We flock to it in droves to pay homage to what many consider the North Shore, the Mount Everest, the Vatican, the Taj Mahal, the Empire State Building, the Marilyn Monroe of mountain biking — Moab, Utah. But mind you, Moab is not for everyone. Nowhere is the terrain more challenging or more dangerous. Nowhere is the penalty stiffer for screwing up. But if mountain bikers don’t ride Moab, they will forever dream of what could have been. Moab is simply the best mountain bike destination on earth. No question. No controversy. No ifs, ands, or buts. It gets under your skin. Come here once, and you will come again and again.
From this book mountain bikers can expect exhaustive and comprehensive trail descriptions, from beginner to advanced, GPS-quality, digitally designed relief maps detailing each ride, and accurate profiles maps showing the ups and downs of each route. In addition, detailed directions get cyclists to the ride without getting them lost. Detailed mile-by-mile directional cues are also provided with difficulty ratings, elevation gain, trail contacts, and much more.
Moab is a mecca for mountain bikers, who come from around the world to ride its challenging trails. Whether you’re a newcomer to the area or a frequent fat-tire flier, Mountain Bike America: Moab is a great addition to your fanny pack. Local cyclist Lee Bridgers blends his passion for mountain biking with his obvious love of Moab, describing 49 rides ranging from easy (Old Moab Highway, Dalton Wells) to “very difficult to abusive” (Porcupine Rim). Each starts with an overview–where to start, how far the ride is, how long you can expect it to take, warnings, environmental concerns, and how to get there–before launching into a detailed description of what you’ll experience along the way, be it slick rock, deep sand, dinosaur tracks, or rusted mining equipment. Bridgers is careful to point out places where cyclists should use caution, encouraging less experienced riders to dismount–”if you are pushing a mountain bike, you are still mountain biking. Live to ride tomorrow.” Detailed maps will help you plan your days–especially the cross-sections of each ride’s ups and downs. Throughout the book, Bridgers emphasizes the need to protect the environment–”as mountain bikers we had better learn to co-exist with nature or else we’ll lose the privileges to enjoy it from the saddle”–and offers up stories from his experiences as one of Moab’s leading bike tour guides. Special sections on safety (carry more water than you think you’ll need), bike selection and repair, Moab-necessary techniques (sand riding, dealing with flies), and area food, lodging, and services make this a useful all-around resource. –Sunny Delaney
List Price: $ 16.95
