Epic: Moab 2006


This year’s Thanksgiving adventure didn’t serve the sweet flavors I expected, but it was tasty nonetheless. High/lowlights: a buried van, interpersonal drama, random crashes and a punctured engine case. Sweet? More like savory …

Thursday




See the hole beyond the front of the van? We were there three hours ago. … Van photos courtesy of Leonard Keen; I designed a pump track for him. He just happened to ride by.

The plan: Drive north of town to the Sovereign Trail. Ride it on bikes. Eat lunch at the truck. Ride the trail on motos. Compare notes. Laugh a hearty laugh: HA HA HA!

The reality: The access road crossed a wide, sandy river bed, and the far bank was impossibly steep for The Brick, my extended Sprinter van. I stopped halfway, tried to turn around and buried The Brick to its rear axle. Sacha, Luke and I dug out the rear of the van with our hands (literally), jacked up one side, stuck a moto ramp under the tire, did the same on the other side, drove 10 feet then repeated MANY times. It was a LOT of digging! Three hours later, we were almost out; a nice guy with an F350 4×4 pulled me the rest of the way.




So much for that moto ramp. A locking differential would have kept the van moving.

No matter how strong you are, a Ford pickup is stronger.

We ate lunch (as planned!) then rode Sovereign Trail on motos. We went clockwise: Fast road approach. Steep, tight, rocky singletrack. Flat, windy, rocky singletrack. Fast, rocky doubletrack. Lots of rocks, lots of fun. Braaap!

Reality check: One of us got left behind in a particularly heinous section, and when he caught the waiting group he was PISSED! His bike wouldn’t start, he might have crashed, etc. This underscored the importance of riding as a team. In the desert, anything can happen. (And it did on Saturday.)


Friday

Solo XC ride: I took the Mighty Enduro SL up Poison Spider to Portal Trail. Moab is great — don’t get me wrong — but I think they’ve had some good marketing. Many of the trails are just too steep and sandy for bikes. Poison Spider is a perfect example: steep and rocky in places, which is cool, and sandy, which is not cool. I walked many a long sandy stretch, but I was in no hurry. It was a real treat to just ride, walk or whatever at my own pace.

The top of Poison Spider becomes undulating slickrock, which is dang fun. The SL crawled up the steepest pitches, and I lowered my Maverick Speedball for every decent over 30 feet. Pumping, skimming, jumping. Braaap!

Portal Trail is serious business! As you skirt a huge cliff, signs scream “Dismount Now. Three people have died here.” Died. No kidding. I rode 99% of it, except the part where the vultures hang out. It was a handful on a modern bike; I can’t imagine cleaning this on a 1988 Bontrager. I took it easy, cruised back on the river road and found a bunch of friends climbing the cliffs. We hung out a bit, then I cruised on. Three hours of base miles: check.

Slickrock Trail on moto: It was getting late, but an idea was lodged my mind. Must … ride … Slickrock. I got there at 4:30 p.m., geared up and cruised the practice loop twice. Lap 1: 10 minutes. Lap 2: 8 minutes. I could have done the main trail in maybe 30-40 minutes. We’ll see next time.

I encountered a guy on a trials motorcycle: definitely a local, definitely a DH racer, and he was going twice as fast as me — pumping his little moto like a DJ hardtail. So cool.

Saturday




Diane climbs Poison Spider. She’s about to roll up a 50-degree slope. … Moto photos shot with a camera phone by Gregor Halenda, who is a big time bad ass New York photographer. www.gregorhalenda.com

Morning moto: The day started pretty mellow. I parked The Brick in town, and we rode Fins & Things near Slickrock. What a fun mix of sand, loose rock, slickrock, first gear, second gear and third gear. One moment was pure trials, the next pure DH, the next a hare scramble. So fun. Sacha, his wife Diane and I then rode the Porcupine Jeep trail: pretty flat, with lots of rock ledges and nice flow. We took the other half of Fins & Things back toward town. My notion of steep has been recalibrated; some of those pitched much have been 50 degrees — but with power and balance it’s all possible.

Lunch in town.

The afternoon plan: Town to Poison Spider to Golden Spike to Gold Bar to Gemini Bridges to Highway 191 back to town. About 60 miles. Sacha, Gregor, Diane and me. We left the cafe at two something. Tick, tock.




A trail spur ends at this 1,000-foot cliff. No signs, no nothing. Don’t charge anything out here.


Team Fortunate: Me; Diane, who rocked this super-gnarly trail; Sacha, with the MacGyver repairs; Gregor, with the clever ideas.

The flow: These trails are amazing with an engine and a foot of suspension. Steep, sandy, rocky, up, down, flowy, violent, insane and scenic in equal measure. We brapped along pretty slowly, keeping the group together and trying to save energy — since we had no map and no clear idea what we were in for.




Sacha crosses the Pit of Despair on my CRF450X.

Pit of Despair: Imagine a sheet of rock the size of a football field, tilted about three degrees, with a crack running end to end. This crack is about five feet wide from lip to lip, two feet wide in its throat and anywhere from three to 10 feet deep. It must be jumped. Gregor and Sacha got their KTM 525s across no problem, then Sacha tried it on Diane’s Suzuki DRZ 400. I still can’t believe this happened:

Sacha blipped the throttle, popped a wheelie, sailed over the gap and landed hard. The soft suspension crumpled, and he got knocked to one side. The bike reared upward (with the throttle on), pulled a 180, flipped upside down and FELL INTO THE PIT!!! Pieces of headlight exploded outward. We were all dumbfounded for a sec. Sacha: “That was good.”




The wayward DRZ. It crossed the pit at the tire marks; here’s where it wound up.

Crazy! We lifted the yellow beast into the gathering darkness. No light, unknown miles to go. Time to get rocking.

It could be you: I realize now that when you ride with a group, you might need to save another rider, and no matter how cool you think you are, another rider might have to save you.

We wiggled through gaps, braaped up steps and dropped off ledges. The trail was getting rougher, and a passing Jeeper said we were 7 miles from the dirt road — and about 30 more miles from town. I cleaned a two-step section that’s famous for wrecking Jeeps. As I waited for the others, Gregor observed, “Someone’s in trouble.” A big puddle of oil shone on the rock. I thought, “That sucker is bummed!” then I realized I was standing in an identical puddle.




Magesium is light, but it’s very brittle. At least it burns spectacularly …

Somewhere along the line, something poked my rear brake pedal through my clutch cover, and the 5mm hole was very permissive with my tranny oil. Yikes. Gregor and Diane kept going because of the light situation. Sacha and I laid out our tools and started thinking. I removed the cover. Sacha rolled up a piece of rubber glove like a joint. I looped a piece of electrical wire around the latex and pulled it through the hole, like a tire plug. We trimmed the ends the best we could, put it all back together and got riding. Sacha is nuts, but he can be very handy.

I hit the first obstacle too tentatively and stalled. I hit the next too fast and looped out. “Stop and count to 10,” Sacha said. “I know you’re stressed, but we need to be smooth.” Great idea. We got back on, riding with half sunlight and half headlight. We both clicked into an extraordinary flow: Quick, clean, smooth. Fun — if I wasn’t so worried.




Lee Used to Like Bikes dot com. Check out the dejected body language.

When we caught the rest of our party, it was D – A – R – K. We formed up: Gregor in front, then the lightless Diane, then Sacha, then me with my bright light. We took the easiest lines, not talking, just riding as one organism. 1st and 2nd gear for over an hour, everyone dancing in each other’s lights. Surreal. Mesmerizing. We cruised into town and my bike gave up. “SCREEEEETCHH!!!!” said my clutch. I hid the Honda CRF450X
behind a bush and got a lift to The Brick.

An hour later, soaking in the hot tub and a Chimay beer, we all felt super grateful. 1. As a group we had the skill, endurance, cool heads, good ideas and teamwork to get us through this. 2. We got lucky. We barely had enough tools and time. I was prepared to sleep on the trail and jog out in the morning. That would have sucked.

The desert is serious business, especially on a moto. Next time we’ll all have tools, time and a plan.

34 replies
  1. Brian Buell says:

    Lee, right as you said you left at around two to do Poisen, gold spike and gold bar to Gemini Bridges, I knew you were in trouble! A few years ago we started this ride around 10, had a few similar problems and ended up showing up to our vehicles right before it got dark, I think we got lost for a little too! Glad to hear nothing happened in the dark, the desert must have been cool in the dark! Tiring, but slow! Thinking about DEC 10, we shall see. Later!

  2. leelikesbikes says:

    I’m afraid so. My wife isn’t working these days, and it’d be pretty hard to justify the cost and lost work time. BUT! There’s plenty of adventure closer to home.

  3. Mike says:

    Well, I am sure I am going to get a load of crap for this but, well, here goes: Lee man I love your site, I check it out every day, and have become a better rider since ordering your book. I just have to express the opinion that motorcycles have so much impact on the landscape compared to a mountain bike in every way they seem to me to be inappropriate in most areas. Puddles of oil? Dude! Don’t get me wrong: I am not screeching that every bit of public land be closed to motorcycles. However, stop and consider how much impact a motorcycle has on the landscape compared to a bicycle in terms of noise, air pollution (especially 2-strokes) and trail degredation. Is it true that some motorcyclists are reasonable and will slow down for a mountain biker, or not ride up single track that is typically used as a DH bike run? Yep. Are those people in the majority? Unfortunately in my experience that has not been the case. Further I believe that ohv’s piss off the hard-core enviromentalists in such a way that they seek federal wilderness protection for areas that ultimately will affect mountain bikes as well. This is the case in my own area, and several brilliant mountain bike trails that are shared with bicycles are being considered for wilderness status. When i am struggling to climb something on my mtn bike, I would rather hear a red-tail hawk and smell pines than listen to a 2 stroke go blasting by and smell exhaust. Braap? nah. Woooosh.

  4. leelikesbikes says:

    Hey Mike,

    This is a big, rich issue; one I think about all the time. I don’t know what all to think or say, but quickly:

    – I agree motos have much higher impact than bikes. Tires, noise, exhaust and the occasional spill. On hindsight, that oil puddle is terrible. Going forward, my trail kit will include some way to wipe up that sort of mess.

    – I ride moto only in approved areas. In most areas, there are plenty of moto-free places to ride bikes. When I do ride my bike in a moto area (Left Hand Canyon), I accept the motos as part of the deal.

    – My 4-stroke Honda is EPA approved for noise and emmissions. It’s about as green as it gets (until it spews oil on the trail).

    – This is all so relative. There seems to be a continuum: walking, hiking, running, XC biking, DH biking, motorcycles, ATVs, Jeeps, trucks, construction equipment, houses, malls. Right now in the world, we have to find a balance for everyone.

    – As a motorcycle rider, it blows my mind people want to ban bicycles from trails. Mike, I agree bikes have much less impact.

    More clarity as I figure things out …

  5. Josh130 says:

    You know its an adventure when it absolutely sucked while it was happening. This article reminded me both why I want a moto and why I’ll never buy one. Namely, that I know I would want to light it on fire if it ever broke (or fell into a chasm).

    Maybe you’ll pick a destination that isn’t out to get you next year.

    JOSH

  6. leelikesbikes says:

    “You know its an adventure when it absolutely sucked while it was happening.”

    Quote of the day.

  7. Gregor says:

    Nice write up Lee. I think we all learned a lot about preparation that day – for instance I’ve ordered a headlight so I have a back up light. The key is having it and not needing it.

    As for Motos – keep in mind that Slickrock was founded by motorcyclists with the BLM in 1969. Imagine now that it was off limits to mountain bikes and only allowed motos. That would really suck. Personally I find that there is no black and white – only gray. I think a little tolerance goes a long way and a little consideration even farther. While riding Slickrock on the moto I always yield to the bikes. I think that is part of what makes Moab such a cool place – everyone seems to get along and play nice together.

    Hare Scrambles is the next step Lee, then it’s some of the big desert races this summer…

    Gregor

  8. leelikesbikes says:

    The inexorable progression:

    – 50 miles around the Berthoud track

    – 300 miles across Nevada

    – 1,000 miles down Baja …

  9. Mike says:

    And when you are at the end of your 1000 miles in Baja check out the insanely fun singletrack in the mountains behind Los Barriles and Cabo Pulmo. Some enterprising, unknown mtb’rs built or improved miles of twisty flowy bermed trails, always following the fall line, teeter totters… dirt road climbs and singletrack descents ending with fish tacos and cervaza at the Sea of Cortez. Mind the cactus though. Last time I got my bell rung but good and was about a 6 inches from a very diabolical cactus.

  10. doug render says:

    Nice report. My wife and I did Sovereign trail on motos on Saturday. Other moto adventures on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. We live in Boulder. My wife would love to have another woman to ride with. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171441

    I’m not crazy about jeeps, but i recognize that many of the connecter trails and roads I enjoy on my moto are there because jeepers helped create and maintain them. I’d be a lot more sensitive to bicyclists if they realized that much of the riding they enjoy, be it the Sovereign Single track or the single tracks in West Mag, are there because motos came before them. Great example of retrograde–the trail system in Fruita, made by motos, now closed to motos. One day they’ll be closed to all but hikers because foot traffic has the least impact.

    Anyone who thinks that moto single track is inherently not sustainable and has too great an environmental impact has not been to the right places. It’s not a rule, but there is moto single track that has been in use for 20 years that shows less indication of over use than the West Mag trails have accrued in the past 8 years.

    -Doug Render

  11. T-Coop says:

    Way to go Lee! That big hole you guys flipped that Sasucki into is called the Golden Crack, and the double ledge is Double Wammy I fliped my rock buggy up on it’s lid on two seperate trips. Have some good memories of rewelding a rear axle perch into place on the trail and getting into town at midnight. No worries we responsible rock crawlers ALLWAYS carry spill clean up kits in our rigs. P.S. ALWAYS carry JB weld in your pack hell Lee I even carry it in my MTB backpack. Sounds like fun good luck fixing the moto and get a gard for that case this time. Latter T-Coop

  12. Jeff says:

    One day, everyone will realize that simple traffic and use is what destroys trails, not so much the actual means of it.

    One dirt bike won’t ruin the trails, but 50 will. 1 hiker won’t ruin a trail, but 50 will leave it a widened slice of moon dust. 1 mountain biker won’t wreck anything, but 50 will create breaking bumps and knock down all the bushes at the apexes of the corners.

    So let’s stop fighting among ourselves, and focus our energy on the real problems trails face: housing developments, stripmalls, freeways and official private property. A single big-rig pollutes more than any 2-stroke dirt bike. And let’s also build our trails knowing they’ll get used a lot.

  13. Mike says:

    I am stoked to hear there are some responsible motorcyclists out there. Stoked as well to see the Cal Poly Wheelmen Jersey on your blog Jeff. My Housemate at Poly was on the wheelmen (early 90’s) and I cut my teeth mtn biking on Bishops Peak and Montana De Oro. Brought back some good memories and made me feel old.

  14. Denise says:

    Wow – Lee,
    Quite a response to your epic weekend. I think Mike firing off from the start really sparked some good, necessary debate. I think he’ll learn that MOST moto-folk are responsible and care about the trails. IMBA and the like are doing Fantastic things for Mtn Biking, but still, their closest allies are the OHV crowd. The folks on the other side of the fence still see MTBr’s as a threat. Take the Sierra Club Corporate Honchos (in their glass towers in downtown LA, who never venture in to the wilderness) – if they had their way, all PUBLIC LAND would be CLOSED to everyone, unless of course you wanted a membership, but that would only gain you foot access, no llamas, no horses, no mtbs, and certainly no off road motor vehicles of any kind. And you call this PUBLIC LAND? My experiences come from California where more land has been taken away from riders than the entire state of Colorado. It’s become so utterly frustrating to try to go for a nice trail ride, let alone organize a race in CA.

    IMBA, BMA, and other MTB’g organizations are doing great work and we all need to support them, as well as AMA & the Blue Ribbon Coalition. There is a balance there, but WE (MTB and OHV) have to work really really hard to get that balance. Gregor says it perfect when he says it was the OHV and BLM working TOGETHER to get Slick Rock. There’s a whole crowd of MTB folks who don’t know that and get pissed off when a group of motos approach them on the trail. They need to know, if it weren’t for the OHV, there’d be no trails.

    As both a long time Moto-gal and MTBr, it’s all in how you approach someone on the trail. Seeing a great epic DH section, I’ll wave on the MTB who’s coming down having a great ride. Why wreck that for him/her, even though I have the “right of way”! If I see a group of mtn bikes and I’m on moto, there’s a time and a place for them to yield and me to yield. Good Common sense plays a huge role here and if people would just take the time to be courteous, regardless of who has the “right of way”, there’d be a lot less hard feelings on the trail. I am embarassed by the folks on both sides who despise the other and blame them for the problems. I guess I take a line from Ole Rodney King “Can’t we all just get along?” And we’d better, or we are all going to lose it.

    Like you, I’m in both sports for the long haul!

    Speaking of long haul…… I predict a better trip to Moab next Fall – you, FMJ, Mr Braaap Clay and my new KTM. We’ll figure out some way to cook a turkey and have all the trimmings and have a true Epic Weekend.

    Thanks for a Great Website and great forums for us to share!

    Denise

  15. Sacha says:

    Well it’s been almost a week and that’s right about the time after an epic when you start lament for more adventure. I appreciate Mike’s comment and struggle with it every day. My guess is that Mike like most of us owns a car, buys fruit that’s out of season, heats his house with a fossil fuel, wears synthetic clothes—you get the picture. Y’all without sin right? Here’s my hope: Instead of splitting hairs about the impact recreation—which can be managed—has on the environment we change the way we live (stop commuting, go solar etc.) , and buy (local and organic) and VOTE… well you get the idea. We all make an impact in everything we do—but it can be balanced with the impact we can have in everything else we do. Soap box session over.

    On an altogether different note I have to say: My wife Rips!

    Sacha

  16. Mike says:

    Never meant to imply that I am “Holier than thou” or live a somehow more enlightened existence. I agree that changing our paradigm about organic food, over-development etc is the most important step we can take as a culture. However going from a comment about noisy intrusive motorcycles to these subjects is a pretty big leap. Further, I belong to the Sierra Club and I can tell you without hesitation that no one I know in the club sits in glass towers in L.A. Saying Sierra Club leaders are “Corporate Honchos in their glass towers in downtown LA, who never venture in to the wilderness” in one breath while saying we all need to get along in another is a little inflammitory. The Sierra Club leaders I have met are some of the most hardcore mountaineers and backpackers I know. I grew up in Tahoe and Bishop, so I know a few. It was mostly the motorcycle riders and 4-wheelers that were sportin’ L.A. plates where I grew up in Tahoe City. And the Blue Ribbon Coalition? If Earth First!, or the wackos at Earth Liberation Front are at one extreme, then the Blue Ribbon Coaltion is on the other extreme advocating that Surprise Canyon in Death Valley be left open to jeepers winching their rigs up waterfalls. Annnd just to be clear that I know of what I speak, I grew up with an XR250R and later a watercooled KDX200. Left em’ when i became another wimp Sierra Clubber. Lastly to say 50 hikers leaves a trail a widened slice of Moon Dust is obviously nonsense. I climbed the Sun Ribbon Arete on Temple Crag in the John Muir (Sierra Clubber) Wilderness this year with some other panty-waist Sierra Clubbers. What did we hear at the top? Motorcycles at a place called Coyote Flat. Before I forget, before you start quoting Sierra Club Policy, check your facts. The Club has pack animal supported trips every year. And yes non-motorized use is the very essence of public land policy because it serves the greater number. You got me fired up about this one.

  17. jason smith says:

    sounds like mike is a hard core tree hugger and should revert to walking with bare feet to as not create waste for land fills with used rubber products. Maybe he should take a look around a sierra club corporate office and see the anti bike,4 wheel drive a motorcycle literature.After reading his comments it swas no surprise to me he was a brain washed bonifide sierra club member.

  18. leelikesbikes says:

    Doug, great photos!

    And the trails looked super fun. We’ll have to form a new club:

    Boulder
    Region
    Areawide
    Assembly of
    Awesome
    People

    – BRAAAP –

    I love it!

  19. Diane says:

    Hello All,
    It’s Dec. 7 and this is a bit late in coming, but I just discovered this dialogue (great comments on the ever-hot topic of recreation and environment…everyone’s right, right?). As a member of Team Fortunate who survived the Poison Gold Bar Loop of Doom, I wanted to publicly give thanks for several things (it was Thanksgiving, after all):

    1. The level of patience and cool-headedness displayed by Lee, Sacha and Greg all day long. As the least-experienced and slowest rider, I necessarily governed the pace the entire day, and not one whine or complaint about the relatively slower pace was ever registered. In fact, just the opposite: Nothing but encouragement and psych.

    2. Collectively, the four of us dealt with what we had to with all the calm we had in us. No one flipped out (although I do recall some hurry-the-#@$*-up expletives coming from Sacha when Greg paused to take a picture of the DRZ on its head). Everyone simply notched back and got out safely. Sounds simple but isn’t.

    2.5 We were undoubtedly very lucky. I’m glad that all of us recognize that (not an ounce of bravado anywhere) and are resolved not to leave it to luck again.

    3. How many girls get an improvised motorcade of handsome men to escort her back the 30 miles to Moab because she has no headlight? I felt like the Queen. In fact, I might have swooned, “My Heroes,” if I hadn’t been frozen solid to the bike.

    4. I must admit, with some guilt, that I often lust after a KTM, and would someday like one. The DRZ is a bit of a lumbering mass…BUT. We hauled that thing out of the Pit of Despair mangled, broken and bent, and it fired up immediately and carried me gamely back to Moab with zero incident. For that, I will always love the Yellow Pig.

    Have adventures, be safe, be polite, be aware, be more prepared than we were, and have fun riding, whatever you’re riding.

    Diane (wife of MacGyver)

  20. Mike says:

    Come on man do you really think that I am a hard core tree hugger because I want to see trails remain open to mountain bikes? The bottom line is this: As pressure on public land builds, the Mountain Bike community has a choice of who to align themselves with. To me the choice is clear: Align with motos and and moto-oriented groups, and trails will be closed to Mountain Bikes. Witness the California Desert Protection Act. Create partnerships and build bridges between enviromental groups like IMBA and Sierra Club and show land managers, politicians and the public that Mountain Biking is a quiet non intrusive form of recreation that has a place alongside hikers, and trails will remain open to bicycles. In places like California where the population is growing quickly, the Forest Service is launching studies on land use policy. This is a critical time to be a trail ambassador, and how we conduct ourselves now will play a role in the enjoyment of our trails in the future. Lee I think you witnessed that on Santa Barbara’s Tunnel Trail. You may not like it, you may not want to hear it, but the majority of non-motorized trail users are never going to tolerate Motos. Lee, the lady that gave you the evil eye on the Tunnel Trail might be swayed by stopping and saying good morning. My humble opinion is that approach is not going to work on a Moto. In Tahoe, some trails are open to cyclists on odd numbered days to avoid conflicts. Thats just it; Hikers and Mountain Bikers can reach compromises, but motos, hikers and land managers will reach an impasse due to the nature of the beast. Lee perhaps this should go into a new post category to keep the debate going. I think it is good to have this kind of conversation to keep people fired up no matter what side of the hazy line you are on.

  21. Jay says:

    Hey Lee, kind of a deraillment, but I’m curious about the van. I was looking at the stuck van in your pictures and am curious about what you think about it. I have been interested in them since the road trip issues in BIKE a couple months ago. They had a LOPES special in there so I was curious if you got hooked up. I also noticed you selling your Astro Van a while back and was curious if that is what you sold for it. I have an astro as well, I’m wondering what your opinion of the two vans is. Lastly, that white monster is pretty distinctive, was it on the front side of Hall a few Sunday mornings ago?

  22. leelikesbikes says:

    Jay,

    – I do have a Lopes model, although I prefer to think of it as a Lee Likes Bikes model.

    – I did *not* get hooked up. Lopes made a royalty on it, and I didn’t even get a beer rebate.

    – The Astro is finally sold, to offset the new van.

    – Both vans are great. They just do different things.

    – Astro: Haul bikes and people. Easy to drive and park. AWD works everywhere. Paid for. Only about 15-17 mpg.

    – Sprinter: Haul more bikes, more people and motos. And cook/eat/sleep in it. Pretty easy to drive. Tricky to park. 2WD with standard differential not great in the sand. Still paying for it. About 20mpg.

    – Yes, that was me at Hall. On short bike excursions like that, the Sprinter is overkill. But on long road trips (especially with motos) it can’t be beat.

  23. Rex says:

    Lee, short and simple. I need to thank you for teaching my Super Wife (Lisa) some skills for MTB last summer! Also for planting the seed about MX bikes helping with additional MTB skills. I have started and stopped 2 awesome responses for this topic.(I am no I.T.) Any who! here is my 2 cents. (thanks and sorry Mike)

    1. Mountain bikers and hikers align like oil and water! Hikers(who attend trail issue meetings) “by demographic” are above the age of 40 and are less likely to try new sports. Like pedaling or twist-a-grip.

    2. Pedals and Motors are much more likely to fit together. Both sports find crossover. I started mountain biking when I raced SX and MX because of the cardio bennifits and faster hand eye coordination.

    I have seen in the past 30 years a massive amount of terrain closed that I onced motored up. And recently watched MTB trails closed to hiking only. I enjoy hiking our never ending trails Colorado has to offer. But see one thing that has become a common pattern.

    Hikers (who have millions of State and National Land) become lazier and lazier! They want to be able to drive as short of distance from work or home to a location where they can experience the great outdoors with out hearing the tic of a derailure or motor? Is it me or is that the way any one else sees it?

    Mike, I believe, your heart is in the right place. But your head may be deceiving you! wash the Sierra Club pamphlet out of your head! They would S*#t can you from the organization if they knew you have a MTB.

    P.S. One of our neighbors (A long time SC member) left because of the new RADICAL leadership in place.

    P.S.S. We are planning a trip (BRAAP) to Moab over the New Year’s if any one is interested?

  24. Mike says:

    I am not sure where all this animosity toward the Sierra Club comes from. I looked up the Sierra Club website and found they offer Mountain Bike trips as part of their “outings”. The club hikes I went on in the Eastern Sierra had a bunch of guys in my 4wd Toyota going up a rough dirt road to Taboose Creek Trailhead. I think what I am hearing is that when SC advocates wilderness status for an area it inflames some people. To me the point is that while pedals and motos fit together as a sport, they do not politically. I still believe bridges can be made with SC, land managers, and IMBA (which I knew very little about until quite recently, and seems like a great group.) because there is historical precedent of relationship between the groups.(I looked up) The SC is arguably the most powerful enviro group in the country with over 750,000 members. Thats not going to change. I believe with the right approach they can be an ally. “change happens from within” Anyway I understand this is getting out of the scope of a website that is here for people to trade information and have fun on their mtb’s and moto’s. This whole thing has inspired me to get more involved with IMBA and my local mtn bike club and that has to be a good thing. On a side note I listened to some of Diane French’s music, and it is incredibly beautiful-ethereal…very well done

  25. scott says:

    How do you think most of the trails in moab originated. Motos and vehicles. If you have a hard time with share the trail, go to the ones that are bike only. Do not condem my choice of recreation if it involves two wheels and a motor. If your frustrated with that Fruita has some really nice,techie hard rides that are about as wide as most single track motorcycle trails. They are easy to follow because they are well worn from all the mountain bikes, easier to follow than some of the slick rock trails seen in the photos shown on LLB’s web site regardless of the 4x4s and the motos that put in those trails. There are even great converted motorcycle trails (Sovereign Trail that I will stop on and let you pass when we meet you on your bike and me on my moto so the Castor Bean oil from a two stroke will not burn your eyes)
    Mike you could leave California and move to a remote setting New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana. Because you sound pretty stressed

    LLB drop me a line I have a ton of places to ride in Moab, Southern Utah, Northern Utah and most southern utah are winter accessible

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