Partial repost with permission from Flatironbike.com. Please go there to read the full article

Two bicyclists have been killed at the intersection of US-36 and Violet Avenue since 2009. The most recent was TJ Doherty, on July 24th, 2012. Both cyclists were headed southeast on US-36, and were hit by cars traveling northwest, making left turns onto Violet. In this area US-36 is just outside of Boulder’s city limits, in the county, but it’s the Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT) that’s responsible for it. Looking at the aerial view below we can explore why this intersection might be particularly dangerous for cyclists.

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Northwest bound vehicles on US-36 have a dedicated left turn lane, and no obligation to stop before making their turn. The angle that Violet Ave. makes with the highway is quite oblique, meaning that it can be taken at high speed, and because US-36 has a speed limit of 55 mph in this area, cars often will take it at high speed if they don’t see any oncoming traffic.

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Watch BMX preliminary today and the finals on the 10th

Local boy David Herman is the number one rider on the USA BMX Team competing at the London Olympics – aiming for the Gold Medal as he leads the US squad of five against 43 other male and female contenders from 22 countries between August 8th -10th.

More popular than ever after its 2008 debut in Beijing, the BMX racing discipline is returning to the Olympic Games this year with Dave Herman (24) of Wheat Ridge, CO, at the helm of the USA Team. Sole automatic qualifier for the USA men’s side after taking fifth at the UCI BMX World Championships in May, Herman placed even ahead of Maris Strombergs – the world’s first BMX Olympic Gold Medalist.

This victory has made David “The Hermanator” Herman the top-ranked male athlete in USA Cycling’s BMX Power Rankings. “Dave’s a really great athlete. With his shy, modest way of training hard and taking victory in his stride, he’s an absolute bonus for our team,” describes Free Agent-Rock Star manager Dale Holmes. “I signed him up while scouting for Olympic talent last year – and I really hit the jackpot!” USA’s best hope, he is one of Free Agent-Rockstar’s most valued riders, and top of the elite Senso New Heroes Team for Velo Saddles. 

Before mounting the podium the BMX world championships in Birmingham in May, the USA Cycling athlete finished 3rd in the first World Cup of the season in California and 3rd in the World Cup race in the Netherlands. "My confidence is high," says Dave, grinning his shy but contagious smile. “I’m not just out to ride the Olympics, I’m off to win a medal!” With his mere 155 lbs., he is small by BMX standards. But what he may lack in momentum landing on the backside of a jump, he makes up with being fast at the start – where many BMX races have been decided. His saddle, he says, is an advantage – allowing him that extra flexibility with practically zero weight.

The new darling of the US BMX racing scene, Dave can pick and choose what he cares to ride and the equipment he prefers to use. He’s happy to divulge his secrets: “My saddle is one of the lightest you can get, the Senso VL 1200 BMX Carbon from Velo. He especially likes the saddle’s fast design, which complements the dynamics of his bike, the Free Agent Limo. “I ride this because it’s the best BMX bike on the market, with unique tubing – unlike any other bike I’ve ridden."

Changes are coming to this years Cross Cup. If you chase points then this is a story you don't want to miss out on. Read the details in the new 2012 Colorado Cross Cup Policy and hear it from the man himself, Chris Mcgee below