Moab Utah

The lunar landscape at Moab is steep and hard and provides a serious challenge to enthusiastic mountain bikers. Shorter than most trails , the technical demanding nature of the course make this a serious trail. The trail can take several hours to complete. What makes this such a great trail is that t incorporates natural bowls many with steep sides and some opportunities for extreme mountain biking. One of the highlights for me at Slick Rock is that it encourage improvisation and you are able to go off course and do some exploring. This is not really possible at most singletrack courses.

Another trail at Moab that is worth checking out is the Porcupine Rim Trail – not as well known as Slick Rock , this trail is very popular in serious mountain biking circles. It is 33 km long and features long stretches of broken singletrack. You can enjoy the 915m – 18km descent from the first climb as it winds down to the Colorado River. There are also dozens of shorter trails for the less adventurous mountain biker.

Close to Moab is the White Rim trail and this is a lengthy 160 km ride that takes two or three days to finish , so you need to take some camping equipment along. What makes the Moab area so appealing to many mountain bikers is the wide open desert and stunning scenery. There are many opportunities for skilled mountain bikers and some nice beginner trails for novices. Moab certainly deserves its reputation as one of the top mountain biking destinations in the world. If you are planning a trip to Moab , Utah there is loads of suitable accommodation catering to mount bikers. A search online will reveal plenty of venues catering to almost any budget.

September 5, was a promising day when I left the Split ferry harbor with decision to take a mtb ride at Island of Brac Croatia. When we arrived to Supetar (see picture), it was already cloudy. Few moments of doubting the idea, and decision was brought – PROCEED ON!

What a mistake. 20 minutes later I got soaked as never before. Hard rain with the wind washed me from head to toes. Nevertheless I planned a short tour (Supetar – Sutivan – Lozisca – Nerezisca – Supetar), I brought a spare T-shirt, so I changed it when I finally reached Lozisca.

Whoever stumbled to Lozisca, found him or herself amazed by sight to everything but not usual bell tower of St. John and Paul Church.

It is a mix of several styles: neo-romanesque, neo-gothic and neo-baroque. Pretty amazing isn’t it: to see such a mix at such a place. The sculptor was Rendić, guy very keen of escapades of every kind, even though in architecture.

When rain finally stopped, I headed to Nerezisca. It is the worst part of this tour, as from Lozisca one have to pedal uphill for more than a two mile in a row, conquering elevation from 260 ft a.s. (Ložišća) to 900 ft a.s. (Dracevica).

I managed it somehow and here I am, in front of Nerezisca municipality border table.

From here to the center of Nerezisca was a piece of cake: 3 miles and elevation difference approx. 200 fts.

Here is the picture of another Brac Island miracles: the pine tree at the roof slope of St Peter’s Chapel.

The last part, from Nerezisca to Supetar I was driven by car, as rain started to fall again. Never mind, this part of tour is a constant downhill, and there is no joy for me

Till next post

Zeljko

Stunning view over the bay and you can see my KONA which I used throughout my biking trip to Croatia.

Picture was taken from the place marked with blue rectangle (elev.approx 900 ft).

The place is the summit between Mali Hum and Veli Hum, and I reached there half dead after five miles of constant uphill pedaling from the Bay of Vis (marked #1).

But I got this view as a reward.

If you want to learn how I prepared myself for such endeavor, feel free to check this excellent e book: Click Here!

After this photo taken, I stumbled town to the Komiza Bay. Downhill was a pleasure, but up hill… it was something. Pedaling for a 5 miles climbing 200 ft to almost 900 ft elevation, and outside was 37 Celsius degrees…

But no problem, white baseball cap was on the head, a plenty of cooled water, and earphones on…

Delightfull!

North Shore

This region is recognized as the home of freeriding and features some of the more intersting mountain biking in the world. There are large forrest areas with big trees and stunning scenery. Fallen timber makes for exciting ramps and jumps while the trails found at Mount Fromme are fairly easy you are still required to observe a few rules and to respect other cyclists and the pristene environment.

Whistler

This is certainly one of the bigger trail riding locations in the world – with literally 100s of kms of trails for mountain bikers to explore and enjoy. One of the mre popular competitive events taking place here is the British Columbia Bike Race from Victoria to Whistler.It is run over seven days and has seven stages with some demanding clibs. You need to be cycling fit to complete this race.

British Columbia features some of the best trails around and the scenery is always impressive. Some of the trails can be fairly demanding , but there are plenty of trails suited to novices and those interested in a casual ride. You can slso do some exploring in these beautiful regions and don’t have to stick to the trails.

The region in mountain bike friendly and there are many accomodation options to choose from -  a search on the internet will produce many great places to stay at while enjoying some of the best mountain biking around.

A full suspension bike has shocks for both the front and rear wheels – the suspension helps reduce the impact ftom bumpy terrain. Full suspension bikes are an advantage when going downhill. The downside of the full suspension bike is reduced speed and extra weight.

Choosing a hardtail or full suspension bike will largely depend on your requirements and the type of mountain biking that you are planning on doing – if you need speed for trail riding you opt for  a hardtail while downhill racers will do better with a full suspension bike.

Anatomy Of A Hardtail Bike

Frame – typically the frame is made from aluminium and provides lots of clearance for fat tyres.

Fork – Suspension forks provide for a smoother ride and you can set the shocks depending on the terrain you are cycling.

Wheels – Usually 26 inch wheels combined with 32 spokes – these wheels are smaller than a typical road bike.

Tyres – Thick and whit lots of tread to provide for grip and traction

Chainrings – A triple chainring provides for greater gear ratio selection

Sprockets – Up to nine depending on your model

Brakes – V-brakes for better stopping ability compared to standard callipers. More upscale models are starting to incorporate disc brakes as they are more effective in all weather conditions.

Gear Shifters – Thumb shifters for easier use.

Saddle – Comfortable and supportive , able to operate in all terrains.

Anatomy Of A Full Suspension Bike

Full Suspension Frame – Provides greater traction and control in rough terrain

Suspension Fork – Takes most of the imapct in the front forks

Brakes – Disc brakes for improved stopping performance in rough and muddy conditions

Wheels – 26 inch rims with 32 spokes to provide for durability. Tyers are between 1.9 and 2.1 inches wide

Tyres – Thck and knobbly to provide superior traction and control in rough conditions

Gears – Usually a nine-speed freewheel combined with triple chainrings

Pedals – reversible and clipless allowing the cyclists to easily clip in on bothe sides of the pedal

• a hydration pack
• a waterproof jacket or raincoat
• a durable back pack
• enough food and energy bars to sustain your energy levels
• a bycycle pump – you will need a durable pump
• a pair of tyer levers
• A Set of spair tubes
• A carpet needle and thread to repair broken tyres
• Basic cycling toolkit
• A first aid kit containing all the essentials
• Some cash and a cellphone

These items will cover almost any potential emergency and should enable you to comfortably deal with any problems. Most experienced mountain bikers are prepared for these emergencies and being prepared can make the difference between an enjoyable ride on the trail and a day of total misery.

Stay In The Saddle

Successful climbing needs a rhythm and the best way to achieve this is by keeping relaxed and focused and remaining in the saddle. Firmly hold the handlebars and place you weight where it feels most comfortable and use that great rhythm to climb. You can stand in the saddle when you need to get some extra momentum or to stretch out your legs.

Bending Forward & Keep Weight Back

Rear wheel traction is vital when climbing , so you need to have you weight concentrated over your back wheel. This will prevent slipping , however by leaning forward you are also able to achieve a lower centre of gravity which helps provide better traction.

Using A Low Gear

This places less strain on your muscles and will also help you save more energy for later on in the climb. Gradient changes can also slow you down so you need to be in a lower gear to anticipate gradient changes.

Change The Numbers

The most important consideration in climbing is the power to weight ratio. If you are carrying some extra weigh – take the time and effort to lose that weight. You can also opt for a lighter bike if your budget allows for this. Try incorporating some hill climbing in your training schedule. This will help boost your climbing power.

Taking The Easiest Line

The easiest line may not be the most direct. Corners are typically steeper on the outside and the extra distance on a lower gradient will save energy on a difficult climb.

Buying a Mountain Bike is dependent on what you are searching for is the bike for a child or an adult? If its for a child then you need to make sure that the bike is of proper frame size, and not so big so that the child’s feet cannot touch the ground.

A frame is different too if its for a girl or a boy, because male riders has a slightly different shape to the female rider.

Here are some factors to look for while you decide which bike to buy…

1. The Frame Size
2. How many gears do you need?
3. Is the seat comfortable?
4. The Price of the bike
5. Where you are going to use the bike off road or on the road.

After completion of this article you will be able to understand which mountain bike to buy and to guide you to make the right decision when you make the purchase.

Frame size is critical when your buying a mountain bike, because if its too big then it can be dangerous as you can lose control of the bike if you need to make a emergency stop and its less stable. You will need to find a frame which suits the person’s height and adjusted accordingly.

Type of gearing is important too, especially if you intend to ride a lot, or just around town. If you only ride occasionally in the town then you will not need so many gears compared to someone who rides professionally or in the mountains.

There is nothing worse than getting a sore bottom is there? Well that’s when the careful selection of having the proper and comfortable seat is crucial when you are buying a mountain bike. Too hard and you will get sore, but softer is best especially for the female rider.

In the increasing need to save money the price of the bike you buy will be crucial to most people. Some bikes can cost over £100 / $150 and even up to $300 or more.  More bikes are available now and can be bought online for a fair price and these can be of a very good quality and reasonably cheap.

Another issue to consider if of course where are you going to use the bike is it for off road trailing or just for town use. Either way it can be crucial because trailing bikes are generally stronger and lighter than the less professional bikes which are generally used around town.

When you decide what to consider when you look for a bike, then  all the factors above are of equal importance. One other key concern would be safety and to make sure you wear a helmet when you decide to buy the bike.

In concluding, the main points above has demonstrated what should be considered when you are thinking of buying a new or second hand bike. All these points should be considered and thought about before buying a mountain bike but the most important point would be the price of the bike, as most people would like to buy a bike which will last for years rather than months.

The word “Slickrock” is derived from the early settlers whose horses rail extensions are capable of crossing metal rock. Mountain bikers find just the opposite is true, because the sandstone is exposed as “slick” as coarse sandpaper. This medium is a unique testing ground for many manufacturers of bicycles, for a mountain bike to be ridden at its best. Traction between stone and tires can keep a bike in the gravity-defying angle, which can be intimidating at first. But once mastered, or at least tolerated, the fluid nature of Slickrock might very well be the most fun you can have! The sections of the track called “Faith in the resistance,” “Creep stiff” and “Baby Bowl background color contour” of the attitude of the track.

Great video footage from Slick Rock at Moab , Utah

 

For those of you of a more “Blood, Sweat and Adrenaline” kind of persuasion, Attitash is offering all the excitement you can handle with some of the best lift-serviced mountain biking around.  Head over to  reservation site to book your stay and plan your adventure!!

Attitash has over 20 miles of mountain bike trails for all abilities, including 27 downhill trails and 8 cross country trails. Enjoy scenic cross country terrain along the Saco River, or ride our extreme, lift-accessed downhill terrain on Attitash.

Stop by Dirt Trax Bike Shop to purchase your day ticket and rent a bike and/or gear from our expert bike staff. The mountain bike season at Attitash is 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., weekends only (May 28 – June 5, Sept. 10 – Oct. 10) during our early/late season. The trails are open daily, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. during our midseason (June 11 – Sept. 5).

Be sure to visit  Events page to see all our biking events this summer, including the Eastern States Cup Finals (June 18 & 19) and the Pin The Trail Downhill Series (July 13 – August 17)

THE ONLY LIFT-SERVICED, DOWNHILL TERRAIN IN THE VALLEY

Attitash offers some of the best lift-serviced mountain biking in the region. If you are a serious downhiller looking for more challenging terrain, Attitash has it. From the base of Attitash, the Flying Yankee chairlift ride provides access to more than six miles of mixed-trail and single-track downhill terrain for advanced mountain biking. Our lift-serviced mountain biking operates weather permitting.

Cool scenes from an event at Attitash.