PARK CITY:
The New Biking Mecca?By Janet Miller Boyd
Photos by Monique Beeley Mecca : 1.A place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest.
2. A place visited by many people.
On the surface, it seems Park City pretty much fits the definition listed on dictionary.com. For more than forty years the town has been known worldwide as a premier skiing destination. But recently, with the amazing mountain bike trail system that’s been developed coupled with the phenomenal road cycling opportunities, we might very well be living in the new biking Mecca! How, you ask, did this happen? And when? Probably while we were out riding the trails and roads we've come to take for granted. Rides that are so much a part of our everyday life that we've forgotten the fact that few cyclists are as fortunate as we. Walk out the door and in five minutes we can be on a beautiful singletrack trail. Walk out the door, jump on a road bike and take off on a 100-mile loop, never to see the same stretch of road twice. Spoiled? Maybe. But that’s why we live here, right? We didn’t always have this awesome trail system that we are fortunate to have today. Before the Mountain Trails Foundation (MTF) came into being in 1994, there was approximately 10 or15 miles of trails. Compare that number to the over 300 miles we now have. A huge difference. Thanks to the guys, gals and their pals who spent endless hours building many of the trails we love to ride, and to the Mountain Trails Foundation, we now have a “signature” trail. Each year International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) awards “Epic” status to selected trails nationwide. According to Carole Potter, who heads MTF, the Mid-Mountain Trail was one of only four trails to be designated “Epic” by IMBA in 2004. Where else can you find a trail that connects three ski resorts, numerous trailhead accesses and exits, restrooms, restaurants and some of the most spectacular scenery that one would ever encounter on a mountain bike? At the end of the 2004-riding season, the trail was completed from Deer Valley Resort to Pinebrook, thirty plus miles. MTF is planning more access points to the Mid-Mountain as well as “renewing” the Holly Flanders trail at the Canyons and other existing routes. All these improvements will make this an even more desirable trail to many mountain bikers, thus furthering the reputation of Park City as the new biking Mecca!
 Park City has also been host to many NORBA Nationals events, including the National Finals on the Deer Valley trails. And a first-time event, the E100 Endurance Race, was another way for people to experience Park City’s trail system and gain bragging rights for competing in a very tough race! And while we’re on the subject of racing, let’s not forget the famous, or infamous, Tour de Suds held here in early September. Tom Noaker, long time Parkite racer helped start this mountain bike event back in 1984. It was initially organized by word of mouth and the course decided only moments before the start. The first year maybe 50 people showed up. The only stipulation that initial race was that the first one back to City Park from the top of Guardsman Pass would tap the keg and fire up the grill! Tour de Suds has come a long way since those early years, now with over 200 participants, many in costume. And, of course, a great Park City party afterward at a town that really knows what the word “party” means! With all these opportunities and events, it’s easy to see how Park City has earned the reputation for a premier mountain biking destination. But let’s not forget about the “roadies” who come here to ride, whether for pleasure or for a large scale race staged here last August when the Masters Nationals came to town. And on any given (sunny) day in winter many riders grind up Parley’s Canyon from Salt Lake City to enjoy our crisp air and nice wide shoulders. In 1991, the U.S. National Cycling Championship was held in Park City. Some guy by the name of Lance rode his bike into town and took the win. He is on to bigger and better things, but another Tour rider who rode for U.S. Postal Team still makes his home here. When asked if he could train anywhere in the world, Marty Jemison said he would still pick Park City and the surrounding area. Jemison talks about some of the great 100 and 100-plus mile rides you can do starting in Park City. He extols rides that continue on out to Evanston, Wyoming, up Chalk Creek, out to Woodland and, even if you’re not looking for a “century”, various places in between The common denominator for all of them - you can start and finish right in Park City! As early as the 70’s there was road racing here. Tom Noaker tells of the Vaughn Angell Classic, a stage race held here in memory of a young serviceman who died in Viet Nam. Vaughn held the 5-mile time trial record and most likely still does! This summer and next Park City will again host the Masters Nationals. Cyclists from all over the U.S. will descend on our fair town to test their mettle against the best of the best. The Park City Chamber/Visitor’s Bureau reported that there were 2300 competitors in 2004 and even more expected this year. Imagine if each of those cyclists told ten friends how fabulous the riding is in Park City, and each of them told ten friends and each of them………… The point is that many people from many different places are coming to Park City to ride. And they are coming back again and again, thus making the definition “a place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest “ a truism. Why don’t you come and check it out--- but hey, keep it under your helmet, ok? |
