@cyclingutah.com bikeleague.org

May 19, 2023 — National Bike to Work Day Utah Bike Month, Everywhere, UT, A day to climb out of the motor vehicle and onto your bike on your way to work., None , noemail@cyclingutah.com bikeleague.org

Gravel Races and Rides

February 5, 2023 — Old Man Winter Bike Rally Lyons, CO, An epic winter adventure featuring 50 K or 100 K of rolling gravel roads, classic Boulder County climbs, fast tarmac, and the infamous Rowena Trail, Josh Kravetz, 303-408-0747, josh@adventurefit.com, oldmanwinterrally.com

March 18, 2023 — True GRIT Epic Gravel Race, National Ultra Endurance Mountain Bike Series (NUE) 100 and Marathon SE, Santa Clara, UT, Epic gravel race 84 miles, Cimarron Chacon, 970-759-3048, info@ groraces.com truegritepic.com

April 15, 2023 — Wild Horse Dirt Fondo, Delle, UT, The Wild Horse is the West’s backyard gravel race! Distances of 77 or 35 miles and a separate category for ebikes. Witness the splendor of the ancient Lake Bonneville island ranges and loosen the joints on a beautiful and challenging course!, Robert Kennedy, 319-551-6174, stupidponyride@ gmail.com RideWildHorse.com

April 15, 2023 — Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride - San Marcos, QUADRUPEL CROWN OF GRAVEL, San Marcos, CA, Pain and suffering will commence at 7 a.m. featuring four waves predicated on riders’ USAC categories. The expo will remain open on Sunday throughout the duration of the event until the beers, jeers and awards are distributed for all the day’s heroic efforts., Michael Marckx, 760-815-0927, mmx@ MonumentsofCycling.com belgianwaffleride.bike

April 23, 2023 — Gorge Gravel Grinder, Dufur, OR, Chad Sperry, grinderinfo@breakawaypro.com oregongravelgrinder.com

April 28-30, 2023 — Montana Gravel Grinder Challenge and Hell Ride, Missoula, MT, Day 1: 9Mile Time Trial -- this route takes you on an out and back up NineMile road, 31 miles total, with a gentle elevation gain on the way out, totaling around 1,300’. Day 2: Southside Road -- A classic Montana ride, the Southside Road loop-- Flat Mullan Road takes you out to the rolling gravel of Southside Road along the river, and back to our start in Huson. 57 miles, 2,200’ of gain. Day 3: Rocky Mountain Roubaix Circuit -- Montana’s famed RMR is the final stage of this 3-day race. These loops total 45.5 miles, gaining around 2k’ of climbing., Shaun Radley, 406-219-1318, montanacyclocross@gmail.com, montanacyclocross. com/events/, thecyclinghouse.com

May 6, 2023 — Volcano Fire Road 120k Gravel Grinder, , Veyo, UT, Fun and challenging ravel race! 75 miles with 6200’ climbing in the beautiful Pine Valley area north of St George. 56% dirt, 44% pavement. Solo or 2x relay. Famous Veyo Pie at the finish line!, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@ planetultra.com gravelgrinder.com

May 12-14, 2023 — Cascade Gravel Grinder Bend, OR, Chad Sperry, grinderinfo@breakawaypro.com, oregongravelgrinder.com

May 14, 2023 — Co2uT - Desert Gravel, Fruita, CO, The Co2uT chemical equation can be broken down as follows: Co=Colorado, 2=to, uT=Utah. This kick-ass gravel race will take you from Colorado to Utah...and back.

Designed by a long-time western-slope local, each route offers mind-blowing, gravel-loving terrain, quad-busting hills, breathtaking views, wildlife cameos, epic adventure and of course, fun., Jennifer Barbour, 303-503-4616, jen@teamevergreen.org, Kim Nordquist, 303-249-6168, kim@teamevergreen.org, Morgan Murri, 303-475-6053, morgan@desertgravel.com desertgravel.com teamevergreen.org

May 14, 2023 — Dirty Edge Gravel 50K, Fruita, CO, Riding the Dirty Edge will make you realize why 18 Road is world class. With expansive views of the beautiful Bookcliffs you will ride through the endless gravel roads of the North Fruita Desert before attacking the back canyon section of the Edge Loop. This mix of smooth gravel, sporty fun, and gorgeous vistas will make The Dirty Edge a Fruita classic. Racers will feel supported with three aid stations, finisher medals and age group awards. Sunny and dry, springtime in Fruita is the perfect time to experience the desert on a bike. This race is part of the Adventure Fest at 18 Road and includes admission to all of the weekend events!, Reid Delman, 303-249-1112, reid_delman@ geminiadventures.com, Kyla Claudell, 303249-1112, kyla@geminiadventures.com geminiadventures.com

May 20, 2023 — Santa Fe Century Gravel Rides, Santa Fe, NM, Gravel Ride/Distance options of Gravelón (55 mile), or the Gravelito (25 mile) on Rowe Mesa, Santa Fe Century , 505490-6387, ride@santafecentury.com santafecentury.com

May 20, 2023 — Stetina’s Paydirt, Carson City, NV, The old way of all-out racing is not the way at Stetina’s Carson City Paydirt. Instead, the Paydirt consists of two substantial timed segments to keep things competitive without separating yourself from dear friends in the dusty west of Nevada’s desert. In addition to on-bike racing, there are two bonus segments that consist of fun and games back at the post-race festival. Riding a mechanical bull and participating in a tire-toss competition could be all that separates you at the end of the day., Clemence Heymelot, 707-560-1122, info@bikemonkey. net truckeedirtfondo.com

May 28, 2023 — Badlands Gravel Battle Medora, ND, Come GRIND across 120 miles, and ROLL over 10,500 ft of elevation gain on the fast and rugged red scoria roads that crosshatch the BADLANDS of western North Dakota., Nick Ybarra, 701.570.9138 nick@ experienceland.org experienceland.org/ badlands-gravel-battle

June 3, 2023 — Mountains to Meadows Grinduro, Mt. Shasta, CA, The perfect blend of pavement, dirt, and gravel roads over 35, 60, or 100 miles of epically beautiful gravel riding in the Lost Sierra. Followed by live music, expo, beer, and awesome food with lots of good people. More than a ride, L&F is a whole weekend of Lost Sierra fun dedicated to raising funds for the Lost Sierra Route., Sierra Trails , info@sierratrails. org grinduro.com

June 3, 2023 — Weiser River Trail Ride, Council, ID, Gravel bike ride of either 48 or 28 miles on the Weiser River Trail, a rail conversion trail. Shuttles from Cambridge or Council. Snacks and Lunch., Ron Hundahl, 208-566-

WINTER 2022-2023

1025 , 208-253-4433, octobertrek@gmail. com kotaho.com/annual-bike-ride, weiserrivertrail.org

June 10, 2023 — Truckee Dirt Fondo, Truckee, CA, Three days of activities with a competitive off-road bicycle race featuring the incredible dirt and gravel roads in the Tahoe National Forest, best suited for a gravel/cross bike or a hardtail MTB. 3 course options: 65.1 mi (Long), 58.1 mi (Medium) and 26.2 (Rollout - non timed) + Family Fun Route (15 mi). Benefits the Truckeebased non-profit Adventure Risk Challenge., Clemence Heymelot, 707-560-1122, info@ bikemonkey.net truckeedirtfondo.com

June 10, 2023 — Pine Island Gravel Odyssey Spearfish, South Dakota, 45, 70, 110, 210 mile gravel ride/race, Perry Jewett, 605641-4963, ridgeriders@blackhills.com, dakotafiveo.com

June 17, 2023 — Dirty Dino Gravel Grinder

Vernal, UT, Come get Jurass-kicked on 1 of the 3 amazing routes through the high Uinta Mountains and Dinosaurland. Choose from 32, 59 or 106 mile routes. It’s going to be RAWRsome!, Breanne Nalder-Harward, 801-550-0434, graveldino@gmail.com gravel-dino.com facebook.com/Dirty-DinoGravel-Grinder-103665632203894

June 21-25, 2023 — Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, Sisters, OR, Chad Sperry, grinderinfo@breakawaypro.com oregongravelgrinder.com

June 24, 2023 — Ruby Roubaix Gravel Gran Fondo, Lamoille, NV, Gravel Fondo! See the Ruby Mountains like you’ve never seen them before during this one-day bicycle ride or race beginning and ending in scenic Lamoille, Nevada. Choice of a 20, 36, 62 or full 117 mile loop on pavement, gravel and dirt roads. Ride it or race it!, Ruby Roubaix , 775-389-1862, info@rubyroubaix.com rubyroubaix.com

Mountain Bike

Tours and Festivals

January 20-22, 2023 — BetterRide MTB Camp, Various, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, Multiple camps, see the website for dates, Take your skills to the next level by investing in yourself! Learn the skills to greatly improve your riding and drills to master those skills. Increase

your confidence, skill and efficiently with the most experienced (20 years), effective and sought after coach in the sport, Gene Hamilton!, Gene and Ilse Hamilton, 970-2611869, 435 260 7696, admin@betterride.net betterride.net

March 3-5, 2023 — Sedona Mountain Bike Festival, Sedona, AZ, Held in the heart of Sedona next to trails, bike park, and downtown. Main Expo/Festival area at the beautiful Posse Grounds Park; Bike Demos, Shuttled Rides, a Beer Garden, great Bands, and endless singletrack., Sedona MTB Festival , 928-282-1106, info@sedonamtbfestival.com sedonamtbfestival.com

March 24-26, 2023 — Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival, Hurricane, UT, Ride with us on world-class singletrack at the foothills of Zion National Park. Join us for 3 days of bike festival shenanigans, awesome demo bike & gear, Expo with great food and shopping, bike shuttles, skills clinics, Zion Brewery beer garden, dinner, prizes and more!, DJ Morisette, 435-635-5455, humtbfestival@gmail.com hurricanemtbfestival. com otesports.com

March 24-26, 2023 — BetterRide Enduro MTB Camp, Moab, UT, Multiple camps, see the website for dates, Take your skills to the next level by investing in yourself! Learn the skills to greatly improve your riding and drills to master those skills. Increase your confidence, skill and efficiently with the most experienced (20 years), effective and sought after coach in the sport, Gene Hamilton!, Ilse Harms, admin@betterride.net, betterride.net

March 31-April 2, 2023 — BetterRide Women’s MTB Camp, Moab, UT, BetterRide’s WomenOnly Mountain Bike Camp, Clinic and Skills Coaching covers the same core skills as the co-ed camps in a supportive, nonjudgemental atmosphere. Take your skills to the next level by investing in yourself!

Learn the skills to greatly improve your riding and drills to master those skills. Increase your confidence, skill and efficiently with the most experienced (20 years), effective and sought after coach in the sport, Gene Hamilton!, Ilse Harms, admin@betterride.net betterride.net

April 26-September 30, 2023 — MTB The Maze Mountain Bike Tour, Moab, UT, Deep in the heart of Canyonlands National Park. 4 trips to choose from, 4 days 3 nights. Small Groups of 7 or less. Outfitted by professional

guides. Camp at the Maze Overlook and hike down into the Maze while viewing vertical uplifts and plunging gorges., Karen Johnson, 800-624-6323, 801-266-2087, karen. holidayriver@gmail.com, Natalie Osborn, natalie.holidayriver@gmail.com bikeraft. com

April 28-30, 2023 — MECCA MTB Festival, Green River, UT, 37th Annual, Held at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, Utah. Registration begins Friday at 1:00 p.m. followed by a warm up ride, refreshments, games and a prize drawing. Saturday is full of all-day guided rides, ranging from beginner to advanced followed by a yummy dinner, games and more fun. Finish up on Sunday with a guided (or on your own) scenic ride. Family friendly., Terri Bennett, 435-749-0755, 435-749-2386, meccabike01@ gmail.com biketheswell.org

May 5-7, 2023 — US Bank Fruita Fat Tire Festival Fruita, CO, 25th Anniversary festival kicking off the Mtn bike season in CO, world renowned trails, Bike Demo at 18 Road and Downtown Product Expo, and live music, George Gatseos, 970-858-7220, fruita@otesports.com fruitafattirefestival.com

May 11-14, 2023 — BetterRide MTB Trail Domination MTB Skills Course/Camp/Clinic Moab, UT, Take your skills to the next level by investing in yourself! Learn the skills to greatly improve your riding and drills to master those skills. Increase your confidence, skill and efficiently with the most experienced (20 years), effective and sought after coach in the sport, Gene Hamilton!, Ilse Harms, admin@betterride.net betterride.net

Regional Weekly MTB Race Series

May 31-June 28, 2023 — Sessions Weekly Enduro Series, Floyd Hill, CO, A weeknight series ending in a weekend finale, riders check their better judgment at the start for a timed downhill run on the infamous Sluice Trail at Floyd Hill. So close to Denver, but miles away in drops, jumps, and technical downhill features., Jennifer Barbour, 303-5034616, jen@teamevergreen.org teamevergreen.org, sessionseries.org

Utah Mountain Bike Racing

February 25, 2023 — Red Rock Rampage ICUP Intermountain Cup, St. George, UT, The XC opener on the traditional Desert Rampage course, with approximately 6 mile lap at Green Valley., Margaret Gibson, 435-2296251, margaret@redrockbicycle.com intermountaincup.com ridesouthernutah.com

March 11, 2023 — True GRIT Epic Bike Race National Ultra Endurance Mountain Bike Series (NUE) 100 and Marathon SE, Santa Clara, UT, Epic ultra-endurance mountain bike race with 100 and 50 mile options over tough and technical terrain. Course is a 50 mile loop. Finish with live music, vendors and beer garden., Cimarron Chacon, 970-7593048, info@groraces.com truegritepic.com

March 25-27, 2023 — Moab Rocks, Moab, UT, Incorporates Moab’s best classic and new routes and combines them into a 3-day masterpiece of cross-country and timed descents in a fully supported format., Kevin McDonald, 866-373-3376, info@transrockies. com TransRockies.com

March 25, 2023 — Good Vibes in Santa Clara Intermountain Cup, Santa Clara, UT, Classic Southern Utah singletrack makes up this 6-mile course located in the popular Santa Clara River Reserve trail network. The just under 800 feet of elevation gain is broken up between a couple of techy climbs and punctuated by fast connectors. This is sure to be a ripper of a course that will have you wanting to enjoy the scenery with views into Snow Canyon and Red Mountain., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@ redrockbicycle.com intermountaincup. com ridesouthernutah.com

April 8, 2023 — 6 Hours of Frog Hollow, Frog Hollow Endurance Series, Virgin, UT, 13 mile long course in the UT desert combines sweet single track, with some technical sections, and great climbs. Great introduction to endurance racing or a great trainer for bigger races. Categories from solo to 3 person, including single speed categories., Cimarron Chacon, 970-759-3048, info@ groraces.com groraces.com 6hoursinfroghollow.com

April 22, 2023 — The Cactus Hugger ICUP Intermountain Cup, St. George, UT, The race will utilize much of the well renowned Jem Trail, which is a rider favorite in Utah for its fast, flowing nature, as well as sections of the Cryptobiotic and Hurricane Cliffs trails all linked together with some sections of BLM dirt road for an 8.5 mile lap of ripping terrain., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@ redrockbicycle.com intermountaincup. com ridesouthernutah.com

May 20, 2023 — Three Peaks Classic ICUP Intermountain Cup, Cedar City, UT, Endurance XC, 25-50 miles. 1700’ per lap.

7.8 miles and 500 feet of elevation per lap on dirt roads and the fun singletrack that laces its way through Juniper and Pinion trees., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@redrockbicycle.com intermountaincup.com ridesouthernutah.com

June 10, 2023 — Wasatch 50, TENTATIVE for location - TBD, Intermountain Cup Endurance Series, Pending - TBD, UT, Description Pending Location - TBD, Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@redrockbicycle. com intermountaincup.com

June 24, 2023 — Fast Times at Richfield ICUP Intermountain Cup, Richfield, UT, Check back for complete details., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@redrockbicycle.com intermountaincup.com

Regional Mountain Bike Racing ID, WY, MT, NV, AZ, NM, CO, MT, OR, WA, CA and Beyond

January 7-8, 2023 — McDowell Meltdown McDowell, AZ, Challenging XC race with pump tracks for everyone to enjoy., Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net

mbaa.net

January 20-22, 2023 — DVO Nevada State Gravity Championships, DH, Enduro, and DS, DVO Winter Gravity Series at Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City, NV, Open practice on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Trails hand built by the late Brent Thompson, gnarly on the top half and fast open ridge tops for the 2nd half. Free 0n-site camping with bathroom/shower facility. Cash purse for the pros and prizes from our sponsors for all amateur categories and age brackets for placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd., Downhill Mike, 518-524-9805, info@downhillmike.com bootlegcanyonracing.com

January 21-22, 2023 — Estrella Hedgehog Hustle, Goodyear, AZ, Cross Country Race at Estrella Mountain Regional Park with a scenic venue for both spectators and racers. Remember sealant and tubes!, Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net, mbaa.net

January 21, 2023 — Colorado Cup, Leadville, CO, Cloud City Wheelers , info@cloudcitywheelers.com cloudcitywheelers.com

January 28, 2023 — 6 Hours in the Papago Tempe, AZ, Papago 6 will test your early season, or winter, fitness. Get ready for a technically challenging course, plus the canal section is back for 2023. Ride solo, with a friend or on a QUAD team to tackle this looped

course in Tempe’s infamous Papago Park to rack up as many laps as possible., Jeff Frost, 928-380-0633, canisbleu@gmail.com 6hoursinthepapago.com

January 29, 2023 — McDowell Circuit Race Fort McDowell, AZ, Race starts at 8:00 a.m., Carlos O’Briens Racing , bdelaney259@ gmail.com, azcycling.org/event/avondale-2/

February 4-5, 2023 — White Tank Whirlwind Waddell, AZ, White Tank Regional Park is a fun course, mixed with a smidge of technical riding., Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@ mbaa.net mbaa.net

February 4, 2023 — Tennessee Pass Night Jam Leadville, CO, Cloud City Wheelers , info@ cloudcitywheelers.com cloudcitywheelers. com

February 4, 2023 — DVO Blue Diamond XC MTB Race, Boulder City, NV, Cross Country race,, Downhill Mike, 518-524-9805, info@ downhillmike.com bootlegcanyonracing. com

February 11, 2023 — Rock Cobbler, Bakersfield, CA, The World Famous Bianchi Rock Cobbler is a stupidly hard, mostly dirt ride, bordering on a race. There are two routes offered: the Rock Cobbler which is between 80-90 miles and the Pebbler which is between 40-50 miles., Sam Ames, sam@sambarn.com rockcobbler.com

February 17-19, 2023 — 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, Tuscon, AZ, Riding sinuous single track in the Sonoran Desert, the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo Presented by Tucson Medical Center is one of the largest 24 hour events in the world. Come join the event the mountain bike community has been raving about for years!, Dave Castro, 520-623-1584, info@epicrides.com epicrides.com

February 17-19, 2023 — DVO Mob n Mojave DH, DS, and Enduro, DVO Winter Gravity Series at Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City, NV, Open practice on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Trails hand built by the late Brent Thompson, gnarly on the top half and fast open ridge tops for the 2nd half. Free 0n-site camping with bathroom/shower facility. Cash purse

for the pros and prizes from our sponsors for all amateur categories and age brackets for placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd., Downhill Mike, 518-524-9805, info@downhillmike.com bootlegcanyonracing.com

March 4, 2023 — Mineral Belt Mayhem Leadville, CO, Cloud City Wheelers , info@ cloudcitywheelers.com, cloudcitywheelers. com

March 10-12, 2023 — Cactus Cup, Fountain Hills, AZ, Arizona’s Original Mountain Bike Stage race, its history dates back to 1991. This is 3 days of racing to crack open the season featuring a Short Track, XC and Enduro event. To chase the Cactus Cup and capture the overall title, all 3 days of the stage race must be completed. STXC, Enduro, XC40, kids race. Held at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Sage , sage@thecactuscup.com thecactuscup.com

March 18, 2023 — Havasu Havoc, Lake Havasu, AZ, XC race with awesome views, a fun trail and good local beer., Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net mbaa.net

March 18, 2023 — Fatty Patty, Leadville, CO, Cloud City Wheelers , info@cloudcitywheelers.com cloudcitywheelers.com

March 18, 2023 — Roost the Ridges Enduro Farmington, NM, Shred some of Farmington’s 3 finest ridgelines in timed top to bottom fashion. These three stages will be fast, smooth, and follow 3 different ridgelines to the bottom. All competitors will pick up their number and park at Lions Wilderness Park. Then you will follow a marked course 8 miles (not timed) to the first stage of the race. This is where the racing begins. 2 stages will have the same finish line while all of them have different starting points. Please see the map and trail fork link provided to get a better idea of the courses., Neil Hannum, 970-759-2126, aztecadventures01@gmail. com, William Farmer, 505-402-3959, gfarmer360@gmail.com 2wheelventures.wixsite. com/website

March 25, 2023 — Echo Red 2 Red XC MTB Race, Pendleton, OR, 12, 24, 32 miles, sponsored by Echo Bike & Board, Stephanie Myers, 541-289-2444, 541-376-8500, echored2redxc@hotmail.com, Brian Cimmiyotti, 541-371-3303, 509-374-8424, scottscycleandsports@gmail.com echored2red.com

March 25, 2023 — Bosque MTB Stage Race New Mexico Off Road Series, Las Lunes, NM, Jan Bear, 505-670-4665, janbea@gmail.com Hawke Morgan, 505-259-6885, hawke@ bcdracing.com, bcdracing.com, nmors.org

April 1, 2023 — Tommy Knocker 10, Silver City, NM, 10 hour race, Seth Bush, 505-554-0059, ElCapitan@ZiaRides.com ziarides.com

April 8, 2023 — Prescott Punisher, Prescott, AZ, Prescott is a great place for mountain biking. The Whiskey 50 will be 2 weeks later so consider racing and staying for a pre-ride the following day., Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net mbaa.net

April 8, 2023 — East Side Epic, Leadville, CO, Cloud City Wheelers , info@cloudcitywheelers.com cloudcitywheelers.com

April 14-16, 2023 — DVO Reaper Madness DH ~ DS ~ Enduro, DVO Winter Gravity Series at Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City, NV, Open practice on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Trails hand built by the late Brent Thompson, gnarly on the top half and fast open ridge tops for the 2nd half. Free on-site camping with bathroom/shower facility. Cash purse for the pros and prizes from our sponsors for all amateur categories and age brackets for placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd., Downhill Mike, 518-524-9805, info@downhillmike.com, bootlegcanyonracing.com

April 14-16, 2023 — NW Cup Downhill Series (Dry Hill #1), Northwest Cup Downhill Series, Port Angeles, WA, Downhill race. Held at Silver Mountain Bike Park. Friday will be open practice. Saturday will be split practice by category. Pro/JuniorX seeding Saturday evening. Sunday racing all categories, Scott Tucker, 360-797-4288, scott@nwcup.com nwcup.com

April 22, 2023 — 6 Hours in the Basin for Commonweal, New Mexico Off Road Series, Santa Fe, NM, The CORE Crew in conjunction with Commonweal Conservancy is excited to promote this 6-hour endurance race over a 9.3 mile course with varying terrain. Due to the fragile nature of the area the event will be limited to 100 entries., Jan Bear, 505-670-4665, janbea@gmail.com core-crew.com

April 28-30, 2023 — Whiskey Off-Road, Epic Rides Off-Road Series, Prescott, AZ, Starting on Prescott’s historical (and lively) Whiskey Row and climbing into the beautifully distracting views of Prescott National Forest, riders will connect some of the area’s most exhilarating (and challenging) pieces of singletrack, double track, gravel roads and the occasional paved segment., Dave Castro, 520-623-1584, info@epicrides.com, Dave Castro, dcastro@epicrides.com epicrides. com

May 6, 2023 — Flagstaff Frenzy, Flagstaff, AZ, The 2021 MBAA finals, Anthony Quintile, 928-779-5969, flagstaff@absolutebikes.net Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net Denise Barron, 928-530-0868, , mbaa.net, absolutebikes.net

May 12-14, 2023 — NW Cup Downhill Series (Dry Hill #2), Northwest Cup Downhill Series,

Port Angeles, WA, Downhill race. Held at Silver Mountain Bike Park. Friday will be open practice. Saturday will be split practice by category. Pro/JuniorX seeding Saturday evening. Sunday racing all categories, Scott Tucker, 360-797-4288, scott@nwcup.com nwcup.com

May 13, 2023 — Arizona State MTB Championships, Prescott, AZ, Arizona State MTB Championships (USAC Sanctioned) at Emmanuel Pines, Tim Racette, 480-442-4229, info@mbaa.net mbaa.net

May 13, 2023 — Royal Gorge Six and Twelve Hour MTB Races, Cañon City, CO, Six and Twelve Hour MTB Races, Seth Bush, 505-5540059, ElCapitan@ZiaRides.com ziarides.com

May 13, 2023 — Sarlacc Attack 50K, Fruita, CO, Ride the Edge! This is not just the name of the trail but a description of the Sarlacc Attack 50K course which combines The Edge and Sarlacc trails to make up an epic adventure.

You’ll ride on the edge of cliffs and your limits. World class singletrack, uphill grinds, and flowy descents are abundant on the Edge Loop. The Sarlacc trail section is some of the most fun singletrack on the course and riders will be there on the season’s opening week. This race is part of the Adventure Fest at 18 Road, Reid Delman, 303-249-1112, reid_delman@geminiadventures.com, Kyla Claudell, 303-249-1112, kyla@geminiadventures.com geminiadventures.com

May 13, 2023 — Chain Smoker Las Vegas

Tentative date, Blue Diamond, NV, 15, 30, 45 mile options, Quick n Dirty MTB , info@ quickndirtymtb.com quickndirtymtb.com

June 3, 2023 — Wente 8-Hour MTB, Willits, CA, The funnest 8-hour mountain bike race you’ll ever do. 3 days of venue access including a private lake for swimming and boating. 8 Miles, 1,745’ of climbing and bermy-berms for days. NOTE: Wente is on a private boy scout reservation. It is closed to the public on all days of the year except during race weekend. No trespassing!, Clemence Heymelot, 707-560-1122, info@bikemonkey. net racewente.com

June 17, 2023 — The Bailey Hundo, Buffalo Creek, CO, 10th year for the race. The HUNDO is 100 miles with 10,000 vertical feet, the HUNDitO is 50 miles with 6,000 vertical feet, in the Buffalo Creek trail system –permitted by the USFS., Jennifer Barbour, 303-503-4616, jen@teamevergreen.org baileyhundo.org

June 21-25, 2023 — Junior Bike Week, Crested Butte, CO, Since 2016, we’ve had one goal - to host the BIGGEST KIDS’ BIKE PARTY ON THE PLANET right here in Crested Butte, Colorado, the birthplace of mountain biking. Junior Bike Week is the only multi-day mountain bike festival that exclusively celebrates getting more kids on bikes; and we would love to have you join us for both non-competitive festive events as well as competitive racing., Amy Nolan, 970-596-4085, director@ juniorbikeweek.com, juniorbikeweek.com

June 23-25, 2023 — NW Cup Downhill Series (Tamarack) , Northwest Cup Downhill Series, Tamarack, ID, Downhill race. Held at Tamarack Bike Park. Friday will be open practice. Saturday will be split practice by category. Pro/JuniorX seeding Saturday evening. Sunday racing all categories, PRO GRT too, Scott Tucker, 360-797-4288, scott@ nwcup.com nwcup.com

June 23-25, 2023 — NW Cup Downhill Series (Mt. Hood), Northwest Cup Downhill Series, Mt. Hood, OR, Downhill race. Held at Silver Mountain Bike Park. Friday will be open practice. Saturday will be split practice by category. Pro/JuniorX seeding Saturday evening. Sunday racing all categories, Scott Tucker, 360-797-4288, scott@nwcup.com nwcup.com

Fat Biking

January 6-8, 2023 — JayP’s Backyard Fat Bike Pursuit 200km or 200 mile, JayP’s Backyard Series, Island Park/West Yellowstone, ID, 2 Distances- 60 km or 200 k. These endurance events take on an expedition feel and you will need to have outdoor winter camping skills., Jay Petervary, 307-413-2248, jaypetervary@gmail.com fatpursuit.com

January 10-February 20, 2023 — Bike Utah

Mid Week Fat Bike Series, Soldier Hollow, UT, January 10, January 24, February 7, and February 20. Racing starts each night at 6:30pm with Beginner, Intermediate, Expert/ Pro, Single Speed, and Adaptive categories., Jenn Oxborrow, 385-831-1515, jenn@bikeutah.org, Trilby Cox, 385-831-1515, trilby@midweekmtb.com bikeutah.org/midweek

January 27-29, 2023 — Borealis Fat Bike World Championships , New Richmond, WI, 8th annual Borealis Fat Bike World Championships. Join us for 3 days of races, demos, great beer, and excellent times!, Fat Bike Worlds , info@fatbikeworlds.org fatbikeworlds.org

February 18, 2023 — Stanley Winterfest 40 Fat Bike Fondo, Stanley, ID, Stanley’s Annual Winterfest Fatbike Fondo! This challenging 40km race winds through exciting and varied terrain located within the beautiful Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Come for the race, stay for the music, food and fun Winterfest activities., CJ Sherlock, 208412-8343, 208-774-8343, Information@stanleycc.org, Jason Bosley, 614-260-4468, info@

stanleywinterfest.com stanleycc.org stanleywinterfest.com

February 18, 2023 — Frisco Freeze Fat Bike Race, Frisco, CO, Join us for the 7th Annual Frisco Freeze Fat Bike Race at the Frisco Nordic Center. This is your one chance this winter to ride your fat bike on the Frisco Nordic trails for this 14k course., Linsey Joyce, 970-668-9133, linseyj@townoffrisco.com townoffrisco.com/event/nordic -centerevents/frisco-freeze-winter-bike-race/

March 5, 2023 — Rat Bike Face... (a Fatbike Race!), Glenwood Springs, CO, Calling all fat tire fanatics! Sunlight Mountain Resort is bringing back fat bike racing to Glenwood Springs for the 2021/22 season! We are working with our local fat bikers on the course right now! The course will incorporate everything you love about fat biking. Groomed trails, gorgeous aspen groves, heart pounding uphill’s, white knuckle descents and fun... tons of fun! Stay tuned for course maps and such.We strongly encourage costumes and we will have a prize for the best one! We will also be holding a raffle at the end of the race so all participants have a chance to walk away with something sweet! Oh ya and for all you fast men and women out there we will be giving away lift tickets and custom schwag to all of the top finishers., Steven Novy, 970-309-2023, snovy@greenlinearchitects.com, runsignup.com/Race/CO/ GlenwoodSprings/RatBikeFace

March 10-12, 2023 — The Drift Fat Bike Race and Ride, Pinedale, WY, Run, fat bike or ski 13, 28, or 100 miles. Held on a groomed trail in the Wind River Range in the area of the Continental Divide Trail, 100 Mile race starts March 10th. 13 and 28 mile on March 12th., Keri Hull, 907-306-9806, keri.koger@gmail. com thedrift100.com

March 11, 2023 — 28 Below Fat Bike Race and Ride, Spearfish, South Dakota, 50 k race, ride, tour, Perry Jewett, 605-641-4963, ridgeriders@blackhills.com 28below.com

Utah Weekly Road Race Series

Salt Air Time Trial Series — Utah Crit Series, Salt Lake City, UT, Every other Thursday April - September, I-80 Frontage Road West of the International Center, Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, utcritseries@gmail.com utahcritseries.com

DLD (DMV) Criterium — Utah Crit Series, West Valley City, UT, Weekly Training Crit at the Driver’s Training Center, 4700S. 2780W.,

A flite - 6 pm, B flite between 6:45 and 7:05, Call for information regarding C flite. Wednesdays April - August, Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, utcritseries@gmail.com utahcritseries.com

Emigration Canyon Hillclimb Series — Utah Crit Series, Salt Lake City, UT, Starts north of Zoo 7.4 miles to top of Emigration. First rider off at 6:30. Every other Thursday April through August, Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, utcritseries@gmail.com utahcritseries.com

Logan Race Club Thursday Night Time Trial Series — Logan, UT, Thursdays. TT series consisting of 18 races on five difference courses, with weekly and end-of-series prizes. Check the website for the location of the weekly course., Stephen Clyde, 435-750-8785, swc@ mdsc.com, Ben Kofeod, benhkof@hotmail. com, Travis Dunn, travis.dunn@usu.edu loganraceclub.org

Utah Road Race Series — Utah Crit Series, Salt Lake City, UT, Fridays, June 10, July 22, Aug 12, Aug 26, Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, utcritseries@gmail.com race2wheels.com

Utah Road Racing

April 15, 2023 — East Canyon Echo Road Race and Fun Ride, UCA Series, Henefer, UT, State RR championship for 2022, 10 AM start for all courses beginning at Big Rock Campground with the 60 mile option going through Henefer and continuing through Echo Canyon. At it’s end, the route will turn back to to Henefer and finish at Big Rock Campground. The 40 mile option only rides to the mouth of Echo Canyon and turns back to the campground while the 14 mile option will go up the Hogs Back and turn around to finish at Big Rock Campground with all the other courses., James Zwick, 801-870-4578, sports@sports-am.com, sportsam.com

May 6, 2023 — Gran Fondo Moab, Moab, UT, Mass start timed road cycling event on the beautiful La Sal Loop road, 60 miles with 5500 feet of climbing. Not a sanctioned race, but you will get a time, awards, and placing., Scott Newton, 800-635-1792, 970275-1633, info@granfondomoab.com granfondomoab.com

May 6, 2023 — Goshen Circuit Race, UCA Series, Goshen, UT, 5.7 mile loop with a couple of punchy rollers and about 375 feet of up and down each lap on paved farm roads in southern Utah County., Troy Huebner, 801-427-0852, troyworkone@comcast.net

May 13, 2023 — Bear Lake Classic Road Race UCA Series, Garden City, UT, 51 mile flat loop (or 102 double lap) with some rolling hills on east shore, followed by a flat and fast finish – a beautiful race around Bear Lake., John Hernandez, john71her@gmail.com extramileracing.com, racebearlake.com

June 3, 2023 — West Mountain Road Race UCA Series, Spanish Fork, UT, Starts at Lincoln Beach, Troy Huebner, 801-427-0852, troyworkone@comcast.net

June 9-10, 2023 — Kokopelli Moab to St. George Relay, Moab, UT, Moab to St. George Relay, Road race with 4 rider teams and three legs per rider, covering 528 miles. Multiple start times at Swanny Park in Moab finishing at Unity Park in Ivins., Clay Christensen, 801-234-0399, info@enduranceutah.com kokopellirelay.com

June 23, 2023 — Antelope Island Classic, UCA Series, Antelope Island, UT, Starts at the West end of the causeway, then across the causeway towards the ranch and end on the island. 32 to 60 mile options., James Ferguson, 801-389-5706, ferguson8118@ comcast.net,

June 25, 2023 — Need for Speed Time Trial, UCA Series, Corinne, UT, State TT Championship, Dirk Cowley, 801-699-5126, dcowley@comcast.net racedayeventmanagement.com

Regional Road Racing ID, WY, MT, NV, AZ, NM, CO, MT, OR, WA, CA and Beyond

January 8-February 5, 2023 — Early Birds in Fremont, Livermore, CA, Sundays, January 8,15,22,29 and February 5, 2023 (clinics/ mentoring / training races), Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo.com

January 22, 2023 — Race Against Time, San Manuel, AZ, Race will begin at 8:00 a.m., azcycling.org/event/race-against-time-2/

February 4-5, 2023 — La Vuelta a Santa Catalina, San Manuel, AZ, azcycling.org

February 11-12, 2023 — USA Cycling eSports National Championships, Wahoo, RGT, Chuck Hodge, 719-434-4200, chodge@ usacycling.org usacycling.org

February 12, 2023 — Flapjack Flats TT, Picacho, AZ, Time trial will take place at Picacho (Bowlin) with an address of 16098 Camino Adelante, Picacho, AZ 85141 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Terry Jenner, 402-983-6195, escapefrommexico@yahoo.com azcycling. org/event/flapjacks-tt/

February 17-19, 2023 — Valley of the Sun Stage Race, Phoenix, AZ, 29th annual. Racing begins on Friday with a 20k time trial, Saturday brings a 40-90 mile road race and finishing on Sunday with a criterium at the state capitol., Eric Prosnier, 602-381-3581, eric@wmrc.org, Brian Lemke, 602-692-6790, brianlemke@wmrc.org vosstagerace.com

February 18, 2023 — Cantua Creek Road Race Coalinga, CA, This USAC licensed, out and back race will be held on a well paved, old section of Highway 33 in central California., Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@ gmail.com velopromo.com

February 19, 2023 — Pine Flat Road Race Piedra, CA, Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo.com

February 25, 2023 — Snelling Road Race Snelling, CA, 35th Snelling Road Race: classic gentle road race in the Central Valley of California on country roads; this year on an altered course due to bridge reconstruction. Meets at Henderson County Park. Starts at 8:15 a.m. USAC, Robert Leibold, 209604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com, velopromo. com

February 26, 2023 — Original Merced Criterium Merced, CA, 34th annual Criterium on flat

loop in downtown Merced. Multiple multilap races USAC Starts at 8 a.m. with a beginners clinic and mentored practice race., Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@ gmail.com velopromo.com

March 3-5, 2023 — Tucson Bicycle Classic Tucson, AZ, 3-day USA Cycling stage race featuring a challenging 3.2 mile prologue, a 20.5 mile loop road race and 5.6 mile circuit circuit race. Time Trial Prologue - Friday, March 3th Road Race - Saturday morning, March 4th, Circuit Race - Sunday morning, March 5th., Marco Colbert, info@tucsonbicycleclassic.com tucsonbicycleclassic. com azcycling.org/event/tbc/

March 4, 2023 — Wards Ferry Road Race Sonora, CA, Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo.com

March 5, 2023 — Copper Valley Road Race Copperopolis, CA, Robert Leibold, 209-6041354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo. com

March 18, 2023 — Musselman Crit, Tucson, AZ, State Crit, azcycling.org

March 25, 2023 — SoMo Classic, Phoenix, AZ, azcycling.org

March 26, 2023 — Santa Cruz Classic Criterium Santa Cruz, CA, 53rd Santa Cruz Classic Criterium, on the traditional 0.9 mile loop on and off Beach Hill above the Boardwalk. 8 separate multi-lap races around the infamous hairpin turn., Robert Leibold, 209-6041354, velopro1@gmail.com, velopromo. com

April 1, 2023 — Fish Rock, Mendocino, CA, A gravelly road race. A road made of dirt goes up one side of a mountain and down the other. Big pavement ride to get there, and then go over it. There are no bail-outs, but we support your journey, and celebrate at the finish., Clemence Heymelot, 707-5601122, info@bikemonkey.net bikemonkey. net

April 8, 2023 — Copperopolis Road Race Copperopolis, CA, 41st Copperopolis Road Race, Milton, CA, the Paris-Roubaix of California. 21 mile loops (105 miles for 1/2/Pro riders) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, featuring quiet country and roads that can be best described as mostly patches and some pavement., Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo.com

April 8, 2023 — BR Kino Crit, Tucson, AZ, azcycling.org

April 12-16, 2023 — Redlands Bicycle Classic Redlands, CA, The longest continuous running invitational, professional stage race in American bike racing. Each year, the City of Redlands and surrounding communities open their homes, their hearts and their streets to world-class athletes. From humble beginnings on a Memorial Day weekend in 1985, the event, featuring 350 elite racers, has hosted future stars of the Olympics, Tour de France, and World Championships. The Redlands Bicycle Classic’s long heritage of attracting future stars has earned its position in history: “Where Legends Are Born!”, Eric Reiser, ericrei@msn.com, , redlandsclassic. com

April 22, 2023 — The Oval Criterium 2.0, Fort Collins, CO, One of the most iconic criteriums in CO, returning this year to the Oval! A 9 corner crit starting and finishing on the Oval, the course has a slight rise into the finish followed by tight corners in between campus streets., Tayne Andrade, 208-3898651, csuramscycling@gmail.com coloradocycling.org

April 23, 2023 — Cobb Lake Road Race Wellington, CO, One the longest running and most iconic road races in Colorado, on an 8-mile course. Races start at 8 am, and continue with collegiate and open categories throughout the day. Located north of Fort Collins, starts at the Anheuser-Busch

WINTER 2022-2023

plant. Road Race, Part of the 2023 CSU Cycling Spring Race Weekend. Preceded by the equally iconic Oval Criteirum, Tayne Andrade, 208-389-8651, csuramscycling@ gmail.com coloradocycling.org

April 26-May 30, 2023 — Tour of the Gila, Silver City, NM, 5 stages, UCI men, UCI women, amateur categories, great spring racing!, Jack Brennan, 575-590-2612, brennan5231@ comcast.net tourofthegila.com

May 5-7, 2023 — USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, Albuquerque, NM, Chuck Hodge, 719-434-4200, chodge@ usacycling.org usacycling.org

May 5-7, 2023 — Tour de Bloom Stage Race (Omnium), Wenatchee, WA, The event features a road race in Waterville on Friday, an out and back 10-mile TT, a twilight criterium in historic downtown Wenatchee on Saturday, and a road race in Plain Washington with an uphill finish on Sunday., Ace Bollinger, 509-679-5003, acebollinger@ nwi.net wenatcheevalleyvelo.com/currentevent/tour-de-bloom/

May 6, 2023 — Bearmouth Road Race & Gran Fondo, Missoula, MT, This classic race travels up a short and steep climb, past Limestone Ridge, out to Helmville, and back-- a little for every type of cyclists, whether you love the climbs, the flats, or just the majestic scenery of Montana. Whether you want to ride it as a race, a fondo, or use it as a training ride for Camp Mak-A-Dream’s RATPOD, this is a route that all cyclists are bound to enjoy., Shaun Radley, 406-219-1318, montanacyclocross@gmail.com montanacyclocross. com/events/

May 7, 2023 — 3 Bears TT #1, Picacho, AZ, Time trial will begin at 8:00 a.m., Terry Jenner, 402983-6195, escapefrommexico@yahoo.com azcycling.org/event/3-bears-tt-1/

May 20-21, 2023 — Tax Day Omnium, UCA Series, Marsh Valley, ID, Great circuit race, start and finish at Marsh Valley High School. This is the old Gate City Grind Course., Dirk Cowley, 801-699-5126, dcowley@comcast. net, Bob and Kris Walker, bobandkrisw@ yahoo.com, Tony Chesrow, 435-671-2506, hebermtsports@yahoo.com, utahcyclingevents.com

June 2-4, 2023 — Tour of Walla Walla Stage Race, Walla Walla, WA, Pacific NW premier 3 day Stage Race celebrating it’s 24th year. 2nd race of the Washington Stage Race Series - 2 RRs, Crit, Time Trial, Michael Austin, 509-386-1149, 509-525-4949, mike@allegrocyclery.com, Kathyrn Austin, 509-964-8951, kathyrn@allegrocyclery.com, Ace Bollinger, 509-679-5003, acebollinger@nwi.net tourofwallawalla.com

June 4, 2023 — Regalado Road Race Oakdale, CA, Robert Leibold, 209-604-1354, velopro1@gmail.com velopromo.com

June 13-17, 2023 — USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships, Roanoke, VA, Elite, U23 and Junior Road National Championships., Chuck Hodge, 719-4344200, chodge@usacycling.org usacycling. org

June 22-25, 2023 — USA Cycling Professional Road, ITT, and Criterium National Championships , Knoxville , TN, Chuck Hodge, 719-434-4200, chodge@usacycling. org usacycling.org

June 23-25, 2023 — Baker City Cycling Classic Oregon Women’s Prestige Series, Baker City, OR, Three days and four stages in beautiful eastern Oregon, with great support and unparalleled scenery. Over 8,000 ft of climbing over the three days in one of the country’s most beautiful cycling regions. Pros and amateurs race the same courses and the women’s and men’s prize purses are matched by sponsor BELLA Main St. Market, Ace Bollinger, 509-679-5003, acebollinger@ nwi.net, Brian Cimmiyotti, 541-371-3303, 509374-8424, scottscycleandsports@gmail.com bakercitycyclingclassic.com

Utah Road Touring and Gran Fondos

March 11-14, 2023 — Moab Skinny Tire Festival, Moab, UT, Road cycling tour in iconic Moab, Utah. The four routes of the Festival highlight Moab’s different riding opportunities. Two days follow the mighty Colorado River corridor, both up-stream and downstream. The other two days leave the valley and climb the beautiful canyon roads into red rock country visiting Dead Horse Point State Park and Arches National Park. Live music, beverages, great food await you at the post-ride party on Saturday. All routes have SAG vehicle support, Aid Stations, and 5 Star Event Communication volunteers. A portion of your registration is given as a donation benefitting cancer research and survivorship programs. Cycling Teams and individual groups use the event to inspire their fundraising for large and small foundations making a difference in cancer treatments and survivorship beyond. Ask how your beneficiary can be included., Beth Logan, 435-260-8889, 435-260-2334, info@skinnytireevents.com skinnytireevents.com

April 15, 2023 — Spring Tour de St. George

Ride Southern Utah Road Gran Fondos, St. George, UT, Did you enjoy the Fall Tour?

Come see the rest of southern Utah on your bike as we take you on the other half of our two-part tour of the southern Utah scenery. Fully supported Gran Fondo., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@redrockbicycle.com ridesouthernutah.com

April 22, 2023 — Salt Lake City Marathon Bike Tour, Salt Lake City, UT, Ride the closed 26.2 mile marathon course through the most iconic sites of Salt Lake! All abilities welcome! Start at 6:00am, just north of the Legacy Bridge on the University of Utah Campus., Steve Bingham, 720-608-1783, stevebingham@highaltitudeevents.com

Jennifer Nelson, 801-455-9623, marketing@ saltlakecitymarathon.com saltlakecitymarathon.com

May 6, 2023 — FrontRunner Metric Century Ride, Salt Lake City, UT, 12th Annual Point to point metric century (62.5 miles) bicycle ride from Salt Lake City’s Intermodal Hub to Ogden. Return to Salt Lake City via the UTA FrontRunner train service. Your bicycle will be transported via private truck to SLC. Registration opens Christmas Day! We sold out for the last few years, register early and don’t miss out. Only 640’ of total climbing,

Matt Storms, 801-230-9270, staff@forthewinracing.com frontrunnercentury.com

May 6, 2023 — Gran Fondo Moab, Moab, UT, Mass start timed road cycling event on the beautiful La Sal Loop road, 60 miles with 5500 feet of climbing. Not a sanctioned race, but you will get a time, awards, and placing., Scott Newton, 800-635-1792, 970275-1633, info@granfondomoab.com granfondomoab.com

June 3, 2023 — Ride the Gap Century, Ride Southern Utah Road Gran Fondos, Parowan, UT, Enjoy cooler weather in the high country of beautiful Southern Utah. Fun and fast with a mileage option for every rider. Nothing like a small town with big fun! Enjoy open roads and very little traffic., Margaret Gibson, 435-229-6251, margaret@redrockbicycle.com, Ryan Gurr, info@spingeeks.com ridesouthernutah.com

June 10, 2023 — Huntsman SportsFest - Run.

Ride. Play. Support Cancer Research, Salt Lake City, UT, An epic ride supporting Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI). Distances: 15, 53, 75, 102, 135 & 140-miles. 100% of all funds support the mission of HCI., Jen Murano-Tucker, 801-584-5815, jmurano@ huntsmanfoundation.org huntsmansportsfestival.com

Regional Road Touring and Gran Fondos ID, WY, MT, NV, AZ, NM, CO, MT, OR, WA, CA and Beyond

February 11, 2023 — Tour de Palm Springs Palm Springs, CA, One of the largest cycling charity events of its kind in America. Every year, we entertain 6,000 to 10,000 cyclists from 46 different states and 4 countries.

Since 1998, and with the help of 2,000 volunteers, the Tour de Palm Springs has distributed nearly $4,000,000.00 to over 150 local nonprofit organizations., Debra Griffith, 760-674-4700, info@tourdepalmsprings.com tourdepalmsprings.com

February 18, 2023 — Camino Real Double Century & Power Run, , Irvine, CA, The Camino route is shaped like a dog bone, with loops on each end of an out-and-back course., Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

March 4, 2023 — Solvang Century, Solvang, CA, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

March 18, 2023 — Solvang Double Century and Double Metric Century, Solvang, CA, 200 miles or 200 kilometers in Southern CA’s most scenic and popular cycling region. A perfect first time double century., Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

March 18, 2023 — Pedaling for St. Pats 50K

Bike Ride, Colorado Springs, CO, Choose between Challenging Course (31 miles) or Intermediate Course (21 Miles). Ride through world famous Garden of the Gods Park, on towards Blodgett Peak, through the Mount St Francis area, down the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail through Monument Valley Park, and then onto Midland Trail back to Trails End Tap Room for the after party!

Start and Finish at Trails End Tap Room, 2925 W Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs CO 80904. Total elevation change is 2,036 feet., Carol O’Donnell, 719-271-4610, carol@ odonnell2.com https://csstpats.com/event/ pedalin-st-pats-30k-and-50k/

March 19-October 27, 2023 — Moab and

The Back of Beyond, Grand Junction , CO, Multiple dates.“The Best of the West” The Moab & The Back of Beyond Tour is located in Lizard Head Cycling Guides’ backyard. We know and love this area! Ride with Lizard Head Cycling to enjoy local’s knowledge of the best rides, lodges and dining in red rock canyon country.6-Day Tour, 6-nights of lodging! (including two at the spectacular Gateway Canyons Resort), 6-days of meals included (aside from 2 dinners & 2-breakfasts), guide service, shuttle to and from the Moab region, entrance fees, daily lunch en route, energy food, liquid refreshments and mechanical support. Option to MTB., John Humphries, 970-728-5891, info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com, Lauren Lasky, 508-5617580, lauren@lizardheadcycling.com, lizardheadcyclingguides.com

March 20-25, 2023 — Solvang Spring Tour

Solvang, CA, Early season warm weather training in Sunny Southern California. 50-100 miles per day in Southern California’s most popular cycling region., Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

March 23-26, 2023 — El Tour de Zona, Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Tombstone, AZ, Enjoy threedays of destination loop bicycle rides on paved roadways mixed with post-ride festivals featuring live music, great food and a local craft beer/wine gardens. Veteran’s Memorial Park in Sierra Vista will serve up to three nights as your basecamp with day loop rides to great destinations like the freespirited, picturesque town of Bisbee and the wild west of Tombstone, The Town Too Tough to Die!, El Tour de Tucson , 520-745-2033, info@eltourdetucson.org eltourdetucson. org/el-tour-de-zona/

April 1-30, 2023 — Yellowstone Cycle Days

TENTATIVE DATES, Yellowstone National Park, MT, Ride free in Yellowstone National Park before the roads open to the public. This is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of the park. Opening day depends on whether the road is plowed. Check for park service website to see if the roads are open., Toni , 406-6467701, 307-899-3367, westyellowstonecycletour@gmail.com nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ spring-fall-bicycling.htm cycleyellowstone. com

April 8, 2023 — Mulholland Challenge & Double Century, King of the Mountains Century Challenge, Agoura Hills, CA, The toughest Southern California Century with over 13,000’ of climbing in the Santa Monica Mountains. Fully supported / Chip Timed. 100 and 200 mile options, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

April 22, 2023 — Tour de Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, 20th annual 80, 40, 20 mile routes, which circumnavigates Las Vegas., Tour de Summerlin , info@teamamc.net tourdesummerlin.com

April 22, 2023 — Levi’s GranFondo, Windsor, CA, Whether you’re just getting into riding, or an elite athlete seeking the ultimate challenge, our ride was inspired by, and can be as hard as some of the biggest stages of the Tour de France., Clemence Heymelot, 707-560-1122, info@bikemonkey.net levisgranfondo.com

April 22, 2023 — Mt. Laguna Classic, King of the Mountains Century Challenge, Pine Valley, CA, Starting in Pine Valley (East San Diego County), the route is three loops, each climbing Mt. Laguna from a different side, with increasing difficulty and more “interesting” terrain. All loops return down Sunrise Highway, a non-technical descent with smooth pavement and a descent shoulder., Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

April 30-October 27, 2023 — Redrock Canyons Utah Bike Tours, Grand Junction, CO, Multiple dates. The Redrock Canyons is our original and best bike tour with unmatched scenery and fantastic lodging. It is a superb tour for all abilities. 6-day tour, includes: 5-nights exceptional lodging, all meals, taxes, entrance fees, lunch on the route, energy food, liquid refreshments, shuttles, guide service and mechanical support. Optional scenic flight for additional charge., John Humphries, 970-728-5891, info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com, Lauren Lasky, 508561-7580, lauren@lizardheadcycling.com, lizardheadcyclingguides.com

May 21, 2023 — Santa Fe Century and Gran Fondo, Santa Fe, NM, Century (106 mile tour), the Gran Fondo (106 mile timed ride), the Half-Century (54 mile tour), Medio Fondo (54 mile timed ride) or a 20 mile route, A scenic course that highlights the landscape of northern New Mexico, starting and finishing in downtown Santa Fe. Riders will pass through the Ortiz Mountains and the Galisteo basin, Santa Fe Century , 505490-6387, ride@santafecentury.com, santafecentury.com

May 27, 2023 — Heartbreak Century and Double Century, King of the Mountains Century Challenge, Frazier Park, CA, 100 or 200 mile ride on the roads less traveled in the Los Padres National Forest, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com, planetultra.com

June 3, 2023 — Just for the Hill of It, White Bird, ID, Benefit for Syringa Hospital & Clinics Hospice, face the challenging switchbacks of the Old White Bird Grade. Experience 13 miles with a gentle climb starting at Hammer Creek at 1600’ and continuing to the summit at 3800’. Breathtaking views. All ages are welcome to come & join in the fun, Cindy Higgins, 208-983-8550, chiggins@ syringahospital.org syringahospital.org/hillof-it-challenge.html

June 3, 2023 — Eastern Sierra Double Century California Triple Crown and Planet Ultra Grand Slam Endurance Series, Bishop, CA, 200 mile ride including Mammoth and June Lakes, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

June 10-18, 2023 — Ride the Rockies, Final Location TBD, CO, Explore Colorado’s Rocky Mountains by bicycle! The 2023 tour will be a brand new route showcasing the state’s unmatched scenery and breathtaking mountain views., Ride The Rockies , info@ridetherockies.com, ridetherockies. com venturesendurance.com

June 10, 2023 — Tour of Two Forests , Santa Clarita, CA, 200 mile ride, Deborah Bowling, 818-889-2453, embassy@planetultra.com planetultra.com

June 24-25, 2023 — Bike MS: Colorado, Bike MS, Westminster, CO, With breathtaking mountain views and crisp mountain air, take in the views of Longs Peak, Colorado’s most famous 14er, in an area known as one of Colorado’s most scenic outdoor paradises. This Bike MS experience offers route options ranging from 32 to 103 miles over two days and is friendly to all abilities with rest stops every 10-12 miles. Lodging, meals, and entertainment based out of Colorado State University in Ft. Collins., Brittany Rondello, 425-647-6846, brittany.rondello@nmss.org Erika Barnum, 303-698-6127, Erika.Barnum@ nmss.org bikemscolorado.org

June 24-25, 2023 — Bike MS: Los Angeles Coastal Challenge, Bike MS, Ventura, CA, Choose your start line and build your own adventure. Start in Ventura for an easy 30 miles along the river path or Santa Monica for breathtaking 62 miles along PCH or take the challenge and do 105 miles for a combo of mountain and coastal riding. Everyone will come together for the finish line and party at the San Buenaventura State Beach Park to celebrate with food, drinks, music and fun! Overnight in Ventura then enjoy the beauty of Ventura County’s coastline and the hills and lakes of Ojai., JJ Hoffman, 323-839-6414, janette.hoffman@nmss.org bikemslosangeles.org

Multisport Races

March 25, 2023 — Icebreaker Sprint Triathlon & 5K, Tri Utah, American Fork, UT, Kick-off the Utah Triathlon season at the American Fork Rec Center. The IceBreaker is for athletes of all abilities! Post race breakfast and pictures with the TriUtah Yeti, Dan Aamodt, 385228-3454 , race@triutah.com triutah.com

April 15, 2023 — St. George Triathlon, St. George, UT, Beginner, Sprint, and Tuff Kids races, starting between 9 am and 2 pm. Indoor swim, outdoor route for run and bike legs. Cap of 300 each category., Aaron Metler, 435-627-4054, aaron.metler@sgcity. org sgcity.org/sportsandrecreation/races

April 15, 2023 — Legacy Duathlon , North Salt Lake, UT, Run Bike Run on the Legacy Parkway trial system. Great flat course that starts in North Salt Lake Utah and a great way to kick off the 2021 Triathlon Season., Joe Coles, 801-335-4940, joe@onhillevents. com legacyduathlon.com onhillevents. com

May 18-21, 2023 — XTERRA Oak Mountain, XTERRA America Tour, Pelham, AL, XTERRA will return for its 16th year at Oak Mountain State Park with a family-friendly festival, trail runs, mountain bike races and off-road triathlons for pros and amateurs alike.,

Cargo Bikes Can Do More Than Most People Think

The potential of cargo bikes lies largely untapped. Electric Cargo Bikes in Urban Areas: A New Mobility Option for Private Transportation says “adoption of e-cargo bikes as a valid transportation mode is still very limited worldwide. Although cycling has been pushed as a sustainable mode of travel in cities by multiple organizations and governments, cargo cycling has not been part of the conversation.”

Electric cargo bikes can help riders carry a lot of weight, but a variety of factors are keeping use down, from cost to safety concerns to how far you can go on a charge and lack of appropriate infrastructure for riding and parking, says the study, published in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives.

The study looked at previous research which stated that the typical cargo ebike user is young, well-to-do and male. Other demographics didn’t seem interested. Studies differed, however, in reporting the percentage of users were likely to own a car. But users generally expressed concerns about the environment as a motive for riding.

Previous studies also differed in how far riders typically went and how much time they spent on the bikes. Frequency of trips depended on the use. Few of those who used cargo bikes on a sharing system use them more than once a month. Frequency ranged for those who owned their own, just like it would for those with conventional bikes, from monthly or less to nearly daily.

See: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2590198222001658

-Charles Pekow

Fitzgerald’s Joyride

Continued from page 20

rubbing me raw, despite regular applications of A&D ointment. Weeks later, the skin on my hands peeled despite having worn gloves.

These races are hard, but that is why we do them. If you don’t do hard things, you’ll never know what you can do. I love seeing new landscapes, even through tired eyes. I love the idea of being self-supported and the challenge of finding food and water. Though I might complain about it at the time, I love climbing hills and the sense of accomplishment at reaching the top. And who doesn’t love the free ride down the other side?

Completing an endurance event puts you in an exclusive group even if you don’t win. It’s tangible, real, and hurts, but it gets better, especially once you’ve completed a race. Most folks have more sense than to push themselves to extremes. And when people ask me why I do these races, the only answer I can come up with is not unlike the answer mountain climbers give when presented with the same question. We do it because it’s there. I can think of very few experiences in life that provide you with the challenges of an endurance race.

Will I do another race? Probably, I don’t know. I’ll have to see what comes along. I’m not getting any younger, so there is a finite window for challenging myself this way. I might also refocus on the bike touring that first got me into this crazy sport, taking a slower pace and spending more time smelling the roses. The one thing I know is that I will continue exploring by bicycle. It is the most rewarding thing I do.

Does Active Transporation Actually Make Cycling Safer?

UDOT Faulted

We don’t know as much as we should about how major transportation projects improve bicycling conditions. That’s because evaluations often don’t include “active transportation.” And that, in turn, is because federal rules don’t generally require it as part of evaluations of major projects which is illustrated in Measuring Investments in Active Transportation When Accomplished as Part of Other Projects: A Synthesis of Highway Practice, a report from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

“Because it is difficult to track active transportation investments that are not stand-alone projects, states may be underreporting their investments in active transportation,” the report warns. It has proven too much of a burden to separate the costs and benefits.

The report specifically faults the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), saying it “does not consistently track active transportation component project investments. There is some tracking done to meet reporting requirements relating to federal funding, but it only aims to demonstrate that minimum requirements are being met and likely does not reflect a full account of active transportation projects or components.”

The study also notes that UDOT faces “little external pressure from advocacy groups to report on active transportation. UDOT completes the League of American Bicyclists biannual survey about funding and implementation of bicycle facilities to the best of its ability, but local advocacy groups have not been requesting a quantification or documentation of active transportation investments.”

Heidi Goedhart, UDOT active transportation manager, said she had seen the report and acknowledged “we just haven’t institutionalized processes that record active transportation investment to the degree we should.” When the state buys asphalt for a road project, for instance, it’s hard to calculate exactly how much went for bike lanes, she noted. “We don’t have the capability or human bandwidth to calculate all that stuff.” UDOT’s $100 million active transportation budget for FY 24 may help, she said.

UDOT does collect data, such as visual images of transportation, and might be able to use it to see how many people are using active transportation on projects, she added. “The software we are using for program management is kind of antiquated, honestly. When we update that software, let’s make sure we are purchasing software (that can factor in active transportation) and we have staff that have the time to input these data so we know what we are spending.”

Chris Wiltsie, 1,000 miles program director for Bike Utah, said he hadn’t seen the report. But he said ”I don’t know that holding UDOT accountable for all these problems is necessarily productive because they’re just one piece of the total project.” Nor can Bike Utah do all the pushing. “There aren’t that many local bike advocacy groups in Utah though more people are getting in the act. It has grown a lot since I started this job (more than four years ago). We’re headed in the right direction.”

Details: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/download/26726

-Charles Pekow

Separated Bike Lanes are Safer

Separated bike lanes do improve safety. At least that’s what New York City found after examining a decade of safety improvement projects, including more than 100 miles of bike lanes. The New York City Department of Transportation examined before and after crash data for two or three years.

With conventional bike lanes, the rate of injury increased 1.1 percent but it dropped 14.8 percent for protected lanes. But other safety improvements probably played a role, including signal timing, speed cameras, fewer traffic lanes and turn lanes.

Results do not include ebike and scooter users because of insufficient data.

See https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/safety-treatmentevaluation-2005-2018.pdf

-Charles Pekow

Salt Lake County’s MidValley Connector Gains Federal Approval

The Federal Transit Administration gave final approval to the seven-mile Midvalley Connector Bus Rapid Transit Project in Murray, Taylorsville and West Valley, Salt Lake County, Utah.

The project “would connect the Murray Central TRAX and FrontRunner Station to the Salt Lake Community College Redwood campus in Taylorsville and to the West Valley Central TRAX Station,” according to the project’s website.

The project includes improving bicycle conditions along the project, including building a multi-use path along 4700 South to replace the existing bike/ped facility. It also promises improved bike connections to stations and between existing paths as well as other improvements such as median islands and push-button activation of traffic lights.

Details: http://midvalleyconnector.com/.

-Charles Pekow

Bikeshare Declined During the Pandemic, But Has Recovered

Shared micromobility ridership took a big hit in North America during the first year of the pandemic but rebounded in 2021, according to a report from the National Association of City Transportation Officials. In 2021, “people took 47 million trips on station- based bike share systems, 62.5 million trips on dockless e-scooters, and 2.5 million trips on dockless bikes in the U.S.—a sharp contrast with 2020, when people took only 65 million trips across all shared micromobility modes,” says Half a Billion Trips: On Shared

Bikeshare Improves Fitness

One more reason to promote bikeshare: it can improve physical fitness. A study done in Philadelphia and published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that those who joined a bikeshare did more “moderate and vigorous physical activity” after they did. But to maintain the benefits, people will have to ride a lot over a long period of time, says Changes in Physical Activity after Joining a Bikeshare Program: A Cohort of New Bikeshare Users https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/

Boulder Voters Raise Sales Tax to Build and Maintain Bike Infrastructure

Voters in Boulder County, CO voted in November to continue a .1 percent sales tax (that’s one cent per $10) to fund multimodal transportation projects, including bike facilities. The tax will help fund a 25-year Transportation Master Plan that includes adding bike lanes in downtown Lyons, updating the county bikeway map, improving bike safety, etc.

See https://bouldercounty.gov/ transportation/plans-and-projects/ transportation-master-plan/

-Charles Pekow

Face Masks Block More than COVID-19

Wearing a face mask while cycling might protect you from more than COVID and other contagious diseases. It can keep air pollutants out of your respiratory system, suggests a study from the University of Texas at Austin, but public health officials don’t often mention this.

The research looked at previous studies and concluded “Although the scope of the evidence reviewed was relatively limited, it consistently suggested that mask use may be an effective and inexpensive personal intervention against air pollution for pedestrians and bicyclists. Public health organizations should consider encouraging the continued use of face masks as a personal abatement strategy of air pollution exposure during the postpandemic stage.”

See: https://www.researchgate. net/publication/362513409_A_ scoping_review_of_the_benefits_ of_face_mask_use_on_pedestrian_and_bicyclist_exposure_to_ air_pollutants

-Charles Pekow

Micromobility Since 2010.

The pandemic caused a blip in growth of shared bike, ebike and scooter rides starting with a documented 321,000 rides in 2010, right after the concept was introduced. The 112 million rides in 2021 still fell below the peak of 136 million in 2019.

See https://nacto.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/12/2020-2021_shared_micro_snapshot_ Dec7_2022.pdf

-Charles Pekow

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The study followed 1,031 new members over a year from various demographic and income backgrounds with a median age of 30. Some members already owned a bike and a few others bought one over the year. Benefits accrued to people in all groups if they rode regularly.

The study suggests that cities get more people to use bikeshare and to encourage those who have signed up to use it more. It’s good for their own health!

-Charles Pekow

Bike Infrastructure Increases Physical Activity

“Physical activity increases if safe infrastructure for cyclists is provided,” concludes a study published in the Journal of Transport and Health. It also stated that “(p)romoting active travel and public transport increases physical activity.”

Which Transport Policies Increase Physical Activity of the Whole of Society? A Systematic Review performed a meta-analysis of existing studies on the impact of transportation policies on physical activity. It found that policies work best at increasing bicycling when done in a comprehensive way, such as combining infrastructure improvements with education. Adding bike paths sure helped, but research was not able to say how much striping bike lanes did. Providing secure parking seemed to encourage riding but the evidence doesn’t quantify it. Adding bike racks seemed less encouraging.

Find the report here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2214140522001608

-Charles Pekow

E-Bikes Need More Safety Precautions

E-bikes are going to require a lot more safety work. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) counted at least 53 fatalities on them between 2017 and 2021, mainly through collisions with motor vehicles and loss of user control. CPSC did its own investigating on 11 cases and found eight involved fire or inadequate brakes.

CPSC reported its findings in Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns: 2017–2021 (https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fspublic/Micromobility-Products-Related-Deaths-Injuries-and-HazardPatterns-2017-2021.pdf )

CPSC notes that its reporting of accidents isn’t complete but that the number appears to be rising as the vehicles increase in popularity.

Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration approved UL LLC as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for a test Standard for Electrical Systems for eBikes (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ FR-2022-09-21/pdf/2022-20397.pdf).

Also, after at least 140 e-bike battery fires killing at least five people, New York City required landlords to post safety warnings about ebike fires, telling people not to charge if they find smoke, leakage, etc.

-Charles Pekow

This Machine Flights Climate Change: The Bicycle Art of Nicole Kelner

Artist Name: Nicole Kelner

Title: This Machine Flights

Climate Change

Medium: Watercolor

Nicole Kelner is working at the intersection of art, climate, and technology. She uses watercolors to communicate complex, systematic challenges in climate and present

them in a beautiful and accessible way. Her goal is to use art to inspire climate action.

She is currently an Artist-inResident at My Climate Journey.

Nicole was previously the co-

founder and COO at The Coding Space, an after school program to teach kids how to code. She helped lead the company to acquisition in 2019. Most recently, she was Head of Operations at Dashboard.Earth

Prior to that she was Chief of Staff at Climate Finance Solutions.

Prints are available at www. nicolekelner.com

Social: @nicolekelner on Twitter