MARCH 2017 CYCLINGWEST.COM 1 Active Lifestyle Magazine FREE March 2017 CYCLING UTAH UTAH • IDAHO • WYOMING • NEVADA • W. COLORADO • N. ARIZONA • MONTANA • NORCAL 2017 EVENT CALENDARS INSIDE! IN THIS ISSUE •I NEED PUBLIC LANDS •2017 EVENT CALENDARS!! •CYCLOCROSS ADVENTURES •BIKE TOURING IN GREAT BASIN •PAYETTE MTB TRAILS •NATIONAL HANDMADE BIKE •OLD VEGAS TO LA HIGHWAY SHOW PREVIEW •EDITORIAL ON THE OR SHOW •TRAINING AND OVERTRAINING •RACING IN CUBA •HIGHLINERSMTB CLUB •PRESERVE BONANZA FLAT ROAD • MOUNTAIN • TRIATHLON • TOURING • RACING • COMMUTING • ADVOCACY 2 CYCLINGUTAH.COM MARCH 2017 MARCH 2017 CYCLINGWEST.COM 3 BICYCLE TOURING Cycling West and Cycling Utah is published eight times a year begin- ning in March and continuing month- Bike Touring to Great Basin National Park ly through October. Annual Subscription rate: $15 (Send in a check to our address above) No refunds on 1124 4th Ave Subscriptions. 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Michael Gonzales, Wayne Cottrell, Lukas Brinkerhoff, Charles Pekow, John Monroe on the road to Great Basin. Photo by Chris Blinzinger Cycling Utah / Cycling West is free, David Ward, Dave Iltis, Phil Sarnoff, limit one copy per person. early on the morning of departure, tour that requires minimal days off Tom Jow, Ian Scharine, John Shafer, © 2017 Cycling Utah By Chris Blinzinger introduced ourselves, and then head- Chris Blinzinger, Tom Diegel, work while maximizing the time to Steven Sheffield, Shannon Boffeli, ed out for a four day tour (my first). enjoy the journey. One of the great Pick up a copy of Kelly McPherson, John Higgins, My friend John Monroe and I We have been on one or two trips a things about riding with a partner is Aaron Crowder, Lou Melini, James Cycling Utah or Cycling West at have been touring around the year since then and experienced a your that we pull each other along when McPherson, Eric Kramer, Ali Goulet, Intermountain West for the past wide variety of conditions. For more either one of us needs it. John and I Max Silverson, Billy Sinkford, favorite bike shop! several years, always looking for than a year I had my eye on the Pony have become great friends during our Cristian Casal, Slyfox Moonwillow, an adventure. John and I met on Express Trail in Utah’s West Desert Marek Shon adventures and I value that friend- Facebook several years ago after I as well as a visit to Lehman Cave in ship more each time we head out. reached out on a Bicycle Touring Nevada. Another bonus to that area Distribution: McKibben Lindquist, Cover Photo: Jenni Curtis Shafer David Montgomery, and others at Church Rocks in Hurricane, page for a touring partner in Utah. He is the opportunity to see the so-called (To add your business to our free Utah. sent me a message informing me that “Darkest Skies in America” due to its distribution list, give us a call) Photo by John Shafer, he and some friends had an upcoming lack of light pollution. It was going Printing: Transcript Bulletin photo-john.net trip planned (his second tour). We to be around/about a 350 mile trip. Continued on page 10 Publishing arranged to meet in Salt Lake City This is close to our normal length of 4 CYCLINGUTAH.COM MARCH 2017 ADVOCACY Infrastructure Upgrades in Salt Lake County Make Bike Commuting Easier storms. I had to walk through this section a couple of times, as the snow was difficult to ride through during that time period. Since that time maintenance on this small section has been spotty, especially just west of the tunnel. Riding through the small section of Whole Foods parking lot and Wilmington Ave. in Sugarhouse, one needs to pay attention to the numer- ous cars making turns. After crossing 11th East, I cut through the Zion’s Bank parking lot to get on the start of the “S” line bikeway just before McClelland Ave (1050 East). From there I am off to my grandson’s house or to my volunteer position at The new roundabout at 2300 E and I-80 in Salt Lake County is better for Mayor Biskupski (right) and Mayor McAdams (middle) ride through the the Salt Lake Bike Collective with relatively new Sugarhouse Draw in the 2016 Mayor’s Bike to Work Day. bikes than before. It will get a tunnel too later this year. Photo by Lou little interaction with traffic. I could Photo by Dave Iltis Melini go a bit faster if I took 2700 South, I-80 that includes a roundabout, was but the ambiance of the trail makes 2300 East Upgrades: roundabout. At Claybourne, cars are By Lou Melini dedicated in November 2016. The up for any gain in speed on the road. Prior to 2016, 2300 was a street accelerating off of the roundabout roundabout has made crossing 2300 The bikeway is narrow where the that I crossed frequently but did not from the north and seem to be at the There are 2 recent upgrades that East by bike much easier. train stations are located so slowing ride on. I crossed at either Atkin Ave posted speed limit of 35 coming from have improved bike commuting to down at these locations will occur as (2800 South) or the next street to the the south. and from the east Canyon Rim area The Sugarhouse “S” Line well as slowing due to the presence north, Claybourne Ave. Neither was There is a fourth benefit to the of the new city of Millcreek, Utah. Up until the past couple of years, of pedestrians. There are also numer- ideal, but it was manageable. In 2016, roundabout in the winter. Neither In case you are not familiar with 2700 South was my primary com- ous street crossings, most of which it was to change. Claybourne nor Atkin receive a lot of Canyon Rim, it might be easier for muting road to visit my grandson have pedestrian buttons and stop Julie and I were gone for 6 sun and minimal snowplows, so rid- me to say that I live just north of who lives just south of the “S” line lights to stop car traffic. I have found months hiking the Appalachian Trail, ing those roads can be a bit icy and the 3300 South REI store. The first between 6th and 7th East. With the that I only need to push the buttons so we were able to miss all of the dicey. The roundabout is in the sun upgrade, the Sugarhouse “S” line opening of the “S” line bikeway, at 9th and 7th East and at State construction and orange cones on and is kept clean due to snowplows bike trail, has been in existence for the 1300 East tunnel and the path- Street as the lack of traffic negates 2300 East from I-80 to 3900 while and the number of cars. a few years. This has been a major way through Sugarhouse Park; riding the need to push the signal button at it was being rebuilt. Shortly after our I have heard comments that being change on how I travel to and from on 2700 South has become a rare the other crossings. Another word of arrival home, we were able to expe- on a bike in a roundabout is not a event. During winter snowstorms, Salt Lake City. The second upgrade, caution is the numerous driveways rience a new street with bike lanes comfortable place to be. This may be the changes that I just mentioned the rebuilding of 2300 East south of and a few streets with stop or yield and a roundabout at the north end. I true of some roundabouts but at the have made my commute so nice that signs. On occasion I have seen these was a bit anxious that the new road north end of 2300 East is quite pleas- I am sure that drivers of automobiles signs ignored, so be alert and don’t was being oversold for its bike and ant to navigate. I would recommend are envious. assume you will be given the right- pedestrian friendly upgrades. that you try it as you pass through The pathway through Sugarhouse of-way. The final word of caution Unfortunately crossing at Atkin Canyon Rim. Park is relatively flat. Then there is to be conscious of cars making a and Claybourne Avenues have not If you are still not sure about is the tunnel under 13th East on right-turn-on-red at Sugarmont Ave. changed. Neither is any easier to riding in a roundabout there will the west side of the park allowing Need a new onto 9th East. cross than before. The pedestrian be a new bike pathway taking you a very convenient crossing of 13th One of the biggest surprises that light at Claybourne is the same light across 2300 East to 1700 East near East.