Moab, Pennsylvania (part deux)

This forecast can't be correct. Doesn't weather.com realize that we are going camping this weekend. Where's the f-in' rain????

Knob reservations are in full effect. 3 person GSB on Fri., 4 Person GSB on Sat. I want my $3.00.....

BTW, this new post editor is the bee's knees!!!!

Seriously... Your dick, my mouth...

MATT DAMON!!!

Ok, I know it's 3 weeks away and we know where we're staying The Knob and where we're drinking Beer & Gear but I was just looking for trails and wanted a place to save some links and possibly get some feedback.

BTW, you can't spell Beer & Gear without GB.

Big Bear Lake mtbr review (big bear lake could be a trip all on it's own, campground etc on site)

Quebec Run

Coopers Rock (map) mtbr review (mixed reviews)

7Springs 24 hour loop

Forbes State Forest (big pdf file)

Moab, Pennsylvania

So I'm not supposed to talk about this weekend's ride because it is a Moab Blog, but the Johnsbowelmovements blog is always too busy. So I am once again forced into talking about it here.

Team Spam is only 0.77% of the total attendance to Dirtfest this weekend. That's right, potentially 651 riders on the trails. With 436 camping out. John had better be ready to scream "GSB" from the top of his lungs. Scott - sorry about the gravel shower your tent is undoubtedly going to experience.

Hmm....has anyone ever noticed you cant spell GSB without GB?

Anyway, Saturday is the last day of Spring Gobbler Season (gobbler...tee hee). So....trails are closed until noon on Saturday. With most likely 400 people riding the trail between the hours of noon and 6pm on Saturday, we should try to get a ride in Friday afternoon.

Oh! In case you didn't know, Scott signed up for the weekend. Camping wouldn't be fun without him....

(Anybody ever notice you can't spell gobbler without GB?)

Scary desert biking!

Precautions from the Rim Cyclery site (sounds just like SE PA riding).

FALL - The second great riding season. September and October bring back the perfect riding weather with milder days and cool nights. This usually lasts into early November and often later. It’s not uncommon to see a 45 degree temperature difference between mid-day and mid-night so plan accordingly. Even though it’s not too hot, the humidity is very low so dehydration is still a threat.

WATER - This is a big one. Plan on drinking about a gallon a day if you’re active here in the desert. This means thinking ahead, pre-hydrating before your ride, and having the means to carry a lot with you. Partying hard the night before dehydrates you so take that into consideration as well. To plagiarize a popular ad, “Hydrate or Die” - believe it.

SHADE - Getting out of the sun can be challenging at times, so make the best of it when the opportunity arises. Mid-day sun and dry wind can cause rapid dehydration. Wear protective clothing & headwear, and use sunscreen.

HELMETS - Slickrock is a hard surface and unprotected heads don’t fare too well on impact with it. Wear your helmet and live to ride another day.

FOOD - These days there are tons of energy foods on the market that are easy to pack and effective to use. That said, fig bars, fruit, sandwiches, or even Snickers bars are also very useful for those who “don’t eat astronaut food”. Bonking twenty miles out in the desert backcountry with just a couple empty Powerbar wrappers in the bottom of your pack is not good - plan ahead.

FIRST AID - Carrying a basic first aid kit is a good idea, but knowing how to use it is even more important. Don’t count on someone else having what you need and coming to your rescue. Red Cross Online Course

TOOLS - At the very least, carry a pump and patch kit. Goathead thorns and cactus needles mean that flats are part of the riding experience in the desert and walking your bike out just ain’t fun. Consider carrying (and knowing how to use) other tools as well. A sensible tool kit might include a chain tool, allen keys, tire levers, wrenches, screwdrivers, shock pump, and zip ties. If this sounds like a lot to carry, take a look at the multi-tools available on the market these days and also consider the weight of your bike when it needs to be carried back out to the trailhead.

LOST & (hopefully) FOUND - Getting lost can be fun - as long as you can get yourself unlost. Getting lost can also be dangerous and even deadly. There are lots of great guidebooks & maps available for the Moab area. Get one, carry it, and use it. Learn how to navigate or hire a guide. The canyon country can be a confusing place, and an unplanned night out might be cooler than you’d think. Don’t just prepare yourself with the idea that everything will go perfectly; bring extra clothes, extra water, and matches on your ride and hopefully you won’t have to use them. Our local Search & Rescue team is very good at finding adventurers “ lost in the desert” but all too often what they find is a body - don’t be one of them

Rocky Mountain High?

So I was reading my backpacker magazine and saw an article on this badass trail in colorado that had 22 miles of downhill singletrack (one way w/ a shuttle service). They didn't mention the 12 mile climb!!!!!!! Not sure if there is a shuttle to skip the climb or not, their map is pretty crappy.

Monarch Crest Trail

"I don't much like Spam...."

Apparently neither does a certain member of team spam ......







I guess you are staying at the other campground with the shower and electrical connections?

The good news is - our first test of the legs, livers and cohones is a week away!

At least our pork/ham averse friend signed up, looks like somebody else has just plain forgotten this crucial Moab Training trip? He may be trying on a new riding skirt...?

My 2 Cents...

OK. Been pricing plane tickets, vans, bikes and other options. This is what I got:

Option A:

Depart Pittsburgh Saturday 9/11 for Grand Junction, CO. Rent van and drive to Moab (1.5 hrs). Ride Sunday through Thurs in Moab, maybe take a day off in the middle to recover and hike arches or something. Rent another van, drive back to GJ and catch flight to Denver friday morning for brewfest and debauchery. Fly home sunday afternoon.

• Plane ticket $450 person.
• Minivan rental $75/day

Pros: least amount of time in transit to all destinations. Greatest amount of time in Moab. Most convenient bike options.

Cons: Can't see any, except we only get to ride in Moab, but how bad could that be?

Option 2:

Fly to GJ on saturday, rent van, drive to Moab. Stay in moab a few days and ride. Rent another van and leave on wed or thursday and drive to Denver (6 hrs or so), stopping for a day or two in between for riding (there's lots of places to ride in between). Arrive friday for brewfest and debauchery. Fly home sunday.

• Plane ticket $400/person.
• Minivan rental $75/day

Pros: Get to ride more than just Moab. Get to do a little traveling, which could lead to adventure (both natural and cultural).

Cons: Being in a van with 4 sweaty bikers for lengthy periods of time. Need to travel with bikes (see bike options).

Option D:

Fly roundtrip PIT/DEN. Rent van and drive to all destinations, winging it as far as itinerary goes.

• Plane tickets $260
• Van $75
  

Pros: Most economical, least amount of airports, most Kerouac-ian of options.

Cons: Least convenient. Most transit time of all options.

Bike options:

Bike rentals are going to cost $60/day or so for a good bike. You can ship your bike to the bike shop (poison spider or any of the others) for around $200 round trip. They will build it up when it arrives for $45 or just store it for Chris for $20 and he can put his together when we get there. It's gonna cost about the same if we do 4 days of riding, and this is my dilemma: Do I want to rent a really sweet bike or would I rather ride a bike that I'm comfortable on? I remember being a little sketchy on my new bike until I got used to it.

Also, any of the itineraries involving riding anywhere else than Moab will require buying a rack so we can travel with bikes if we ship, or finding spots to ride that have a rental shop nearby (shouldn't be that hard) while we're trekking.

I'm leaning toward option A for travel, and shipping my bike, but open for suggestions.

OK, maybe that was more like 45 cents worth.

Talk to me...

Aprés Ride

BAR MAP

"You have to order beers out of the cooler because they are not 3.2, but full strength beers. All beers on tap only contain 3.2% alcohol (Thanks to Utah regulations and liquor laws)."


heavy beer (over 3.2%) "to go" is sold at 37 full service state liquor stores
Utah's Liquor laws

TUESDAY! TUESDAY TUESDAY!

Tuesday June 1st, 2010 is the last day you will be guaranteed a spot on the Guy Wetzel Travel Agency’s Itinerary for the Great Southwest Tour 2010. (Exceptions will be made for reluctant brothers of contributors to this blog)

Details-(Estimated Price, Travel Dates,Hooker Names,etc)will be included in future posts

Stardate 0.0.0

Moab, the final frontier. These are the voyages of 3 (maybe 4) douchebags. Their continuing mission: to explore strange new bike trails, to seek out new lifeforms (heh... heh... heh....) and new brewpubs, to boldy attempt something beyond their skillset.