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Hundreds of miles per week on a bike . . . for the fun of it By
Dan Crane You're never too old (or young) to go road biking. Take Tom Dyson for example. At age 71, he has biked more than 300,000 miles since he became "over the hill" at age 50. Or Shane Larsen, a 23-year-old senior at Utah State University who began riding this year to stay active and in shape. Cache Valley has hundreds of avid cyclists, and it's home to the country's longest cycling race sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Federation-- The LOTOJA. This race starts in Logan and ends 203 miles later in Jackson Hole. The Logan-to-Jackson race (hence the name, LOTOJA) has been held every September for the past 18 years. The 550 bikers entered this year raced all day long (and some into the night) climbing, peddling and pushing up hills and canyons to meet the challenge of finishing this long and rugged race. Among those who entered the race were many from Cache Valley, and one of these was Dyson. Dyson has finished the race 16 years in a row, making him a legend in the Logan biking community. In a hobby he takes very seriously, the 5-foot-6-inch man with silvery-gray hair and a pleasant smile said, "I love the freedom that biking gives me." He bikes at least 300 miles a week, commuting to work and doing 20 miles during his lunch break, then 80 to 160 miles on the weekends. "It takes a lot of time, but I love the peacefulness that a bike ride can give," said Dyson. He was a 12-time marathon runner, but after years of the heat and the wear and tear on his body he was converted to the world of biking. In Dyson's office at USU's Old Main sits one of the four special- ordered titanium bikes he owns. With each bike costing $4,000, they are worth more than some people's cars. Decorating his office are also several posters of bike racers and bike memorabilia. One frame is shaped like a road bike with pictures and him and his son in the holes of the wheels. Although he is about to retire from his 20-year career at Utah State University, as the director of annual support, the thin, energetic man is not about to retire from biking. "Some of my best memories have been on a bike," said Dyson. "Like the time my son and some friends from Salt Lake City came up for the race, (The LOTOJA), we rode together the whole way, being pushed by 35-38 mph tail winds. "That day we broke our record and finished in nine and a half hours." Of course not all days are perfect, as Dyson explained. Once it hailed, rained and snowed for 150 miles, with winds storms that practically pushed them back to Logan. The LOTOJA consists of about 100 miles of steady climbs. Just outside of Preston is a short drop into Riverdale Resort, and then it is uphill all the way to Tin Cup Pass, mile 125 of the race. From there they cross the Idaho/Wyoming border and the trail is up and down until the finish line. Another competitor of this up and down race is Larsen. He has always been a fanatic of sports, and like Dyson loves to stay active and compete. "After playing basketball, football and tennis extensively, I was ready for a new challenge. I went out and bought a bike worth $2,650 and began to bike. It was a huge leap of faith because after investing all this money into a bike, I was not sure if I would even like it," said Larsen. It turns out that he more than just liked it, because just a few months after Larsen bought his bike his friends talk him into racing the 203 miles of The Lotoja. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done," said Larsen. "I'll never forget the pain I had stepping off that bike." An entire day of racing takes a toll on even the best-conditioned athlete. Racers must force food down their body the whole race. Larsen, on his green Kona Kapu racing bike with bright yellow handlebars, ate several oranges, eight bananas, two loafs of banana bread, and 15 packages of power gel and drank 15 bottles of artic shatter flavored Power Aid and water. With only five feed stations along the way, the racer must plan his eating schedule in advance. In a feed station, the racer will drop their empty food packages and water bottles in a garbage zone before slowing down just enough to catch a musette bag (supply bag) by its big loop. Next, the racers quickly puts the food in their three back pockets of the sleek, tight jerseys and puts the water in the bottle racks on their frames. As soon as they drop the musette bag they are back in sync heading towards the seemingly endless goal of Jackson Hole. If the fast pace of racing is too much for you, or just thinking about racing more then 200 miles makes you tired, maybe casual bike riding to enjoy scenery and stay in shape is the answer. Many clubs and groups in Cache Valley dedicate time to road biking. One of these groups is bikers that subscribe to a newsletter called The Cache Valley Veloist. This group of riders consider themselves a "mellow group of cyclists," as member, USU English professor Keith Grant-Davie describes. The Veloist, meaning cyclist, dedicates its articles to bikers who ride for pure enjoyment and not competition. These riders often go on Saturday and Sunday rides. Among the more favorite rides in Cache Valley include "the tour of two states," "the West Side ride" and "the Weston Canyon ride." The tour of two states is a 72-mile ride that goes up Logan Canyon, around Bear Lake to Garden city, past Terrece to Lanark and then down Emigration Canyon to Preston and finally Logan. The West Side ride starts off going up Sardine Canyon then goes through Brigham City, around the Wellsville Mountains and out in West Logan on Highway 30 for a total of 65 miles. Another favorite is the Weston Canyon ride, a 70-mile ride that is famous for its great scenery. Tim Vitale, a writer for The Cache Valley Veloist, said after he went on the ride, "eighteen of us who rode around Weston Canyon Aug. 5 did escape traffic, stop signs and the mayhem of life for a morning. My vote: a perfect day." Dr. Christine Hult, a professor for the USU Center of Online Education, is the editor of The Cache Valley Veloists and has also had her fair share of perfect days on a bike. She started biking regularly with her husband about six years ago after they went on a biking tour of Ireland. The Hults paid a biking tour company to guide them, traveling 40-70 miles a day. After their trip to Ireland they can't get enough of biking in Utah and all over the world. Since returning from Ireland the Hults have biked in Alaska, Canada, Idaho, Montana, California and Italy. Her most memorable trip was their trip to Italy. Imagine biking down old cobblestone streets, and narrow alleyways, with medieval castles on the green hills and the smell of pizza in the air. "It's such a great way to travel," said Hult. "One could almost see the knights on horseback and peasants in the brick hovels on side streets accessed by narrow passages." The tour began at Castiglione del Lage (Castle by the Lakes) where they stayed at an old winery. Each day the tour, in their black-padded spandex shorts and bright colored helmets, cruised by old fortresses, and ancient cities where each turn could share a thousand stories. Each day the tour would end at some four-course meal or some ice-cream shop. "The sights, sounds and smells of Italy are a delight to the senses," said Hult. "Many of those senses can only be fully appreciated by traveling on bike." With the different places to bike near the valley, it has become a popular sport and hobby to compete and stay in shape. Whether you're about to retire, or just getting your training wheels off, it is never too late (or early) to enjoy road biking.
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