By Heather Madsen
Despite the recent thunderstorms and snow melt, we’ve been having some gorgeous spring days so far this month. Warmer weather, flowering trees and plants, and the desert sunshine have made heading outdoors almost irresistible. Lucky for us, Utah was built for outdoor enthusiasts, and hiking trails, camping sites, and bike paths are never too far away. If you’re the kind of person that’s been taking advantage of all of these incredible outdoor resources, then this upcoming event is sure to snag your attention.
Get ready for the 11th annual SLUG Cat! For the uninitiated, the SLUG Cat is an alleycat-style bike race held in conjunction with the Salt Lake UnderGround (SLUG) magazine’s bike issue. Everyone with a bike and love of puzzles is welcome to participate, no matter your skill level. Each contestant will be given a set of clues that will reveal locations around Salt Lake City. Your goal is to hit all of those locations as quickly as possible, solving puzzles and tasks along the way, before racing to the finish line. Successfully completing challenges set up at each clue location will earn you points and help boost your final score.
There will be a grand prize for the cyclist with the highest score, but no matter where you place in the race, you’ll feel like a winner at the finish-line afterparty! Enjoy the awards ceremony, prizes, and live music from DJ Nix Beats while partying and SLUG Mag HQ. It’s a unique and exciting event you don’t want to miss, so stretch out those calf muscles, dust off your bike, and join us for this year’s SLUG Cat!
The race kicks off at 5pm on May 27th at Saturday Cycles. In-person registration opens an hour before the race but you can also pre-register online. More information can be found at https://www.slugmag.com/event/11th-annual-slug-cat/.