This past weekend - Moab

[InspectorGadget]

I want to extend a special thanks to Altagirl and bagtagley for hauling me and my bikes to Moab this past weekend. It was fun to meet and ride with several Maggots and a couple non-members as well. The guest list included:

Altagirl, Mr. Altagirl and their friend Rob
Fondigley and his friend Fritz
bagtagley
stump882
Ski Monkey
yentna

Rob and Fritz were super nice guys and it was a pleasure meeting them and Fondigley for the first time. We also met El Chupacabra and Mrs. Chupacabra at dinner. (Thanks for buying the Rockhopper El Chewbacca.)

After a nice breakfast and a 30+ minute shuttle ride to the top of UPS, we began a fabulous day of riding. I'd like the other people from the group to fill in their details, but here is my Reader's Digest very abridged version.

Fondigley and bagtagley are two amazing riders! Those two were riding down things I would not have thought possible! And if they didn't like the results the first time, they would hike up and do it again.

Being at the back of the pack most of the day, I didn't get to see all the hot-shoes up front. I can say I got the first of only two flats. And, near the end of the trail, I got the award for the best crash - a double tumble down the side of a very rocky section that left me scraped and scratched in too many places. Too bad there weren't more people there to enjoy the carnage, but that's what you get for being near the back of the pack.

I was cooked and a nasty head wind didin't make the final miles into town any easier. I offered to buy Ski Monkey's dinner if he'd go get the car and come get me, but he got the car and picked up yentna instead. (You would have too.)

The shower at Poison Spider felt great, followed by dinner at McStiffs. Then a lounge around a roaring campfire with a great group of people brought a fine day to a fitting close.

Several of us passed on riding Sunday and went to breakfast instead. bagtagley, Fondigely and Fritz went off to ride Amassa Back. When bagtagley came by my house with my bike, he had some new scrapes and scratches of his own. Thanks for delivering D., I appreciate it very much.

And thanks to everyone else for making it a weekend to remember.

[crashnburn'd]

pictures?

[stump832]

Bzzzt. No pictures. Fun weekend though.

[bagtagley]

Rob and fondig took some pics, so we might see some eventually...not many action pics though, too busy riding.

Definitely an amazing weekend. The AGs are great hosts (and tour guides) and maggots make for great company on and off the trail.

Despite a spill on Amasa Back, yesterday's ride was almost on par w/ Saturday's. As we got done Fritz said something to the effect of "Damn, that was the second best ride I've ever been on", his best ever having been the Porcupine ride the day before.

Mucho thanks to the phUnks for taking the mutt, making the trip possible.

[Particle]

Sounds fun ya kooks! Sorry I missed out...

Rode some high Sierra jeep tracks yesterday that actually really reminded me of Moab this weekend--super ledgy granite, pick your line and point it off Moab style ledges all over the place. Pretty fun.

[altagirl]

Heh. Vin told me that it shouldn't be too bad on my wrist and elbow if I just did an easy XC ride. So I rode UPS. But I did it on my XC bike, does that count?

Anyway, I wore my brace and my wrist felt fine the whole time and my elbow, while it didn't enjoy the last few miles much, is now feeling as good as it felt pre-ride, so I guess I didn't do any damage. I did go slow and take it easy and stayed upright the whole time, which probably helped.

Lets do it again next weekend!

[fondigley]

After getting in late last night, unpacking my packed truck, showering and heading straight to bed. I woke up this morning grabbed my camera and headed straight to work, but forgot my camera cord to upload pics. Should have those by this evening or tomorrow.

Some good riding down there. The drive back wasn't near as bad as the drive down late Friday night. I can't wait to rip that place up next month. Too bad it isn't like an hour drive or I would be back there in an instant.

Stay tuned for pics.

[InspectorGadget]

The AGs are great hosts (and tour guides) ...

Among 49 other things I should have included in my post, this was a serious oversight on my part. The AG's are great hosts and tour guides alike.

[CS]

I hate you all.

[yentna]

I hate you all.

[yentna]

Such a great weekend, good riding. Ski Monkey, Mr. AG and I were the first ones there, so the three of us got to ride UPS friday, then again saturday. So sore from doing it twice! But I love that trail. Some sections serve to really piss me off , though I'm getting better at riding them (i.e. the last canyon out, shitty), and the super sweet flowy sections serve to make it worth it. That and Ski Monkey picking me up at the spring so as to avoid the road haul back into town in a head wind, .

I've got a couple pics too, but they're on my camera in my car with no cord either, so they'll come later. Grin. Anyone up for it the weekend of Oct. 21 ish, I'll probably be there!

[CS]

But only in that "I'm jealous and mostly hate that I had to stay home and work all weekend while you guys got to play on the red rocks" sort of hate.

Anyone up for it the weekend of Oct. 21 ish, I'll probably be there!

Yes.

[Telephil]

But only in that "I'm jealous and mostly hate that I decided to be lazy and sit on my ass all weekend."

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[fondigley]

What a weekend. Waking up early for an unbelievable shuttle run was not my idea of a goodtime, after drivng half the night to get to Moab. But hey who can complain when you are about to rail 30 plus miles on your big bike, with little to no climbing the whole day, Hand me a cup of coffee, some grub and throw me in the van let's get at it. Kyle picked us up some time around 10. About an hour later and many miles from town we arrived at the LaSalle's ready to bomb back to town.

Kyle took to the roof of his van and started passing out bikes.


Once we had our rigs, we began to suit up for the DH action. Ski Monkey, Inspector Gadget, Mr. AG, and Stump in the first pic. Bag and Fritz in the second.



AG took off leading the group, which became an all out heat down the mountain. We were getting at it, jumping and dropping everything in site. We decided to wait for the group cause that was a ripping section where who knows what could go wrong. Mr. AG came around the corner and said
and kept ripping down the trail. It was on again, the trail was ripping fast and we were on the edge of control around every corner. A while later we came to our first break, which had to have been at least 5 miles down the trail.

From LtoR: Yentna with the Inspector behind her, Stump in the fore ground, Rob, The AG's, and finally Bag.

Similar view only to the left a little.

to be continued...

[fondigley]

When we arrived at the break we all had our plexigrin on just like Mr. Ag in this picture.


Before long we were at it again mainly going down the mountains and ridges with a little up and down junk in between, which kept the group together. When we came up on a tight little technical turn which myself and Bag tried a couple of times.

Bag begins to drop into the little shute, while we all look on.


Then he goes a little deeper and goes below radar and around the corner to clean the line.


After some more steep rock and sandy dips in the trail we met up with the Porcipine Rim Trail, where the XC'ers wondered where the hell we just came from. Time for a long break to eat and rest for the next bomber section.
The group resting up for the next couple of hours of bombing.

Bag, Yetna and Mr. AG enjoying the view while grabbing a bite to eat.


and again...

[fondigley]

We grubbed for a while, then were killing it again. Non-stop DH action pretty much. A pic of me with some of the crew in the background before rolling out, I was finishing some food and enjoying the view. Notice the mountains in the background. Yeah, we were over there a couple of hours before and have been going down for ever.


Hours latrer and a couple of flat tires, more stops and more food many miles and all the flowwy sections and crazy dops and rocks we were nearing the end. You can notice the trail and its closeness to the edge. What a thrill, Mr. AG, Bag, Fritz, and myself were a good bit ahead when I had the great opportunity to catch the rest of the group come around the corner.

Ski Monkey getting close to the edge.


Yentna was too quick for me on the edge, so I was able to catch her coming over the ridge down towards us.

Then Ski Monkey came around the corner.

Bag and Fritz posing while we wait for the rest of the crew to catch up. I am not implying any of us were slow. For those who were not there, we were stuck in the middle of a group of xc'rs and a couple touring their bikes. Got a little crazy down low in the trail.


Not done yet...

[fondigley]

Here comes Rob.


Followed by AG and Inspector.

AG pulls away from the Inspector.

Stump comes rolling in with the "six pack".


We were many hours and who knows how many miles into the ride, and bikes were beginning to not function like they did at 11 in the morning. So we rolled out after that and headed straight for town, Killing the single track to the road going as fast as possible in that enviornment watching each others wheel as we dropped the last few ledges and barely escaped complete disaster numerous times. We headed back on the road in complete racer-just playing attitude. A few sprint breaks were had, a couple of drafting moments. Scaring the shit out of Mr. AG as we flew by locomotive style at mach speed was had by myself and Fritz. Back to the car, shower and a cold one and what the Inspector said above.

Next up Amasa Trail...

[fondigley]

After tying a good buzz on around the camp fire the night before, I had the perfect mind setting to go climb a mountain, so I went out XC style.
At the trail head getting ready.


We climbed and we climbed, but we had fun playing on the drops too.


After an hour or so of climbing and a few bumpy spots we reached the summit.

These two guys checking it out.



After climbing up for these amazing views, we got to bomb the rock back down, where we happen to flat ripping all the drops. A half hour later and some serious jarrednees from the drops and rocks on my xc rig., I finaly got to the bottom with another shit-eating grin on my face. Plastered on. What a great place. Thanks to all who joined in on the rides, especially the AG's for their wealth of trail knowledge and touring skiills. Two great rides.
And Bag you are Gay.... See you in Zion.

[stump832]

Way to kill it on the TR, fondig.

[fondigley]

no problem on killing it. I was in the zone.

[InspectorGadget]

And Bag you are Gay.... See you in Zion.

The gauntlet is thrown down.



A. -> Thanks for adding pics to the thread.

[fondigley]

pics were definately needed,

Edit: I tried to get at least one of each of us if not two pics. Did I mention "That ride ruled".

[bagtagley]

Thankth fondigthter, you're tho thweet.

Nice TR, thanks for taking the time.

It's funny, on those ledge sections, you're so zoned in on your line that you don't even notice the deadly drop right next to you....at least I didn't.

[crashnburn'd]

Nice job guys, that looks really fun. What elevation (aprox) is all that at?

[loamslug]

I heard that Amasa Back is waaay less technical than it used to be - is this true? Or are there still lots of good drops and technical sections?

Also, anyone know if the stunts are still on the top of the Moab Rim trail - there used to be some pretty fun stuff.