Zion Canyon 100 km populaire, 2017

Not an epic ride, not even an arduous adventure,  just a lovely 100 kilometer ride on a beautiful spring day in one of the most spectacular national parks in the west! The Zion Canyon 100 km brevet on March 18, 2017.

Photo by David Hilton

 

Zion National Park brevet, 2015

March 21, 2015

I have ridden this route many times in the past, primarily when I was RBA for southern Utah and it was used on some of my events. Since then another RBA has stepped forward to organize events in Utah, Richard Stum from Salt Lake Randonneurs and he has resurrected the route. It’s early season in Utah and a perfect time for riding here in the south.

 

Zion Canyon 200 km brevet

The Government shutdown did close Zion National Park to us but it did not shut down our fun!

Jack and Kathy in Springdale

Saturday’s Zion Canyon 200k was the last brevet to be held by Southern Utah Brevet. This year because of the government shutdown cyclists were not allowed to enter the park and we had to alter our route. We still rode into Springdale and up to the park gates which is still a spectacular ride, but most riders were very sorry to have to miss riding into the main canyon.

Even though the day started out a little cool it did eventually warm to the low 70’s and the winds were very light. With the clear air and blue skies it was a wonderful day to be on your bike! There were a few riders who cancelled on the ride but it was there loss. The remaining riders had a great day!

The National Park Service was letting cars pass through the park on the State Hwy but they were giving them a warning , no recreating while the park is closed. I guess that meant that the fun police were out, making sure that you weren’t smiling. Perhaps that is why we weren’t allowed into the park, we were smiling!

 

Zion Canyon 101 km populaire

Robert Owen, sporting his mid-80’s L’Eroica finisher Bianchi!

This season in southern Utah we have a trimmed down schedule of brevets but there are still a couple of events that are among the most amazing rides out there! Anytime you can do a brevet in or near one of Utah’s beautiful national parks you should jump on board!

 

L’Eroica bike shakedown ride

L’Eroica is just over a month away and it is time to make sure that everything is in order with the bike. I have a couple of hundred of miles on the Legnano already but have not done any real hills on it yet. I decided to to a hilly 100 km populaire into Bryce Canyon that has about 4000 feet of climbing in it. This should give me an idea of how the bike climbs and how well it is working.

The route starts in scenic Red Canyon a little ways outside of the park and climbs up the wonderful Red Canyon bike path. This path has been recently extended and will take you to within a few miles of the park. Eventually it will go all the way to Bryce Canyon National Park.

 

Zion 101 km Populaire

Thursday March 15, 2012

I had a request yesterday from a local rider to do one of my populaires, the Zion 101. It looked like it was going to be a spectacular day so I thought I should join him. We decided to go a little retro and take out a couple of our vintage bikes out for the excursion.

Bob has a 1985 Bianchi, updated with a few modern items but still with 6 speed with downtube shifters, toe clips and it is a L’Eroica ready rider. His leather riding shoes are the height of retro-fashion!

My ride for the day was a 1988 Battaglin Giro, Campagnolo Record equipped with 8 speed indexed downtube shifters and aero brake cable routing. It has a very clean and elegant look to it.

 

Bryce Canyon 200 km brevet

Strong thunderstorms rolling through the area the night before the event left some riders anticipating bad weather for the Saturday ride. At the 7 am start everything was wet and there were lowlying clouds from all of the moisture. The forecast looked pretty good however with a chance of showers building again by afternoon. If riders could finish in time it shouldn’t be a problem.

3 riders departed Panguitch in the early morning dew and under some lingering clouds. Temps were in the low 40’s and there was definitely a feeling of fall in the air but it was a good day to be riding. Winds were light and temperatures were expected to reach the mid-60’s.  The weather did become threatening again by the afternoon but didn’t cause any problems for the riders.

All three riders finished together in 8 hrs 50 min, with veterans Richard and Bob taking care of first timer Sharif until the finish. For Richard and Bob it was just another 200 km brevet but for Sharif it was a much bigger deal! He suffered a bit but hopefully learned a little from the veterans and will come back and join us soon! Congratulations to all three riders on their finish of a beautiful and under-appreciated route!

 

Beaver 200 km Brevet

The highways of southern Utah have been lined with 5 foot tall Sunflowers for much of the summer.  These were the result of the cooler and wetter conditions we have had this year.  The cooler temps have often been accompanied by windier than normal conditions as well, making cycling a little more challenging this year.

For the Beaver 200 km brevet the day started out beautiful but as the riders made their way to Parowan they were already experiencing flat tires and mechanicals. After a leisurely stop in Parowan and some sightseeing along the way and it began to look as though it could be a long day!

After stopping in Minersville and passing through Greenville riders reached the turnaround point in the town of Beaver.  Beaver is famous for winning a national contest on the best tasting water supply!  With the ride over half done it was also time for some lunch.  The local Burger Shack became the choice for dining.

By now the wind was up and the return ride would be mostly back into it.  Riders had no choice but to put their heads down and grit it out.  The temps had also climbed into the mid 80’s and the humidity was about 5%.  It would be hard to drink enough in these conditions.  Riders could get water in Minersville again but it was 35 miles or so back to Cedar City after that with no shops or services in that section.  I placed a stash of water at Minersville Summit to give riders a little extra supply.

In the end, the wind took its toll on riders and the ride times were long. Everybody made it back safely to the finish before dark.  Results are here.

 

Bryce Canyon 200 km brevet

 * WARNING:   FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…UTAHS DIXIE…ZION AND BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARKS…CAPITOL REEF…AND THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS.

Threatening rain and storm warnings did little to deter the riders who showed up to ride the Bryce Canyon 200 km brevet.  The monsoon season had started here in southern Utah and there had been local but severe storms all week.  The Sevier River was running high and red as a result.  There was a fresh smell in the air however, one that is unique to the high desert after a rain and even though the sky was overcast the colors of the earth and vegetation were more vibrant than ever.

 

Hurricane 400 km brevet

A less than perfect weather forecast seemed to scare away a few riders and we had several last minute cancellations.  The real randonneurs who showed up however enjoyed pretty favorable conditions during the day. It goes to show yet again that you just can’t trust a weatherman.  You know you are going to have some kind of weather on any ride, whether it is good or bad you won’t know for sure until the end! You might as well just show up and see what happens!

Highlights of the ride included: Hurricane Hill, the polygamist community of Colorado City, cruising the Arizona Strip, Pipe Springs National Monument, the western movie town of Kanab, climbing the Grand Staircase, following the Virgin River to its headwaters, crossing into the Great Basin, descending alongside the Sevier River, Panguitch, Bear Valley Junction, Paragoonah, Parowan, Cedar City, Kanarraville, descending the Black Ridge, nasty road construction, Leeds, Quail Lake and back  home.

Overall the ride was pretty uneventful and there was little drama, at least as reported to the RBA by the riders.  Some new late night road construction caused some anxiety for the RBA but the riders handled it well.  We did have one rider who was stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol in the wee hours of the morning.  I guess you could call it a welfare check on the rider, but the officer could not comprehend just what was going on. I didn’t get the full story, maybe our intrepid randonneur can fill us in.

Full rider results are here.

One further note about this event, the Hurricane 400 will be on hiatus for 2011.  If you didn’t ride it this year you may get a chance sometime in the future, just not in 2011.  It is a great route and you should have ridden it this year when you had your chance!

 

Pine Valley Mountain 300 km brevet, May 2010

Was it an “Epic?”

The forecast was for blustery conditions expected to last all day. We seem to be getting a lot of that this year, which I guess is typical for an El Nino year in southern Utah.  11 riders would enjoy mild temperatures and a tail wind to start but all of them knew that for each hour of easy cruising early on there would be 2 hours of hard work to pay for it later. It seemed that only a miracle could change that.  It could be an “Epic” day!

The route is one giant loop starting in Bloomington and continuing on through Sun River, St. George, Washington, Coral Canyon, Sand Hollow, Hurricane, La Verkin, Toquerville, Pintura, Ash Creek, Kolob Canyon, Kannarraville and Hamilton Fort before arriving in Cedar City. There is a lot of local color embodied in these place names which riders will recall when they hear them mentioned again. For others who are not familiar with these places they still conjure romantic images of a great western landscape.

At the 5 am start in St. George temperatures were in the upper 60’s, but as riders began to climb it cooled off some. By late morning when riders arrived in Cedar City it had dropped to 55 degrees.  It wasn’t going to get any warmer up here.  The route to Cedar mostly followed Old Highway 91 and where the road skirted the edge of Ash Creek Reservior the high water extended across the road and was several inches deep at the crown.  After a few more days this route might not be passable due to high water.

Party crashing a local running event at Ash Creek.

 

It’s not an “Epic” until I say so!

Departing Cedar City the route continues by Quichipa Lake  Pinto Junction, Irontown, Newcastle, Enterprise, Mountain Meadow, Central, Veyo, Gunlock and Santa Clara before returning to Bloomington.  Leaving Cedar City is where the fun would begin however. The route turned southwest, right into the teeth of the wind.  The wind had been building all morning and was now blowing pretty steadily at 20 to 30 mph with some higher gusts.  Riders would be grinding into this ill wind for the next 45 miles!  It was starting to look like an “Epic” day to some!

The high point of the ride was reached around mile 110, and riders surmounted the last major climb at mile 140.  The total elevation gain is about 7500 feet with the high point being about 7000 feet in altitude.  Now that the route had turned downhill the wind became a little more shifty even providing an occaisional but brief tailwind for some.  At least it wasn’t constantly in your face anymore.  Canyon crosswinds required riders to stay sharp on their descents or get blown off the road.  Fatigue and failing light were additional challenges and there was more talk of  “Epic-ness”.

The final leg of the route from Veyo had riders dropping down to the upper Santa Clara River.  This beautiful canyon was the highlight of the ride for many and is great way to finish a ride.  It brings you right into the old historic district of Santa Clara, then on in to St. George and back to Bloomington then finally the finish control.  There was a navigational challenge for everyone near the end of the ride. Recent construction and some street name changes left an error on the route guide.  Our clever randonneurs figured it out though and finished properly.

 

“Epic” status is determined.

 

First, I would like to congratulate all the riders who participated in this ride.  Weather conditions were tough to be sure and relentless!  Everyone who started the event successfully finished on time and on course.  Riders were well prepared and overcame mechanicals, flat tires and took care of themselves very well during the day.  Never once did I hear a complaint, or a mention of not finishing the ride.  As for “Epic-ness”, although this ride was tough-tough-tough, it falls a little short of reaching “Epic” status.  That designation is reserved for the truly remarkable adventures. I will say however that this group of riders, these randonneurs are “Epic” riders and I grant them status as “cavaliers épiques”.  Perhaps in the future this label will be a badge of honor and noted in my results.

Full results are available here.

 

Zion Canyon 200 km brevet

Sushi on a brevet!  We’ll get to that later.

The forecast was for 86 degrees and light winds. It sounded almost too good to be true, and who would believe it after the crappy winter we’ve had. We’ll, much to the delight of 14 brevet riders on Saturday that’s pretty much what it was. About half of the riders were new to brevets so I guess it took a nice day to lure them into the sport. Winter has been pretty wet this year in southern Utah and as a result everything is green and the streams are full of water.  Cruising the backroads of red rock country on a warm spring day with a backdrop of snowy peaks is a fine thing to do.

Water water everywhere.

Matthew Campbell

 There is a surprising amount of water in this area. Riders start off crossing the Santa Clara River almost immediately, then ride across the Virgin. The route continues along the Virgin River for a few miles then wanders through irrigated alfalfa fields before crossing the Virgin again. Over Quail Creek and around Sand Hollow Reservoir then through the fruit orchards on the way into Hurricane. Cross the Virgin again on the way into La Verkin and North Creek before Rockville and then you pretty much follow the Virgin River all the way to the head of Zion Canyon where it issues out from the side of the mountain in a slot called “The Narrows.”

Free Park day!

This day just happened to be free entry day into Zion National Park. All visitors entered for free! I would like to claim that I had planned it this way but I cannot say that honestly. Good luck trumps good planning any day though. Another plus is that after April 1 each year there are no private vehicles allowed in Zion Canyon. The free shuttle buses were running but other than that cyclists had the roads to themselves. It is amazing how quite the canyon is during this time.

Sushi on a brevet?

Joe Lansing

Now, I know there are lots of events that offer great support but even I am surprised by this one. I provide pretty basic services on my events, nothing fancy. Water, drinks and a few snacks most riders can expect to get at some point. The routes are designed however so that there are good opportunities to access shops and services at many points. At Sol Foods Market at control #3 while I was sitting in the sun watching for incoming riders, I was surprised to see one of my riders come strolling out with a plate of sushi! I guess I never really thought about it but it would make a pretty good brevet food. You probably won’t find much sashimi or makizushi at the typical gas stations or minimarts where you stop on most brevets but on the Zion Canyon 200k it’s no problem!

 Trifecta.

Near perfect weather, spectacular scenery and gourmet food, there was hardly anything one could complain about. There must have been some problems however because we did have a couple of DNF’s. Riders finished up along the shores of Quail Lake and finally following the Virgin River bike path back to the start/finish. Congratulations to all those who rode today. Even some of those who did not finish did accomplish a personal best for distance. 13 official starters, 11 finishers.

Results are here

 

2010 Southern Utah Brevet Schedule

The 2010 schedule for southern Utah Brevet has been approved by the ACP and is now posted at  http://subrevet.org .  The popular 4 event  series is back and a new fifth event has been added!  A late season 200 km brevet, the Beaver 200k is now on the calendar for September.  Check out the Southern Utah Brevet website for complete details.

April 17,    Zion 200 km brevet

May 22,     Pine Valley Mountain 300 km brevet

June 19,    Hurricane 400 km brevet

July 31,     Bryce Canyon 200 km brevet

Sept 4,        Beaver 200 km brevet

 

Bryce Canyon 200 km Brevet

June is the driest month of the year in southern Utah, at least it is supposed to be.  This year however has been an anomaly with cooler and stormy weather being quite frequent so far.  Saturday morning at the start of the Bryce Canyon 200k the weather looked quite threatening as 9 Color Country riders set out for the day.  The forecast looked pretty grim but everyone tried to stay optimistic, after all even weathermen are wrong sometimes! The forecast winds hadn’t appeared yet and good progress was made towards the first control in Tropic, a little town just outside Bryce Canyon National Park. The climb up the bike path through Red Canyon was lined with flowers and along with the deep reds of the hoodoos on each side it was quite spectacular. Once on top of the plateau we could see for miles. There were many rain squalls in the area and it looked to be only a matter of time before we got wet.  But hey, if you don’t ride in the rain then you don’t really ride do you!

We descended to Tropic on wet roads but it was not raining on us.  The squall must have just passed by and we missed it.  The control in Tropic is at a country store and has about everything you need. We filled up on typical brevet food like donuts and V8’s.  With the paperwork done we started back up the hill we had just descended.  This was a short out and back leg to the control and then at the top of the climb the route would turn north into John’s Valley. A strong tailwind powered the riders along this section before dropping down into Black Canyon and on to Antimony.  Antimony Mercantile is not a control but it is a must stop since there are so few services in this area.  It is a good spot to grab a sandwich and they have great pie too!  The randonneur must fight such temptations or he might not finish his ride.

Continuing the loop along the Sevier River winds became less favorable with the exception of the short leg out to the next control at the town Junction.  From here you headed south again and straight into a headwind.  Storm cells still hovered in the area and it was hit or miss if you got rained on.  Everybody got the wind however and it seemed a little unfair that the headwinds played no favorites.

Carlton and Mike were the first 2 riders in and only had rain for about 5 miles. Harold was next in followed by Dion and Doug who had mixed rain and hail for 20 miles.  The Young family finished in their ride near Antimony and got picked up by family.
In summary, the dire forecast did not live up to the hype and I think the riders enjoyed the unsettled weather on the backdrop of this spectacular route.  As for the wind what can you say; it played its usual part both helping and hindering at times during the day.

 

Hurricane 400 km Brevet

The Start:
4:30 am:  One by one my riders arrived at the start line in Hurricane Utah; 6 riders total.  They did not know it but I gave them each a bike inspection as they arrived. Only one rider failed my test for lack of a reflective vest, but I always have a spare and soon he was properly equipped.  I had mostly a veteran group with one rando newbie, Bryan McConnell from AZ.  He said taht he had done this distance before but he looked a little under-equipped for a 400k to me.  I just figured that he knew what he needed and left it at that; I’m no-one’s nanny.  The ride starts immediately with a 1200 foot climb up to Apple Valley and then cruises through Colorado City and onto the Arizona Strip on mostly flat road. This is the location of Short Creek, home of Big Love, Warren Jeffs and polygamy. Yes it’s for real and is also the location for the story in John Krakauer’s book, Under the Banner of Heaven.  All of my riders pass through without picking up any new wives.

Michael Bratkowski at control #2

To Pipe Springs and beyond:
Pipe Springs is a National Historical Monument from the days of the early pioneers.  It was also a stop for travelling padres Dominguez and Escalante on their 1776 expedition from Santa Fe. Weary travelers for many years have stopped here for rest as they pass through the area.  My riders of the range stop here for much the same reasons; for food, water and a little rest.  Mike Enfield is the first rider in, covering the 41.4 miles in just over 2 hours including the climb! The others trickle in one or two at a time.  Everyone looks good as they depart.  The towns of Fredonia and Kanab are next up before riders start the first real climb of the day. Outside Kanab the rocks are red and the sand is pink as riders climb out of Kanab Creek Canyon and over the top by Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The sun is out and temps are in the low 70’s; it’s a picture perfect day as they drop into the next control at Mt. Carmel junction.

Mt Carmel Junction:
At almost 80 miles into the ride, the Mt. Carmel Junction control is a welcome stop for most riders. It sits in a scenic narrow valley along the Virgin River and is a busy tourist stop.  It is at the turnoff for the East entrance to Zion National Park and offers the only self bailout option on this ride.  From here you are only about 40 miles from the start location in Hurricane and it is an easy bailout.  I have never had a rider take it until today.  Bryan McConnell of AZ had had enough and turned off here.  He was a little under-equipped for a ride of this distance and bailed out before he got into trouble.  It was probably a wise decision as we would find out later. The weather had been perfect until now but some clouds had begun to form.  It was still warm but it was looking like mountain storms were going to develop. The route would climb up to about 7000 feet and mountain weather is unpredictable. It can get cold and wet very quickly in the mountains.

Panguitch:
Most riders made it into Panguitch without getting wet but a couple got rained on pretty good for a short time.  At 128 miles into the ride, Panguitch makes a good lunch stop and has great services.  Richard, who had been riding with Bryan before he bailed had now hooked up with Mike Enfield for the ride into Panguitch.  Larry Nelson was not far behind them and Dion and Michael were about an hour back.  The sky was completely cloudy now with many small storms cells in the area. Temps had dropped to the low 60’s and the winds were very shifty. One minute they were in your face and the next they were behind you or a crosswind.

Richard & Mike at control #5

Parowan Truck Stop:
It’s a pretty long stretch from Panguitch to Parowan, about 50 miles. The only services along the way are at a highway rest stop which has vending machines and restrooms.  The route is mostly along rural highways with a 15 mile stretch on I-15.  The interstate has a good shoulder, the pavement is fresh and the traffic wasn’t too bad either.  At the control I met Richard and Mike.  Richard was in good spirits as usual but Mike was starting to look a little green.  Maybe the strong pace he had kept earlier in the ride was starting to take its toll. They were eating Taco Bell burritos when I pulled up, classic brevet food! 

Cedar City:
The first riders, Richard and Mike pulled into Cedar City well after dark. Richard was still riding well but Mike was about done. He was being plagued by stomach problems and couldn’t keep any food down.  Although they were only 50 mostly easy miles from the end Mike threw in the towel and begged a ride.  I know the stomach thing well and if you can’t eat, you can’t ride!  This was the second rider that dropped today after riding with Richard, hmmmm.  Larry pulled in a short time later and then departed with Richard.  Someone should have told him about the DNF rate for Richards riding partners today!  Dion and Michael were well back at this point and I had to get to the finish so there would be no more checks on them.

Back in Hurricane:

Waiting at the end of a brevet must be the hardest part of the event.  You know that you must be there to see the riders in but it has been a long day and some rest would be nice too.  Shortly after midnight my first two arrived, Richard and Larry.  It seems that Larry had broken the curse and survived his ride in with Richard.  After a little small talk Larry went to find his bed. I however had 2 riders out still, so I waited.  Richard had no room to retire to and decided to nap a while before driving home. He ended up staying until the last 2 riders arrived just before 5 am.  Dion and Michael made it in but they were done!  They stayed together for mutual support for most of the ride and stuck with that plan until the end.  The two who resembled zombies, tried to recount their ride to me with grunts and other odd sounds. I’m not sure but I think they enjoyed the ride and were proud that they finished. It was Michael’s longest event to date.

Complete results can be found on the SUBrevet website under the results link. www.subrevet.org

 

Pine Valley Mountain 300 km Brevet

You would think that by the first of May most of the crappy weather would be over for southern Utah but no, we had one more unsettled day with winds and the chance of rain. The temperatures were actually pretty nice for the day starting out at around 70 degrees at the 5 am start in St. George and reaching 82 when the first rider finished. In between temps dropped as low as 52 degrees around Cedar City with a little spitting rain here and there.

Our riders departed on schedule at 5 am from the Confluence Trailhead Park in St. George and stayed together for the first 50 miles or so until the longer climbs started. That separated them somewhat but they were able to regroup again around Cedar City. The winds had been pretty favorable for the first 90 miles or so of the day but when the route turned west out of Cedar things got a little more challenging and headwinds would dog the riders for much of the rest of the day. The rain which was forecast never really materialized and it turned out that the weather was better than expected for the day. Once riders got the climbing over past Enterprise, spirits were lifted again by cruising through mountains and green meadows and finally into St. George along the Santa Clara river. Most commented on how spectacular and challenging the route was.

Color Country Cycling Club members from Utah and Nevada participated on this ride and even though the day was long, each of the riders seemed to enjoy the challenge of riding this distance and the scenic course. This was the first brevet for 4 of the riders although they have ridden several double centuries. Once again, congratulations to those who chose to come out and ride on this surprisingly fine day!

 

Zion Canyon 200 km Brevet

There is nothing like an unseasonably cool day to sort out the real randonneurs from the fair weather riders. A blustery spring day in St. George provided just that kind of test for our event. Even though it was only 40 degrees at the start, the forecast called for temps in the low 60’s with plenty of sun. That may be pretty cool for April in southern Utah but I believe it is a forecast that people in many other parts of the country would find pretty acceptable right now! Spring is a great time to ride in Zion. The leaves are coming out, the streams are full of water and the skies are clear.  Local conditions allow us to get in a fair amount of riding by this time of year but this is still early season for most riders.

Catherine Shenk, self portrait at Sand Hollow Reservoir

We had 7 club members from 4 states turn out for the ride. Joe and Sue on their tandem, and Richard, Rose, Kevin, Bob and Catherine had single bikes. One rider (whom I shall spare any further embarrassment) was confused either by jet lag, time zones or daylight savings schedules and made a late start, but persevered and eventually caught back up to the ride. Even though it was cool to start, most riders enjoyed the ride out to Zion.  It was only after reaching the end of the canyon at the Temple of Sinawava and beginning the run back down canyon that they realized they had been enjoying a bit of a tailwind. The wind was now in their face and seemed to be picking up a bit for the ride back. Canyon winds are shifty creatures however and even though there were some tough sections, there were also some sections where riders got a little relief from the wind. Finally after a few miles of descent and one last climb through Toquerville the course turned south and promised a tailwind for the remainder of the day. The final control on course at the Leeds Market saw riders cheering up again after they had a few miles of downhill with tailwinds under their belt!

Kevin, Bob and Rose (l to r) coming down the canyon

 Seven riders started and seven riders finished, proving once again that the best riders showed up to ride and weren’t put off by a less than perfect weather forecast. The difference between a randonneur and another rider is that others will check the weather to decide if they will ride, where a randonneur will check the weather and decide what to wear.

Results for the days ride are at the Southern Utah Brevet website at www.subrevet.org

 

Bryce Canyon 200 km Brevet

 

Cool, hot, wet, spectacular and fun. These are a few of the descriptions that might be applied to Bryce Canyon 200 k brevet. 23 riders started and 21 riders finished this event which makes it the largest SUBrevet event to date. I think now that the word is out about our great rides this may become the norm for our events.

The morning started pleasantly cool. Most riders were in shorts and short sleeves and found the mild temps a great relief from wherever they had come from. After a short jaunt along highway 89 we turned onto the Red Canyon bike path for the climb up to the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The hoodoos here are reminiscent of Bryce Canyon but are outside of the national park. It is an easy climb and once up on top the pace picked right up again. A nice descent through a corner of the national park brought riders to their first control at the town of Tropic. As the day progressed however the heat came on a little bit, first becoming noticeable on the climb back out of Tropic and finally reaching the mid 80’s by mid-day.

The road to Antimony can seem a little long at times but the spectacular scenery helps to keep you entertained as the miles roll by. When you drop down into Black Canyon the vista begins to speed by almost faster than you can take it in and the last 15 miles into Antimony are very swift. Most riders stopped in at Antimony Mercantile Cafe for some lunch before heading on.

After Antimony you follow the Sevier River for more than 20 miles to the next control in the town of Junction. The river proves you are going downhill but there are always some skeptics around. Morning winds were very light and this section was a great cruise. The minimart control in Junction was thrilled to see all of the cyclists. I am not sure they have ever seen so much lycra in this town but it was a nice change from the camo patterns that are so common around here.

Well it is summertime in the mountains and that brings afternoon thunderstorms. About half the riders got through the day without getting wet but the rest had at least some rain. Many riders had their raingear with them but the showers felt so good that few of them bothered to put it on. A couple of people also had some hail but those were brief episodes. With the showers came some variable winds so some of the riders also faced that challenge.

Our first rider was in at 6 hours and 30 min and our last rider finished in under 10 hours. 1 rider had a major mechanical and did not finish and one rider intended to ride only a portion of the course. All in all it was a great result and a great day. This ride wraps up our brevet season here in southern Utah. If you didnt ride in any of these events it has been your loss. The 2009 schedule should be out by October so check back at the website for that. Congratulations to all SUB riders on their accomplishments this year!

Lonnie Wolff
Regional Brevet Administrator
Southern Utah

 

Hurricane 400 km Brevet

Another day another 400 k, that’s pretty much how 7 randonneurs approached this day’s ride. All but 1 rider was experienced at this distance and 3 in the group were using this ride as preparation for the Cascade 1200 in a few weeks. It was good to have a solid group of riders.

The route immediately started on a climb right out of Hurricane and then continued east into the rising sun. About 20 miles out riders crossed the state line and into Arizona. The Arizona RBA might have been offended for this encroachment but she was on the ride and offered no complaints to me. The towns of Colorado City, Pipe Springs, Fredonia and Kanab all wheeled by without incident. Just past Kanab the climbing started again up to Coral Pink Sand Dunes junction followed by a swift descent to Mt. Carmel junction. After that, more climbing and more exotic locations, Orderville, Glendale and Todd’s Junction all marked points on the climb up the Grand Staircase, the predominant geographic feature of this region. This passage follows the course of the Virgin River up to its headwaters beginning with the deep red sandstone common to the Zion area on up to the white cliffs and Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. Once at Todd’s Junction however you enter into the Great Basin and begin following the Sevier River for the next 50 miles. The elevation is now over 7000 feet and even though it is June, temperatures are quite pleasant. Ponderosa Pines and green meadows are the rule in this area.

Just outside the town of Hatch we had our first incident, a call for assistance. It seems that one rider had eaten something bad and was throwing up at the side of the road. The RBA rescue squad responded and within an hour or so was on the scene. Apparently if you have an open flask of gel, keep it in your car for a few years and then eat it you will get an upset tummy.  I guess even experienced randonneurs can learn something new occasionally.

The weather continued to be good and even the winds were often favorable. Once riders turned south again along I-15 they had a fast section with a good tailwind. That gave them a break and a chance to rest a bit while cruising along at 25 mph. Darkness fell again somewhere between Parowan and Cedar City for most riders but they still kept a good pace.  From here on in with the exception of a bit of interstate highway the roads were mostly quiet rural roads with little traffic. That made one less thing to worry about for this tired bunch riding in the dark.

Back in Hurricane at RBA headquarters I began my vigil, waiting for the riders to show up. I was hoping not to get any more calls for assistance so I didn’t have to abandon my post, mostly so I could get a nap in. Eventually the first riders turned up at 2:00 am and the next riders a few minutes later, while the last pair rolled in at 3:20 am. All were in surprisingly good spirits considering that they had just been on the bike for 21 hours or so.

Overall the ride went well.  The weather had been good, traffic was light, there were few mechanicals and everyone except the vintage energy gel eater finished the ride. Congratulations to all who participated in this challenging event!

 

Pine Valley Mountain 300 km Brevet

 They say you shouldn’t fool with mother nature but that doesn’t stop her from fooling with you sometimes as 9 riders found out on this ride. The forecast was for a warm day with light winds out of the northeast at 5-10 mph. That would have been great if it were true but it was meant not to be. Even with a pre-dawn start the winds were already brisk out of the north at 20 – 25 mph and temps were in the upper 50’s and low 60’s. Riders fought these headwinds for 90 miles or so to Cedar City before the course changed direction and offered any relief. Even then relief came in the form of a cross wind and it wasn’t until about mile 120 or so that it really turned into a tailwind. That’s when the grimaces finally turned into smiles and the pace picked up quite a bit.

To add just a little bit to the challenge, a couple of riders had several flats and exhausted their supply of inner tubes. Luckily some spares were purchased at the bike shop in Cedar City and as usual once there were plenty of tubes available again there were few flats.

After a great downhill run into Newcastle the riders fueled up at the checkpoint. The next section was an easy 12 mile spin to the town of Enterprise. The last real climb of the day began shortly after that and it was quite a challenge coming at a point this late into the ride. Once at the top however the riders enjoyed perhaps the best downhill run of the day. This was a 13 mile section of downhill and rollers all the way to the next checkpoint in Veyo. Even after Veyo the fun continued with more downhill and rollers through Gunlock and finally ending on the outskirts of St. George. All that was left was to navigate through town and back to the finish. Most riders made it in just about dark and we had a 100 percent completion rate. Riders loved the scenery along the course and the roads were mostly good. Congratulations to all 9 riders who started and finished this event!

 

Zion Canyon 200 km Brevet

In spite of a rather cool morning start 14 riders set out on what would turn out to be a beautiful day to ride in southern Utah. Riders from Washington State, Colorado and Salt Lake thought the weather was spectacular while those from Arizona, Nevada and So Cal thought it could have been a little warmer. Temperatures finally did hit the upper 70’s so it appears that Spring may finally be here. There was a little more traffic than usual on the roads but with such a nice clear day it is easy to understand why many people were out and about. Most of this route is on quieter side roads and the rest of the route has good shoulders to ride on. Once you get up into Zion however the roads are very quiet and are mostly new pavement. Public traffic is not allowed into the main canyon of the park from Spring through Summer so there are only a few shuttle buses sharing the road with you. These free shuttles run on propane and are very quiet. Spring in the canyon is spectacular as the streams are full, the trees are green and the flowers are out. With next to no traffic it is quite a peaceful place to be.

The head of the canyon at the Temple of Sinawava is the turnaround and the highest point on the ride. After departing here it is almost all downhill along the Virgin River back to the start/finish area. Some might disagree and claim that there is actually a hill or two between these points but those little hills hardly count at all! Variable canyon winds do count however and there were a few of those on this day. There were also quite a few flat tires during the day and this was a little unusual. A couple of riders had 3 or more flats but I think we can chalk that up to bad luck (or something). In the end, riders had a pretty good day with only one DNF to record.

 

Zion Canyon 200 km Brevet

The day started out with showers and cool temperatures as well as a weather forecast that was not encouraging. That however, did not deter the 7 mostly experienced randonneurs and randonneuses from setting out that morning on their 200 km brevet to Zion Canyon. Optimism along with determination were clearly common traits among this group of riders. Starting under the grey skies of early morning things soon started to look up as the skies began to clear. It had rained heavily overnight and there was water and mud on the road from minor flooding but things were starting to dry up. At the Sand Hollow Control, riders began to shed some clothing as most were now overdressed. The rain had left the red landscape looking new and fresh and beams of sunshine illuminated the hills. Flat tires are a little more common in wet weather and several were had today. The rain had not totally quit and riders got a taste of a few more brief showers throughout the day. At the Springdale Control the “soup du jour” was very popular at the Sol Foods Market and Deli. In wet weather Zion can be a spectacular place and on this day many rare waterfalls made an appearance. The deep red color of the of the towering sandstone cliffs is unique to these occasions. A brief squall brought a few hard pellets of snow down to the canyon floor but temps were still in the upper 40’s. Soon the skies eventually broke to partly cloudy but this clearing brought with it a new challenge, breezy winds! Heading west out of the park the canyon winds can be unpredictable so riders gathered into small groups to share this challenge. With the shifting winds however, it was hard to stay in a draft. The General Store in Leeds was the last Control point and many folks made their last stop here. With days so short at this time of year the lengthening shadows added a little urgency to the pace. Finishing before dark is always a plus if you can do it but none of these riders would make it this day. In the end, 6 of the 7 riders who started the ride finished though one was outside the time limits.

Riders: Martin Abrams, Rick Blacker, Clair Jensen, Susan Plonsky, Jim Smith, Sam Smith Richard Stum.