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so
this is slick rock bike trail an 11 mile
loop in moab utah
he was ridden by dirt bikers in the late
60s before becoming what is arguably the
most iconic mountain bike trail in the
world
early settlers referred to the surface
as slick rock
because on metal horseshoes it was a
nightmare lucky for us
it grips tires like sandpaper this makes
it possible to climb
features that look completely absurd we
got a chance to hit some of the jeep
trails in the area and could not believe
the traction
if you have the strength that keeps
spinning every climb on the bike trail
is doable
just make sure you commit and don't stop
spinning
lose your momentum and tumble down an
abrasive and unforgiving surface
oh my god dude you freaking had it
oh my god at least the helicopter ride
to the hospital would have been
amazing that fall that would have sucked
going down there
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the high desert of utah is spectacular
at all times of the year
stopping for these views can make your
first ride on slickrock last over five
hours
easy a strong rider can do it in under
three
whether you're racking up miles or
enjoying the views bring
lots of water i thought a leader would
be more than enough for early october
but i was wrong
it heats up pretty fast out here on the
rocks
guide books usually rank slick rock as a
highly advanced trail
while i need to agree that it's pretty
dangerous there's nothing technical
about it besides the super steep climbs
most do agree that the ride is
physically demanding
it looks like the hard wavy surface will
let you conserve your momentum
and fly halfway up the next climb but
that's not usually the case
sharp turns and creases in the surface
will leave you pedaling hard after only
a few sweet seconds of downhill
we're pretty spoiled these days as trail
builders have become adept at stretching
out the downs
but slick rock's maintenance crew
doesn't have the luxury of altering the
terrain
there's no man-made features or
excavations
on slick rock the trail is a white line
drawn in paint
from what i can see it's a good line to
follow although it looks arbitrary at
times
veering off of it can send you careening
into a cactus patch
or tumbling down a slope unless you know
exactly what's over the crest of the
hill
you're best off following the markings
where the terrain
allows it the painted lines take you on
a roller coaster ride
akin to a snake run at a skate park so
much fun
cherish these lines and bomb them
brazenly because you'll be paying the
price shortly after
because slick rock is such a famous
trail you can expect to share it with
huge crowds at times
while i've read accounts of waiting in
line to ride certain sections
it felt spacious and unrestricted when
we wrote it
of course some of the sections are
shared with atvs and dirt bikes
but everyone's cool when you reach the
end of slick rock trail you'll be pretty
exhausted
and if you're like me ready to hit one
of the many evening establishments in
moab
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luckily it's a downhill ride back into
town
for advanced mountain bikers moab utah
offers some of the most treacherous and
technical terrain around
that was the reason for our visit
despite its mainstream appeal
slick rock trail was still a priority
it's what you would call a bucket list
trail
you'd be crazy to visit moab and not
ride slick rock
just make sure you come early to beat
the crowds and if you're running inner
tubes
keep your pressure well above 40 psi
i suggested that randall reduces tire
pressure on a steep climb and it
resulted in a pinch flat later on
while slick rock trail is
extraordinarily unique it's not the only
place in moab you'll find this riding
surface
in the next moab video we'll have a look
at bartlett slickrock
which is an open riding area that feels
like a natural skatepark
until then thanks for riding with me
today and i'll see you next time