DIRT PaVEMEnT aDVoCaCY RaCIng ToURIng ... - Cycling Utah

MAY 2007 cycling utah.com 17Book reviewHow to Live Well Without Owning a CarBy Lou MeliniTrue or False:1. According to AAA, the averageAmerican spends $8,410 per year toown an automobile.2. The Surface TransportationPolicy Project states that the averageAmerican spends 443 hours annuallyin a car.3. Edmonds.com calculates that ifyou purchased a used 2001 ToyotaCamry LE in 2005, the true costof the car after 5 years is actually$26,411.4. Taking the average expenditureof a car, investing it at an 8% return,you will be a millionaire in 40 years.All of the above answers aretrue except for number 4. The correctanswer to #4 according to Mr.Balish is 30 years! You will find allof these tidbits and more in ChrisBalish’s new book, How to LiveWell Without Owning a Car.If your car seems like a moneypit, financial calculations makeyou dizzy and you are looking forthat pot of gold at the end of therainbow, then “How to Live WellWithout Owning a Car” is for you.Balish does briefly discuss globalwarming, pollution, and environmentalinsults due to cars. Primarilyhe is going to make you feel goodwhere most people like to feel good,in the wallet or pocketbook. Yes, hewill make not owning a car equal tosomeone landing on your Boardwalkproperty with hotels.Before I give too much praisefor Chris Balish’s book, I have toCholla - from page 13Except for a one-mile loose,sandy section that Simmons tookout of the course and a two-milesection he added, the course wasthe same as past years. It startedoff through a wash, went into ashort moderately uphill sectionof slickrock, then riders climbedtowards a brake-burning, rockydownhill section. The combinationof sand, washes and singletrackwere then thrown in amongst thenumerous whoops to keep riderson their toes.Those whoops are the veryobstacles that helped take expertrider Kris Arnatt of Salt Lake Cityout of the race. The constant teetertotteringtakes a toll on the legsand Arnatt said he couldn’t find arhythm and DNF’d about halfwaythrough his three laps.Not everyone’s a fan of a flatterMidwest-style XC race, butSager is. Though the top finisheris a well-known rider throughoutthe Intermountain Cup series onall types of terrain, the flat ChollaChallenge is a good change. “I liketo do more than pedal uphill andcoast downhill,” he says.But Gillespie and expertwomen’s rider Sara Watchorn(Revolution) don’t necessarilyagree. Perhaps the hardest part ofthe race was the lack of downhillGillespie said. “You’re pedalingthe whole time for two plus hours.”And Watchorn thinks the downhillsare worth suffering on the climbs.There was some shufflingaround in the expert women’scategory between this race andthe Classic Desert Rampage.Erin Collins, who took first in St.George, raced pro in Hurricane andWatchorn grabbed the top spot onthe podium. She finished a minuteahead of teammate Erika Powers(Revolution), who took fifth in St.make a disclaimer. I and 3 other SaltLakers (Julie Bond, formerly withUTA, Michael Wise of the Salt LakeBike Collective, and Travis Jensenwith the Utah Bicycle Coalition)are quoted in this book. I have beenawaiting his book since exchanginge-mails with him last year. Forthe record, I purchased my book atthe Green Building Center; no freelunch for this review.“If you currently own or leasea car, truck or SUV, this book hasthe power to give you a $5,000 to$10,000 raise.”The first of four sections inBalish’s book discusses the economicsof owning a car, and asCarBusters Magazine states, targetsAmericans who haven’t thoughtabout the financial affects of owninga car.“Being able to get to and fromwork reliably is a fundamentalrequirement for living car free.”In section two he discusses thisfundamental need. Included arechapters on public transit, bicycles,motorcycles and scooters, and anexcellent chapter on walking. Healso asks the most important questionin one chapter entitled, “Shouldyou move closer to where youwork?” He even includes a shortchapter on grooming. If there isanother edition, he should add achapter for those who need to leavework at times for meetings, salescalls, or deliveries.“Virtually any errand and almostall shopping can be done easily andconveniently without ever gettingGeorge, and three minutes aheadof third place finisher ChandaJeppson (Cedar Cycle/ColorCountry), who claimed the samespot as the rampage. All averagedbetween 10 and 11 mph with timesof 2:12:07, 2:13:16 and 2:15:19.Despite her strong finish, Watchornwasn’t satisfied. “I woulda liked tohave felt a little better at the end,”she smirked.Despite the heat and dry, dustytrails, even first-timers like StacyGriswold (Team Red Rock), atruck driver from Southern Utah,had a great time. “I’d do it again,”he said after finishing sixth inhis debut mountain bike race. Heexpected the race to be a $31 trailride, but he said the competitionkept him pushing his body harder.“Passing people was awesome!”Perhaps the biggest surprisein registration came in the sportclass. “Sport men 30-34 and sportmen 40+ were both huge classes,”says Simmons. The categorieshad 18 and 28 competitors respectively.Pro women had three riders– Jennifer Hanks (Revolution/PeakFasteners), Kara Holley (MadDog/Subaru/Gary Fisher) and ErinCollins who finished in that order– while single-speeders chalked upsix riders.From Hurricane, IntermountainCup riders travel to Lehi for the13th Annual Showdown at 5-milePass on May 5. The relatively flatraces are finished, and now it’s onto the higher-altitude courses withleg-burning climbs, screaming-fastdownhills and cooler temperaturesunlike the Cholla. “I set this one upto give it a little variety,” Simmonssays. “I think this is a good course– a good tune-up for the racescoming up.”See race results on page 18.into a car”.Section three discusses the nearlyequally important non-work transportation.This is a rarity in mostbooks of this type. One chapter isdevoted to socializing and datingwithout a car. Unfortunately, SaltLake City doesn’t have a car-sharingprogram like the one he discusses.“Living well without a car”Section four eases the uninitiatedinto a car-free lifestyle. It alsotouches on going car-lite and how tohandle life with children with lesscar use. Chris even has a chapter on“what to do with that extra time andmoney”The book received good reviewsin Bike Culture Magazine (EastCoast) and CarBusters Magazine.However the latter also stated thatif you are a dedicated car-free orcar-lite devotee, then the book isnot the book to buy. I disagree withthat, as it will reinforce your argumentsto those who worry aboutyour lifestyle. “Cutting Your CarUse” by Ghent and Semlyen andpreviously reviewed in CyclingUtah “Divorce Your Car” by KatieAlvord (both published by NewSociety Publishers) are two similarbooks with different focuses. If youare thinking of getting rid of a car,this is your book. Or, if you have afriend who is constantly complainingabout the cost of a car, thiswould make a great gift.How to Live Well Without Owninga Car by Chris Balish.Ten-Speed Press, 2006.Driver in WilliamsDeath SentencedOn October 16, 2005, RogelioMolina struck and killed cyclistClaude O. Williams on N. Templein Salt Lake City. Molina’s bloodalcohol level was 0.14. Thevehicle continued on after hittingWilliams. The accident was witnessedby a cab driver who calledpolice. On October 23, 2006in Third District Court, Molinaplead guilty to AutomobileHomicide, a third degree felony.On January 8, 2007, Molina wassentenced to 2 years in jail followedby 36 months probation byJudge William Barrett. BecauseMolina is not a U.S. citizen andis in the country illegally, he willbe deported after serving his jailsentence and not be allowed backinto the U.S. If he returns to theU.S., he would be required toserve the remaining 36 months.The District Attorney’s office feltthat with the evidence available,they prosecuted the case withthe best outcome possible. Theycontacted Mr. Wiliams' family tomake sure that they were comfortablewith the plea bargain.“After talking with the family (ofMr. Williams), and knowing theirwishes, we felt this (sentence)was something we could livewith,” said Bob Stott of the SaltLake County District Attorney’sOffice.Keep up on all theHappenings -Subscribe toCycling Utah -Only $15/Year July 9R.A.N.A.T.A.DRide Around Nebo And Timp in A DayThis is an organized ride. Entry fee includes 4 Feed Zones,T-Shirt and a surprise for all that finish.$35 • To register please call us at 1-801-223-4849.“165 Miles, 11,000 Vertical Feet, No Problem.”Sundance/Soldier HollowWeekly Mountain Bike Race SeriessundanceEach race: $10 • Season race pass: $75To register please call us at 1-801-223-4849.May 23 & 30June 13 & 27July 11 & 25August 8 & 22soldi e rhollowwww.sundanceresort.com • 801-223-4849Programs, artists and venues subject to change without notice.3 . 9 " ( 2 c o l . ) x 9 " May 9 & 19June 6 & 20July 4 & 18August 1 &15Sundance/Park’s SportsmanSuper-D Race Series$20 • To register please call us at 1-801-223-4849.May 28 • July 4 • August 18 • September 8