Riding Lotoja as a Mountain Biker

 I'm a mountain biker. I most likely came to this conclusion because I prefer mountain biking to any other activity available to me, but also because I'm solidly mediocre at it which means I'm better at mountain biking than anything else I do. However, I'm setting my mountain bike aside for the next month and a half until September 14 because on September 12 I'm planning on riding a road bike from Logan, Utah, through Idaho, and into Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

 By all means, this is a bad idea. Man was not designed to spend all day on a bicycle saddle. Also, instead of doing what I'm the best at, riding a mountain bike, I am spending all of my summer training to do something that leaves my body feeling broken and abused. Last time I was in this situation it didn't turn out especially well. I trained all summer and didn't even officially finish with a time to show my friends. I spent so long in the saddle that my Garmin battery died, so I assume I spent 36 hours pedaling because I have no official time to say otherwise or even a Strava file to verify it. I only had a beaten body that felt like I had been pedaling for 3 complete days.

 You may ask why I would sign up again. I guess it's because I don't learn. It could be because I feel like I have some unfinished business left on the road between Logan and Jackson. Maybe it's because Lotoja is our area's Tour de France. It's THE race for anyone that has been on a road bike or even aspiring to get on a road bike in the Intermountain West. But it is probably because someone asked me if I was planning on doing it and I said I was thinking about it. Before I knew it, I was signed up and riding my bike more. The only problem was that I got a new mountain bike this spring, but not just any mountain bike, the Yeti SB-6c. The ultimate mountain bike. It goes uphill and downhill. That bike is difficult to walk away from.

Nevertheless, until mid-September, I'm riding a Trek Domane with thru-axles and disc brakes; it makes me feel a bit less like a roadie. But there is something about riding over multiple state lines under your own power that gives you a feeling of accomplishment that is far different than any other feeling in the world. That may have been the reason I am signed up again, but I'm also craving Burger King in Afton and no one will give me a ride.

July Events at The Bike Shoppe

July is busy for us at The Bike Shoppe. We're starting our Peak-A-Week again. We've got a few events with Wildflower Outdoors, including their Wildflower Trailfest and 2 beginner mountain bike clinics. Yeti Cycles is coming with demo bikes. Not to mention the biggest event in cycling, The Tour de France is happening right now.

July 6-First Peak-A-Week ride to Lewis Peak. Starting from Windsurfer Beach at Pineview Reservoir 6:00pm.

July 7-Women's Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic with Wildflower Outdoors at Snowbasin main parking lot 6:30pm.

July 15-Peak-A-Week ride to Ben Lomond for Matt's Birthday. This will be a bikepacking trip so we'll be staying over night. Starting from Top of North Ogden Divide 6:00pm.

July 25-Peak-A-Week ride to Grizzly Peak. Starting from trailhead near Geneva Rock off of 3000 South and Highway 89 in Willard 6:00am.

July 21-Second Women's Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic with Wildflower Outdoors at Snowbasin main parking lot 6:30pm.

July 21-Yeti Cycles Demo at Rainbow Gardens 4:00pm-8:00pm. Bring Helmet, ID, and Credit Card. Free to public, but the credit card helps you to want to bring the bikes back.

July 30-Wildflower Trailfest Mountain Bike Race and Trailrun. Event goes from 5:00pm until 9:00pm at Snowbasin. Register at wildflowertrailfest.com

August 1-Last Peak-A-Week ride to Mount Ogden. Starting from Green Pond trailhead 6:00am.