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Where to ride in Moab Area? and Traveling With a Bike?

616 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Err, Jul 18, 2006

thebikedoctor33

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2006

I'm going out west to colorado to look at colleges in august. My family will be spending about 3 days in the moab area. we are going to arches and a couple other spots. What is the best place to ride? I'm sure there are tons of good places but if you had one full day to ride where would you go? I am looking for xc-am riding. I will not be able to shuttle and dont really want to pay for lifts. So i will stick to some cross country riding or all mountain. not that some good downhills wouldnt be nice. Keep in mind I will probably have to rent a bike because it is tough to travel with a bike. Now that i mention that, how much is it to check a bike, in a box of course. Is it worth the hassle. And then having to bring a rack too? Is it really worth doing all that just to have your own bike when places rent them for about $40 a day? If i bring a bike it will be my trek 6500 not a squishy. Also, I will be visiting Durrango (Fort Lewis University), and Gunnison (Western State), is there a good spot to visit within about 30 minutes of the town of Durrango? I know that Moab is two hours or so away but I will have about 6 hours or so to kill in the town of Durrango after my college visit.

One last question, does anyone have any knowledge of Idaho State U. in Poccatello? good riding? or any idea of what the town is like? I will be finding about soon enough, but we're debating whether to stay a whole day there or not.

Thanks for the info and help in advance

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slcdawg

· #2 · Jul 18, 2006

Well, Moab will be very hot in August. I would try to start your ride as early as possible - like 4-5am. You're going to get lots of opinions, but I would recommend Soverign Trail or Amassa Back to get a taste of Moab with out a shuttle. You could also ride slickrock - its very unique - but I'd prob do one of the first two.

Durango has a lot of great riding right by Ft. Lewis, but it will again be kind of hot. Best riding near town is prob a section of the Colorado Trail - you can hit it from town. If your rents don't mind dropping you Hermosa Creek is a classic.

Gunnison is 40 minutes from Crested Butte - one of my personal fav's. I'd check out Deadman's gulch (in between gunny and CB), or 401 if you only have a day. You could also ride Hartman rocks in Gunny - but (broken record) it will prob be fairly hot.

Pocatello is totally undiscovered. There is some excellent riding there but no guidebooks. They have a local xc ski map that is pretty useful if you get some beta from one of the bike shops. Easiest ride to find is the Prison Loop right behind the LDS church. Its a fun ride with some options and everybody knows where it is. There are lots of great rides there but it takes some time to figure out where they are (they're not signed). The town is pretty small, but I like it.

Hope that helps.

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SHIVER ME TIMBERS

· #3 · Jul 18, 2006

bring plenty of fluids......and major supply of electrolytes......a person's daughter from this board lost her life not long ago on a simple afternoon jaunt

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downhill mike

· #4 · Jul 18, 2006

thebikedoctor33 said:
I'm going out west to colorado to look at colleges in august. My family will be spending about 3 days in the moab area. we are going to arches and a couple other spots. What is the best place to ride? I'm sure there are tons of good places but if you had one full day to ride where would you go? I am looking for xc-am riding. I will not be able to shuttle and dont really want to pay for lifts. So i will stick to some cross country riding or all mountain. not that some good downhills wouldnt be nice. Keep in mind I will probably have to rent a bike because it is tough to travel with a bike. Now that i mention that, how much is it to check a bike, in a box of course. Is it worth the hassle. And then having to bring a rack too? Is it really worth doing all that just to have your own bike when places rent them for about $40 a day? If i bring a bike it will be my trek 6500 not a squishy. Also, I will be visiting Durrango (Fort Lewis University), and Gunnison (Western State), is there a good spot to visit within about 30 minutes of the town of Durrango? I know that Moab is two hours or so away but I will have about 6 hours or so to kill in the town of Durrango after my college visit.

One last question, does anyone have any knowledge of Idaho State U. in Poccatello? good riding? or any idea of what the town is like? I will be finding about soon enough, but we're debating whether to stay a whole day there or not.

Thanks for the info and help in advance

Too hot down in Moab. You'll want to head up to the LaSals where it may be 30 degrees cooler. Best bet is to buy a guide book (riders mels) in any bike shop or coffee shop. Read about some rides in the La Sals, ask some locals and choose an epic ride that won't give you heat stroke.
You will need a shuttle and a heavier bike would make it so much more fun. Or ride a little bike in town and fry. I'd go with the epic adventure in the mountins myself.

Downhill Mike
www.whiteface.com

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fw190

· #5 · Jul 18, 2006

thebikedoctor33 said:
One last question, does anyone have any knowledge of Idaho State U. in Poccatello? good riding? or any idea of what the town is like? I will be finding about soon enough, but we're debating whether to stay a whole day there or not.

ISU is well known for their nursing programs, so depending on what you are interested in it may be a good choice. Pocatello the town is fairly small and isolated but nicely situated for outdoor activities. There's plenty of mountain biking, just watch out for the shooting ranges:

http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/mtbike.htm

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slcdawg

· #6 · Jul 18, 2006

Poci

Wow - that online guide would have been good to have when I was there on business a few years back. I did a great ride, going up one of the drainages off bannock highway and down coral creek. The descent was pretty ripping, buff singletrack. Wouldn't mind doing that ride again someday! There was also some fun rides around Scout Mountain and the recreation area south of town - Pebble somethign or other.

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Err

· #7 · Jul 18, 2006

I'ver ridden Moab in late June, it was hot but we started early each day and had a good time. Amasa back and Porcupine Rim are great. Slickrock is also pretty darn cool. As someone else mentioned, te La Sal's are close by for cooler temps. Have fun and take lots of water, tools, and spares. The heat can be brutal. There are a couple of shops in town to rent some pretty nice bikes from or you can fly with your bike (about $75 each way dep on airline) or ship your bike to one of the shops in Moab, a few will build it back up for you and have it ready to ride when you arrive, then ship back to your house for around $50-$60.

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