May 2004 Issue 5/7/04 10:12 AM Page 1 VOLUME 12 NUMBER 3 FFRREEEE MAY 2004 cyclincyclingg utahutah MayMay isis BikeBike Month!Month! •Calendar of Events - p. 12 •Mill Creek Pipelineipeline TTrail - p. 3 •Tour of Canyonlands - p. 10 TouringTouring •Results - p. 16 RacingRacing •Buffalo Stampede - p. 11 DirtDirt •Touring the San Juan Loop - p. 20 •Club Guide Part II - p. 6 PavementPavement •Coach’s’s CornerCorner -- Bill’sBill’s FinalFinal WWord - p. 8 AdvocacyAdvocacy •Bike Path Standards - p. 4 MOUNTAIN WEST CYCLING JOURNAL MOUNTAIN WEST CYCLING JOURNAL May 2004 Issue 5/7/04 10:12 AM Page 2 2 cycling utah.com MAY 2004 SPEAKING OF SPOKES ThisThis willwill bebe aa GreatGreat SummerSummer toto RideRide By Dave Ward raphy, and one of the questions remembering and reminiscing as Publisher was, “The steepest paved road in I rode one of my favorite Idaho Utah is?” Know the answer? It routes, a quiet course from While taking my turn driving is U-143 from Parowan to Cedar Malad to Pocatello. a support vehicle during our trip Breaks National Park. Several What I am leading up to is along the White Rim Trail in years ago, while staying a few this: Our Intermountain area has Moab, Utah, I saw my friend, summer days in Brianhead, I great variety and some of the Gerry, who was driving the other rode down to Parowan and back best bicycling to be had any- support vehicle, stopped up up to Brianhead. As I was where. From red sandstone and ahead. As I pulled up behind his geared down to my lowest gear, slickrock routes in Moab to vehicle, he was standing on the going so slow I wondered if I Rocky Mountain alpine moun- rim at the head of a large was going to fall over as I strug- tain passes to lonely country canyon, looking out over the gled to turn the pedals, I roads rolling through wide majestic formations. As I got thought, “This has to be the expanses of sagebrush and dry- out of my vehicle, and walked to steepest road I have ever ridden.” farmed wheat fields, pure enjoy- over to him, he said, “This has Turns out it was. ment awaits the adventurous to be the most beautiful place I A few years ago, I penned cyclist. have ever seen.” what I feel is my best column For those masochists who Just last week, the Deseret ever, or at least the most mean- enjoy climbing, great rides News had a quiz on Utah geog- ingful to me. It was about abound. The climb from Jackson to the top of Teton Pass is a great workout, rewarding you with a magnificent view of the Jackson Hole area. For the The 5th Annual Moab Mountain Unicycling (MUni) Festival held real hardcore, descend down the March 26-28th, drew a record number of riders for any such event other side to Victor, grab some ever held in the U.S. 130 Unicyclists tested their riding skills in the refreshment, and then head back rugged terrain of Slickrock in Moab Utah. Information about the to the top. Be ready to stay on event can be found at moabmunifest.com. the brakes during the final photo: John Foss, Amasa Back trailhead descent back to Jackson. Another favorite climb of mine is the Nebo Loop from Cover Photo: Kathy Sherwin, Cannondale, at Aardvark’s Payson to Nephi. Also challeng- Showdown at 5-Mile Pass, May 1, 2004. ing is the climb from Beaver to Photo: Dave Iltis the Elk Meadows Ski area. In fact, climbs to any ski area are likely to be rigorous and scenic. I do the climbs to Brighton and cycling utah Alta somewhat regularly, given P.O. Box 57980 their close proximity to Salt Murray, UT 84157-0980 Lake. I have also done the www.cyclingutah.com climb from Boise to Bogus You can reach us by phone: (801) 268-2652 Basin. Many of these, aside Our Fax number: (801) 263-1010 from those in the Wasatch Front, have the additional benefit of Dave Iltis, Editor & Advertising virtually no traffic during the [email protected] summer cycling season. ing u I have spotted many rides that cl tah cy David R. Ward, Publisher I still have on my list to do [email protected] someday. So many times while traveling a new road in my car, I Robert L. Truelsen, Executive Editor find myself wishing I were on a [email protected] bike, and I add that route to my list. For example, there is that Contributors: Greg Overton, Neal Skorpen, Gregg Bromka, Ben exit off I-15 just north of Malad. Simonson, Michael Gonzales, Cindi Hansen, Bill Harris, Jason The road takes off to Weston Bultman, Jill Homer, Charles Pekow, Neal Skorpen, Ryan Barrett, over in the Cache Valley, and has Lee McCormack, John Shafer, Steve Conlin, Jeff Anderson been piquing my interest for Distribution: Michael Gonzales, Rachel Gonzales, David years. Maybe this summer. Montgomery, Doug Kartcher Anyway, the foregoing is only representative of all there is Administrative Assistant: Lindsay Ross available to ride. I could write about many more, and certainly cycling utah is published eight times a year beginning in most of you could create an March and continuing monthly through October. equal list without mentioning those I have described. The Annual Subscription rate: $12 marvelous thing is, most of these Postage paid in Murray, UT are accessible within one to three hours of driving time, and Editorial and photographic contributions are welcome. Please included a certainly readily reachable for a stamped, self-addressed envelope to return unused material. Or, send weekend sojourn. email to [email protected]. Submission of articles and accompany- ing artwork to cycling utah is the author’s warranty that the material is So, now that the cycling sea- in no way an infringement upon the rights of others and that the mater- son is in full swing, get out there ial may be published without additional approval. Permission is required and ride. Also, be adventurous to reprint any of the contents of this publication. and do some new routes. It will expand your riding pleasure, and Cycling Utah is free, limit one copy per person. leave you hungry for more. This © 2004 cycling utah will be a great summer to ride. Let’s do it. May 2004 Issue 5/7/04 10:12 AM Page 3 MAY 2004 cycling utah.com 3 TRAIL OF THE MONTH MillMill CreekCreek PPipelineipeline TTrailrail OffersOffers GreatGreat ViewsViews By Gregg Bromka (Straight is a dead end.) One-half trail periodically; descent in mile farther, you reach a foot- Rattlesnake Gulch is steep & erod- Springtime is in full bloom, bridge over Church Fork creek. ed) your mountain bike is getting Go left to bail out to Mill Creek dusty (from trail use not from win- Road through the Church Fork Elevation Gain: 150 feet; loss: ter’s neglect), and the Bonneville picnic area or go straight to con- 1,460 feet Shoreline Trail is becoming a bit tinue on the Pipeline Trail (right is too familiar. The Wasatch Range a painful climb up to Grandeur Trailhead Access: From I-215, towers overhead, and vestiges of Peak). take Exit 3 for 3900 South (if trav- winter cling stubbornly to more Over the next 2 miles, the trail eling southbound), or exit 4 for than just the mountain tops. continues weaving into forested 3900 South (if traveling north- Itching for alpine singletrack? hollows and out across treeless bound). Go to the intersection of Then the Mill Creek Pipeline Trail slopes where views are incredible. 3800 South and Wasatch will satisfy your craving in the Come to the junction in Boulevard and turn right on Mill mean time. Rattlesnake Gulch, and square up Creek Canyon Road. The fee sta- Mill Creek Pipeline Trail is the for the sharp descent to the trail- tion is in .7 mile; Rattlesnake head. It’s steep, loose, and techni- perfect ride for those wanting to Gulch is .7 mile past the fee sta- cal. Do your best to not skid when experience the joy of singletrack tion. Leave one vehicle here and dropping over the rocks, skittering shuttle 4.7 miles up Mill Creek without having to scale entire on the gravel, and rounding the Canyon Road to the Elbow Fork mountains. The path follows an angular turns. Ride what you can old water flume line high up on and walk the rest. trailhead. the side of Mill Creek Canyon, The trail continues past curving into forested hollows and Rattlesnake Gulch for another Know Before You Go: out across sunny slopes. Along mile to a viewpoint of the entire *Mill Creek Canyon is a fee-use much of the trail, the views of Salt Lake Valley that is truly inspi- area. Vehicles pay the fee upon Mill Creek Canyon, its attendant rational, but the last half mile exits exiting the canyon ($2.25 in peaks, and the distant Salt Lake the national forest and crosses pri- 2003). Bicyclists are not charged a Valley are fetching, if not superla- vate property. Obey any signs fee. tive. Water flows downhill and so restricting travel. *Mill Creek Canyon Road is does the Pipeline Trail with the closed to vehicles above Maple lion’s share no more turbulent than Location: Lower Mill Creek Grove Picnic Area from November a trickling brook. No shuttle? No Canyon 1 June 30 (4 miles from the fee problem. With four trailheads on station). Mill Creek Canyon Road, Pipeline Length/Type: 7.2 miles/One-way *Dogs must be leashed on this Trail can be ridden as a number of (shuttle required) trail on even-numbered calendar loops varying from easy to moder- days.