2010 Tour of Utah - Prologue

Here are just of few of my good pics from the Tour of Utah Prologue. Man those guys are fast! And a big hand for the Utah guys that are racing it... some of which I raced with a few years ago and while I've stayed in the same category since then, they've moved on up and turned pro :-)

Start/Finish area

And here are a few of the big names in the group:

Levi Leipheimer

George Hincapie (he deserves two shots because I like him so much)

Francisco Mancebo (ex-Pro Tour professional now racing with Utah's own Canyon Bicycles)

U of U/Bikes for Kids Omnium

Here's the press release for the event I'm in charge of on March 26-27, 2010. It's coming up! Let me know if you are interested in volunteering or participating!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bikes for Kids Utah Hosts First-Annual Omnium With University of Utah Cycling Team Proceeds from the event's time trial will benefit the Bikes for Kids Utah mission to give Bikes to second-grade students SALT LAKE CITY - Feb. 25, 2010 - Bikes for Kids Utah today announced details of the University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium, the first of its three annual fundraising events. This series of three bike races will be held Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 throughout Salt Lake County, and produced in partnership by Bikes for Kids Utah and the University of Utah cycling team. Proceeds from the Hill Climb Time Trial on March 27 will support Bikes for Kids Utah while proceeds from the Criterium and Circuit Race will support the University of Utah cycling team. "Developing our annual time trial into a three-stage, USA Cycling-sanctioned event is a great opportunity to draw more cyclists to the Bikes for Kids cause and for local cyclists to compete against each other in multiple racing disciplines," said Debbie Reid, founder and president of Bikes for Kids Utah. "We're working hard to make this a quality event that draws amateur and collegiate cyclists from around our conference." All USA Cycling, Utah Cycling Association (UCA), Intermountain Collegiate Cycling Conference (IMCCC) and cyclists who like riding in charity events are invited to participate in the three-stage omnium events to earn racing points and to raise money to buy new bikes for Utah children. Descriptions of the stages follow below: Stage 1: Electric Park Criterium Photo credit: Bradlee Duncan Friday, March 26 at 12 p.m. Starts in Thanksgiving Point's Electric Park at 3003 Thanksgiving Way in Lehi, Utah The criterium race track consists of an 11-cornered, closed loop through Electric Park and the surrounding roads. Each lap of the spectator-friendly course is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) that ends in front of the Electric Park pavilion. Riders will race between eight and 35 laps depending on their category, taking about 20 to 75 minutes to complete the race. Stage 2: Hill Climb Time Trial Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 a.m. Starts at the intersection of Bangerter Parkway and 13800 South in Draper, Utah. The climb travels up Traverse Ridge Road and finishes at the intersection of Traverse Ridge Road and Deer Ridge Drive. The four-mile (6.4 km) time trial course has an elevation gain of more than 1,300 feet (396 m) with 10 percent to 12 percent grades in some locations. Stage 3: Circuit Race Saturday, March 27 at 1 p.m. Starts at Early Light Academy at 11709 S. Vadania Dr., South Jordan, Utah Starting and finishing in Daybreak Utah, the race loop is 12 miles (19.3 km) and includes one 600-feet (188.8 m) climb. The route will take competitors up to the Kennecott Copper Mine, past Butterfield Canyon and through the Herriman area back to the finish. Riders will race between two and seven laps around the circuit depending on their category. Registration for these events opens February 25 at sportsbaseonline.com and closes for the Criterium and Time Trial on Friday, March 26 at 11 a.m. and for the Circuit Race on Saturday, March 27 at 12 p.m. Please register in advance, as there is no on-site registration at any of the Omnium events. The registration fee for each race is $25 and $65 for the entire omnium before March 1. Collegiate cycling discounts are available with collegiate cycling license. Any Bikes for Kids Utah supporters that want to make a $5, $15 or $30 donation to the organization can do so at sportsbaseonline.com. "We have really enjoyed working with Bikes for Kids Utah the past several years and are glad to increase our commitment to the organization's mission," said Brad Duncan, race director of the University of Utah cycling team. "Together we're planning and promoting strong events that will help get more Utah kids on bikes and strengthen Utah's cycling community." For information about joining USA Cycling, UCA or IMCCC teams and participating in rides sanctioned by the governing bodies, please visit usacycling.org. More information about Bikes for Kids Utah is available at www.bikesforkidsutah.com. More information about University of Utah cycling is available at www.utahcycling.org. About Bikes for Kids Utah Bikes for Kids Utah is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 that provides bicycles for underprivileged children throughout the Salt Lake Valley. It generates support for its cause through its event registration proceeds, auctions, and private and corporate donations. Bikes for Kids' annual bicycle fundraising events, including casual road rides, timed road races and a dinner auction, raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with new bicycles each year. For more information about the events, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.com or call 801.656.0472. Details about the Bikes for Kids Utah Fundraising Rides, held in conjunction with its bike giveaway on Saturday, May 8, 2010, and its fall dinner auction are forthcoming. ### MEDIA CONTACTS: Elizabeth O. Hurst, 801.656.0472 (work)/ 408.386.8168 (mobile) ehurst@soarcomm.com Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801.656.0472 (work/) 801.597.7515 (mobile), csmith@soarcomm.com or Debbie Reid, Bikes for Kids Utah, 801.232.2681, debrareid@mac.com Brad Duncan, U of U Cycling Race Director, 801.836.8079, bradleeduncan@gmail.com

Our team was nominated by USA Cycling as the Collegiate Team of the Month for March. It sure is nice to see the hard work paying off, now if I can just have the weather hold out for our race on March 26-27, we'll be in good shape! See below for the USA Cycling Write-up, the original can be found here
Notice GB's photo credit at the bottom :-) Good work G!

Team of the Month

University of Utah

Essay by Joel Hsia, Team President

The University of Utah Cycling Club is the classic story of a developing group that has overcome long odds to firmly establish itself in collegiate cycling. Founded in late 2004, Utah Cycling started out as a group of students who paid out of their own pockets to travel, race, and ride. Fond stories are still told about the early years of racing in jerseys with a block “U” duct-taped on, and even resorting to wearing jerseys belonging to campus parking enforcement. -- Utah Cycling is now self-supported and is able to assist riders in the costs of racing.

Like any club-level organization, Utah Cycling owes its survival to the dedication of its members and officers. It is labor and love from committed individuals that allows Utah Cycling to continue. One particular 2006-2007 school year marks a time of great struggle, when the team nearly fell apart from lack of a governing body. Utah Cycling's advice to other small clubs or teams is that above all else, a solid group of leaders is the most important thing to have.

Beyond racing, Utah Cycling places value in supporting local community and organizations. Throughout 2009, on top of participating in charity rides, the club spent time promoting bicycle safety with young children of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Utah Cycling is also an active supporter for Bikes for Kids Utah, an organization that provides children with free bicycles to help them play, exercise, get to school, and develop hobbies. One of Utah Cycling's top highlights is currently laying claim to being faster than rival-school BYU at the annual Red vs Blue charity hill climb. Proceeds from this community-involved event benefit the Bikes for Kids Utah group.

Utah Cycling's major race accomplishments include consistent qualification for road and mountain nationals. The club is home to and has turned out globally ranked riders such as Mitchell Peterson, Rob Squire, and former MTB national champion Heather Holmes. Utah Cycling had spectacular results at 2009 RMCCC road conference finals, with multiple podium wins in all categories and disciplines. With a great group of riders, and transition into the new Inter-Mountain conference, Utah Cycling looks forward to 2010 and beyond.

Utah would like to recognize and thank the following organizations for their continued support throughout many years: Mass Mutual, Blackbottoms Cyclewear, CycleSmith SLC, and Ritchey Design.

Utah Cycling
www.utahcycling.org

Photo credits, top to bottom: Gina Duncan, Katie Gasser, and SOAR Communications

To go with that last post...

Here's a close-up of what it looked like looking towards downtown. The panorama from the previous post doesn't show the blue-ish hue as well as this one does. I think this photo is truer to what our eyes saw last night.

We've been having the coolest weather patterns here lately (well, except for the smog), and it's been making for some great panorama photos from our balcony.

Enjoy (click for larger image, bigger is better, eh?)

Last long ride of '09

A few weeks ago my friend suggested doing one more long ride for the season. We planned it for the 16th and with the weather being as good as it was on Friday and me being on Fall Break from school, I couldn't resist. I rode down to American Fork Canyon and we rode the Alpine Loop and Cascade Springs before heading home. It couldn't have been a better day, temps were in the high 60's for most of the ride and I was taking my birthday present out for their maiden voyage. Boy were they good! Thanks G

Stats:
Distance: 191.77 km (119.2 mi)
Elevation Gain: 2,136 m (7,008 ft)
Link to interactive map

Taylor - welcome to the joys of road riding :-) You sure know how to fly on those downhills!

Mmm, Big Mountain

First time up Big Mountain (in Emigration Canyon) for the year. This has to be one of the best rides in the SLC area.

View from the top (sorry for the crappy iPhone pic, I need a new Point and Shoot camera):

Elevation profile:

Map:

Getting excited about the ToU this August

B-Cycle

Another company has finally gotten together what looks to be the right amount of money to do what I've wanted to do for quite some time. This one looks like one of the best implementations of this style system outside of some of the ones deployed in Europe. Very well-done B-cycle! Now let's just get it to come to SLC, ask for it here: http://bcycle.com/who_wants_it_more/

Healthiest US City? Salt Lake City

Couldn't help but pass this one along. Salt Lake City deserves a big pat on the back for being nominated and chosen as the U.S.'s healthiest city! Ahh, such pride :-)

Men's Healthiest Cities
Women's Healthiest Cities

Portfolio Pics - Part 2

Ahhh, the good ol' days of film

"Library Station"

And in black and white, as it appears on the wall of our house.

Comments welcome

Tour of Utah - Tyler Hamilton

I got a few good pics from the Tour of Utah, and I finally got around to processing them. Here's my favorite one that I got from the race. Corner #1 in the Friday night Criterium in downtown SLC.

Rock Racing's own, Tyler Hamilton:

Nice clouds...

Just had to post this quick shot of the sunset tonight. Look at those clouds! They were on fire.

Tour of Utah Final - Local brings home the win!

The Tour of Utah turned into quite the nailbiter towards the end of Stage 4. With Salt Lake native Jeff Louder putting in a major attack on the lead group of riders to catch and pass Blake Caldwell (overall leader at the time) on the final climb up to Snowbird Ski Resort. After Stage 4, Louder was only 7 seconds down from Caldwell with a short time trial to come in Stage 5. After 14,000+ feet of grueling elevation gain on Saturday, the racers headed out to Miller Motorsports Park on Sunday to finish things up with a short and fast time trial of 12km around the LHM track and surrounding area to finally finish in front of the grandstands on the butter-smooth asphalt of the world-class racetrack. In the end, Louder knocked off 8 seconds from Blake Caldwell's previous 7 second lead leaving Louder wearing the yellow jersey on the final podium.



What a great race, and congratulations to Jeff Louder, representing for the "801".

Pics of Stage 2 and 3 to come soon from me. More pics on Cyclingnews.com and Velonews.com

Tour of Utah - Stage 2 Intro

Stage 2 is tomorrow, and it's the first brutal mountain stage of the Tour of Utah.

Stats:
Distance: 137km (84.6 mi)
Elevation: 3,226m (10,585 ft)

Three cruel climbs evenly spread throughout the day with the first coming at mile 6. Then one minor climb just 8 miles from the finish to smack the racers around one more time before the long downhill approach to the finish at the U of U Orthopedic Center. Should be a great race. Best places to watch are the top of each mountain pass, especially the decisive and aptly-named "Big Mountain." Click the map below for an interactive approach to the race course map.

Watch for early attacks on the climb up North Ogden Canyon with more serious attacks coming on the second climb on the backside of Mt. Ogden, and finally the climb up Big Mountain starting at about mile #62 will surely have fireworks all the way up it.

Flashback - 2006 Tour of Utah

Just a few snapshots of mine that I found from the 2006 Tour of Utah.

Heading up the Alpine Loop:


Arriving at Snowbird:

The Tour of Utah is Back!

After a brief hiatus last year, the Tour of Utah professional bike race is back this year. (next week in fact!) This year is "bigga' and betta' than ever"! A $75,000 prize purse and plenty of bragging rights up for grabs makes this race the "Richest Race in America". The race is now on the National Race Calendar which means that more mainstream professional bike teams will be vying for National points. Over the course of the 5 day/5 stage race, riders will cover 336 miles with 30,000 feet of climbing.

Saturday Ride

Last night when we were getting ready to go to bed, Gina asked if I thought she could do Big Mountain... I answered by telling her that it would be hard, then I showed her what the profile looks like for that ride:


I was pretty excited when she said she wanted to try. Sure enough, we woke up this morning to a beautiful, cool summer morning with the sun shining and a steady stream of cyclists heading up Emigration Canyon. The wind was a bit strong at first, but didn't last long after we got into the canyon. Up we went. The pedals kept turning over and before we knew it we were at Little Mountain. Gina said she didn't even want to stop until we got to the Reservoir (look in the profile and it's the little dip on the way up). We stopped and ate a bit, drank some water and then it was back on the bike for the steep section. Gina cruised right up the switchbacks of Big Mountain and I think the top looked more beautiful than ever because she had worked so hard. Now for some pics at the top:


Gina taking a short break after a steep switchback section. (almost there!)



Ahhh, the top. (I keep forgetting my camera, so I have to use my crappy cell phone one)

Wasatch Loop (check!)

As a follow up post to this one, I thought I'd post the only picture that I got from our ride of the Wasatch Loop, as I affectionately call it. It was a great ride, there were a few of us from the University of Utah Team (myself, Tyler, and Jon), and one "friend of the program," Trevor. It was great having you guys, we'll have to do some other long rides next time. Thanks for the 5-star lunch at Sundance Gina! It was a welcome pit stop.

Sorry for the camera phone pic, I forgot the camera :-(

The Wasatch Loop

As a follow up to that last post, here's a bit more info about the ride we're doing this Saturday. It's open to anyone that wants to. Meet at Hogle Zoo at 7:30am.

Map of the route:


And here's an elevation plot to give you an idea of the "fun" we'll be having: