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Help - Cycling Routes in Moab, UT

eldorado99saeldorado99sa
in General Training Discussions

Hey Team EN!

My crew and I are trying a new venue for our annual triathlon training camp - Moab, Utah!  Mostly road biking with a couple of days of mountain biking.  No shortage of routes for MTB.  However, I'd love recommendations for road rides.

So, I'm throwing the floor open to 'da Haus! 

Thanks in advance for the help!

p.s. - If anyone needs guidance for riding/running in Tucson, AZ or San Diego, CA - let me know as I've got tons of route maps that I've put together over the years.

Comments

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    I recommend going to MapMyRide and searching for routes outside of Moab. That said, I'd also suggest riding through Canyonlands and Arches NP's, though I don't recall what the road surfaces are like.

    Recommend you mtn bike the Slick Rock trail but BE PREPARED! I did it at 11a in May with a rented mtn bike, running shoes and zero mtn bike skill. Damn near died and was probably the hardest most lifethreateningest training event I've ever done. Good times!

     

  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander

    You might be able to find some routes near this century course: www.skinnytireevents.com/

  • eldorado99saeldorado99sa

    @R and @Scott -

    Thanks!  Slick Rock Trail is on the itinerary - yikes! 

  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    Slick rock used to have a practice loop. It was a good testing ground to see if you felt up for the whole course. If it's still there, I'd recommend riding it to get comfortable, then do the full loop.

    I was just thinking last night about the climb from the entrance of Arches up to the plateau. it's a haul but a good workout. Same with trying to ride up to Canyonlands from the highway. It''s more fun to take a mtn bike ride DOWN from Canyonlands to the highway.

    All in all, skip the road biking. There is so much gorgeous back country to explore.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Michele, yes, the practice loop is still there. I barely survived the practice loop and felt like I was stepping into the octagon for a fight when I entered the real loop.

    We also did a rafting drip down the CO river (mellow) and did an ATV tour.

    Anyway, southern UT is my favorite area of the country and Moab is very special, to me, because of the off-road options. I have a couple friends that rent a condo for a week in May and October each and dirtbike the area. Haven't had a chance to join them but plan to bring a spare motorcycle to use for parts as I break mine on the rocks, etc.

  • eldorado99saeldorado99sa

    @Michele - Thanks for the heads up on the practice loop.

    I'm excited.  So far planning to ride road bike for most of trip.  There's a lobbying effort to get me to MTB with the rest of the crew however, I'm a rank novice ... not sure that Moab is the place for my MTB initiation! 

  • Michael ByertsMichael Byerts
    The practice loop on Slick Rock is still very tough. It doesn't have the sheer cliff drop-offs that the full trail does, but it is almost as challenging. They warn you that the practice loop is not for novices. It's all up and down, up and down, on a line painted on the rock. I tried it about 4 years ago (pre-triathlon days), and actually had a small panic attack about 3/4 of the way through and ended up walking it in. You are probably a much better mountain biker than I was then, but you need to be very comfortable carrying a lot of speed downhill to make it up the climbs.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    There are definitely some easy routes in Moab, or you can walk it in tough areas. Goodness knows I did that a few times. I never got really technical with boulders or anything. But I could get behind my seat and FLY down a deep drop off then get on the seat and pedal up the other side. But yes, that was after several years of regular riding. It is an absolutely incredibly gorgeous area of the country.

    As for road riding, in that part of the country, I just don't recall feeling it was worth the time. So much back country, so little time. Put me back there tomorrow and I would give up road triathlon for mt biking without hesitation. With river rafting and canoe camping as my other favorite way to unwind.

    But my life is on the east coast now. I haven't been to Moab in about 10 years.
  • hlmmayhlmmay
    Just an FYI - They have announced a Road and an XTerra race in Moab in May this year. Exciting for both the roadies and MTBers out there!
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