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cycling utah Jan 2002
Moab, Ut--Mountain biking made the small town of Moab famous. Usually, the bicycles on the road in the area are strapped to the roofs of SUVs, pointed toward a trailhead. That will change March 7 to 10 as Moab hosts the first Moab Skinny Tire Festival. The event, which is a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, will celebrate the smooth side of cycling with road rides through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Aside from this area’s attraction for mountain bikers, the landscape around Moab draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year who are just enjoying the view. There is no better way to enjoy the sights than from a bicycle, unencumbered by the distractions of driving. At its core, the festival will feature four days of fully-supported group road rides. Two days of riding will follow the sinewy path of the Colorado river through its deep canyon, along relatively flat routes. The other two days will feature climbs out of town onto the uplifts high above the river. The highlight of the event will be a tour into Arches National Park, one of the most attractive strips of asphalt anywhere. After the rides, local businesses and organizations will host a variety of activities. Most will be related to cycling, especially if you consider that beer is fuel to a cyclist. One of the goals of the festival organizers is to tap into the innate sense of community most cyclists enjoy. Since part of any cyclist’s focus is health, most can also appreciate the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s cause, fighting cancer. Through grants to small researchers, as well as education and outreach programs, the LAF seeks to empower cancer patients through deeper understanding of the disease. As anyone who’s read Armstrong’s book, “It’s not about the Bike” knows, this is not a somber effort. It’s not about facing the Reaper, but about embracing life. Using bike rides as fundraisers encourages that spirit, helping people to focus their energy toward the LAFs goal--which is one we all share. Riders can participate on different levels. Full registration, which will will include entry in a raffle for a Trek road bike frame like Lance’s, is $55 plus a $100 donation to the LAF. Fully-registered participants will also be eligible to earn a two-day river trip for the top fundraiser. Or, for $15 and a $10 donation, riders can enjoy one day’s worth of rides and activities. For more information about the festival, including registration materials, check out the website at http://poisonspiderbicycles.com/laf_event.html, or call Poison Spider Bicycles at (435)259-3052.
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