Dispatches from the Staff
2:31 pm | Thursday, Apr 3rd 2008
Mizzou Cycling Spring Break '08 Moab
Posted By Jon
For the third time in four years, Mizzou Cycling took a week long spring break trip to Moab, Utah. For the first trip five members took the journey, the second trip had eight, and this trip had 15 members.
We took off Friday at 5PM with 4 vehicles for our 17 hour drive through Missouri, mind-numbing Kansas, the wonderful Rockies and finally, Utah. We arrived to our campsite Saturday morning, just in time to claim the sites we wanted. We stayed at the Moonflower Campsite in the middle of a small canyon. While in Moab, the team decided to rent 2 townhomes for the middle of the trip to relax and recover.
This was the first Moab trip that we decided to bring road bikes to enjoy some of the underrated terrain of Utah. Thanks to the Walt's trailer, and some fabrication from some Mizzou Cycling members, we were able to fit all 23 bikes in the trailer.
Moab, Utah easily has the nicest mountain biking trails I have ever ridden, and is one of the best places to improve technical riding ability. It ranges from beginner hour long rides, to technical slick rock, a 5 hour long famous Porcupine Rim, and the hardcore 'Portal Trail' that rides along the edge of a cliff (where people have perished in the past).
Before our trip, I didn't hear much about road riding in Moab, but it turns out this place has some of the nicest roads around, as well as some of the best scenery in the country. You have the choice of an easy 44 mile ride along the Colorado River with amazing scenery or more intense hilly rides. A fellow team member and I went on a 72 mile, 6,000 foot elevation gain ride up the La Sal mountains. The ride tops out at about 8,500 feet, followed by an amazing descent, full of switchbacks and quick runs.
Also new for this trip, we decided to stop in Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado to try out some of the mountain biking trails. Fruita, Colorado had the smoothest single track I have ever ridden. Grand Junction also has some amazing trails. These trails allow for shuttling to the trailhead, which was convenient after being exhausted from 6 days of intense riding.
This was the most amazing cycling trip I have ever gone on and I encourage everyone, mountain riders or not, to go to Moab and try out the trails and enjoy the scenery. You will not be disappointed by the experience.