Almost Summer

This time of year is really nice. The flowers are starting to bloom, grass is turning green, the weather is nice and leaves are coming out. However, it is also the time when we really start getting excited (or overly eager) to bike in the higher elevations and ride the trails we love.

Saturdays ride, just got us a little more excited to ride those types of trails and gave us a taste of how great the summer is going to be.
We joined up with Roman on this ride and started at Mt. Timpanogas park, went up the race course past the altar. With trails and weather like this.....

We HAD to keep riding. We climbed for about 5-6 miles and gained about 3000' of elevation and this is what it looked like

The view was nice and the trail was fun, but from the non-existent leaves on the trees means the higher elevations are still not quite ready. We arrived at our desired destination and decided to head down. This is where the fun really started.

The dirt was soft offering great traction, but not too soft we could still get some speed. There were lots of tight turns, open turns, fast flowy sections, rocky sections and just a blast coming down. For riding like this, we usually have to wait until much later in the year. It was so rad, we had to get some pictures.

Generally, Gage is the photographer because, for some reason, my timing and coordination skills can't match up to catch some good shots, but I finally hit the button at the right time.... or maybe it was just the continuous shot option that got it.... either way, we got some sweet pics on some nice turns.

Gage was able to capture a close up shot on one of the best non-bike specific turns I have ridden. Super smooth, no brakes, and tacky ground made for some fun fast grippy turns. This is one of those times my little girl says it best...BRAAAAP!

After about 15 miles of awesome singletrack and some perfect turns, we arrived back at the car happy, but excited for more riding.

It was a good day.

provo canyon race course to top of dry creek

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in California

Moab - 4.21.2012 - Mag 7 and More

With literally years of riding in Moab, we are always looking for new trails. Last year the Long Awaited Mag 7 trail finally became a reality making it possible to ride from the Gemini Bridges trail head to the bottom of poison spider or a more difficult route, the legendary Portal Trail.

We decided it was time for a technical taste test...

Guthrie called and  arranged with Chili bikes for a shuttle, however it didn't leave until nine and after a 4 a.m. start we arrived in Moab at seven. Determined not to waste any time, we rode the new north 40 trail in the Moab brand trails section. It is a fairly easy, nice flowy singletrack that was a good beginning to a long day.

The beginning of the Mag 7 was difficult to ride. Not because it is overtly technical, but because the scenery is amazing. Multiple times we left the trail mistakenly because our eyes were taking in the scenery.

At the top after the shuttle dropped us off there were 50 or so riders getting ready to go. We started off fast to break away from the pack and for the most of the day had the trails to ourselves.

The trail essentially follows well established jeep trails (gemini, gold bar rim, golden spike) which we had ridden before, only now, all singletrack.

The decision comes when gold bar meets golden spike. Following golden spike will get you down poison spider, is technically easier and there is a less likely hood of getting lost.

Or, you can follow Goldbar very steeply to the rim, connect with an extremely technical trail only known as the "blue dot trail", then descend via the cliff edged Portal trail.

We chose this route.

After climbing the Gold Bar Rim trail we had Lunch with a view atop a 1,000 foot cliff overlooking 191 as it enters Moab.

It was here we began Blue dot.

I think the blue dot trail may be one of the most technical trails in Moab. It is never ending body shifting, ledge dropping, steep climbing, boulder hopping goodness.

With Guthrie's new Stumpy Evo he was trying everything there was to offer, it was impressive to say the least. I rode most of it, but chose to dismount and walk a few sections to "take pictures".

The trail also winds along the cliff edge, right along the cliff edge in places.

Notice the Blue "caution" sign written on the rock.

After about 6 miles (which seems like 20) of this technical treat, the trail reconnects with poison spider near the portal descent.

I would call the portal trail a ride-a-hike trail. It is not overly technical (although at the bottom when it leaves the cliff edge it is) , but combine that with a 1,000 drop on one side and a vertical cliff on the other and it is slightly nerve racking. Add in the three signs that say, "dismount now and walk, some one died here" and it is a different experience all together.

We walked some, but rode more.

After reaching the road, it was back into town and subway to lunch, then on to our third then fourth trail of the day.

The third trail was literally 1.5  miles of a sandy road, riddled with four wheelers and dust, heading out the Monitor and Merrimac buttes. Needless to say, after riding prime singletrack for 4 hours we were in no mood to ride a sandy road.

We returned to the car and headed out to Klondike bluffs, where we did a quick out and back on Dino Flow and little salty. A nice smooth flowy end to a 40 mile, workout of a day.

Driving home, we realized this was a day we will never forget.

The Mag 7, Blue Dot, Portal trail system is a technical feast that will work you physically and mentally. I would recommend it for strong riders who love adventure.

We will be doing it again.

So True

Acquired from our most recent Moab biking trip, it has been added to the bike shed wall.

Therapy

You know those days when you wake up and you know you are going to have a good day? Well, yesterday was not one of those days. In fact it was just the opposite. My alarm went off at 5:45... 5:55.... 6:05..... then 6:15. My bed felt unusually comfortable and the crisp air in the room had me doing everything I could to just stay in bed. Finally, about 6:23 I rolled out of the covers. I threw on some clothes then went to work.

It was one of those times I secretly wished to get into an accident to postpone going to work. Instead, I was just late for being tired, which in most jobs, is looked down upon.. Anyway, this pattern continued throughout my day until I got home.

I looked at my scheduled workout for the day and did not feel like doing another work out inside. Around 7:30 I thought about going biking.., but it was too late. At 7:40, I thought maybe it would work, but probably not enough light.. Then again at 8:00, I decided to put the light on my bike and go.

I got my gear, my dog, my bike and headed out the door at 8:16. I got to the trailhead to find out the only light I had was dead. Great.. I decided to go anyway and try to push it as hard as I could (probably no faster than a slow walk) until I reached the top. Trying to go as fast as I could on an extended uphill climb, I reached the top in the dark and wanted to throw up. I rested at the top for a minute, gave my dog some water, went along the road for a minute then headed back down. Not being able to see, it was pretty slow coming down, but there was just enough light from the stars to stay on the trail.

I stopped for a minute to look around at the clear skies and how rad the mountains are at night. My dog was having the time of her life running around in the mountains and my mind was no longer worrying about the day, any of life stresses or worries. It just felt good to be on my bike outside in the mountains. It was a good night.

Even though I was feeling like I had overdone it and wanting to throw up, I felt better, more energized and happy. We got home at 9:15 and my day wasn’t too bad after all.

Just Riding - Provo Canyon 3.31.12

Saturday was one of those days where we almost have to force ourselves to ride and it turns out amazing. Guthrie and I had been struggling with a stomach flu the week before, but with possible 80 degree temperatures (which we did hit and broke a long time record), we couldn't miss a day like that.

We began very slow and climbed and explored new trails, the following is a picture summary of the trip.

Due to the wind the night and day before, the air was clear and we could see for miles.

Hard to believe it is late March and such little snow in the mountains, this is the GWT climbing up from the altar to the pass at the top of Dry creek for a descent, alas the snow stopped us.

Gorgeous blue skies and bike (2011 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO).

We decide to take a few pictures descending Dragon's back...Guthrie pinning it.

This year we have explored these trails more than ever before, and we couldn't be more happy with them. They provide good training, variety and some technical portions (you can find them on this website Timp Foothill Trails).

Long live Utah biking...