Cool weather won't halt bikers

By Jared Eborn
Deseret Morning News
Published: Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 12:23 a.m. MDT
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The telltale signs of the end of biking season are rapidly descending on the area. Trees are changing color, the temperature is getting cooler and there are fewer cyclists on the road.

For many, though, there is no end to bike season. Cooler temperatures simply mean it's time to break out the leg warmers and earmuffs.

And despite all the bright orange, yellow and red dotting the hillside up Big Mountain, the hundred or so cyclists racing in the Climbers Trophy two weekends ago are testament to the year-round nature of the sport.

Here's a look at cycling events.

LOTOJA: Celebrating its 25th running, the 206-mile Logan to Jackson race had as many as 1,400 cyclists racing — or just riding along — to highways for the longest single-day race in the country.

Mark Zimbelman narrowly beat Mark Schaefer for the title of fastest racer this year. Cam Hoffman won the Category 1-2 division, and Jean Halladay was the fastest woman.

HOODOO 500: Most endurance cyclists are well familiar with LOTOJA. The truly hearty gave the inaugural Hoodoo 500 a try, though.

The Hoodoo 500, a two-day 500-mile race throughout southern Utah, had a small field but some massive athletic performances. In addition to covering 500 miles, the race featured more than 30,000 feet of vertical climbing. The rules were simple for participants on relay teams and riding solo — first one across the finish line wins.

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Team BHB — Colt Albrecht, Jason Hafen, Doug Rock and Scott Smith — had the first bike to complete the course. The St. George-area cyclists polished off all competitors in an amazing 26 hours and 47 minutes. Ton van Daelen was the winning solo rider, taking only 36 hours and 45 minutes to get the win. Janet Christiansen won the women's division, needing only 44 hours, 37 minutes. Christiansen was also the voyager division winner — meaning she completed the entire course without a support crew.

LOUDER MAKING NOISE: The last race on American pavement for the Discovery Channel pro cycling team was held last weekend at the Tour of Missouri. George Hincapie won the six-stage race after a dominating second stage left him with a huge lead.

Utah's Jeff Louder, though, was impressive as he rode for Health Net/Maxxis. Louder, who became a father to little Milana on Aug. 29, rode in the breakaway for several of the stages and earned King of the Mountain honors for his efforts in Missouri. He also placed eighth in the sprinters race while taking 50th overall.

FASTER THAN ZABRISKIE?: After winning the national time trial championship a month ago, some of the last people you'd expect to see David Zabriskie riding bikes with are those unable to keep up a 10-minute-mile pace. Yet Zabriskie will be a big part of the second annual Bikes for Kids event.

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