Deseret News | Reader comments: Cyclists endure all-day tour

Reader comments
Cyclists endure all-day tour

Sick today... | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 3, 2008

The course was absoulutely brutal - and the headwind was nothing short of punishing. On one mild decent just before Bald Mountain we were able to coast...at 7.5 mph becuase of the wind.

Crystal | 9:38 a.m. Aug. 3, 2008

I, for one, will NEVER do that ride again. The aide stations were inadequate with too little food and water (if they even had those at all-some ran out). Most had no bathroom facilities. I didn't see one sag wagon on the 50 mile ride and my friend didn't see any on the 170 mile either. The start of the ride was completely unorganized with people waiting around for someone to tell them when to start. I think most of us just went ahead and started on our own. When I got back there was only one cooler with warm heed. No food or water to be found. Terrible organization and no aide as far as I'm concerned!

Anonymous | 3:17 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

I saw SAG wagons constantly on the 170 mile ride. And while water was empty at Evanston, they got more and before I was gone I had my water bottles topped off just fine.

the only thing unorganized about the start when I was there was the people showing up late for their start time and trying to roll out with other groups.

Good, hard, rewarding ride.

Comments continue below

manof4 | 4:51 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

The aide stations contained an ample stock of food including fresh cut fruit, and premade PBJ's. Race organizers were suddenly hit with a flurry of nearly five hundred unexpected people who registered at the last minute the morning of the race. Considering they had double the numbers of riders they were expecting, I think they did a great job! This race is only in it's second year and will continue to grow in popularity. Takes a lot of time and energy to prepare an event like this. If you really want to help make it a great event, register early so they can plan accordingly. We had a great day on a beautiful course. Will definitely do it again!

Dan_Not_DiLuca | 8:58 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

I have to agree with the negative comments about the ride. The stops were not spaced correctly (25 miles uphill is NOT the same as 25 flat miles), and there were no electrolyte drinks at any of the stops. I really wanted to race, but having to stop at a Sinclair station just to get water and gatorade kinda put me out of contention. I ate a million bananas all day to get electrolytes, guess how my stomach felt Saturday night... I know I could have gotten my own SAG for this stuff, but there's a minimum amount supplies that are expected at an event.

Overall, the volunteers were very nice, but nice doesn't get me water before cramps and dehydration kicks in. I'll do this ride again, but I am not paying for it. I can stop at Sinclairs and country stores and save myself $100 in race fees if me and my buddies leave PC early and head out. Sorry TdePC staff, but you blew it. What a waste of money. Come back 200% better or don't come back at all.

MG | 10:42 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

I did the 170 miles and dropped at mile 90. I found rest stops that did not have ANY PBJ, not enough water and only one bathroom in the three rest stops I visited. The volunteers did a great job but the organizers appeared to want to cut corners and save money. With all the sponsors you would think that they would have had enough money to stock the rest stops appropriately. I will NEVER do this ride again and will NEVER recommend it to anyone. Like the person above spent the day eating bananas.

Better than Lotoja | 11:02 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

The course was brutal but it's a 170-mile bike race over the High Uintas so what do you want?! Yes, there were some bugs in the organization but I think the event went pretty well considering this was the first year they made it a USCF race and only the 2nd year overall.

I agree that the support has some bugs like not having mixed bottles of Gatorade (or equivalent) and the wheel vehicles were unreliable. Even so, at Lotoja they don't even try to have neutral support stations every 25 miles and the wheel support vehicles are also unreliable. In addition, they charge almost twice as much for Lotoja and you have to get someone to pick you up 200 miles from where you started! Not to mention the $10k prize money here and Lotoja has zero free food or massages at the finish.

I will do both races again but I hope this one gets the bugs out and Lotoja starts being a little more racer friendly. Afterall, Lotoja could at least give out a bagel or two in Teton Village! If they don't then I predict that this race will grow faster than Lotoja.

Epic | 8:41 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

After cursing for the last 24 hours over the suffering I had to endure because of headwinds, lack of water/electorlytes etc., looking back on this race I can honestly say I'm glad I did it and would do it again. Although the organizers may have miss judged the support needs, overall it was an amazing ride we will talk about for the next year and compare to other EPIC rides. Congratulations to everyone who rode and let's hope we all learn from the experience.

ouch | 10:33 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I did the 170 which ended up being 181 because the road markings were poor and I admittadly didn't have my map with me. I ran out of water and someone stole my water bottle at a feed zone while I was using the port-o-john.
That said, I loved the course, the support was much better than LOTOJA and I will do it again.

parched | 11:15 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Cycling along the Mirror Lake Highway on a Saturday in August is a bad idea. Too many trucks with campers and horse trailers that are not interested in "sharing the road". This was a dangerous ride that was not very well prepared.

Dave.Run262 | 11:31 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I had problems with the Tour de Park City '08 at packet pick-up, start and Aid 1 of the Century/Half Century. Aid 2 of the century was said to be at mile 50, but was much later. 25+ miles of high altitude and steep climbing is too far to go between aid stations. Other than Aid 1, where I had to wait more than half an hour to fill my water bottles, I found the other 3 aid stations to have the food, water, electrolyte, bathrooms and support I needed. I was able, fortunately, to get much needed water from SAG at mile 50. I witnessed SAG frequently on the first 80 miles of the ride - often helping riders.
I will do this ride again next year - perhaps stepping up from the century to the super century.

170 finisher | 11:43 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I did the 170 and enjoyed the route immensely, but agree with other comments that the support was inadequate. In fact, I think the organizers committed fraud by advertising that the rest stops would be stocked with energy drinks, energy gels, energy bars whereas none of the rest stops past mile 75 had these when I arrived at them. The lack of water in Evanston was criminal negligence in my opinion. If it is true that 500 riders registered Sat morning at $85 a pop, then the organizers must have a nice $40,000 cash windfall which was not spent on support for riders. I hope they get it right next time

Kendall | 1:13 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

While I rode the 170 tour I must have been fortunate enough to hit the aid stations when they were well supplied. That said, another station at Ruth Lake an/or the WY/UT border would have been a dream come true.

I am definately going to ride this again with the expectation that the lessons learned and mistakes made will be improved upon. For a second year event I wasn't disappointed.

I hope other riders will follow suit and send the organizers (Riley) an e-mail that gives suggestions and open minded feedback rather than just negative spray.

I think a reversed direction of the 170 course would make it safer as we'd be going up and over the Mirror Lake Highway earlier in the day when traffic is at a minimum and disrespectful truck and trailer drivers are still at the doughnut shop.

Dan_Not_Diluca | 1:47 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I like Kendall's idea, do the course in reverse. The wind would be more favorable, as well.

As far as LOTOJA goes, I've done it 4 times now. LOTOJA is different because support activities are advertised and delivered as given. It's true, TdePC could be the better than LOTOJA! I sure hope they come back 200% better next year. The first step is to not allow "day-of" registration. If there's still day-of allowed, I'm not coming.

Jason | 2:28 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Great ride.
Although during the race I was very upset at a few of the organizational issues, I have to admit that the race went well for a first time event.
Races take years to build, promoters do not learn everything overnight. Riley went all out to put on a great race, here are my few suggestions for a better event next year:
1. Dont mix and score the cat 123s together, racers need to be able to trust the promoter will deliver on what is promised.
2. Wheel vehicles are to stay behind the leaders not 20 miles back behind the dropped riders
3. Better solution for mussete bags, there were several of us who never got any of our bags
4. I know several people who did not race because of the price, I dont know if I would pay that price again either.
5. I also like the course in reverse idea

This race has potential to be above and beyond LOTAJA, the promoter has vision, I am sure the issues from this year will be fixed and next year will be even better.

Running Scared | 4:36 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Mirror Lake Highway is a dangerous, but beautiful road. While doing the century we were almost hit 2x, once by a car passing from the other side, and the second from a big truck towing trailer that decided to cut in early. Suggest more signs, more police presence etc. to highlight the ride.

Tour de Park City Organizer | 5:03 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

As the event organizer of the Tour de Park City I tried to create the very best cycling event in Utah. That said we planned on about 600 people. Almost everything had to be submitted to sponsors about a month before. When the event date came closer we had to scramble to get enough food to supply the feed stations. The lack of water was bad I know....but I have already started working on a water solution for next year. We tried to get as many volunteers as possible but that is always a tough job.

I want everyone to know we have noted all comments both positive and negative and will use them to make the event better next year. I expect nothing below perfection for this event....that said today has been a pretty brutal day dealing with all the emails.

I hope everyone will be patient as we figure this thing out. Those who participanted last year would say the event was 500% better. Those who participanted this year will hopefully say the same about next year. There were some growing pains this year but we will take everything we learned to make next year much much better.

Kevin | 10:35 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

There were problems with the feed zones, sure, but man! What a ride! The route is just superb. If you didn't have at least some fun out there then you're in the wrong sport.

(OK, so I cursed my way up the last few miles of Bald Mountain and sailors would have been embarrassed at some of the things I said on the last climb into PC, but it's all part of the fun, right?)

I'll be there again next year. Thanks for the epic.

Jeff | 5:59 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Second year I rode this ride - century that is. Better course and obviously a popular one as there were nearly 5 times the riders this year.

Riley - thanks for organizing this. I'm sure you know by now that we need and expect better feed stations - and better educated volunteers. A friend rode the 50 miler and some of the volunteers were handing out the gels in handfuls per person - no wonder there were none left when we got there.

I too was disappointed that the food stuffs available at the aid stations was NOT as advertised. At the top of Bald mtn pass, after 28 miles climbing since aid station 1, I expected some extra electrolytes and other items that were said to be there but weren't. I was one of the first ones there too, not the last as the super century riders would have been.

Riley - we are counting on this being done right next year. Please. It is such a much better course than LoToJa.

Edward Brown | 10:05 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Racers need to ride with their own category or not be scored. Several of us in a smaller category (citizen 55 plus) worked together through much of the race before gradually separating only to find that the final results for our category included racers who began 1 hour before our assigned roll-out.
The race cannot be considered fair if some in your category are an hour down the road with another group and you are not even aware of their participation.
Finally, any awards or recognition ceremony should be scheduled late enough or continue long enough to include the citizen racers whose start time is later in the morning.
I agree that the descent of Bald Mountain is a great opportunity for confrontation between riders and motorists. Frequently placed signs to inform the public of the race may raise the awareness and perhaps reduce the indignation of drivers who subsequently encounter cyclists.
Reversal of the race course is an interesting idea. There would still be the section between Wanship and Brown's Canyon Rd which has a narrow shoulder and is busy with traffic.

Jon | 10:38 a.m. Aug. 31, 2008

This race was very poorly organized. This promoter shoud not be allowed to put on a race with USCF sanction. Running out of water, among other things, is inexcusable.

Harv | 3:02 p.m. Aug. 3, 2009

I did the century ride and enjoyed it, but I agree that the ride needs better organization.

People doing the century ride were forced to make a left turn at the start at Kimball Junction with NO police or other traffic control. Dangerous!

The route from Summit Park to Jeremy Ranch was confusing and not adequately marked, was the result that many riders turned back. We asked a support vehicle about the correct route, and the response was "we don't know; we're checking."

The organizers didn't even pre-stuff the application packages, with the result that the package pickup lines the day before and the morning of the event were way longer than needed.

Food and drink at rest stops were adequate, but after Wolf Creek Summit I didn't see a sag wagon all day.

They had burgers and chips (including veggie burgers) at the end of the ride, but charged $5 a pop!

Rather than pay $60, you could do this ride on your own, save money (and eat better!) by stopping at stores and restaurants along the way.

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7 photos

Mike Terry, Deseret News

Cyclists work their way up a gradual ascent Saturday during the Tour de Park City. The 170-mile race began in Park City, continued through Coalville to Evanston, Wyo., before heading back to Park City.

Gallery (7 photos)