Few cyclists will ever be in the physical condition to complete a grueling bicycling classic like the Tour de France. That doesn't mean there is any shortage of endurance tests the two-wheel crowd can't sink its gears into.
More than 2,000 cyclists descended on Thanksgiving Point for the Bonneville Bicycle Touring Club's signature event to push their legs to the limit. The 111-mile Utah Lake Century Epic Ride — better known as ULCER — was one of the state's biggest cycling extravaganzas.
With bikes rolling out of the starting chute before the sun had really started beating down, the roads of Utah County were dotted with cyclists of all abilities. While the sturdiest completed the full 111-mile loop around the lake, options included outings of 33 or 67 miles with several rest areas and lunch stops making the journey a little bit easier.
While the ride is one of the biggies on the club's calendar, this year's event had a new twist — a team time trial for bragging rights. Teams of three to six cyclists got a few minutes of a heard start as they sped through the east side of the valley to Spanish Fork before zipping out to the lake and heading south to Goshen before a long straight ride along the west side of the lake. Though no trophies or championships were handed out, the fastest teams completed the course in five hours or less.
Though primarily a casual ride, ULCER is also used by many of the state's top cyclists as a training ride before next month's 206-mile LOTOJA race.
BIG NAMES, BIG RIDES: Professional cyclists are not technically eligible for Utah state cycling championships. That didn't stop the three biggest names in Utah cycling from lining up at the Wolf Creek Pass road race on Saturday.
Pro Tour cyclist Dave Zabriskie, back in Utah to rehab an injured knee, was joined by Jeff Louder (HealthNet) and Burke Swindlehurst (Toyota-United) for the grueling climb up to a summit of 9,485 feet after a start point of 7,080.
The pros put on a racing clinic, as expected, with Louder winning the race while Swindlehurst and Team CSC's Zabriskie were right on his tail.
Salt Lake's Mark Santurbane (Bobs-Bicycles.com) is the new state road race champion with Alex Rock (Contender Bicycles) and Jeff Sargent (FFKR/SportsbaseOnline) completing the podium.
MIND OVER MOUNTAINS: Perhaps the toughest cyclists in the area will gather in Park City on Aug. 25 for the Endurance 100. The third leg of the E 100 series, this race is a solo marathon designed to break down all but the heartiest of athletes.
Starting at 6 a.m., mountain bikers will depart from The Canyons and ride through 100 miles of the most beautiful single track trails in the country. Featuring 18,627 vertical feet of climbing, the E 100 will attract many of the top athletes from the country as they race for thousands of dollars in prizes.
Utah's Bart Gillespie holds the course record, completing the 100 mile solo adventure in 10:09. Monique Sawicki holds the women's mark at 10:48.25.
If 100 miles sounds a little too ambitious, there are shorter options of 67 or 50 miles. Registration is limited to 500 cyclists and is still accepting applications. Visit TheE100.com for more information.
CYCLOCROSS OPENER: Take a mountain bike, cross it with a road bike and throw it onto a criterium-style off-road course with short, steep climbs and a variety of obstacles like logs and mud puddles and you have cyclocross.
Roadies and dirt riders alike will open the Utah Cyclocross Series on Aug. 25 at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds in Heber. Racing starts at 9:30 for the newcomers and juniors while the veterans get busy a little later. For more info, check sportsbaseonline.com for more cyclocross information.
RIDE OF THE WEEK: While endurance events seem to be the flavor of the month, there are certainly plenty of other bike rides to join. The Bonneville Bicycle Touring Club is the best friend to Utah's cycling community and will be holding its annual picnic ride before the club's general membership meeting. Rides ranging from 25 to 60 miles begin at 8 a.m. with a potluck lunch at the end. Meet at Fitts Park (3050 S. 500 East) or visit bbtc.net to join the fun.
E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com