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Show Page 10 I 2002 Tour of Canyonlands I A supplement to The Times-tndepend- ent THE TRIALS (AMD TRIBULATION?) OF THIS yBAWf HEW EVEHT The most interesting addition HOME OF THU WILL to this years Tour of Canyonlands race weekend is a trials event. For the initiated, trials is one of most difficult bicycle events to explain which is appropriate, because its also one of the most difficult to participate in. The idea is pretty simple. Riders have to complete a course with a number of difficult obstacles. referred to as stations. Competitors attempt to ride each section without taking their feet off the pedals, within a certain IIILP YOU EEH A UNDER TAHD IF VOU HAVENT TRIAL THE MOVE f RIDER AT WORK. THEy PULL DEFy MOT PEOPLE PHyIC f. UNDERTANDING OF BICCLIHC LINE THROUGH THEy EE RIDE-ABL- E TERRAIH yOU WOULDNT WANT TO HIKE. EHJOy THIf SPECTACLE, yOULL HEED TO GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE MOAB RIM AT TO amount of time. That part is easy to understand. What is tougher to fathom is how a person can jump three or four feet in the air, with a bicycle, from a slow roll or even a dead stop A good trials rider can easily ride up and over a large 20. U A.M. APRIL can pull off the move, a bunny hop, with varying degrees of suc- the bicycle. Then he jumps up, hopefully taking the bicycle with him. Up to a certain height, the bike follows fairly easily, essen- cess. Its a common technique for clearing obstacles about the Unlike freestyle BMX riding, size of a curb. tially bouncing up under the where riders perform a wide vag is rider. Basically, most of stunts, in the air, only like jumping up riety complicated However, lofting the bike on variations of trials involve with a bicycle. The rider over truly large obstacles is more one move. Most mountain bikers crouches down low, weighting complicated. The rider grips the automobile. bunny-hoppin- handlebars tightly, twisting his wrists forward to bring up the rear end of the bike. With his feet, hell cant the pedals in such a way that he can hold the bike by the soles of his shoes. For the highest hops, the rider will lift the front wheel first, jumping off of the rear wheel instead of both. As the front wheel clears the obstacle, hell level the bike to bring the rear wheel over. None of this will help you understand if you havent seen a trials rider at work. The moves they pull defy most peoples un- derstanding of bicycling physics. lines through They see ride-abl- e terrain you wouldnt want to hike. To enjoy this spectacle, youll need to get up to the top of the Moab Rim at 1 1 a.m. April 20. While many contests use obstacles, the folks from RipStoke Promotions will be setting up a natural course on the Rim. man-mad- e m Moab's Only ' Micro Brewery Open a.m to Hidnight 'Your Friendly Neighborhood Store O BRjEWEKy Welcome Tour of Canyonlands! Before the competition, remember to stop by Jimbos for all your racing needs"" Sport Drinks Energy Drinks Energy Bars Healthy Snacks Fresh Fruit TUt W ah got Aeve raged a, (jQBB9v "RESTAURA and dtacAd ta Aclfi you Mondays & Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Come on in and check out our special prices! (At raced. Store With More & More! limbo's-T- he 259-44)- 5 Utah Horizon accepted Dally Food Thursdays: H. 75 PWTS & Complete Wine T N Patio Seating $6 PIT2UER relax after 495 W. 400 N. Tour of Canyonlands Bicyclists! fwAy&riPQu K'Milfitam t great Aelcctio cold Ye ON-- SI Kid's Menu Bar Specials A Liquor Menu AVAILABLE IN THE BAR ONLY 0 COM (I W n 0 uv OOU) GUT wtmi rim. iaj 3. ww tyfXijjo . - ???.', ( |