Tribulus terrestris

Also known as puncture vine, caltrop, bull's head, goathead, devil's eyelashes, devil's thorn,  tackweed, and Texas sandbur, along with many names I have heard bicyclists call out as they roll to stop with this insidious thorn making its mark.

Yesterday was the first thorn of the season, no damage since I ride with liners and Slime on the mountain bike. But many out there don’t use these methods and have a miserable ride, often a very short ride.

I have included a couple of photos that I took along the Jordan River trail, south of Gardner Village. They show you the spreading pattern and a close-up of the diabolical thorn, when mature these thorns separate, leaving 2 of more of the thorns. They have the uncanny ability to always have the longest thorn pointing skyward ready to hitch a ride albeit it a short one most of the time.

Took the Jordan parkway with a short out and back to Decker Lake, I came up 3100 South past Redwood road around the cultural center using the new road. Joined the trail just east of the river and continued south. The trail is in pretty good condition to south of Gardner Village.

At 4500 south underpass someone has pulled down the conduit for the lighting, it is sticking out into the path enough you want to pay attention going either direction.

Be sure to look for the new trail connection south of Winchester road, it heads to the west and makes a pretty steep climb. Great for short burst cardio and when coming back down gives a nice elevated view of the area.

Yesterday I decided to ride the Utah Marathon route. For those that have ridden the Salt Lake Marathon this is not that ride. All the downhill for the Salt  Lake Marathon converts to uphill for the Utah Marathon.

The climbs from the start are not anything to worry about, at 2700 south and 11^th east they get a little longer, the Evergreen climb is just short of 1 mile and the last of it begins to show you the elevation increase.

Enjoy the downhill from the top of Evergreen to 4500 south, as you come around the corner and look up…. How bad can it be? Well its starts off not bad but with more than half way that all changes, all the way to Wasatch Blvd. 

The Blvd. is not anything after tackling 4500, a climb up to the trailhead for Parleys gulch. The Gulch,  gee it looks downhill mostly, ah that section that reverse’s up to the overpass for the freeway, lots of bikers slow here.

A short ride along Foothill Blvd, quick right at the top of a slight hill, left on Wasatch Blvd. and  you’re on what is sometimes referred to as Bonneville shoreline trail.  Around 1300 south you start a gradual climb that increases as you go through the golf course heading east.  Left turn at the top of this and a fast downhill to the mouth of Emigration Canyon, left turn and down past the Zoo and on to Arapeen Drive.

From here I took a different route because of traffic and construction, I returned to the route at Federal Heights Drive, from here the route is clear except the transition to 11^th Ave. I would expect going up Alta to Fairfax, up Virginia and left onto 11^th Ave.

Slight uphill and finally some well-earned downhill, just about to the finish!  I rode 36 miles while doing this and it took me 2 ½ hours of steady going, considering the traffic it was a good ride!

I learned if I am going to ride this event I need to ride a lot more hills, A LOT MORE!   Enjoy the riding, Dave.