Show IS B Popularity of Mountain biking grows in Southeastern Utah by Sundl Decker editor the early ’80s the craze of mountain biking hit fast track in cycling interest fortunately for who like the excitement of mountain biking as a means of g we challenge or even as a method of exploration and currently live in an area full of finely developed and perspective trails In 1996 mountain biking became a summer Olympics event Many staunch bikers claim that mountain biking is here to stay Names like GT Canondale Trek ProFlcx Specialized and Gary Fisher top the n market of durable and riding machines Models having 18 to 21 to 24 speeds highlight flexibility in racing and casual riding The hottest and most desired feature wanted on a In sight-seein- human-power- rough-tenrai- call MECCA co Danny Decker 0 Provided one has access to a mountain bike and the desire to experience valuable exercise and nature enjoyment mountain bikiifg may be just the thing for you On a personal note biking has been part of my family for as long as I can remember My grandfather successfully built a bike for d himself using a frame built in England that he found in a local dump years ago Thus began a string of bicycle mechanics that spans 20 years My grandfather taught my father bicycle workings and my father now similarity instructs my brother My father has 381-562- hand-crafte- been involved in bike maintenance repair retailing and wholesale business for at least the last fourteen years Although I am not "gonzo" about riding I have found that using a mountain bike is a nice way to see some great scenery and get some needed exercise along the ride Beyond technical achievements when biking there is something satisfying about going down hill breathlessly or even pumping up hill with burning lungs Accomplishment might be the word for it— or just fun Teena Christophcrson can tell you exactly what it is the makes biking worthwhile She went so far as to say “I hope to be riding when I am 70 even 80 years old" ed mountain bike is suspension Front and especially full suspension bikes make a lot of difference in ironing out the kinks of downhill and uphill technique Mountain biking can be adopted by young and old persons From the youngest age every kid at one time or another wants a bicycle Soon if not already most kids will want a mountain bike ct Mountain biking exists as a sport that can be participated in by those who are not into running or walking for exercise In some parts of the country this form of activity is practiced in summer fall winter and spring Carrying enough depth to entice various people of various ages and places mountain biking can be as hard or as easy as it participants desire With the wide desert of the San Rafael in our view— that has inside its canyons slickrock single tracks as well as more intermediate trails that are a breath taking feast for the eyes— we indeed have access to spectacular rides It might be said that we sit on the porch of an untapped source for biking the best kept secret of such recreation between and including the Manti Lasals and the San Rafael Swell Add to that the fact that Moab is only a few hours away and one has reason enough to take up an activity that is both stimulating and highly organized This article is thus being written to give information about mountain biking in our area and to detail upcoming and existing biking opportunities Tecna and Kevin Christophcrson currently leach the spring quarter mountain biking course at CEU In the past this course has been instructed by Pete Kilboume who will resume teaching it next year Mountain biking is offered during fall quarter as well Spring classes are the largest usually made up of IS to 20 students The course focuses on basic cycling techniques of pedaling cornering and braking It aspires to condition students helping to get them in shape for future rides Simple bike mechanics are taught in relation to handling minor bike during a ride And bike safety is reviewed for students Two trips are planned in the spring course and usually one trip can be expected in die fall course One is usually in the San Rafael desert on trails like Black Dragon Canyon and the other trip takes place in 1997 Utah Prehistory & Heritage Week "Learning About The Future By Understanding The Past" low-impa- Moab on such trails as the Gold Bar Rim Environment issues are addressed in the class Kilboume likes to discuss with students the strategies for riding compatibly with the environment and fellow cyclists Topics concerning how to tread lightly on sensitive soils and how to ride with guidelines are also worked in the respect to access and trail-us- e classroom Conflicts that question whether mountain biking is harmful to wildlife or not are underway and have been debated strongly and recently in parts of California The class overviews such current issues pertaining to mountain biking The Christophersons as well as Kilboume told of the diversity of student skill levels that meet up in the class Because some individuals are barely beginning and others are intermediate while some are highly advanced choosing a site for class bike trips is difficult Kilboume said that having more guides or instructors on rides would be helpful could be reserved Single track riding that might terrify a first-timonly for advanced students if the group was split up accordingly for er field experiences All in all the class offers the opportunity to grow for those who have never tried into a love for mountain biking-ev- en it before The San Rafael Swell Mountain Bike Festival a tradition of biking that has claims to being the one of the oldest if not the oldest mountain bike festivals in the state commences May 16 It is a three day event that has been manned for the past 10 years by Carbon County Recreation This year Emery County Recreation picked up the event when Carbon County decided to discontinue it The tradition continues The ride is being promoted under the direction of MECCA an association of bike enthusiasts in Emery County The festival will center in Green River and include trails varying in degrees of difficulty It will tour stretches of the San Rafael desert Applications may be obtained at the Price Pedaler or for further information 1997 Utah Prehistory & Heritage Week be held May 3 through May 10 This theme is "Learning About The Future By UnderNot only are there many activities scheduled Past" The standing will that be of great educational value but they will give people the chance to educate themselves as a family by doing something fun in the process said SucAnn Martell museum educational director The different activities begin on Saturday May 3 During the day there are three different areas of interest that will be focused on including the Clcveland-Lloy- d Dinosaur Quarry Nine Mile Manti-LaSNational Fbrest Canyon and the In the "Following Footprints of the Past" will have a chance to walk where the During this excursion you dinosaurs walked and see actual dinosaur tracks There will be some hiking and climbing involved so sturdy shoes are recommended "Footprints of the Past" will begin at the Gevcland-Lloy- d is required If Dinosaur Quarry at 10 am like interested and would a to reserve spot contact the you are 0 CEU Museum at "The Nine Mile Canyon Experience" Now is your opportunity to have a guide show some of those seldomly seen rock art panels in Nine Mile Canyon that many have talked about Guides will be stationed in the canyon from 10 am to 4 pm to show visitors those seldom seen panels dwellings and other historical sites in the canyon You will need to provide a vehicle a full tank of gas and a picnic lunch You will have the chance to see the sites and travel at your pace There may be some hiking and climbing involved to see certain panels and dwellings "Archaeology of the Higher Country" National Fbrest This is a trip to the You will see how early man lived and survived in the high country of Utah There will be some hiking and climbing involved You need to provide a vehicle a full tank of gas and a picnic lunch Those interested will be meeting for departure at the CEU Museum at 9 am or at the Museum of the San Rafael is required If you are interested and at 10 am 0 would like to reserve a spot contact the CEU Museum at The al 637-506- pre-plann- ed Manti-LaS- 10 at 4 pm If any of these events are of interest to you and you would like more information contact Martell at the CEU Prehistoric Museum at 637-506- 0 Burge signs dinosaur postal stamp al 637-506- "The Life and Times of Utahraptor Utah's Predator" On Tuesday May 6 the scheduled event is a presentation by Brooks Britt PhD This presentation will answer many questions about the Utahraptor including: how did the Utahraptor live? Was it a thinking machine that could plan its next destructive move? This presentation will also discuss the circumstances surrounding the Utah raptor’s death and discovery The presentation will be held in the CEU Prehistoric Museum classroom at 7 The final activity planned is for Saturday May 10 "Family Activity Day" This will be the final day of Utah Prehistory and 1 leritage Week There will be many hands-o- n activities and demonstrations Native American craft items and Navajo Taco's will be for sale This will be a day of fun that will involve the whole family You will have the chance to participate in the prehistoric timeline learn about your favorite dinosaur and the differences between prehistory and history All activities are free of charge Activities begin at 10 am at the CEU Prehistoric Museum and conclude at 4 pm There will be a week long activity which is by the Price Downtown Merchants This activity is a prehistoric fact hunt during the week Visit Price City's Main Street and see the colorful windows depicting Carbon County's prehistoric past Then pick up a treasure hunt clue sheet at the CEU Museum answer the questions (the answers are on the windows) and return the due sheet to the museum All correct treasure hunt sheets will be entered into a drawing for fun prizes The drawing will be held at the museum during the Family Activity Day on Saturday May pm "The Huntington Canyon Excavation: The Final Word" On Thursday May 8 Keith Montgomery will speak on the I luntington Canyon Excavation He is of Montgomery Archaeological Consultants and will discuss the excavation of the Fremont Village site located above the Little Bear Campground in Huntington Canyon and what really happened there a thousand years ago The presentation will be held in the CEU Prehistoric Museum classroomat 7 pm Saturday May 3 is your chance to be one of the first people with the new "Dinosaurs of the World” stamp series The cancellation at the CEU Prehistoric Museum from 9 am I pm The event will help kick off the annual Utah Prehistory and Heritage week May 3 through May 10 Price Gty Post Office will set up a temporary postal station in the CEU Museum's hall of dinosaurs Stamps can be purchased at the museum and will have a special cancelation stamp Stamp sheets will be signed by museum director and Utah dinosaur expert Don Burge The dinosaurs are from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods many are from Utah quarries The cancellation stamp has the name of the temporary postal station and the date of issue ' Issue of these stampsGrand This will be a third-da- y first-daIssue on Thursday May 1 Junction Colo will runs Issue bn Friday May 2 and Vernal will host a second-da- y Dinosaur enthusiasts are encouraged to attend all three issues and lour the famous "Dinosaur Diamond1! For more information contact the CEU Prehistoric Museum at 0 or the Price City Post Office stamps will be sold with a third-da- y -- - y - 637-506- r ' s ? |