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Bike tires hit the mud in Moab |
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Written by Dennis Jones
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Friday, 15 February 2008 |
Over the years I’ve watched the high flying extreme mountain biking commercials featuring Moab, Utah. I have to say that I would love to be able to ride like that. Unfortunately I suffer from a bad case of sanity and know it will never be. However, my sanity hasn’t stopped me from wanting to explore the Moab area and get EXTREME… albeit at a much lower altitude. To try my hand mountain biking Moab I contacted Wes, manager of Poison Spider Bicycles. Why Poison Spider Bicycles? Poison Spider has the largest lineup of rental bicycles in Moab. And not just any mountain bikes, but name-brand quality full-suspension bikes like Trek, Kona, Gary Fisher, Felt and Rocky Mountain to name a few.
Wes set us up; the camera guy needs a bike too, with a set of Rocky Mountain Element 30 bicycles. Each bicycle sports 4 inches of travel to soak up the big hits on the trail allowing for better control than a “hardtail” (no rear shock) bicycle that many of us grew up with.
Before we got out the door, Wes explained that you get more than just a bicycle with your rental. Each rental comes with a helmet to keep your brain matter where it belongs, air pump in the event of a flat, spare tube, tube patch kit, a compliment of necessary repair tools, and plenty of advice and suggestions to get you on the right trail for your level of conditioning.
For all you ladies out there wanting to hit the Moab Slickrock, Poison Spider has bicycles tailored to fit you as well.
After about 20 minutes Wes and the crew had us looking like we knew what we were doing; but where should we go? Neither one of us had been on a bike in quite some time so Wes suggested we ride the Monitor Merrimac trail. For those who find they aren’t quite as in shape as thought can run this trail as a six-mile loop. Wanting to take it up another notch? This trail offers and out-and-back ride breaking from the loop to the Monitor and Merrimac buttes named after the American civil war battleships.
Bicycles? Check! Helmets? Check! Map? Check! Water? Check!
Having all of the gear, and looking like a couple of old pros, we started out from the Monitor Merrimac trailhead located about 14 miles north of Moab off Highway 191.
This trail starts out with some well-groomed dirt road. Nothing too difficult, but the easy rolling hills will quickly reveal to you how long it really has been since you road a bike.
For my riding partner and me it had been about six months since we had last ridden a bike. Whatever leftover conditioning we had was quickly sucked out of us by the sloppy mud from the midday sun thawing the lightly snow-covered trail. Which brings us to the first of many kudos for the Poison Spider crew. When we first loaded up the bikes we commented about how large the tires were; I mean these bikes had some fat ol’ tires with lots of small knobs almost like feelers. Now I can’t say that I have any vast amount, or even small amount of knowledge behind the design of a tire, but these tires worked well. No matter how slick the surface, the tires remained stable and the “feelers” hooked up well on the more solid ground hidden under the thawing clay surface.
At about one mile in, we came to the first downhill where we could get up some speed and try out the Rocky Mountain Elements front and rear suspensions. With a quick couple of pumps on the pedals we launched ourselves downhill, and the speed came on quick. It was heaven feeling the rush of speed as the tires started to hum on our downhill race. That is until we found ourselves in a firestorm of mud being flung off the. We had a good laugh and now understood why Wes suggested “You should wear some kind sunglasses or eye protection out there.” Hmmm, it seemed so unimportant at the time.
After a brief stop at the bottom of the hill to clear the mud from our eyes, we turned to tackle our first real uphill climb. Most of you are probably familiar with the old 10 speed bike. Well most mountain bikes now days are 24 or 27 speed bikes. Why? The low gearing of these bikes will allow you to ride up hills that would have been previously impossible for anyone other than Lance Armstrong (seven-time Tour de France winner).
Now back to that hill we were about to climb. With our newly found confidence after bombing down the last descent, we shot off racing up the hill in a mid-range gear. It didn’t take long before we started running through our bike’s 27 gears and appreciating the wide range of choices. Each time we ran out of gas trying to get up the hill, we simply dropped to a lower gear. Before long we were at the top and impressed with the smooth, reliable operation of the Shimano gear shifters that performed flawlessly, making up for our lack of physical conditioning.
Having survived the climb to the top of the hill, we explored some of the many other established trails in the area and found ourselves at the top of a wash about 30 feet long. A wash is a section of dirt or rock where the water has eroded away the earth. An experienced biker racing through a wash is both impressive and beautiful to watch. So of course we had to give it a try, I mean how hard could it really be?
So there it was, only 30 feet long and an opportunity for both of us to show our sweet (non-existent) skills. How did we do? The attached video shows our riding of the wash didn’t go so spectacularly. What we did do was have a blast trying to ride well beyond our skills.
Recognizing we lacked the skills for highly technical riding, and no amount of determination or gear choices would ever change that fact, we moved on to the red rock buttes of the six-mile loop.
Besides the fun of splashing through the stream crossings, crashing in the wash, or laughing at the mud facials we received from our tires, the scenery is just spectacular. To either side of the trail are cliffs jutting up hundreds of feet. All around the floor between the buttes are cactus and various other desert fauna. And even in the middle of winter with an inch or two of snow, the desert was teaming with life as various types of birds flew between the cliff faces and all points in between.
At the farthest point out on the loop, we decided it was time to call it a day and start working our way back. We had wanted to push out to the trail namesake Monitor and Merrimac buttes, but the sun was getting low. I guess we took too much time enjoying ourselves messing around. Were we disappointed? Not at all! A wise man once said that you need to stop and smell the roses. While we didn’t actually find any roses to smell, we did take our time and enjoy the adventure more than reaching the end destination.
We stated that many times over we were impressed by the rental bicycles Poison Spider set us up with. Both bikes were 2008 model years and equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. They offer the highest level of braking capability with minimal effort to apply full pressure. This allows for a full day of riding without hand fatigue from squeezing brake levers on long descents. Furthermore, because the brake pads are not on the rim of the wheel, they aren’t affected by the muck and snow that gets packed all around the tire. You maintain full braking power no matter the conditions.
What about those 27 gears? These bikes are by no means crude multi-speed bicycles. The components are top notch, and the Poison Spider mechanics who set them up knew what they were doing. Every shift was flawless and without hesitation from the highest gear to the lowest. As with any complicated mechanical apparatus, it takes great skill to get a bicycle to perform that well.
MOAB HAZARDS:
These are the things you need to be aware of before heading out on your own mountain biking adventure in the Moab desert.
Dehydration – BRING WATER!! Pack as much water as think you will ever need; then pack more. Even in the winter dehydration is a serious risk. A backpack with a water bladder system is a must; bike bottles are simply not enough water.
Cactus – Pretty simple. Don’t run over them, and don’t fall on them and you’ll be fine.
Sunburns – Not necessarily life threatening, but be sure to wear sunscreen and pack more with you on the trail.
GEAR LIST:
Helmet
Backpack with hydration system
Water
Gloves
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Water
Tools
Water
Patch kit/spare tube
Pump
Water
Padded bike shorts (Trust me you’ll want them)
Energy bars
Water
ENVIRONMENTAL:
The same basic rules apply to Moab as anywhere you go out in the wilderness. Pack out what you pack in. In addition, one critical environmental issue exists in the deserts of southern Utah that doesn’t exist many other places in the world – Biological Soil Crust. It is a living groundcover that is a vital part of the desert ecosystem. It stabilizes the sandy terrain for other plants to take root, it’s a nitrogen fixer and converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form other plants can use, it converts CO2 into oxygen, and it’s among the oldest life forms on Earth. What does this all mean? Don’t step on it or ride/drive on it!!! Once the crust is broken, it’s killed and takes hundreds of years to fully grow back. A bike tire track through Biological Soil Crust also creates a perfect path for water to flow through causing severe erosion damage to the surrounding area.
IF YOU GO:
The best time of year to visit Moab is in the spring or fall months. The temperatures are warm enough to ride in shorts but aren't dangerously hot like the middle of summer. These are, of course, also the busiest times of year to go. If you want more of a solitary
adventure, head to Moab in February and November. These months are a little cooler, but still great for outdoor activities. And since it's Moab's off season, you'll enjoy much more solitude on the trails. |
Discuss (5 posts)
| mountainmama
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Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
Feb 16 2008 15:03:37
This thread discusses the Content article: Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
What an awesome video! I loved it. It made me think I could do that type of a ride no problem.
Can't wait to see your next post!
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#10 |
| luigi
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Re:Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
Feb 16 2008 17:53:40
i thought this video was awesome because it looked extreme. 
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#25 |
| tiffertootiny
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Re:Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
Feb 17 2008 03:25:52
Sweet video!
I'm gettin' spring fever...i gotta get down there!
Look forward to your next post...keep em comin'!
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#34 |
| Dr. Jones
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Re:Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
Feb 18 2008 22:49:29
Thanks for the comments! I just turned in another video; indoor rock climbing this time. Hopefully it will be up in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.
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#61 |
| Videoguy74
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Re:Bike tires hit the mud in Moab
Feb 19 2008 19:59:59
I've never been to Moab, but I think a day of biking there looks like a great weekend get away. I think I'm going to wait until it warms up a little though, not much for the cold, icy trails.
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#74 |
Discuss this item on the forums. (5 posts) |
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