Maxxis is the official tire sponsor of the Tour de Park City. The Race and Super Century course travels over 5.75 miles of hardpack dirt. No we are not talking about a nasty gravel road. Each year Summit County applies a coating of magnesium chloride to the dirt section eliminating dust and 85% of the loose rocks.

This is still dirt though and riders in the past have flatted because they have ultra light race tires on their bikes.

We talked with the folks at Maxxis and they reccomend two tire options.

The first is the Columbiere.

The Columbiere is designed for the true road racer. The Columbiere’s slick design, with subtle siping, allows racers to cover ground in any conditions with plenty of confidence.

Grooved slick design - front or rear
2-ply nylon breaker for increased puncture resistance
Pro road competition tire

The second tire is geared more for training but Rhett who is my partner in the Tour de Park City has put 6,000 miles on a set without a single flat!

The Re-Fuse is our second choice.

Maxxis' most popular training tire- providing excellent traction, durability and plenty of road miles in any condition. The Kevlar® belt and silkworm cap ply combine to provide a tire that Re-Fuses to puncture.


Diamond knurled slick design
Kevlar belt and silkworm cap for maximum puncture resistance
Training tire.

Either tire option will give you a solid tire that won't let you down when you hit the dirt section on the Tour de Park City course.

Here are the links to both tires:

Columbiere: http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Road-Racing/Columbiere.aspx

Re-Fuse: http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Road-Training/Re-Fuse.aspx

Check out all the tires at www.maxxis.com

For those riding in the July 17 Tour the route is posted on Garmin Connect.

Here is the link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37712606

Remember the Tour starts and finishes at Newpark Town Center in Kimball Junction just off of I-80 near Park City.

The tour is a great out and back route on some of Utah's least traveled roads. This is great for riders because you don't have to deal with as many cars. The tour has only three moderate hills to climb the rest of the course is pretty flat.

The route passes by three lakes and joins the historic Mormon Trail to East Canyon.

Remember we are only accepting 600 riders this year so register soon. Register at www.tourdeparkcity.com

The Freebie item this year for everyone who rides either part of the Tour de park City is a custom printed Camelbak Podium Bottle. I love this bottles because you just pull it out and squirt. No lids to mess with.

If you haven't tried them I highly recommend it.Check out the full podium bottle line at

http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/bottles/podium-bottle-24oz.aspx

Aid Stations/Water Stops and Relay Exchange Points

This information is posted on the website also.

Location of Aid Stations for the SuperCentury & Race:
#1 – Location is at the Basin Road at mile marker 26.2 (Big Left Turn on Dirt Road)
#2 – Location is at the Recreation Center in Evanston, WY at mile marker 46.65(Top of the hill)
#3 – Location is at Bear River Camp site at mile marker 75.0
#4 – Location is at MooseHorn Camp site at mile marker 93.2
#5 – Location is at Samak outside of Kamas at mile marker 121.5
Additional Water Stop Only:
#1 – Mile Marker 60.65 at LDS Chapel
#2 – Mile Marker 89.6 at Butterfly Camp ground
Relay exchange points
5 person relay:
#1 – End of Dirt road section of event – Mile marker 29.50
#2 – At LDS Chapel – Mile marker 60.65
#3 – At Butterfly Camp ground – Mile marker 89.60
#4 – At Samak outside Kamas – Mile marker 121.50
4 person relay:
#1 – At mile marker 37.80
#2 – At Bear River Camp ground – Mile marker 75.0
#3 – At Provo Dot – Mile marker 111.2
3 person relay:
#1 – At mile marker 46.65
#2 – At Provo River Falls – Mile marker 99.88
2 person relay:
#1 – At Bear River Camp ground – Mile marker 75.0

Race and Super Century Course on Garmin Connect

The Tour de Park City race and super century course is now posted on Garmin Connect. Garmin's site allows you to download the course directly to your Edge 305, 605, or 705 cycling gps units.

The link to the Tour de Park City Course is http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35992938

If you don't have an Edge you need one. These things give you all the cycling data you could ever dream of. My Edge 705 gives speed, cadence, heart rate, distance, altitude, calories burned, total elevation gain and loss, along with base maps, and a feature that allows you to ride against yourself on a previous course and a whole lot more.

The Edge 305 is pretty reasonable at about $300.

You can find more info at www.garmin.com

Happy Riding.