Cycling in the Moab/Arches/Canyonland area?

[Natasha]

My husband and I were out in the Moab area last fall and did some road and off-road biking on our tandems. We did a tour of Canyonlands NP on the road tandem and it had great scenery with a few small hills. The motorists were very courteous and numerous people approached us at the rest stops and overlooks in the park to talk biking.
We decided not to do Arches NP by bike as it has a much higher level of traffic and no shoulders.
We biked on some of the other roads around Moab without problems. I would second the previous suggestion regarding the routes on the skinny tire festival website.
Our biggest issue was carrying enough water along with us. Very few sources of water out on the roads.

[Kathi]

One Oct. I did the Lance Armstrong century. At the time I was living in Ohio and wasn't used to mtn roads although I was used to lots of traffic and narrow roads (we toured Maine, Vermont, Nova Scotia that summer). We climbed the LaSalle mtns where the Big Nasty is. The climb didn't bother me as much as the downhill. I managed to make the cattle crossings without walking but the downhill on the other side totally freaked me out. I had not ridden such a long downhill, was not comfortable braking from my drops and totally lost it when I came around a curve and the road disappeared and all I saw was a large drop over the side. I got off the bike and walked to the T at the bottom of the road.

The other experience I had was dealing with the altitude. The climbing wasn't that hard except it was very slow due to not adapting to the altitude. I remember it took me 3 hrs to ride 25-30 miles. It blew my mind away. Agreed there is no source that I remember on that ride for food or water. Our ride was sagged with plenty of supplies.

[Violara]

Well, we just returned from a FABULOUS time riding in the Moab area. The roads were well paved, and we loved the wide shoulder that is a designated bike lane on the 313 road to Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands. My husband and our friend rode Arches and said it was the best ride ever! Traffic didn't seem particularly heavy there the week before the Memorial Day holiday. We also did the 128 road out along the Colorado river, and the 279 ride to "Potash" which were both very scenic and easy-going. We rode in the mornings, and mostly hiked or went site-seeing in the warmer afternoons. Winds were a factor, but we get plenty of practice with that here in Central Texas! We had a blast and i would recommend that area as a destination for any roadies--we can't wait to go back.

We didn't end up riding the Big Nasty route, but we drove it, and the roads there seemed a bit more chewed up, and the climbs looked pretty daunting to me. My climber husband would love to do it, but thinks he would do it in reverse (which of course makes for a even more funnier titled ride!)

[malaholic]

Sounds like a fantastic trip! Got any good pics from the rides that you can post?

[katluvr]

I did a Woman Tours out there...and we did some of the rides suggested and up to the Canyonland Natl Park (loved it!). I can't wait to go back and go more!!! Glad you had a great time.

K