Utah Velo Club

Page 2 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
2006 Kia
Optima
Are you in the market for a midsize
sedan? If you are considering a traditional
Toyota or a Honda don't count out the Kia
Optima! The Kia Optima is a great value for the
money and offers a great selection of standard
features, safety, and value that Honda and
Toyota simply can't touch. The Optima comes
with Kia's 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-tobumper warranty (10 years/100,000 miles on the
powertrain) which includes 24 hour roadside
assistance.
The Optima comes standard with features such as 6 airbags (front, side, and curtain),
a tire pressure monitoring system, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, heated mirrors, and a six-speaker CD stereo. ABS, traction
control, and an electronic stability system are
optional safety features. Available engines
include the 2.4L 4-cylinder or the 2.7L 6-cylinder. The 4-cylinder is rated at 24 mpg city and
34 highway while the 6-cylinder is rated at 22
mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
The Optima is a very pleasant looking
sedan with a smooth ride. I was especially
pleased with how quiet the cabin was, and considering it has 104 cubic feet of passenger space
it makes for a very pleasant car to take a trip in.
Some of the optional features that I enjoyed
included the rear window sun shade, 17 inch
wheels (come with the appearance package),
power adjustable pedals, and the Infinity sixdisc premium audio system.
A reasonable price tag, a large list of
standard features/available options, good styling
and an excellent ride make this Kia a great value
for the money.
Brian Head, Utah
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 3
Located in Scenic Southern
Utah, Brian Head Resort is
the region’s premier summer, fall, and winter alpine
recreation destination, featuring cool summertime
temperatures,
stunning
alpine scenery, a wide variety of activities for all ages,
and great value for your
vacation dollar. Brian Head
Resort offers plenty of area
activities that will make
your summer or winter
vacation both fun and memorable.
With a base elevation of 9,600ft and average summer temps in the
70’s we are your “cool” summer destination. The Resort’s
Activity Center, located at the base of the Giant Steps Chairlift, is
the area headquarters for information, mountain bike services,
equipment rentals, and more. Area activities include:
World
C l a s s
Mountain
Biking
FREE
Outdoor
Concerts
Scenic
Chairlift
Rides
White
W a t e r
Rafting
18-hole
Disc Golf
Course
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Dining
- Horseback
Riding
- Full-service Day Spa
ATV
Tours
&
Rentals
Page 4 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
Utah
Shakespeare
Festival
Voted
as
“one of the
best, unique
and
most
unusual
mountain
bike vacation resorts”
by Mountain
Bike Action
magazine, our mountain bike park, with its unique network of trials is one of few places riders can drop 5,000 vertical feet, access
over 200 miles of single track trails, and enjoy great freestyle terrain.
Don’t miss your chance to see the stunning red-rock formations of
Cedar Breaks and Bryce Canyon or the majestic sights of Zion
National Park as you visit Scenic Southern Utah and Brian Head
Resort.
For complete information on how to plan your cool alpine getaway to Brian Head Resort, please visit www.brianhead.com or
call 435-677-3101.
Utah Velo Club
by Brian Fuit
You may have noticed an increase in
cyclists on the roads in Utah County over the last
couple of years. There is a good reason for that.
Cycling has received a lot of positive press with
Lance Armstrong winning 7 Tours de France. It
seems you can't pick up a newspaper or magazine
without seeing some type of reference to cycling
these days. Whether it's the lifestyle, health benefits, transportation or just good old fashioned fun,
Utahans are joining the cycling ranks at a feverish
pace.
All this excitement has been great for
Utah. Recently Utah was host for the Tour of Utah
race which spanned multiple days and traveled
through many of our cities and mountain ranges.
Racers from all over the United States descended
upon Utah to compete in this grueling event.
With all this exposure many people are
picking up cycling as a new hobby or in some cases
getting back on a bike after many years of not riding. Cycling has many healthy benefits without
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 5
the harsh impact of other endurance building activities.
Cyclists young and old remember the feeling of freedom they once felt in their youth with
their first bike. There is something unique about
cycling. You become one with the bike and the
road.
The Bike Peddler in American Fork has
always promoted cycling as a lifestyle. A few years
ago a unique opportunity to team up with Stan
Swallow and form the Utah Velo Club presented
itself. It is free to join and gives riders of all abilities a network of fellow cyclists to join together
with and ride. As the name states it is a club rather
than a team. The goal of the Utah Velo Club is to
get people out on their bikes and ride. The focus of
the rides is to get some exercise and have fun.
There are certain rules cyclists should follow while riding on the road and the members of
the Utah Velo Club are glad to help new cyclists
learn the ropes. This makes for a safer more enjoyable cycling experience.
The Utah Velo Club was very involved in
the Tour de Cure diabetes fund raiser this past June.
More than $180,000 was raised for diabetes
research. There were over 800 riders in attendance
with Greg Lemond (3 time Tour
de France winner) leading the
pack.
Group rides are organized
Tuesday
and
Thursday
evenings and Saturday mornings weather permitting. Often
the riders will split into smaller
groups to allow for the different
fitness abilities.
If you have ever wanted to
get on a bike and go for a ride
but didn't know where to go or
who to go with the Utah Velo
Club is the perfect connection.
You can check out the upcoming ride times or sign up to
receive
weekly
e-mail
reminders at www.utahveloclub.com
Cycling is a great family
or individual activity and a
great building block for a
healthy lifestyle. Remember to
always wear a helmet and ride
alert.
Page 6 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
Utah Attracts
Bikers Worldwide
Utah
at
large brings in
mountain bikers
from all over the
world; everything
from the unique
slick rock of Moab
to the beautiful
high alpine rides of Photo credit: Wesley Aston
the Wasatch, there
is something for everyone. Locally in the mountains surrounding Utah Valley the trails are exceptionally inviting. Due to the
work of many, hundreds of miles of single track have been cut,
attracting many mountain bikers into this beautiful country.
These trails range throughout most all of the counties canyons
in American Fork, Hobble Creek, Provo, South Fork, Payson,
and more. Many already take advantage of this mountain biking
mecca, however many have yet to experience what is available
including locals who have these trails so close to home. Dan
Christopherson owner of 12 Finger Outdoor Adventure a local
guiding company, feels that this lack of participation stems from
a general lack of awareness as to what our local trails have to
offer. Dan's experience riding elsewhere and working with visitors from out of town shows to him that what we have truly
rivals the worlds best. He has heard supporting comments such
as "This is the best area we have ridden" and "That had to be one
of the most scenic trails I have done" With testimonials like
these it's hard to not want to get out and enjoy this great sport.
The sport seams to captivate anyone who is willing to
spend some time out there on a bike. For some the sport offers
a sense of accomplishment and adventure, to others it's their
way to get out and see nature's beauty, while yet others see the
heath benefits associated and the list goes on. Randy Gibb,
owner of Mad Dog Cycles a local bike shop states that many
desiring to get into the sport sometimes feel intimidated, however there is no need to worry. He states it's a sport for all ages
and abilities and locally it is very easy to get into mountain biking as the area offers trails for all physical abilities and skill sets.
Anything from a casual ride on the Parkway Trail (a paved trail
stretching from Utah Lake to Vivian Park up Provo Canyon) to
a shuttled (all down hill ride) in Payson canyon, this area offers
it all. Whether you are an avid mountain biker or just wanting to
get into the sport local Utah Valley mountains house some of the
best riding to suit your needs.
Utah County Adventure Opportunities
World Class Rock Climbing outside your back door!
by Dustin Lyons
Utah is home to some of the greatest
and most varied terrain in the world.
This opens up the opportunity for some
amazing outdoor adventure activities.
Within a short distance we have access
to high alpine mountains, and beautiful
deserts. One of the best activities available to people in Utah County is mountaineering. Mountaineering includes
many aspects, from hiking on trails, to
climbing rock and ice. While we don't
have the highest peaks, or as many
"14'ers" as Colorado, we do have some
of the best mountains, trails, and
climbs. There are many trails that will
take both the beginner, and the most
avid hikers to amazing places that will
satisfy the soul and provide a healthy,
and enjoyable activity. And for those
who are a slight bit more adventurous,
climbing is a great alternative.
Climbing can be a very safe, fun activ-
ity that will exercise your whole body
knowledge is a must for the outdoor
and mind. There are several world
adventurer, especially in winter. We
class climbing areas
have some truly awe
located in Utah County,
inspiring winter scenes
as well as many quality,
in our mountains, and
less popular places as
snowshoes and backwell. It is important
country ski's are an
with climbing to have
excellent way to vennot only proper equipture out side during the
ment, but also proper
winter months. For
knowledge in order to
many ice climbing is a
make it a safe activity.
strange and unusual
Climbing can be an
concept however those
excellent family activiwho do get out find it
ty as there are many
one of the most unique,
climbs of different skill
creative, and mindlevels, and most climbs
blowing ways to have a
Photo credit: Wesley Aston
are located in beautiful
really fun time when
mountain settings. When winter rolls
the cold arrives. We are truly blessed to
around there are also many opportunilive with such an abundance of outdoor
ties for the adventure seeker, like snowadventure opportunities available to us,
shoeing, backcountry skiing and ice
so why don't we all get out and enjoy
climbing. Again good gear and good
them.
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 7
2006 Suzuki
Grand Vitara
The Suzuki Grand Vitara
is a compact sport utility vehicle
that is packed full of great features. Completely redesigned
for 2006, Suzuki made significant changes to the Vitara. The
2006 model comes standard
with a 2.7 liter V-6 motor, producing 185 horsepower (that's
20 more horsepower than last
year's model). With the standard V-6, the Grand Vitara has a
towing capacity of 3000 pounds.
The Vitara is a five-passenger SUV that has features
generally reserved for much
more expensive vehicles. The
model I drove came equipped
with a "Smart Pass" keyless
entry/ignition which is a feature
that enables you to unlock the
doors or start the car without the
use of a traditional key (you can
unlock the doors or start the
Vitara as long as the keyless
remote is in your pocket or
purse). This is a really useful
feature, especially if your hands
are full or don't want to have to
fumble with your keys. A tradi-
tional key is stored inside the
remote for those who prefer to
use that instead. The Vitara
also came equipped with a
CD/MP3 player with a XM
Satellite Radio built in.
Standard safety features
in all models include dual-stage
front air bags, driver and frontpassenger side-impact air bags,
and overhead curtain airbags for
the 1st and 2nd rows. All models also come with antilock
brakes and electronic stability.
Steering-wheel audio controls
and automatic climate control
also come standard on all models.
This is a very stylish
sport utility vehicle available at a
very attractive price. The Grand
Vitara comes in either two or
four-wheel drive and they start
at under $20,000. Anyone in the
market for a SUV that delivers
an excellent value, great features, and a stylish look should
check out the 2006 Grand
Vitara.
H2 - It Drives Even
Better Than it Looks!
canyon road.
The leather on the
inside is the softest that I have
ever run my hand across. When
you add heat to the soft leather
seats, you may never want to get
our of your Hummer.
The H2 has built in a lot
of little extras that enhance your
driving experience, such as one
button to simultaneously roll
down all five windows (sides
and back!), side-view mirrors
automatically slant down to see
the sides of the vehicle when
you are in reverse, light-sensitive headlamps that come on
and go off automatically when
needed as the key is turned on
or off, x-m radio, a lot of leg
room and six dc plug/outlets.
If you are in the market
for a large SUV to haul your
family around and/or tow your
toys, you owe it to yourself to
put the H2 at the top of your list
to test drive!
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 9
I did not feel that was
possible! My ten-year old son
believes that Hummers are the
greatest vehicle ever made. He
has been telling me for a few
years that we need to buy one. I
had no interest in even taking a
test drive - but all that changed
in the first ten minutes of driving the 2006 H2. Right away it
was evident to my family and
me that the Hummer's ride is far
and away superior to that of our
V-10 truck. It doesn't feel like
the heavy truck that it is. The
H2 rides very smooth and the
power is again, better than my
V-10. In getting on the interstate for the first time, I hit the
gas pedal to accelerate into traffic, it put everyone of us back in
our seats with a chorus of wows
from my kids. I looked for the
first opportunity that I could to
take it on a windy canyon road
to see if the H2 would be hard to
handle on the curves; again, it
was an improvement on my
truck. The Hummer corners
very well even on a narrow
Two Great Family Camping
Trips. (with hundreds to choose from in Utah)
Page 10 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
Goblin Valley - This is one of Utah's 41
State Parks; about 30 minutes southwest of
Green River, Utah. Green River makes a
great base camp for both Goblin Valley and
Moab/Arches National Park.
Goblin Valley is a playground for kids of all
ages. One could take a 10 minute walk or
spend an entire day or more exploring the
scores of intricately eroded hoodoos.
There is camping at the state park for both
RV's and tents.
Zion National Park - This area is a family
favorite with camping both inside and outside the park. The fall is a great time to
visit Zion. The temperatures are still warm Hidden Canyon - Zion National Park
and the crowds are a little smaller.
Three hikes that you should put on your list are: The Narrows/River walk; one of
the most popular hikes in all of the National Parks. After the initial river walk
(paved and dry) you can spend whatever amount of time you have available
walking in the Virgin River. You need to check with the ranger station to make
sure it's open. Angels Landing; this is a little harder hike than some because
the last ½ mile you are scramble hiking the spine of the mountain; in some
places
using
chains
bolted
into the rock to
pull yourself up
to the top (not
recommended
for small children and close
supervision is
necessary). The
view is breathtaking and so is
the feeling of
accomplishment
you get from
standing on the
top! If you have
kids from age 412,
Hidden
Canyon is a
must. One of
the bus tour
drivers in Zion
National Park
called it a kids
playground, with
a long staircase,
3-4 foot ledges
and scramble
type climb to finish the hike.
SPLASH ON LESS CASH
Enjoying Personal Watercraft on
a Budget
By Dustin Sweeten
With the price of a
new personal watercraft
now topping $10,000.00,
and Lake Powell nearly
six hours away, you may
consider such indulgences as beyond your
financial means. The
enjoyment of skimming
your way across the water on a
personal watercraft may be
more affordable than you think
If you have never ridden a
personal watercraft and would
like to get your feet wet, rental
companies such as RENTAL
TOYS (400-1973) offer watercraft for $125 per day. If you
would like to purchase a watercraft but can't justify the cost of
a new machine POWERHOUSE
MOTORSPORTS
(785-2244) specializes in sales
and service of used machines.
They have used watercraft starting around $1000.00. In looking
for a used watercraft remember
that the older the machine the
more you will likely spend on
maintenance.
Watercraft generally come
in four types;
Stand up Models: These are
the least popular and hardest to
ride, but many experienced riders enjoy the challenge of a
stand up.
Single Person: These models
are easier to ride than a standup
but are still for the more experi-
enced rider. These are difficult
to board in deep water especially for a larger rider.
Two Person: The two person
models are much more stable
than the single rider models.
These work out great if you
don't plan to pull a skier and you
don't mind getting wet. A two
person is normally less expensive than a comparable three
person.
Three Person: Three person
models are the most popular
because of the versatility they
offer. They are very stable and
offer a much dryer ride. State
law requires at least a three person machine to pull a skier or
water toys.
While Lake Powell is a great
destination, Utah Lake is only
minutes away and the water is at
the highest level in years.
Marinas are located in Provo,
Lindon, American Fork and
Saratoga Springs. Utah Lake
State Park in Provo also offers
overnight camping.
So, when the summer
weather gets hot, go jump in the
lake!
Located in the heart of central Utah, Sevier County
offers outdoor opportunities for young and old
alike. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, biking and a thousand miles of off road
fun. Archeologists and history buffs can peek back in time nearly 8,000 years when some of the
earliest native Americans dwelt in the area. Right on Interstate 70 in central Utah, Sevier
County is easy to get to and offers numerous hotels, restaurants and other services to make
your visit enjoyable. Within a day's drive of five of the nation's most beautiful national parks,
Sevier County is the place to stop, the place to stay and most definitely the place to see.
The Paiute ATV Trail
This famous ATV trail is a continuous 260 mile loop over
three mountain ranges. Much of the trail is located in
the beautiful Fishlake National Forest and includes elevations from 5,100 to 12,000 feet and as well as novice
to advanced terrain. The trail passes through several
towns in central Utah with ATV friendly streets, allowing
riders to stay on their ATV’s to access lodging, gas or a
hot meal. With its mixture of large meadows, aspen and
spruce unsurpassed for fall colors, Monroe Mountain is a
favorite for ATV riders. On a clear day, it is possible to see for hundreds of
miles from the top of Monroe Mountain. In addition to the
loop, the system includes over 800 miles of additional
trails, making the Paiute one of the largest trail systems in
the United States. The Paiute Trail is a "must experience"
for ATV riders of all ages. To receive a free packet of
information about the trail, please call 1-877-47-EVENT
Page 12 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree
Each September, ATV enthusiasts from around the country
gather in Sevier County for the annual ATV Jamboree.
With guided rides on the Paiute and Great Western Trail systems, this six day event provides
an opportunity to get to know the trial, meet fellow ATV riders, and enjoy the beauty of Sevier
County. The Jamboree also hosts one of the largest ATV Parades in the nation. Held on
Richfield's Main street, the parade includes upwards of 1,000 ATVs and always draws a crowd.
Whether you are coming to learn the trail system or meet some new friends, the Rocky
Mountain ATV Jamboree is a great place to start.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VISITING SEVIER COUNTY, PLEASE CONTACT
OUR OFFICE AT 1-877-47-EVENT OR VISIT WWW.VISITSEVIER.COM OR
WWW.ATJVAM.COM
by
Jake
Petersen
A world-class adventure in
beautiful southeastern Utah!
Whether
you are
an experie n c e d
ATV rider or have never ridden
before, Black Hawk Tours can take
you and your family on the adventure of a lifetime!
Located in
Blanding, Utah (75 miles south of
Moab) you'll find some of the most
beautiful country just waiting for you
to explore. Black Hawk Tours offers
a variety of tours to suit the needs of
their guests. Tours are educational,
adventurous, and entertaining for the
whole family. Hidden out of sight of
highway travelers lies some of the
most remote, awe-inspiring sites you
will ever see. Black Hawk Tours is
family owned and operated giving
you friendly, personable tour guides
who are fun and knowledgeable.
Their extensive expertise coupled
with their outstanding hospitality will
make your tour unforgettable from
beginning to end. You will feel as if
you are a part of the family during
your entire adventure. The hospitality they extend is wonderful and
adds to the enjoyment of the experience.
The best part about taking an
adventure with Black Hawk Tours is
that they provide everything that
you need. Tours include all the
safety
equipment,
vehicles,
food/drinks, and any other necessary equipment. All tours include
ice-cold soft drinks and water and
the all day
t o u r s
include
l u n c h
(multi-day
t o u r s
include meals, camping gear and/or
accommodations - whatever suits
your needs).
You can choose to spend hours
or days in a specific area, as they
can customize the tours depending
on your preferences. Multi-day tours
can involve camping along the trail,
or you can choose to be picked up at
the end of each day and driven to a
hotel back in town. Special tours are
offered that take you along old historic Mormon trails, even across
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 13
Page 14 ~ Outdoor Bold Adventure
Lake Powell in a boat to a special
adventure hike. Photo tours and
GPS tours are also popular choices
and fun for everyone. There are so
many options available that the
adventures to be had are limitless.
Another advantage of Black
Hawk Tours is that Ben Black and the
other family members have
lived in this area most of their
lives. Ben loves to share the
sites and scenery with visitors and he seems to enjoy
the tours more than the
guests. Black Hawk Tours
takes special interest in your
enjoyment,
emphasizing
education and
providing an
enlightening
experience.
They
stress
safety
and
responsible, environmental stewardship
for this area by paying
attention to detail and
your special needs.
Another nice aspect
of these tours is that
they are mostly on
roads designed for
ATVs and are not old
4-wheel drive roads.
The tours take you to
areas that are remote
enough that
you avoid
the crowds
often found
in
other
popular
southern
Utah areas,
but you are
still
close
enough that
you
can
easily enjoy
all of the
comforts of
a small town
within a reasonable distance.
In my experience riding ATVs
I've seen some amazing scenery,
and I can say this area is at the top
of my must see list. Our tour to Arch
Canyon was absolutely amazing!
We spent the first half of the day riding along the trails and enjoying the
wonderful surroundings. We rode at
a comfortable pace for everyone in
our group, and made stops as necessary. Midway through the day we
arrived at the top of the canyon and
took a break to eat lunch. The lunch,
which was very delicious, was setup
by other Black Hawk Tours staff
members. Looking down into Arch
Canyon and the surrounding area,
we could see natural Arches, ancient
ruins, and the most spectacular view
of the area for miles and miles. We
talked with Ben about the specifics of
the sites, and just took some time to
sit back, relax, and gaze at a magnificent piece of nature. At the end of
our adventure we took off our gear,
hopped off of the ATVs, and simply
drove off in our car. Black Hawk
Tours takes care of all of the equipment which makes for an absolutely
effortless ending to a spectacular
day.
Taking a Black Hawk tour will
offer you spectacular scenery, wonderful hospitality, and the world-class
adventure of a lifetime. To get more
information or schedule your trip you
can contact Black Hawk Tours at
800-308-3460 or on the web at
http://www.blanding.net/index.htm
Black Hawk Tours can also be
reached via email at the following
a
d
d
r
e
s
s
:
blackhawktravel@citlink.net
Diggin' Some Family Time
ATVs Aren't Just For Hunters
It is a false perception that
ATVs are only for hunters and
farmers. Most ATVs are actually
sold for casual recreational use.
With ATVs being manufactured
from 50cc to 800cc no one need be
left out. Here is a review of the different types of ATVs.
4X4s: Four wheel drive ATVs come
in engine sizes from 300cc to 800
cc. New they range in price from
$5000- $8000. It is a common misconception that everyone should
buy an ATV with four wheel drive.
A 4X4 is normally needed for mud,
snow or extreme terrain. Hunters
might need a 4X4 while most recreational riders could get by with a
Outdoor Bold Adventure ~ Page 15
2X4.
2X4s: Adult two wheel drive utility
ATVs come sized 150cc to 400cc.
New prices are from $3000- $5000.
For most riding a 2X4 will go anywhere you need to go.
SPORT ATVs: Sport ATVs come in
sizes 200cc - 800cc. New prices
Range from $3000 to $7000. Sport
ATVs perform best in sand or desert
conditions. Because of higher gearing and manual clutches they are
less suited for mountain riding.
YOUTH ATVs: Youth ATVs range
in size from 50cc-100cc. New
prices
range
f r o m
$1400
t
o
$3000.
T h e
State of
U t a h
allows
kids age
8-15 to
ride on
any public trail once they have
passed a state safety course (call 1800-OHV-RIDE for more information)
UTVs: Several manufactures currently offer the new
side by side UTVs
priced
between
$9000 and $11,000.
UTVs are great for
many uses but are
too wide for some
ATV trails.
If you do not
know what type of
riding you might
enjoy,
RENTAL
TOYS (400-1973)
rents ATVs for $125
per day. If you
would like to purchase a used
machine
POWERHOUSE
MOTORSPORTS (785-2244) specializes in sales and service of used
ATVs. If you are more interested in
new ATVs check with PROVO
SKIDOO (373-8969) or ESCAPE
MOTORSPORTS (374-0602)
There are miles of trails in or
close to Utah County. Check with
your local ranger station for trail
maps. Be sure to stay on designated
trails. Also beware; ATV riding can
be very habit forming!