In the women’s division, Renée Draper took first, Melissa Ilardo took second and Marian Lewis took third. In the men’s division, Clint Campbell took first, Carlos Garcia took second and three-time winner Davey Davis took third. Draper scored a sponsor prize package and New Belgium Brewery bicycle built by Detroit Bikes. Campbell won a sponsor prize package and Davis gave him the SLUG beater bike that he won in 2018.
After registration at Saturday Cycles, the SLUG Cat included games and challenges at locations based on advertisements in SLUG Magazine’s May 2019 Bike Issue. In the most efficient manifest, a rider would travel about 14 miles in the following order: a newsletter sign up at Blue Copper Coffee, a snack at Mountain West Hard Cider, some unicorn hunting at Utah State Fairpark, a quick hop scotch Rose Park skate park, a fast lap on an SLC Bike Share Green Bike, hula hoop on the library square, a game of corn hole at Trolley Square, jump rope at Pig & a Jelly Jar, some flip for flip cup at Craft by Proper Brewing and finish with dizzy jacks at Fisher Cyclery.
Melissa Ilardo took second place in the 2019 SLUG Cat. She ran a light in front of a police officer (on accident). There’s something about the thrill of competition that makes rules easy to break. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Javier Campos is riding in his 6th SLUG Cat, and he loves all things bike: track, commuter, road and MTB. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Salt Lake local David Lenz first noticed the bike scene’s strong sense of community after he stumbled into a Thursday 9/9/9 ride. He likes how there are cyclists from all over the world jammed into one weekly ride. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Matty Coles scored a gift bag for finishing dead fucking last. It’s a dubious honor at SLUG Magazine’s alley cat race. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Pete Watson learned about SLUG Cat from a flyer in a coffee shop. He’s visiting Salt Lake from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where sub-par roads filled with potholes keep him on his toes. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Akiode Udonton, Michael Moody, Luke Pyper and Matt Wood grabbed some SLC Green Bikes for the SLUG Cat. Wood wasn’t too shy to “rawr” with that dino on his face. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Renée Draper and Marian Lewis share a pre-race joke. First time alley-cater and first-place finisher Draper heard about the race from her work pal, Scott Morely. That the alley cat is like a scavenger hunt appeals to her game-loving personality. Third-place finisher Lewis rode a rental in SLUG Cat 2019. She joined the race today because she loves the social aspect of a good bike gathering. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Second-place finisher Carlos Garcia lines up behind Saturday Cycles for the 2019 SLUG Cat. Photo: John Barkiple
While waiting for the race to begin behind Saturday Cycles, Dallin Witt searches for clues in SLUG to build his manifest.This is his first alley cat—He didn’t even bring his fast bike. His steel steed weighs more than 30 pounds, and he uses it mostly for travelling and tours. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
First-place finisher Pat Hunt, Clint Campbell and Pete Watson race to Blue Copper Coffee for the first stamp on their manifests. Hunt recently rode 1000 miles on HWY 101 and I-84 and HWY 20 on a tour. He was surprised by super generous strangers who sometimes just gave him money to help keep him on the road. The Warm Showers app also helped him find places to stay in exchange for light chores or friendly conversation. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
SLUG Magazine’s Joelle B. signs racers up for a mailing list outside of Blue Copper Coffee during an early stop in the SLUG Cat. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Alicia Chen, first-place finisher Clint Campbell, Pete Watson, Aaron Larson and second-place finisher Carlos Garcia complete an apple-themed task at Mountain West Hard Cider. Chen didn’t expect the 2019 SLUG Cat to sting as much as it did. The headwind and mileage convinced her to bring her fast bike next year—and bib shorts. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Three-time SLUG Cat champion Nkenna Onwuzuruoha dismounts at Mountain West Hard Cider to earn a stamp on her manifest. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Chrissy Upton and Jennifer Ortiz rode in the 2019 SLUG Cat with a group of friends that have been pals for 10 years. Ortiz decorated her bike for the Bike Prom ride from Fairmont Park to Liberty Park. She likes to ride long distances along the Jordan river or on the Legacy Parkway. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Peter Kirk and Blair Sonner ride into the State Fairpark in search of a SLUG Cat check-in station. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Natalie Kane rides on North Temple as she looks for the SLUG Cat check-in station at the State Fairpark. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Andrew Onermaa heads for the wrong skate park during SLUG’s alley cat-style race. It’s a miscue that keeps him off the podium for 2019. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
SLUG Magazine’s Brennen D. will instruct SLUG Cat racers to check out an SLC GreenBike and take a lap before earning a stamp on their manifest. Photo: Kaylynn Gonzalez
Christian Riley knocks out seven jumping jacks at Fishers Cyclery before earning a stamp on his manifest. Riley broke his chain right after this stop, but Fishers installed a fresh one to keep him in the race. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) SLUG Magazine’s Zach L. helps Zoltan Jelovich and Lizzy Dotlich complete a challenge at Craft by Proper in Sugarhouse. Jelovich heard about the 2019 SLUG Cat from the internet. He’s a bike messenger for Jimmy John’s, but he also rides mountain bikes in addition to his fixed-gear work bike. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Amelia Wallace jumps rope in front of Pig & a Jelly Jar to earn a stamp for her manifest. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
SLUG Magazine’s Alyssa H. practices her rope jumping in anticipation of the SLUG Cat racers arrival. She’s in charge of the Pig & a Jelly Jar check-in station. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Nkenna Onwuzuruoha hugs Davey Davis. She mis-mapped her manifest, so she didn’t reach the podium, but she still finished with a smile. Davis handicapped himself in today’s race by riding SLUG’s old beater bike. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
SLUG Magazine’s Angela Brown collects manifests as SLUG Cat racers arrive at SLUG HQ, where racers receive Fat Tire apparel and New Belgium Brewery water bottles. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Alicia Chen, Chrissy Upton, Ian Greaves, Jennifer Ortiz, SLUG Magazine’s Angela Brown, Jason Brower and Sabrina Sanders relax after the 2019 SLUG Cat. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
(L–R) Kent Boardman and Adrian Martin score some Fat Tire hats and shirts at SLUG Cat. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
SLUG Magazine’s Event Coordinator, John Platt, announces the winners of the 2019 SLUG Cat. The race was sponsored by Blue Copper Coffee, Fishers Cyclery, Graywhale, SLC Bike Share, Mountain West Hard Cider, New Belgium Brewing, Pig & a Jelly Jar, Proper Brewing Co. and Saturday Cycles. Photo: John Barkiple
Three-time SLUG Cat champion Davey Davis tells the story of how he handicapped himself by riding SLUG Magazine’s old beater that he won in 2018’s SLUG Cat. Davis gave the bike to 2019 winner Clint Campbell. Perhaps it will continue to serve as a traveling trophy for the 8th Annual SLUG Cat in 2020. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
Second-place finisher Melissa Ilardo, third-place finisher Marian Lewis and first-place finisher Renée Draper gather around the Draper’s prize bike. Photo: Kaylynn Gonazlez
First-place winner Clint Campbell poses with his prize bike in front of the SLUG offices. Photo: Joshua Joye
