TR: Moab Lessons Learned

**UTskiHokie** · 05-13-2008, 07:49 AM

So this weekend was my first trip of the season down to Moab. Weather was great. Met some cool people. Had a great ride on Porcupine, but I also learned a few hard lessons this weekend. I figured I would share...

Ok, so riding porcupine rim on saturday. Had a nice little wreck which wound up bending my deraileur hanger.

Lesson 1: Always carry a spare hanger.

Fortunately, (thanks to SkiingBear's advice) I had already learned this lesson and had one on me. Was able to change it out on the trail, but there was some damage to the cable/housing so I only had some of my gears. Either way was able to finish the ride with little problem.

Because I wanted to ride the next day, was tired and camping I decided to just bring it in to Chili Pepper Bikes. They had the hanger were really helpful. (They even let my buddy store his bike there for the night at no charge.) Of course I paid a good amount for the work, but thats what you get when you need overnight work done in moab.

So sunday comes and we pick up the bike and head to Klondike Bluffs for a quick ride on our way out of town. I was excited to try baby steps. We get all geared up and I get on my bike and "WHAT THE F&*K!...

Lesson 2: Never put your bike on a hanging bike rack when driving on unpaved roads.

My bike must have banged against my buddy's bike. Yup the hanger was bent bigtime and I couldnt get it off. I was stuck and we didnt get to ride. My buddy's bike had a flat.

That ride was not meant to be. Just thought I would pass on my two lessons to those that may have the same bad luck as I apparently do. I think Karma owes me a few.