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UtahMountainBiking.com |
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The final race of the 2014 Utah Cyclocross season was held
on the new track at the Draper Bike
Park. On a warmish Saturday, December
6th, our UMB CX racers enjoyed dry trail. The race was held at the
Equestrian Center on Highland Blvd in Draper. The course was in the oak
brush surrounding the skills area of the bike park.
Mike Engberson sprints up the stairs. |
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The course was 1.6 miles per lap. This most "mountain
bike-ish" of CX venues offered a mix of broad dirt trails, narrow
sprints, and twisting singletrack in the trees. No more "endless
miles" along the railroad tracks..
Geek bonus: GPX
track of race loop for download Enclosed within the loop are the skills area (green), pump track (yellow) and the flow trails (orange trails east of the pump track). |
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After a quick sprint on the pavement alongside Highland
Drive, the course went over the traditional dirt bump, then dropped down
into singletrack as it ducked under the flyover.
Rick Morris rounds the turn toward the flyover. Given the nature of this course, Rick's choice of weapons was his XC racing Scalpel. At trailside, cheerleader Adam Reynders shouts encouragement. |
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After climbing back up the hill, there was a short sprint to
get enough speed to get up the steep ramp of the flyover.
Rick grunts the last few feet to the platform at the top. |
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Now the trail ran into two stretches of narrow tree-lined
singletrack, first downhill along the creek then back up.
Next, head for the pond and the slippery slag on the west side. Mark Messer sprints through the gambel oak. |
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In addition to the usual tight off-camber turns, racers
enjoyed railing the high berms of the speed turns.
Nice berms! Rail that sucka! |
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Now it was time to climb back to the top of the hill via a
long stairway.
And dear gentle viewer, may we remind you that the UtahMountainBiking store in Lehi has those great Ridley Cyclocross bikes? Plus parts and service. Dallin Hatch hoofs up the hill. |
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The lap then hit a long stretch of dirt bumps. Make your
move and pass -- if you can keep the bumps from flipping you over the
bars.
Next a quick meander on singletrack at the western end of the loop before heading back to the start-finish zone on the pavement. Looking down the speed bumps. |
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| Christian Burrell | Corey Spencer | Dallin Hatch |
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| Jason Sparks | Joe Benson | John Twitchell |
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| Mark Messer | Rick Morris | Shane Horton |
| UtahMountainBiking.com Team Results
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