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Vicki Menard follows the white paint on the sandstone to find the Slickrock Bike Trail in Moab, Utah, while on vacation in July. Menard discovered biking the Slickrock Bike Trail in Moab, Utah, takes a lot of confidence going downhill and quick shifting of gears to go uphill.
For years I’ve heard that Moab, Utah, is the ultimate place to mountain bike. When it appeared that we could leave a little early for our Colorado vacation and stop in Moab, I knew I wanted to try mountain biking on what is referred to as “slick rock.”
We drove long hours for two days to arrive in Moab so I could have just that opportunity, as well as the chance to see Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
The red Navajo sandstone landscape was stunning, and learning about its creation at the Visitors Center was fascinating, but I wasn’t prepared for the stifling 100-degree temperatures. Simply hiking the mile-long Park Avenue Trail in Arches Park zapped my energy, so I knew the heat could be an obstacle to riding.
Still, I didn’t want to leave the area without giving it a try, so my fiancé, Brad, and I got an early morning start and chose to ride the Slickrock Bike Trail just above the town of Moab.
Brad had ridden slick rock with his dad and uncle years earlier and had been talking for days about how incredible it was, but we quickly learned that the Slickrock Trail wasn’t for beginners.
The brochure and trail map created by the Bureau of Land Management and Grand County that we picked up at the entrance to the Sand Flats Recreation Area warned that the trail was difficult, and it was right.
We drove long hours for two days to arrive in Moab so I could have just that opportunity, as well as the chance to see Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
The red Navajo sandstone landscape was stunning, and learning about its creation at the Visitors Center was fascinating, but I wasn’t prepared for the stifling 100-degree temperatures. Simply hiking the mile-long Park Avenue Trail in Arches Park zapped my energy, so I knew the heat could be an obstacle to riding.
Still, I didn’t want to leave the area without giving it a try, so my fiancé, Brad, and I got an early morning start and chose to ride the Slickrock Bike Trail just above the town of Moab.
Brad had ridden slick rock with his dad and uncle years earlier and had been talking for days about how incredible it was, but we quickly learned that the Slickrock Trail wasn’t for beginners.
The brochure and trail map created by the Bureau of Land Management and Grand County that we picked up at the entrance to the Sand Flats Recreation Area warned that the trail was difficult, and it was right.
While it’s true that knobby mountain bike tires get incredible traction on the smooth sandstone, it takes confidence, guts, determination and good reflexes to ride in the area.
We tried to follow the trail — marked by white slashes of paint on the red rock — but it had so many steep uphills and downhills that it was tough to stay on my bike. The downhills were particularly scary because it just didn’t seem possible that I could stay upright on what appeared to be 60 and 70 percent grades. I was just sure I would need to use both front and back brakes to slow myself down and if I made a false move, I would flip over my handlebars.
With my nearly 16-year-old daughters sitting back in camp waiting for me, I just couldn’t take that chance. I didn’t want to return to them as a quadriplegic.
I’m typically pretty tenacious on riding uphill but these short, steep hills seemed to arise so quickly I didn’t have time to shift to a low enough gear to keep spinning up the hill.
Once again, I found myself pushing my bike and looking for a better place to get started. I quickly became frustrated and when Brad asked me to pose for some photos, I barked, “I just want to ride.”
We tried to follow the trail — marked by white slashes of paint on the red rock — but it had so many steep uphills and downhills that it was tough to stay on my bike. The downhills were particularly scary because it just didn’t seem possible that I could stay upright on what appeared to be 60 and 70 percent grades. I was just sure I would need to use both front and back brakes to slow myself down and if I made a false move, I would flip over my handlebars.
With my nearly 16-year-old daughters sitting back in camp waiting for me, I just couldn’t take that chance. I didn’t want to return to them as a quadriplegic.
I’m typically pretty tenacious on riding uphill but these short, steep hills seemed to arise so quickly I didn’t have time to shift to a low enough gear to keep spinning up the hill.
Once again, I found myself pushing my bike and looking for a better place to get started. I quickly became frustrated and when Brad asked me to pose for some photos, I barked, “I just want to ride.”
If you go ...
For more information on mountain biking on slick rock in the Sand Flats Recreation Area near Moab, Utah, see www.grandcountyutah.net.
For more information on Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, see www.nps.gov/arch or www.nps.gov/cany |
I was sure if I just kept at it, I would get the hang of it. After about half-an-hour, drenched in sweat and breathing hard, I decided we should turn back toward our starting point.
By the final quarter-mile of the ride, I finally felt like I was beginning to make some progress, but it was time to head back to camp, get a shower, pack up our tents and continue on toward Colorado.
In hindsight, riding slick rock felt similar to the first day I attempted to ride a mountain bike on the Panther segment of the North Umpqua Trail. That also took patience and some techniques I had to work out over time, but it left me wanting to ride more.
I’m ready to give Moab another try, but I’d like to try it when the temperature isn’t in triple digits and I’ll probably look for a gentler trail for my first ride so I can gain some confidence.
When we finished our ride, Brad suddenly recalled he and his dad and uncle had gotten warmed up on some simpler terrain for a couple days before they hit the Slickrock Bike Trail.
What a time to remember that!
• You can reach City Editor Vicki Menard at 957-4201 or by e-mail at vmenard@newsreview.info.
By the final quarter-mile of the ride, I finally felt like I was beginning to make some progress, but it was time to head back to camp, get a shower, pack up our tents and continue on toward Colorado.
In hindsight, riding slick rock felt similar to the first day I attempted to ride a mountain bike on the Panther segment of the North Umpqua Trail. That also took patience and some techniques I had to work out over time, but it left me wanting to ride more.
I’m ready to give Moab another try, but I’d like to try it when the temperature isn’t in triple digits and I’ll probably look for a gentler trail for my first ride so I can gain some confidence.
When we finished our ride, Brad suddenly recalled he and his dad and uncle had gotten warmed up on some simpler terrain for a couple days before they hit the Slickrock Bike Trail.
What a time to remember that!
• You can reach City Editor Vicki Menard at 957-4201 or by e-mail at vmenard@newsreview.info.
