I have recently returned to my humble abode from my weekend of riding my Spot singlespeed in Moab, Utah. In a attempt to dodge the drunken debauchery that is Snowdown weekend in Durango (if you don't know what Snowdown is...well, in short, it's a week of drunken theme-driven festivities and rediculous competitions around town to ease the February lull in the tourist season), I packed up El Fuego (1987 Ford Bronco II) and headed due Northwest to the desert.
High pressure and clear skies meant cold nights for camping; Kona and I suffered through two sub-freezing nights at the Sandflats Recreation Area in order to enjoy short-sleeve-jersey riding weather! I woke up Saturday morning with a list of errands to get the Spot up and running: extendo seatpost, 20t cog (I'm running 32x20 - I don't have SS pistons...yet!), new chain and something to keep the QR from slipping. Thanks to the boys at Poison Spider Bicycles, my bike was rollin' by high noon.
If you happen to find yourself in the Moab area with a bike between your thighs, Amasa Back is a phenomenal, technical out and back (with a sick step-up about a mile in). This was my first 'real' mountain bike ride (almost 4 years ago on a Rocky Mountain Switch with flat pedals and running shoes!), so I figured it would be a great inaugural ride of my singlespeeding career! And it was! I was at or beyond threshold the entire climb - just grinding up those ledges! The Spot handled beautifully - it was light and responsive - she charged over everything I pointed her at! I can't lie - I got pretty rallied on the descent - but the bike held together well (I was worried as it was my first build up from scratch!) - and I managed to find some fun and flowing lines in the rubble!
Yeah, it felt good, but it's not enough (not-so-obscure YouTube reference for those of you with fewer friends than I have...), so I headed over to SlickRock for a lap before the sunset. Wow. Now, if I was going to design a trail that is NOT for singlespeeders...that would be it! Let's just call it Mother Nature's anaerobic intervals! I was so worked by the end of this ride, I could barely walk! I've never cranked so hard on my pedals or my bars! It was AWESOME. I even caught and passed a couple guys (on fully geared fullies!)! Haha....
I finished my day off with my favorite veggie burrito from the Moab Brewery and an Oatmeal Stout for dessert. I was so exhausted, I almost fell asleep beside my campfire!
After a restful slumber, I awoke to another bluebird winter day in the desert. I was planning on heading up Poison Spider Mesa, one of Moab's most popular bike and jeep trails that I had yet to explore. Might as well do it on a singlespeed...
On my way up to the trailhead, I noticed something in the road...
Realizing that it wasn't a trashbag, in fact, it was an injured Golden Eagle, I pulled over to check out the situation. Another couple arrived on the scene and we decided that it we had legitimate grounds to call 9-1-1. About half an hour later, a D.O.W. officer arrived, packin' heat and armed with a fancy cardboard box to house the bird of prey. I actually helped the man catch the bird...it was incredible! I've never pet an eagle before...
So, anyways, up and onto the P.S. Mesa. Let me tell you - I was huuuurtin'! Apparently, the Specialized Toupe is not such a good hardtail MTB saddle. My legs and arms were totally spent and after about a mile of climbing a jeep road, I seriously considered turning around; however, I pushed onwards and upwards, only to have a supposed 2 hour ride turn into a 4 hour epic. I took a wrong turn. A few times.
Anyway, I had enough energy to make a video! Do enjoy...expect more like this in the future!
It is getting really late now - 3 hours past my bedtime - so I'm going to sign off for the night.
I hope you fall asleep tonight, as I will, with visions of slickrock and steel in your head!
-Jess
Sounds like your chain did you good in Moab (It's just three hours south of me!). I can't believe how much you rode on a SS! Too cool and, I'll bet those boys you passed cried!
ReplyDeletePeace!