Another Moab Epic

Another great weekend in Rabbit Valley and  Moab for some good hard miles. TR and I went over to Rabbit Valley on Thursday night to ride the Zion Curtain/Western Rim/Koko Trail. We racked up 31 miles and 3K+ feet of climbing. We ran into Ryan Douglas, Jon and Joey on the Zion Curtain and rode with them for the remainder of the day. Than we cruised over to Moab on Friday night to camp and meet up with Shawn Gregory and Kiviok on Saturday morning to ride a mini epic.Flats Pass/Behind the Rocks/Hunter Canyon back to town via Kane Creek Road. 42 miles and 4200 feet of climbing. We were looking to ride Moab Rim and Hidden Valley but time was getting away from us as Hunter Canyon took longer than anticipated. It was a great ride with expected sand along the route.

Also Laura got on her new 1x9 29er Vassago BAndersnatch and rode the Brand trails. I think we have a convert to 29ers. She loved it. Very awesome.

Sedona Big Friggin Loop is next on tap on March 19th. I should be nice and tired for this one.

On the Zion Curtain.

Zion Curtain Trail looking toward Rabbit Valley and KT route.

TR, Jon, Ryan and Joey on Western Rim.

Motor bike down the cliff. Rider was OK as he had bailed off the bike before it went down 50 feet.They were trying to evac it out.

Gourmet Turkey burger with mozz cheese, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Camping cooking at it finest.

Colorado River along Kane Creek

Shawn, TR, myself and Kiviok ready for another beat down.

Typical Kiviok and mechanicals. Cleat screw gone. Shawn is looking flustered.

Micro biotic crust. Stay off.

Instead of petroglyphs that use to exist now it is a bunch of freaking idiots names scribed into the sandstone. People are retarded.

Dumb asses.

Looking to the LA Sals from Flats Pass route. Flats Pass is not flat. Give it a whirl.

Hunter Canyon scenery. Just amazing.

Shawn trying to figure out our next move.

Me and Kiv on the Pridgett route before turning on Hunter Canyon.

Hunter Canyon trail. Not so bike friendly in spots.

Vassago Bandersnatch

Just finished Laura's new 29er Vassago Bandersnatch 1x9 last night. Now there is two Vassago's in the family. Great frames and great price points. She is anxious to get on it and give it a whirl. Hopefully this weekend if the weather cooperates we can go to Sand Canyon or Phil's.

Bike-Enomics

Cortez Journal 24 HITOP Article

Here is the link to an article in the Cortez Journal covering Shawn Gregory's 1st place win in the solo single speed class at 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo.

http://www.cortezjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&TM=33047.07

Moab Big Friggin Loop

Early and cold.

WOW!! What a great weekend in Moab. As Charlie Sheen says; WINNING!!! LOL!!

6 dudes showed up on single speeds for a 5.30am training ride start on Saturday morning near the Sovereign Trail Head on Willow Springs Road. Temps were around 30 degrees or less when I awoke at 4.30 am with highs to be around 60 degrees. And these dudes know how to ride. Also these 6 dudes are the CORE of the new Kokopelli Bike and Board Bike Racing Team. Yep, they are forming a new team and they are badass!! Basic summary of the ride: Nearly 12 hours out in it.......60 miles of pedaling.....6k of climbing..........super, super, super, super soft loamy riding conditions (Deal Breaker sucked) and lots of classic Moab sand and multiple mechanicals and me having the worst crash of the day on a ledge drop on Metal Masher. No broken bones but man does my arm and hip hurt like it should be broken. Can I get a medic!!!?? Dropped a ledge and the tire hit at an awkward angle causing the tire to burp and blow out (1" rip in the tire) and me hitting the slickrock with hardly a micro second to react. I was on the rock face down. All teeth and facial bones intact. I can take a full hit as I have never broken a bone. This one should have broken something but I am like no other. Tiger blood here folks. LOL!!!

Tough terrain and tough dudes to ride with. TR Larson; Shawn Gregory, Kiviok Hight; Paul "bad ass" Adams; Jeff Fox and myself.

Happy Bday to TR. Laura baked him a cake and we celebrated out in the desert after our ride. Beer, elk burgers and steak fries were in abundance. Good freaking times!!

Pictures courtesy of Kiviok HIght and Paul Adams.

Pictures not in order but enjoy.





Cruising down Gemini Bridges Road.

Kiviok and Shawn posing.




Laura to the rescue when Kiviok had a ss problem on his 6k carbon bike.

TR and Paul having fun.

Me laughing at TR while I'm dancing.

Kiviok missing a critical part on the SS.

Me recovering after my crash on Metal Masher. That is not a smile but rather a grimace. Shit is hurting.

Little Creek Rim after climbing up Metal Masher.

TR having tire problems.

TR still having tire problems.

Shawn enjoying.

Lunch break.

Shawn fixing Kiviok's ss.

Heading over to the green monster.

Trust me guys!!! I know where I'm going.

Were going over there??? Yep.

Thanks Laura for the rescue with parts for Kiv's bike.

Paul dancing.

Classic Moab sand over on Wipe Out Hill route.

After my crash a bit dusty. As Shawn stated..."well there isn't any bones sticking out so you must be fine" or something silly like that.

TR and Paul enjoying the day thus far. It was a slow start with tire issues and Kiv's ss issue but we soon got on it.

TR looking for food.

Jeff Fox didn't want to be in the picture and rode on. LOL!!

Left to right...Paul Adams, Shawn Gregory, TR Larson, me, Kiviok Hight.

Shawn next to his new Ford Raptor that Laura drove to meet us for Kiv's bike repair.

We will be over there in 5 hours or so...............

Ergon packs breaking. TR is over it.

TR attempting a tire repair. Very painful to watch.

Moab Ride Invite

Anybody is invited to ride along this weekend on a monster loop North of Moab on Saturday March 5th. Start time is 5.30am at the Sovereign TH (yes you will need lights for the beginning and the end depending on your ride time) located on Willow Springs Road. We will be following a loop that I have done twice that covers both sides of highway 191. If anybody is interested shoot me an email; jeffnlaura2001@hotmail.com. Preferred bikes are single speeds and strong legs.

Rough description of route:
Sovereign trails to Mill Canyon Road, Seven Mile Rim Road, Wipe out Hill, cross 313 to Deal Breaker, Gemini Bridges Road, Metal Masher, Little Canyon Rim, Bull Canyon to Golden Spike and either continue on to Poison Spider to Potash and back to start via bike path/Brand Trails or back track back down to Gemini Bridges road and out to 191 and back to Sovereign TH. Self supported ride. About 8-12 hours and anywhere from 60ish to 90ish miles with many bail out options available. Recommended map is Latitude 40 Moab West topo map.