Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

SO. Utah / Spinal Tap RR

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
F

Five0

· Registered
Joined
·
345 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Image

Image

Image

Image



Got a chance to get up to So Utah last weekend. Initially we were optimistic we could get some early season runs on Bunker Creek and Dark Hallow in Brian Head. Late storms the week before ended that hope.

Instead day one we rode St George. My buddy lives right near the Zen/ Barrel area trails. Passing on Zen, we opted for runs on Barrel and Bear Claw Poppy . We were going to head over to Hurricane in the afternoon and try out Nephi's twist. With temps rising we called and audible and headed up to Cedar City and did a lap on Lava Flow. It had been a few years since riding Lava when it newly opened. Wow! It's so much better now that it's bedded in. Don't get me wrong, it can still bite you at speed, but a lot smoother and faster now. After Cedar we headed up to Richfield for the night.

Day two. Wow!! Not sure I can honestly put into words just how good Spinal Tap is! For those of you not familiar, it's a 16 mile shuttle run starting at about 9k feet. Previously TWE was my all time favorite. Spinal Tap now holds that honor.

The local commercial shuttle was only running about half way up. We selfed shuttled so were able to get almost to the top. We missed riding thru the pines and aspen groves.

This trail has it all!!! It really is all of the iconic Utah riding into one trail. Deer Valley fast flow and berms! Gooseberry Mesa scenery, Porcupine Rim tech and drops, Thunder Mtn red, even some Fruita 18 roads spine riding.

The riding is as tech as you want. There are a few prolines, but there are ride arounds. It's really an amazing trail. There is no way to do it justice with words. Do yourself a favor. Check this one out! A great long weekend would be a day in Cedar City/ Brain Head and a day in Richfield
 
#2 ·
I concur. "This trail has it all!!! It really is all of the iconic Utah riding into one trail. Deer Valley fast flow and berms! Gooseberry Mesa scenery, Porcupine Rim tech and drops, Thunder Mtn red, even some Fruita 18 roads spine riding."
 
#4 ·
Si. I think it’s the currently shuttle run in the country. It’s not a bunch of old school legacy trail and converted road beds strung together like a lot of shuttle drops but is instead a designed for mountain bikes top to bottom run. It’s awesome.

If you get to back to Brianhead make sure to ride Blowhard, I love Dark Hollow and Bunker but they aren’t nearly as fun as Blowhard imho.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
raisingarizona said:
Si. I think it’s the currently shuttle run in the country. It’s not a bunch of old school legacy trail and converted road beds strung together like a lot of shuttle drops but is instead a designed for mountain bikes top to bottom run. It’s awesome.

If you get to back to Brianhead make sure to ride Blowhard, I love Dark Hollow and Bunker but they aren’t nearly as fun as Blowhard imho.
Click to expand...
You mean like Palisades Plunge? I never pedaled so much on a DH shuttle ride in my life. Never again! Yes I miss spoke. We were hoping to ride DH and Blow Hard.
 
#9 ·
Five0 said:
The riding is as tech as you want. There are a few prolines, but there are ride arounds. It's really an amazing trail. There is no way to do it justice with words. Do yourself a favor. Check this one out! A great long weekend would be a day in Cedar City/ Brain Head and a day in Richfield
Click to expand...
The other trails in the Richfield Pahvant system are pretty sweet as well. I'd also add in a stop at East Zion, and to stretch the legs, Tilted Mesa just east of Kanab.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Two laps on Spinal Tap and a lap on Telegraph. My fun meter was pegged!

This fall we are looking at a day in Cedar. A day in Richfield. A day or two on GC and 2 days in Moab. I still love Moab. It's just not the town it was 20 years ago. Heck even 10. Unfortunately the while SXS atv crowd has ruined it. It was fun when it was Jeepers and MTBers. Just not the same since Zaks stopped its pizza bar.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
I think that is the real appeal to the trail. TWE with the exception of Hazard doesn't really have flow. And even Hazard can be ruff. Kokopeli is fast but a wouldnt consider it flow. UPS and LPS are all tech. 95% of the time you are on your toes and picking lines. The Richfield stuff gives a break in between and lets you regroup. Plus the berms are awesome
 
#17 ·
Five0 said:
I think that is the real appeal to the trail. TWE with the exception of Hazard doesn't really have flow. And even Hazard can be ruff. Kokopeli is fast but a wouldnt consider it flow. UPS and LPS are all tech. 95% of the time you are on your toes and picking lines. The Richfield stuff gives a break in between and lets you regroup. Plus the berms are awesome
Click to expand...
I love TWE because it drops through multiple ecological zones and has incredible views. I enjoy the technical component too but it's definitely lower average speed than Spinal Tap. The Spinal Tap built berms up high on the plateau caught my attention. They seemed out of place but not in a bad way.
 
#18 ·
rockman said:
The other trails in the Richfield Pahvant system are pretty sweet as well. I'd also add in a stop at East Zion, and to stretch the legs, Tilted Mesa just east of Kanab.
Click to expand...
Took the teenager to East Zion/Grafton Mesa for his Spring Break a month ago. Had a blast. East Zion is a great trail system as well as Richfield, just different. Easy to lap, great flow, in the trees/junipers for a little sun coverage, nice dirt (add a little rain = velcro-like tackiness). In our travels back and forth between Park City and Sedona we get to explore other trail systems near this route and would definitely recommend a full day in Richfield and East Zion.
 
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
About this Discussion
24 Replies
8 Participants
Last post:
Five0
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion