Oh how sweet it was. Of all the places I've been to ride and race, this was my first trip to Moab. I brought my Yeti 575 and boy is that bike awesome. Day 1 we rode from our hotel up to the Porcupine Trail and did a giant 31 mile loop. For those who haven't ridden it, it is rock ledges, drops, killer views and sweet descents. After the long climb up - I think it was 9 miles or so from our hotel, you hit the trail head and then climb further via the trail. It's technical climbing, but TOTALLY fun. Then you go through a bit of rollers and then the looooooooong descent starts. The flow on that trail is perfect. We didn't take many pictures because the Yeti was too busy flying. :love: :love: Here is what we did snap.
This is right at the trailhead after we climbed for quite awhile.
The Yeti and I pose before the descent.
That view is amazing.
Derek grinning like he likes this trail or something.
Around every corner there are little fun rock areas like this. None of them are hike-a-bike material...just good clean fun.
This is further towards the end of the trail. I actually made Derek turn around and ride up it so I could get this purdy picture.
This ended up being my favorite ride of the trip. That night as I was sitting in Eddie McStiffs in my Ridemonkey shirt, eating cheese fries and drinking my second pitcher of beer - hey, it's only 3.2 beer in Utah, some guy walks up and says, "Hey I noticed your shirt. I'm on the monkey." Turns out it's Jollytime and he and his wife are on vacation in Moab as well! We trade stories and chat awhile. Small world.
Day 2
For our second day we wanted to maximize riding, so we rode back up to Slickrock and did that trail, rode back to our hotel, and then drove out to Sovereign Trail and did that as well. I could take or leave the slickrock trail. I personally think it's somewhat of a tourist trap type ride. There were people everywhere and I just wasn't feeling much flow on the ride. Don't get me wrong, it's fun for sure, just not my favorite ride.
Here I am representing RM.
Weeeeeee
Again, sorry we didn't take more pics. We get too caught up in the ride.
Soveriegn Trail was DA BOMB. It's not as popular as other rides in the area....yet. It's almost all singletrack if ridden as a 20 mile out and back, or as a loop with a bit of road and fireroad. It started with a steeeep climb for about a mile, and then leveled off and was rolling. The character of the trail is soooo fine. There are a ton of rocks and drops, tricky sections, and short bursts. I fell in love with that trail and would HIGHLY recommend it. That said, I only took a couple picture.:mumble:
Still sporting my RM jersey.
Derek on a little drop.
Day 3
We met up with some friends for Amasa Back with a little twist of Jackson Trail for the descent. Amasa Back is a great ride with fun little play options if you pick some challenging lines. It climbs gently for I don't know how many miles. The views are, once again, rewarding. Then we turned and came back down and took the Jackson spur which is a more challenging descent with bits of exposures and some really tough sections. We didn't stop for pics on the descent.
Derek powers up.
I was told by the others who had ridden this trail, that it is waaay more mellow than it used to be. Sanitization has occured. Booooo. Way back behind my in the picture, the trail used to be quite treacherous I guess.
Three days of riding, a nice base tan, good times and good people.
Ahhhhhhh.
This is right at the trailhead after we climbed for quite awhile.
The Yeti and I pose before the descent.
That view is amazing.
Derek grinning like he likes this trail or something.
Around every corner there are little fun rock areas like this. None of them are hike-a-bike material...just good clean fun.
This is further towards the end of the trail. I actually made Derek turn around and ride up it so I could get this purdy picture.
This ended up being my favorite ride of the trip. That night as I was sitting in Eddie McStiffs in my Ridemonkey shirt, eating cheese fries and drinking my second pitcher of beer - hey, it's only 3.2 beer in Utah, some guy walks up and says, "Hey I noticed your shirt. I'm on the monkey." Turns out it's Jollytime and he and his wife are on vacation in Moab as well! We trade stories and chat awhile. Small world.
Day 2
For our second day we wanted to maximize riding, so we rode back up to Slickrock and did that trail, rode back to our hotel, and then drove out to Sovereign Trail and did that as well. I could take or leave the slickrock trail. I personally think it's somewhat of a tourist trap type ride. There were people everywhere and I just wasn't feeling much flow on the ride. Don't get me wrong, it's fun for sure, just not my favorite ride.
Here I am representing RM.
Weeeeeee
Again, sorry we didn't take more pics. We get too caught up in the ride.
Soveriegn Trail was DA BOMB. It's not as popular as other rides in the area....yet. It's almost all singletrack if ridden as a 20 mile out and back, or as a loop with a bit of road and fireroad. It started with a steeeep climb for about a mile, and then leveled off and was rolling. The character of the trail is soooo fine. There are a ton of rocks and drops, tricky sections, and short bursts. I fell in love with that trail and would HIGHLY recommend it. That said, I only took a couple picture.:mumble:
Still sporting my RM jersey.
Derek on a little drop.
Day 3
We met up with some friends for Amasa Back with a little twist of Jackson Trail for the descent. Amasa Back is a great ride with fun little play options if you pick some challenging lines. It climbs gently for I don't know how many miles. The views are, once again, rewarding. Then we turned and came back down and took the Jackson spur which is a more challenging descent with bits of exposures and some really tough sections. We didn't stop for pics on the descent.
Derek powers up.
I was told by the others who had ridden this trail, that it is waaay more mellow than it used to be. Sanitization has occured. Booooo. Way back behind my in the picture, the trail used to be quite treacherous I guess.
Three days of riding, a nice base tan, good times and good people.
Ahhhhhhh.
I've been stuck on that trail well into the night before...walking out under the brightest stars I have ever seen. Epic to say the least.
it should be here on Weds. or Thursday...