The 12th Annual SLUG Cat Presented By Fat Tire took place on Saturday, May 18, featuring games, a manifest of clues, a swarm of bicyclists and amazing sponsors. Registration began at 4 p.m. at Saturday Cycles next to SLUG HQ, where 110 riders gathered to exchange repair tips and make new friends in the cycling community. At 5 p.m., the race began, with participants dashing to pick up their manifests. Competitors either deciphered clues and planned their routes or sprinted off immediately in various directions, heading to stops like Culture Coffee and HK Brewing Co and Taproom & Bar to complete tasks like hopscotch and trivia to earn points. As the race concluded, riders returned to the SLUG Mag office for the awards ceremony, enjoying music from DJ Nix Beat, fun activities from Unplugged, assistance from Lotus Health with medical cannabis cards and delicious Argentinean meals from Porteña Gourmet Empanadas. This year introduced a Non-Binary Division alongside the Women’s and Men’s Divisions, with grand prizes including a Fat Tire bicycle, a Specialized Mountain Bike and a custom Salsa bike from Saturday Cycles awarded to the first-place winners in each category. After the awards ceremony, participants enjoyed a free product toss and the SLUG Cat after party, marking a perfect end to the event as the sun set and riders cycled away from SLUG Magazine’s office. We hope to see you all ride next year!
Photos by Ashley Christenson | ashley.day45@gmail.com
A participant eagerly registers for SLUG Cat. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Anticipation was in the air as participants stood in line to register. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Hacky sack was one of many activities. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Hacky sack kept riders entertained after the race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Riders anxiously await the award ceremony. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Riders bonded with each other before and after the race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Riders enjoyed catching up with each other during the event. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Dogs are welcome at SLUG Cat, too! Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Eager participants register for the SLUG Cat race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
John Ford shows off his great announcer voice at SLUG HQ. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Cyclists supported each other before, during and after the race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Participants gathered in the Artspace parking lot. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Cyclist friends line up for a photo from John Barkiple. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Riders anxiously await the start of the race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Cyclists were prepared to hit each stop on the manifest. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
They’re off to the races! Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Crafts were plentiful after the race. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Porteña Gourmet Empanadas satisfied the cyclists’ appetites. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Does SLUG Cat need a dog division next year? Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Rugs Unplugged provided activities for the participants. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
John Barkiple and TaCara DeTevis ride on a scooter to take photos. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
This year’s SLUG Cat is the first to have a non-binary division. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Squanchy Papi celebrates their win in the non-binary division. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Michelle Guy celebrates her second place victory. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
The men’s winners were Zoltan Jelovich, Grant Beiting and Nate Brown. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Zoltan Jelovich celebrates his victory. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Jack Whitaker takes his prize for youngest participant. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Participants were thrilled to hear the winners announced. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
The local cycling community celebrates together at SLUG Cat. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
A participant shares a message with those around them. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
There are plenty of laughs to be shared at SLUG Cat. Photo: Ashley Christenson.
Photos by John Barkiple | john@slugmag.com and TaCara DeTevis
DJ NixBeat dropped the needle on his 8th SLUG Cat after party. He’s a fixture in the local music scene, and it’s easy to catch a set by following @NixBeat on IG. Photo: John Barkiple.
Julie yanked a pair of sunglasses right out of Keshav’s hands during the SLUG Cat merch toss! Photo: John Barkiple.
Jack’s been riding bikes for a year, and that effort paid off with a new guitar from 9th & 9th Book and Music Gallery. Photo: John Barkiple.
Alaya, SLUG Cat overall winner Squanchypapi and Lucy (standing in for Katie who had to leave) took third, first and second (respectively) in the non-binary category. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) SLUG Magazine’s John Ford announces the winners of the 12th Annual SLUG Cat with Mark from Saturday Cycles as his side. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Alaya, Eric, Hong Yen and Leah keep it crafty while waiting to hear who won the race. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Claire and Kelly share empanadas from Porteña’s food truck. ¡Buen provecho! Photo: John Barkiple.
Katya, John and Erin tally the scores on the SLUG Cat manifests. Extra points were awarded for impressive displays of skill or luck at each game stop on the route. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Karrie, Danielle, Keshav and Amanda play on the tiniest foursquare court in town. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Motor 24’s Steve and Saturday Cycle’s Max wait to hear the race results after the SLUG Cat scores are tallied. Photo: John Barkiple.
The 12th Annual SLUG Cat’s after party included Lotus Health, Porteña, bike packing tour tips, silly games, Saturday Cycles and DJ NixBeat’s retro-futuristic vinyl stylings. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
SLUG Cat riders double park their bikes at HK Brewing Collective Taproom & Bar as they wait to try their luck against a dealer with GIANT playing cards. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
The 9th & 9th Book and Music Gallery moved two blocks east and now reside in the shadow of the whale. Every now and then, they’ll host evening concerts on the front porch as guests scattered on the sidewalk relax and listen — learn more at @9thand9thbookandmusic on IG. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Kelly sits in the shade while Cody and Nate fish for SLUG Cat bonus points in the grass in front of Contender Bicycles — three casts and it’s back to the bikes! Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Jacob, Danielle and Karrie ride down 900 South during the 12th Annual SLUG Cat. Danielle was always that kid shouting, “Look ma, no hands!” Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Megan and Kent earn an extra point by posing for an INSTAX photo in from of the Midway Coffee sign. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
It was all mini golf and iced coffee at Midway Coffee during the 12th Annual SLUG Cat on May 18. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
Cody drops into an aero glide en route to Culture Coffee on 300 North. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
Eliza points the way for Dana to follow as they approach the hopscotch station at Culture Coffee. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
Culture Coffee is the last stop on the SLUG Cat for this bicycle built for two — the only tandem whip in the 12th annual SLUG Cat. Photo: John Barkiple.
Another win for Grant — this time in the tube toss at Bingham Cyclery on Broadway. Looks like Molly’s tube toss fell just short of the tire. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
This cargo-bike copilot in shades kept Priya company on the SLUG Cat. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
Quick stamps at Level Nine Sports keep (L-R) Vanessa and Garrett on track for fast times. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
Grant knocks a bottle off the pedestal with a fake Frisbee™ and earn points toward his final SLUG Cat score. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) John Henry, Livio, Dayna and Ritchie all ride Specialized bikes, and except for Livio, they’ve been on the Specialized payroll, too. And when it’s a race, John Henry hammers like his namesake! Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Megan, Molly and Kent wait at a light as they head to Level Nine Sports en route to adventure in Salt Lake’s underground cycling scene. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
And they’re off! It’s a quick hop across the street to collect a clue-filled manifest based on the May issue of SLUG Magazine — with both in hand, riders are guaranteed to find every stop as they plan their routes. Photo: TaCara DeTevis.
(L-R) Lauren, Allison, Michele and Macee met at the Gear Rush Slowcial, a friendly ride on the west side. Join ‘em on a Thursday — check @gearush on IG for details. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Eric, Hong Yen and Nick love cycling. They ride together all the time, and it’s always a treat when they can hit By the Bucket for spaghetti during a ride. They also like to grab some Bosnian cuisine at Café on Main. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Angela Brown, SLUG Cat Race Director, and Rich from Lotus Health sync some details before the 12th Annual SLUG Magazine Alley Cat Race. Photo: John Barkiple.
(L-R) Garrett, Andrea, Vanessa, Ana, Peter, Keshav and Julie are ready to complete their SLUG Cat manifests and earn some bonus points by playing games along the way. Photo: John Barkiple.
Cyclists check in at the 12th Annual Alley Cat hosted by SLUG Magazine. Photo: John Barkiple.
