Dave Zabriskie - Yield to Life Time Trial Challenge
Bikes for Kids and Dave Zabriskie Inaugural Time Trial Challenge. A successful weekend of events in Salt Lake City. Trips for Kids to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Gala Dinner and Auction in November.

By Brian Grenier
Photos Copyright Chip Smith & Bikes for Kids Utah.

Dave Z in action on Traverse Mountain.

Twenty amateur riders challenged Dave Zabriskie in a three-mile time trial race up Traverse Mountain in Draper, Utah to benefit his bicycle advocacy organization, Yield to Life. The inaugural Yield to Life Time Trial Challenge is the only race that gives amateur cyclists the opportunity to race against the current USA time trial champion.

Yield to Life Time Trial Challenge benefits cycling awareness campaigns, educational programs and road and sign improvements; a non-profit organization founded by  Zabriskie in 2007, is dedicated to the protection of cyclists and the promotion of safe cycling. Zabriskie has been hit by cars no less than three times while training on his bike in his home town of Salt Lake City, Utah

Two riders challenge the three mile climb with Salt Lake Valley in the distance.

Event participants took on a 3.25 mile course with an elevation gain of more than 1,300 feet with 10 percent to 12 percent grades in some locations. The time trial began at the base of Salt Lake City's famed Traverse Mountain, traveled up Traverse Ridge Road, and finished at Suncrest Market.

Debbie and Todd Reid pose with David Zabriskie. Debbie is the Executive Directory of Bikes for Kids. Debbie and Todd are part of a group of 20 volunteers who planned and coordinated the weekend events.

"The time trial was a lot of fun," said Dave Zabriskie, current two-time national time trial champion and the third American ever to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. "The climbs in the mountains around the Salt Lake Valley are just as difficult as the climbs I've raced on in Europe. I still raced my hardest, but it was a lot more relaxing racing for charity and hanging out with the local riders and racers."

Z-man with some of the event participants.

The Yield to Life Time Trial Challenge is a fun way to provide cyclists an opportunity to see what it would be like to race on the same course against a world-class athlete and raise money for charity at the same time. Dave Zabriskie finished the course with a time of 14 minutes, 3 seconds. Event participants represented varying skill levels in six different age categories.

Results:
Dave Zabriskie (14:03)
Elliott Smith (17:21)
Ken Webster (17:26)
Curtis Doman (19:26)
Zane Morris (19:59)
Gerald Greenleaf (21:27)
Barry Gates (21:50)
Dan Wilcox (23:25)
Todd Holsten (23:32)
Joe Taylor (23:41)
Bryan Lepinske (23:50)
Michael Conti (24:38)
Shane Evertsen (24:59)
Brian Grenier (25:07)
Ann Hoffman (25:09)
John Karen (25:45)
Todd Reid (27:18)
Scott Finlinson (27:22)
Cyndie Daley (28:15)
Lynn Smith (28:58)
For a complete breakdown of the race results here. 

Bike for Kids was able to distribute 1000 bicycles, helmet, locks and T shirts this year to children from Salt Lake as well as some of the surrounding areas reaching as far north as Logan UT and south to Blanding, UT. 75 bicycles and full kits were also distributed to the Navaho Nation.

The grade kicks up around this corner.

Over the weekend professional cyclist and USA Time Trial Champion Dave Zabriskie (CSC/SSC) hosted the Bikes for Kids Utah, his home state. The main focus of Bikes for Kids Utah is to provide disadvantaged children with a positive education and effective life-skills learned through owning and riding a bicycle. To accomplish this, the awardees are instructed in bicycle safety-the importance of obeying traffic signals and wearing helmets. This education is also enhanced as the children are also taught the importance of regular exercise and how riding a bike can provide that, and who can forget that first feeling of freedom that our very first bicycle brought!

Dave in his USA Time Trial Champion's jersey climbs Traverse.

This year’s event attracted over 75 riders and 1000 kids. Friday’s events included a 3.25 mile time trial up the locally famous Traverse Ridge that shows an elevation gain just short of 2000 feet in less than 3.25 miles! The event was masterfully put on by Jay Elggren, President Of Black Bottoms Cycle Wear, even with impending weather riders enjoyed a well run event-dear God what a hill! Winners in their respective age groups were awarded CSC jerseys signed and delivered by Dave Z.

For Friday evening there was a formal fund raising dinner and silent auction hosted at the Hidden Valley Country Club. The proceeds of this $100.00 a plate dinner and auction went directly to the Bike for Kids organization. The speakers for the evening were Debbie Reid President of Bikes for Kids Utah as well as Dave Z. himself bravely taking on questions from the audience. The evening was capped off with the awarding of the auction items to their highest bidder! A great time was enjoyed by all.

Todd Reid makes the final grade.

Saturday’s events included a 50K and 30K ride through the streets of Salt Lake City Utah. The even organizers had a 100K planned however the route had been snowed in the night before. The first riders in the 50 K took off at 8am under threatening skies followed by the 30K group lead by Dave Zabriskie at 9am. Riders were treated to various climbs in the local area with a breakfast stop at about the half way point. After feasting on various breakfast items riders finished up the rides as the skies decided it was time to release its accumulated moisture back down to mother earth!

Bike for Kids was able to distribute 1000 bicycles, helmet, locks and T shirts this year to children from Salt Lake as well as some of the surrounding areas reaching as far north as Logan UT and south to Blanding, UT. 75 bicycles and full kits were also distributed to the Navaho Nation.

Events like this just don’t happen and it is the combined work of many people, numerous sponsors and supporters. The volunteers that helped in the event are the unsung hero’s whose hard work and dedication is unparalleled and is even a greater sacrifice if you take into account the weather.

On the personal side I would like to thank Todd and Shelia Carton as well as Seth and Pat Banner for making me feel like the long lost brother and son returning home as well as Jay Elggren of Black Bottom Cycle wear for graciously sponsoring my attendance and a guests at the Friday night event. Chip Smith of SOAR Communications was on hand to do photographers duty during the weekend. Chip who managed promotion of the event was quick to remind us that the the motto for the Bike's for Kids events is that "it's about the kids", and not about all the individuals, companies and organizations who put on the event. Take note below on the 20th anniversary dinner and auction announcement below in Marin on November 3rd.

The event couldn’t be complete without the main attraction of Utah’s own Dave Zabriskie who took the time away from the rigors of professional cycling to lend his name to this worthy cause, Thanks Dave! For those of you that didn’t go or stayed away due to weather I have to say, you missed it! Don’t let this fantastic weekend of riding get away from your charity ride calendar next year. Stay in touch by book-marking the page Bikes for Kids Utah

Second Annual Bikes for Kids Utah Event Deemed A Great Success
Despite Cold Temperatures and Rain
Fundraising events provided brand new bicycles, helmets, locks and bicycle safety instruction to 1,000 underprivileged Utah children In spite of rain and cold temperatures, Bikes for Kids Utah secured the funds and volunteers needed to distribute free brand new bicycles, helmets, bike locks and bicycle safety instruction to 1,000 underprivileged Utah second graders, Saturday October 6, 2007.

Saturday's event also included 3K family and 50K fundraising rides and an exclusive ride with Dave Zabriskie, a Salt Lake City native and the third American ever to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Proceeds from the rides went towards providing the different items given to the children that day.

"Bikes for Kids Utah was successful on so many fronts," said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. "We had great support from the community, Dave Zabriskie, sponsors, presenters, volunteers and the cyclists. Seeing a smile on the face of one child while receiving a bike was enough. Seeing hundreds of smiling faces made it even better."

Throughout the event, hundreds of Utah second-graders were greeted by more than 60 volunteers and sponsors who distributed bikes and accessories. Volunteers also led students through a bicycle safety fair. Students and their families walked from tent to tent collecting bicycle accessories, being fitted for helmets and watching a bicycle produce enough energy to turn on a light bulb, a display provided by Murray City Power, among others.

"This event is like the trick or treating of Halloween and the anticipation of Christmas rolled into one for these kids," said Rachael Bess, mother of Trishan Bess, a second grader from Sandy Elementary School. "This new bicycle is all Trishan has talked about for the last two weeks. You can be sure nothing was going to keep him from coming today."

Bikes for Kids Utah is funded through multiple sponsorships, a fundraiser dinner and silent auction and various fundraising rides held on the same day the bicycles were give to the children. One of rides participants contributed $1,000 to ride 50k with Dave Zabriskie, the current two-time national time trial champion and the third American ever to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

"Cycling has been a huge part of my life," said Dave Zabriskie, Salt Lake native and Tour de France stage winner. "It has provided me with a lot of freedom and taught me that exercise, discipline and responsibility can be fun. It felt good helping the kids get their new bicycles and I hope they have as much fun with their bikes as I do with mine."

The Bikes for Kids fundraiser dinner and silent auction held Friday October 5 at the Hidden Valley Country Club, raised more than $11,000 through dinner tickets and donated auction items. Donated items included a Halo Xbox and 52-inch flat-screen TV from Costco, sunglasses from Smiths Sport Optics, fragrant gift sets from Nordstrom, autographed sports artwork of Stuart O'Grady, Lance Armstrong, Apolo Ono and Chad Hendrix by local teenage artist TJ Eisenhart, and numerous gift certificates by local vendors and sports teams, to name a few.

Bikes for Kids Utah also benefited from generous personal donations including $10,000 from Dave and Ginger Marshall, from Salt Lake City. Marshall was injured by a car while riding his bike. After using the insurance settlement to cover his medical bills and to replace his bike, Marshall donated the remaining portion of the settlement to support Bikes for Kids Utah. Dave and Ginger also attended Saturday's event as volunteers handing out the bikes.

In conjunction with Bikes for Kids Utah event, the inaugural Yield to Life Time Trial Challenge was held Friday, the day before the bike giveaway. Yield to Life is a non-profit organization founded this year by Zabriskie to help educate automobile drivers and cyclist on how to safely share the road. Proceeds from the Time Trial Challenge help fund the Yield to Life organization.

In an effort to enjoy better weather for the event and ensure the children more riding time on their new bikes, next year's Bikes for Kids Utah events are tentatively scheduled for summer 2008.

Trips for Kids to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Gala Dinner and Auction
Organization patrons and cycling enthusiasts gather to launch inner-city bike program into the next decade Trips for Kids celebrates 20 years of empowering youth with a dinner auction from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on November 3, 2007, at the Mill Valley Community Center in Marin, California.

The limited live auction portion of the event is expected to draw both generous patrons and a captive audience of cycling fans. Noteworthy auction items include:
* High-end mountain bikes donated by Ellsworth and Maverick.
* A bike trip through Europe offered by Trek Travel and American Airlines.
* A cycling trip to Moab, Utah, contributed by Western Spirit Cycling.
* A private mountain bike ride on Mount Tamalpais with mountain bike legend, Gary Fisher.

The event will also feature a silent auction with an extensive collection of bike-related goods. Other event sponsors include Tom Weisel Partners, ZteaM cycling, Wilderness Trail Bikes and Transportation Alternatives of Marin.

In the last 20 years, Trips for Kids has led more than 38,000 underserved youth on mountain bike adventures. Each ride builds confidence and teaches valuable life skills as youth dig deep for strength to climb mountains. At the same time, youth are taught to appreciation nature and better appreciate their roles as caretakers of the environment.

Modeled after its flagship program in the San Francisco Bay area, fifty-seven Trips for Kids chapters across North America are working together to take low-income, inner-city, or otherwise at-risk youth on mountain bike adventures. Former students confirm the impact of their Trips for Kids rides.

"I had never been into the woods before and I could feel the difference in the air - it was thin and fresh," said 19-year-old Edwin Martinez. "I had asthma as a kid and I could really feel the difference. I still love to go out on the trail now."

"It was the best time I ever had," said 23-year-old Vianney Gutierrez. "I remember every single bit of the trip and will for the rest of my life."

The widespread achievements and growth of Trips for Kids' outreach comes with an increasing price. Sixty percent of the funding for Trips for Kids comes from the sale of donated merchandise through its Re-Cyclery Thrift Shop - perhaps the largest bicycle thrift shop of its kind in the country. Located in San Rafael, this green business is a community center for affordable and environmentally friendly transportation.

Trips for Kids relies on financial donations to pay for organization expenses not covered by Re-Cyclery Thrift Shop profits. Proceeds from the 20th Anniversary Celebration will boost the expansion of Trips for Kids' award-winning programs into more communities across the country.

To purchase event tickets or make a donation, please email info@tripsforkids.org - call (415) 458-2986, or visit www.tripsforkids.org.

Current Bikes for Kids Utah sponsors include:
Auquafina, Costco, Intermountain Financial Group, Mass Mutual, Murray City Rotary, SoBe Life Water and the Utah Grizzlies. For a complete list of sponsors, please visit http://bikesforkidsutah.com/sponsors.shtml.

For more information about Bikes for Kids Utah, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.org. Photos of the Bikes for Kids Utah event will be posted to the Web site later this week.

About Bikes for Kids Utah
Formed in 2006, Bikes for Kids Utah, a non-profit organization, provides bicycles for underprivileged children of second grade school age throughout the Salt Lake Valley by means of its event registration proceeds, auctions, and through private and corporate donations. Its annual bicycle fundraising events raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with bicycles each year. For more information regarding the events, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.org or call 801-523-3730.

About Yield to Life
Yield to Life, a non-profit organization founded by world-class cyclist David Zabriskie in 2007, is dedicated to the protection of cyclists and the promotion of safe cycling. Hit by cars no less than three times while training on his bike in his home town of Salt Lake City, Utah. Zabriskie created Yield to Life to improve the relationship between motorist and cyclist and promote an environment of respect and care for all life on the road. Through intense awareness campaigns, educational programs, and road and sign improvements, Yield to Life hopes to protect the lives of all cyclists and encourage more people to choose cycling as an environmentally-friendly means of transportation and as a means of fun and healthy recreation. For more information, please contact yieldtolife@gmail.com.

Marketing: SOAR Communications