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

Just a few shots

I haven't been taking too many pictures lately but Gina has been a bit busy.


Red vs. Blue Hill Climb (might have some pics at some point, results here)

Lotoja 2009 (results)

Harvest Moon Criterium (results aren't published yet but I got 8th in that too)

Guess 8th place is my lucky number this year no matter the race.

PS, I do not like how Google handles pictures on blogs and I don't want to take the time to fix it, sorry for the graininess.

Tour of Park City

A few of us from the U of U Cycling Team volunteered to be mobile course marshals for the "Felt Tour de Park City" back on August 1. We had a great time riding the course after all the other groups had passed through (essentially sweeping the course). The idea was that we could help patch tires, tend to crashes (if any), and help riders with mechanical problems... the irony of it all is that we didn't fix anybody's tires except our own. To be more specific, between just two of us (out of 4 of us total), we ended up with 7 flats during the 170 mile ride! I normally average 1 flat per year, go figure.

We still had a great time throughout the whole thing and I was super-impressed with how well the race/ride was organized. The organizers and sponsors did a great job with great aid station food, good support staff and vehicles, and a well-organized start/finish area. Looking forward to next year... maybe I'll race it next year :-)

Stats:
7 flat tires (4 for me, or was it 3...? hmm)
277 km (172 miles)
2,344 m (7,690 ft) elevation gain

Park City > Coalville > Evanston > Mirror Lake Highway > Kamas > Park City

(Click for larger map)

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 :-(

Routes Post

This is just a post for me to put links to various bike (mostly road) routes. I'll update this as I discover more fun routes to ride. Check back often.

Salt Lake County
Faultline Ride (Interval workout)
SL Valley Ride 'o Round
Wasatch Mtn. Loop
The Big 5
Marina Run. Some of the flattest riding along the Wasatch Front.
Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah's own "Alpe d'Huez". Almost the same elevation gain and distance as the famous Tour de France climb.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Traverse Ridge Rd. (Connect to Suncrest Rd. in Utah County)
Millcreek Canyon (note that half-way up the gate is closed until June and may have snow until then)
SLC to Park City (via Emigration Canyon)
Emigration Canyon (just to Little Mountain)
Emigration Canyon (all the way to Big Mountain)
Rocky Mountain Raceway (RMR) Criterium Course
DMV Criterium Course (course layout can vary from week to week)
Potential 2009 RMCCC Championship Crit Course
My commute to/from work (less ambitious version)
My commute to/from work (more ambitious version)
My commute to/from work (MOST ambitious version)
Tour of Utah Preview ride with Utah County friends

Utah County
Suncrest Rd. (Connect to Traverse Ridge Rd. in Salt Lake County)
Utah Lake Century
The Gauntlet
The Nebo Loop
Sundance Hill Climb Route
Alpine Loop
South Fork Provo Canyon
Squaw Peak

Juab County
Tour of Utah 2008 - Stage 1 Route

Morgan County
East Canyon Road Race 2008

Summit County
Tour of Utah 2008 - Stage 4 Route
Tour of Park City

Tooele County
Potential 2009 RMCCC Championship TTT Course

Weber County
Tour of Utah 2008 - Stage 2 Route
Mt. Ogden Race Course



More to come!

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:

Treasure Map

Unfortunately it's not every day that you find a company willing to help out a single user when it means making a global change to the product. In the case where that change will help other users, this becomes more common, but it is still rare for it to happen quickly. I came across a great service that did just that. TopoRoute is a route mapping software for runners and cyclists (and anybody else that needs to plot a route). The software works great and they've gone through some changes recently that have made it even better.

I was trying to plot a route that was 115 miles long with many curves (means the file size is relatively large). They apparently had a limit on the size of a file that could be created and I was over that limit. I emailed their contact and within the day, Martin (thanks Martin!) got back to me to tell me the problem and that he wanted to get it fixed. By the next day, he had doubled the size of file that could be created and my route worked perfectly. Here's the route (a ride that me and some friends are going to do this Saturday if anyone else wants to come!)

Collegiate Cycling National Finals (Finally)

After leaving for the Virgin Islands, Lake Powell, and then having Justin leave for Alaska, I finally got all my pictures that I (and Katie, good job Katie) took at National Finals. Justin had them on his computer because I couldn't fit them all on one CF card (now I have a bigger card though, hehe. Bigger is always better, eh?). Anyway, to give a little background, the U of U cycling team had a few people that qualified for the Collegiate Cycling National Finals in Lawrence, KS and here's the story.



An acquaintance of some of the team members was absolutely awesome in letting us crash in his living room. (Cam, thanks for the genuine Kansan hospitality bro) And his room-mates were great in dealing with a bunch of sweaty bike racers for nearly a week too! Thanks guys. We had a great time and our team had some great placings overall. I only qualified to race in the team time trial, which we did OK in. And as a team, we were quite happy with it even though we didn't place really great (not last though, haha). Justin was the Veteran and showed us all the ropes while Mitch represented for the U of U also. In the road race, T-mo and Brian ripped it up with T-mo placing really well (I'll have to remember what he placed and edit this post, but it was like top 20 IIRC out of nearly 150). Brian placed in the middle of the pack somewhere on a brutal 90 mile course through the rolling Kansan hills in 90 degree weather that was ridiculously humid for us Utah folk. The crit was a great time and the town really knows how to support a bike race, they showed up in droves packing the whole crit course a couple of people deep. Katie did great in her events and showed everybody what a Utah girl is made of. It was a great race and we were sad to leave (especially because we had a 16 hour drive ahead of us to go home, ouch). Good times were had by all. Now, because there are so many pics, here's a slideshow of some of the better ones.

Collegiate Bike Racing

We just got home Sunday night from Grand Junction, CO where the U of U Cycling Team competed in the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference Championships. The team did great overall, and I'm happy with my results too. I ended up in 6th in the road race, 3rd in the team time trial and 6th in the criterium, each event was out of about 40 racers in my group. Gina came along as our cheer squad and photographer. It's great having her there cheering us all on. It was a great race, and the weather was beautiful for every event. All in all, with over 100 miles of racing this weekend, I'm a little sore, but not as bad as yesterday! haha

Fort Lewis College Race

We had a great time in Durango even though the trip was super short. We left on Friday, got in late Friday night, hit the sack, got up and raced the team time trial, then the crit, then drove home. It was a lot of fun though, and although I didn't race super well, we had some big mile marks with the car... First off, we passed the 111,111 mile mark on the odometer.







Next up was that we broke 50 MPG average for the whole trip - 53.1 MPG to be exact, which works out to 803.3 miles on one tank! Aren't TDI's amazing. We went from SLC to Durango and back to SLC on one tank of diesel fuel.





Next up was that it was a really fun race, although the TTT was longer than normal at about 20 miles. Later that day was the crit, and lucky enough for me, it rained and even started snowing during my group's race! Needless to say, I got a bit dirty. I finished with the pack, but count that a good finish because there was a short little hill on the course that was an all out sprint up on every lap (every 0.5 miles) for 45 minutes straight. That kicked my butt, but I hung in there. The break away group of 3 got away about half way through and stayed away the rest of the time. They ended up nearly lapping the rest of us. It was a great time though, and we (the U of U team) will probably have a pretty good chance at going to the National Finals race in a couple of weeks. We'll see how we do at Conference Championships though, it's this coming weekend.

Late post from the CSU race

Well, it's been too long since I posted, so here goes.

For those of you that don't know, I race for the U of U road cycling team. Every weekend in the spring we go somewhere (usually Colorado) to race against other schools in the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference (RMCCC). Some of the schools include Colorado State University, Denver University, Mesa State College, University of New Mexico, Utah State University, BYU, Air Force Academy, etc. Anyway, one race that we went to was the race at CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado. The weather was pretty crazy for the events on Saturday, but then Sunday was beautiful for the oval criterium on the CSU campus.

Here's a shot of some of the U of U team bikes in our pit area for the team time trial (TTT) and road race (RR).


It was 40 degrees and rainy during the TTT and the RR so we were freezing when we were done! Of course, after we finished those two events, the clouds cleared and the sun came out and it turned to a nice evening. Between the TTT and the RR, we were all freezing and everything we had was soaked, so we had to remedy that somehow or the RR would have been quite uncomfortable to say the least! So what did we do? We headed into town to find the nearest laundromat to dry all of our stuff. We didn't care about washing it, but we wanted it dry.

Our team and a bunch of other teams stormed
the local laundromat to use the dryers.

After we finally got all the clothes dry, we headed back to our pit area to get ready for the road race. We have three groups that race, the A's, B's, and C's. A's are the fast guys, B's a little slower, and C's a little slower than the B's. I race with the B's and we ended up doing about 45 miles (they shortened it because of the weather which was a welcomed decision!).

Here is a pic of the start of the TTT. From left to right there's me, Brian, and Russell.

Here's a pic of the road race and I'm the one on the far right with the yellow sleeve wearing a red and gray helmet.



And one last pic of the RR, this is the B peloton coming up a short climb to turn around the corner and head up the next hill. Notice our support vehicles following us. It was a well organized race.





And of course, after the road race, it was time to hit the town of Fort Collins for some good, warm food and fun. We ate at Coopersmith's Pub and Brewery which had some darn good food! Here's Jin chowing down on a big buffalo burger. And another pic of Me, Gina, and Brian waiting for our food to get there.











The next day was Sunday and the crit was scheduled to start at 8:00 am for the C group. The B group went off later sometime around 9:30am. It was a beautiful day with temps in the 60's in the morning and rising to around 70 in the afternoon.... just perfect for a bike race. In the B group, I ended up placing 5th in the oval crit and was pretty pleased with that!

Here's the start of the B group at the oval crit, I'm in there somewhere in the middle just a few guys back.








There I am, with Russ, waiting for the starting whistle.









In the B crit, there were about 3 bad wrecks. Two were caused by a wheel touch and one was caused by a guy cutting a corner too sharp and the peloton not giving him enough room. All 3 were pretty bad, but a wheel touch on a prim lap right near the start/finish line was the worst. I saw the wheel touch a little in front and to the left of me a couple of guys over. I saw the guy start to go down and I veered right to try and avoid it. As he fell into the other guys, they fell towards me and I was pinched up near the curb. Luckily, as the guy next to me went down, I was able to move to the right far enough so that as he went down, his helmet just barely hit my left foot. It wobbled me a bit, but I kept the rubber side down luckily. Here's a picture of him after the race.



Another guy that went down got his finger caught in the spokes of a wheel and the spokes took the tip of his finger right off, ouch!



more pics can be found here