Thirty years ago a grueling bike ride from Logan, Utah to Jackson, Wyo., with a handful of participants was the start of something big — something that turned deadly this past September.

    Two weeks ago, Gordon Cottle, 62, of Ogden, became the second man to die from injuries suffered in the 206-mile LOTOJA race. Robert Verhaaren, 42, of Mesa, Ariz., died after falling about 35 feet from a bridge into the Snake River near Hoback Junction in Wyoming the day of the bicycle race. Cottle suffered a brain injury during the race and died Sept. 29, 21 days after the race.

    Race officials have dubbed this year’s event as a “weird” one. In addition to the fatalities, riders faces a gauntlet of goat-head weed seeds that flattened hundreds of tires 20 miles into the race that involved about 1,500 riders. Further on there were horses in the road and just shy of the finish line a wildfire created smoke blowing across the roadway.

    The odd events may spell trouble in the road for future LOTOJA races.

    According to a story in The News Examiner in Montpelier, representatives from Bear Lake County and the Idaho Department of Transportation have expressed concern. Bear Lake County Sheriff Brent Bunn said he had received more complaints about this year’s LOTOJA than he had ever received. Complaints included traffic problems and the lack of manners among bike riders.

    An alternative route for next years race has been given as an option, according to the News Examiner. That route would take riders from Garden City, Utah through Laketown Canyon and into Wyoming and bypass most of the existing Idaho route.

    Some at the meeting suggested terminating the event unless better traffic controls can be made.

    No decisions have been made and officials will meet with LOTOJA organizer Brent Chambers in November to discuss options further.

    Idaho law states: “That bicycle racing on a highway shall not be unlawful when a racing event has been approved by the department or local law enforcement authorities.”