By David Ward — If I were to nominate one day as the greatest day of professional bike racing in terms of determination, wonder and pure grit, I would propose the 1910 edition of Milan-Sanremo, La Classicissima, won by Eugène Christophe, he of Tour de France fame who in 1913 had to run down the […]

The post Book Review: “The Monuments” is a Monument to the Monuments appeared first on Cycling West - Cycling Utah.

By David Ward — October 7 of this past year found me in Nevada’s Kershaw-Ryan State Park, just outside of Caliente, Nevada, trying not to shiver in the 40°F temperature and awaiting the start of the Park to Park Pedal Century Ride. I chose this event as motivation to maintain my LOTOJA fitness for a […]

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By David Ward — The morning of the 2013 Alpe d’Huez stage, my friend, Elliot, called me about 9 a.m. He was vacationing in Wisconsin, and had been watching the Tour coverage that morning. I immediately told him to say nothing of the day’s stage as I would be watching it that night. He said the […]

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By David Ward — I have often written of my excitement for the Tour de France. Each year, by the end of July, it has come and gone, my late night Tour watching is over, my constant efforts to shield myself from Tour news during the day is finished. Sadly, the daily spectacle of watching […]

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By David Ward — In bicycling, there are tours. Then there are Tours. And then there is The Tour. Once again, July is fast approaching and the Tour de France will begin rolling through the flatlands, hills and mountains of France. Indeed, by the time you read this, the gun will have already sounded and The […]

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By David Ward — I told my daughter I could live in Sweden. Stockholm, at least, where we have spent most of our time during our two visits to Sweden. It is a beautiful, green, forested region with scenic blue lakes, rivers, bays, and inlets. Everyone speaks English and speaks it well. And you don’t need […]

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By David Ward — On March 14, 2022, on a beach in Santa Monica, California, Paul Spilker dipped his rear wheel into the Pacific Ocean and commenced pedaling east, his ultimate goal being to dip his front wheel in the Atlantic Ocean several weeks hence. Paul is not alone in deciding to ride across this beautiful […]

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By David Ward — The Salt Lake Marathon Bike Tour is not my kind of ride. Don’t get me wrong. It is a great ride. How often do you get the opportunity to pedal your bike for 26 miles around a busy metropolitan Salt Lake City and not have to stop, not even once? Nor do […]

The post Too Early, Too Cold, Great Ride – The Salt Lake Marathon Bike Tour appeared first on Cycling West - Cycling Utah.

By David Ward — A few years ago, we returned from a trip to the Netherlands and France. Toward the end of this sojourn, we were staying with some friends, Dominique and Annie. I had met Dominique, his mother and his sister, when I represented them in a wrongful death lawsuit involving Dominique’s father who was […]

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By David Ward — The Salt Lake Valley is rich in riding options. Yesterday, I was out riding 75 miles with four others as part of our LOTOJA training. One of our team members, Ace from Pocatello, commented on the nice route I had planned around the Salt Lake Valley, and how Pocatello simply did not […]

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By David Ward — The major story from this year’s Tour de France is, of course, the remarkable return of Mark Cavendish. Following that is Tadej Pogačar’s domination and overall victory. But a more subtle and yet compelling take-away is the cementing of the emergence of a new generation in the pro peloton. First, Mark […]

The post Tour de France 2021: Redemption, Dominance and a New Generation appeared first on Cycling West - Cycling Utah.

By David Ward — Mexico City. When my daughter Jessica, who works for the Foreign Service, was first assigned to work in the embassy there, I wasn’t really excited to visit. My wife and I have followed Jessica around the world, visiting her in her various assignments in American embassies. Each place has been exciting […]

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By David Ward — What does July mean? Well, the Tour, of course. Which tour you say? There is only one Tour. Everything else is the Tour de or Tour of something. But when someone says, “the Tour” with no other reference, they can only mean the Tour de France. [Editor’s Note: This story is from […]

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By David Ward — For this month’s column, I dug into the archives for one of my favorite articles. This is one I wrote 19 years ago about my mom, my southern Idaho roots, and a ride through memory lane. I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed the ride and writing about it. […]

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Riding the canals in . . . Arizona? Well, yes. Metropolitan Phoenix, to be exact. It may not be Amsterdam or Venice, but metropolitan Phoenix has, as one can well imagine, a rather extensive canal system. My daughter and her husband, Marielle and Scott, moved to Mesa about 13 years ago, much to my dismay. […]

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I thank the stars for COVID-19. With people staying home and with little commuting for work, errands or otherwise, the roadways have been nearly abandoned. Conditions could hardly be better for a confirmed roadie like me. I am jesting, of course. I recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, the many thousands of deaths it […]

The post No Cars, Better Cycling appeared first on Cycling West - Cycling Utah.

So, Texas is big. I had my first full realization of that five years ago. My daughter and her family had just recently moved to Fort Worth, and we decided to make the drive to see them. Being the ambitious people we are, and we decided to make a triangle of the trip, driving first […]

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I hate getting old. Can I just say that? Hearing, eyesight, arthritis . . . it’s all a pain. Physically, mentally and emotionally. I have been an active person all my life because it was fun and good therapy. Now I find myself at the stage where, in addition to fun and therapy, I pursue […]

The post A Journey of Discovery: A Bike Tour to Mesa, Arizona appeared first on Cycling West - Cycling Utah.

We finished 7.5 miles of cross-country skiing around the Brimstone and Antelope Loop trails, had finished our dinner and were relaxing in front of the fire playing a game of Quiddler. It was then I recalled I needed to write my article for this year’s first issue of Cycling Utah. Bicycling, I thought? But I […]

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NEW STUFF  There is nothing like new stuff. Don’t get me wrong. I take care of my things, and am proud when something lasts well. I have an old ski parka from when I was a teenager that I still wear when working outside during the winter. And my 1998 4Runner now has in excess […]

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