VOLUME 12 NUMBER 6 FFRREEEE AUGUST 2004 cyclincyclingg utahutah PARKPARK CITYCITY CYCLINGCYCLING FESTIVALFESTIVAL PROGRAMPROGRAM GUIDEGUIDE PAGESPAGES 20-2320-23 •Brian Head Epic - p. 24 •Park City Cycling Festival Program - p. 20 •Calendar of Events - p. 16 •Park City’s’s SpiroSpiro TTrail - p. 3 •The Coolest July - p. 7 •Results - p. 18 DIRTDIRT •State Road Championships - p. 13 PAVEMENTPAVEMENT •E-100 - p. 12 ADVOCACYADVOCACY •Tour de France Trip - p. 2 •Boise Twilight Criterium - p. 6 RACINGRACING •Rumble Strips - p. 4 TOURINGTOURING •Campaign Trail - p. 9 •Endurance Supplements - p. 5 MOUNTAIN WEST CYCLING JOURNAL MOUNTAIN WEST CYCLING JOURNAL 2 cycling utah.com AUGUST 2004 SPEAKING OF SPOKES ClimbingClimbing thethe ColsCols -- AA TTriprip toto thethe TTourour dede FFrancerance By Dave Ward My wife, Karma, and I had an experience in itself. Despite Publisher arrived in Geneva on Sunday being two days before the Alpe evening. After a quick downtown d’Huez time trial, the 21 lacelets I had just started uphill again discovery trek on Monday morn- were already packed with tents, when it started to rain. I had been ing, we met up with our tour trailers, tourists and travelers all riding up toward the clouds for group from Graham Baxter staking out their spots to watch the over an hour, and so should not Sporting Tours. After the great professional peloton punish itself, have been surprised. Though it experience we had last year with one member at a time, up this had been overcast most of the this company, we did not hesitate famous and infamous climb. Our way, and more so the higher I got, to book with them again. Much to bus driver, Daniel, amazed us with I suppose I had decided my life our delight, we also ended up with his ability to clear obstacles by was charmed, and I would be the same tour guide, Derek inches as he wound the coach and spared any wet weather. Francis, with whom we had bike trailer around each turn. However, the rain gradually grew become good friends last year. We arrived early enough that From Geneva, we had a four we had time to quickly assemble Lance, Landis, Ullrich on the Col de la Forclaz during in intensity till it was a heavy stage 17. photo: Dave Ward downpour. Time to turn around hour bus ride to Bourg d’Oisans, our bikes and descend down to and then nearly another hour up Bourg d’Oisans just to turn around and head back? Not when you are through a high alpine meadow the 21 "lacelets" (French for and ride back up to l’Alpe d’Huez. in the French Alps, climbing nestled in the towering and over- switchbacks) to l’Alpe d’Huez. This was what I had most been toward the Col du Glandon on the powering Alps. Now, though, it We were to spend the next three anticipating: Riding the Tour’s same course Lance and Company was not quite so steep and I decid- nights here before returning to most famous climb, and I tingled would be riding in two days. ed to push on to where the road Geneva. The coach ride up was with excitement while simultane- split a few kilometers ahead. ously cringing at the effort ahead. On arriving at that split, the When Lance Armstrong would sign to the left said "Col du ride this climb two days hence, his time on the actual climb (exclud- ing the first 1.5 flat kilometers of Continued on page 14 the time trial) was just over 36 minutes. My time was 1 hour and 12 minutes. What can I say? He is Lance, and I am just me. It was a tough climb, like nothing I have ever ridden before. And though I did not dance like Lance to the Cover Photo: Carolyn Eslinger riding in Alta on July 8, top, I enjoyed every punishing 2004 on the Sunnyside Downhill. pedal stroke of my own on this Photo: Joaquim Hailer colossal climb. The plan for the next day was for the non-riding members of our group to take the bus to the finish of Tuesday’s stage at Villard de Lans, while those of us with bikes cycling utah would ride there. After the stage P.O. Box 57980 finish, we would all return by bus Murray, UT 84157-0980 to l’Alpe d’Huez. Unfortunately, www.cyclingutah.com our tour guide learned that the You can reach us by phone: (801) 268-2652 French gendarmerie planned to Our Fax number: (801) 263-1010 close the road up to l’Alpe d’Huez at 6:00 p.m. the next day. That Dave Iltis, Editor & Advertising would certainly have been well [email protected] before our bus could have made it back, especially on the crammed ling ut c ah David R. Ward, Publisher canyon roads. So the decision cy was made to remain at l’Alpe [email protected] d’Huez where we could enjoy the day as we pleased. Robert L. Truelsen, Executive Editor So it was that I found myself [email protected] that day in a downpour climbing to the top of the Col du Glandon. Contributors: Greg Overton, Neal Skorpen, Gregg Bromka, Ben Though in truth I entertained ideas Simonson, Michael Gonzales, Tommy Murphy, Joaquim Hailer, of turning round and heading Shawn Stinson, Lou Melini, Jill Homer, Ron Lindley, Jon and Misti back, especially since I was still Milner, Quinn Pratt, Monique Beeley, Dan Fazzini Jr., Shawn going to have to climb back up to Talbott, Andrew Rafkind, Chris Quann, Terry McGinnis, Brooks l’Alpe d’Huez, my obsession to Stevenson, Derek Forsberg, Robin Perkins make it to the top of any climb I Distribution: Michael Gonzales, Rachel Gonzales, David start, and my insatiable curiosity Montgomery, Doug Kartcher to just see around the next bend, (To add your business to our free distribution, give us a call) drove me on. I finally reached the front end of a high alpine reser- Administrative Assistant: Lindsay Ross voir, and looked onward, after a short descent, to more climbing cycling utah is published eight times a year beginning in March and continuing monthly through October. Mountain Bike with Annual Subscription rate: $12 a World Champion! (Send in a check to our P.O. Box) Moab, Utah. Fall 2004. Postage paid in Murray, UT Editorial and photographic contributions are welcome. Send via email to [email protected]. Or, send via mail and please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to return unused material. Submission of articles and accompanying artwork to cycling utah is the author’s warranty that the material is in no way an infringement upon the rights of others and Women/ Co- ed Camps that the material may be published without additional approval. All Abilities Welcome! Permission is required to reprint any of the contents of this publication. www.alisondunlap.com Cycling Utah is free, limit one copy per person. 1-800-845-2453 © 2004 cycling utah AUGUST 2004 cycling utah.com 3 TRAIL OF THE MONTH miner who struck the motherload. It’s only one mile of singletrack bliss before you intersect Eagle PParkark CityCity’s’s SpiroSpiro TTrailrail LoopLoop isis asas GoodGood asas GoldGold Trail. Stay left and drop quickly By Gregg Bromka ately right on Three Kings Drive into the trees, but watch out for a along the golf course. Go left on hidden switchback that will take Answering the plead for more Crescent Road and find the Spiro public access to private lands sur- Trailhead at the bend. Gear down you by surprise 0if you are casting rounding town, Park City and power up the nasty little ramp a gaze at the golf links far below. Mountain Resort has graciously that greets you, and stay in granny A rapid descent through hairpin opened its doors, rather its moun- gear because you’ll climb in turns returns you to the familiar tain, to the community of non- earnest for a mile to the junction junction with Spiro Trail. Gravity motorized recreationists. To the with Eagle Trail. The dozen turns resort, mountain biker’s are are steep and tight but there are continues to be your best friend at indebted and grateful. An ever- breathers in between. Persevere, you coast back to the trailhead. expanding network of dirt roads, and you’ve licked the toughest Location: Park City Mountain part. Stay on Spiro for yet more doubletracks, and singletracks Resort in Park City. caters to bikers of intermediate climbing, albeit a tad easier. ability and above. Like Deer Spiro Trail rises moderately Distance: 7.5-mile loop. (There Valley Resort across town, you through profuse timber and cross- are over 30 miles of additional can “get a lift” at PCMR and coast es sunny ski runs. Cross under trails available trails on the resort.) King Con Lift then descend downhill all day, but to bikers who Physical Difficulty: Moderate. actually like to ride their bikes, briefly to a right-hand curve the resort’s Spiro Trail is the gate- across Broadway ski run where The initial climb gains elevation way to a myriad of cross-country Claim Jumper Trail forks left. Stay quickly, but the rest is a piece of treks, including the burly climb to on Spiro, and climb though groves cake. Shadow Lake and the resort-to- of aspens commingling with firs to Technical Difficulty: Low-moder- resort Mid-Mountain loop. If you Thaynes Canyon jeep road. Go ate. These trails are like “budda,” are short on time or are not feeling left and spin up to the junction like a NORBA contender, howev- with Mid Mountain Trail, just past except for the short descent on er, then consider the more man- Powerline Trail.