Brewhaha
03-20-2010, 11:13 PM
A while back I asked about Noob trails in Moab. Some great suggestions were given, but one thing that kept coming up was to NOT do Slickrock. So we didn't. We rode some other trails in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona to improve out skills and have some fun. We finally decided to tackle Slickrock. We decided to do the full trail and take our time rather than the practice trail. The weather could not have been better and there must have been lots of others who felt the same way because the area was packed with bikers, motorcyclists, ATVers, jeepers, and hikers. It was great fun to take a rest from riding and watch the jeeps or motorcycles do their thang.
Anyway, my impressions of Slickrock:
1) There is nothing else that I've ever ridden that is quite like it.
2) It is a butt-kicker and by the end of the loop my legs were jello.
3) I can't believe what can be climbed and descended on slickrock. I felt more comfortable with the descents but I couldn't make the mental and physical commitment to the climbs.
4) Parts of the trail are surreal. From amazing views of the LaSals and the Colorado to rare rolling portions of the trail that were as smooth and flowing as a highway.
5) Almost everybody has to walk portions of the trail. We decided we would walk anything that was too sketchy. While we walked alot, by the end of the trail we had gotten more comfortable with what we could and could not ride. I suspect the next time we go out we will ride more.
6) Definitely not a beginner ride (unless you want to walk the whole thing).
7) I couldn't believe some of the bikes that were out there. Rigid singlespeeds and 1970's old-school rigids. Wild stuff.
We will be revisiting that trail again and again.
One picture follows. No pictures of me because I was always huffing and puffing too much to be picturesque.
Anyway, my impressions of Slickrock:
1) There is nothing else that I've ever ridden that is quite like it.
2) It is a butt-kicker and by the end of the loop my legs were jello.
3) I can't believe what can be climbed and descended on slickrock. I felt more comfortable with the descents but I couldn't make the mental and physical commitment to the climbs.
4) Parts of the trail are surreal. From amazing views of the LaSals and the Colorado to rare rolling portions of the trail that were as smooth and flowing as a highway.
5) Almost everybody has to walk portions of the trail. We decided we would walk anything that was too sketchy. While we walked alot, by the end of the trail we had gotten more comfortable with what we could and could not ride. I suspect the next time we go out we will ride more.
6) Definitely not a beginner ride (unless you want to walk the whole thing).
7) I couldn't believe some of the bikes that were out there. Rigid singlespeeds and 1970's old-school rigids. Wild stuff.
We will be revisiting that trail again and again.
One picture follows. No pictures of me because I was always huffing and puffing too much to be picturesque.