Cycling in the Moab/Arches/Canyonland area?

[Violara]

My DH and I are planning a trip out to Utah May 24-28th, and we are planning to take our bikes and do some riding while we are there. We got a book, "Cycling in the National Parks- Utah & Colorado" but most of the rides are very short--we want to get in some 40-50 milers with some hills.

A good friend, also a road cyclist, but based in another area, strongly suggests we don't try to ride on the road there--she says it seems dangerous to her. We're accustomed to riding in traffic with a wide shoulder, or on country roads where there isn't much traffic, so trucks and cars just go around.

Does anyone have experience riding on roads in that area? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Red Rock]

My suggestion would be to (Google) contact a bike shop there in Moab. I would think they have mountain bikes to rent also? Have to check on that though. Once your in the Parks there is no end to the dirt and some pretty awsome views.

San Juan County is basically all two lane roads with speeds roughly 65 MPH. You could ride from Moab to Monticello and back or go one way. You will see a lot of Trucks, like Ford FXXX and other makes. The roads look "country" but are lifelines between these cities that are so far apart. It would not suprise me if people are going faster than the speed limit. I would definatley ask the bike shop(s) on this.

I hope this helps. Get some more information for sure.

Red Rock

[out_spokin']

I haven't yet, but plan on riding more in eastern Utah - Moab area, and have one of these events on my goal list. Look for ride descriptions and maps. There's also a shop in Moab that sponsors, so presumably has some road cred (Moab is very much an off-road mecca.)

http://skinnytireevents.com/content/section/4/31/

http://skinnytireevents.com/content/blogcategory/34/64/

I've driven around Canyonlands and Moab a couple of times and the roads are much like the roads here in Colorado -- many of the interesting (hills, canyons) ones don't have shoulders. Like your experience with country roads, most drivers are courteous and give you space, although they are traveling fast. Sometimes you get the jerks....and in some of the canyons, where there can be significant traffic like Red Rock mentions, sometimes you just have to take a deep breath, stay steady along the paint, and give and take as possible because no one has a whole lot of room.

[malaholic]

Ahhh...I love Moab, it's my hometown. I haven't lived there for a long time but I go back to visit often. The road riding there is great and underrated IMO. The only thing is you have to plan longer routes carefully since you're kind of out in the middle of the desert.

Moab is small and it's the only populated area for quite a distance in any direction, so be aware that once outside the city you aren't going to find much in the way of rest stops. Make sure you know if there will be anywhere available to get food/water along your planned route, and bring ample food & water supplies to get you there. And make sure you've got tools, tubes, etc. to support yourself in the event of a flat or mechanical issue.

Larger roads like the main highway (192) have ample shoulders. I wouldn't call them "high traffic" because it's a low population density, but it's a truck route and high speed limit. It may be unnerving if you are not used to the speed differential; but if you are then you probably won't mind because it's lower volume of traffic if that makes sense.

The Nat'l park roads through Arches & Canyonlands will give you some spectacular scenery, and the Arches road starts out with a nice little climb. You'll want to be careful of traffic there and wear your high-visibility clothing, because the roads often have narrow shoulders and sometimes people are busy looking at the rock formations rather than at the road.

You said you were looking for some 40-50 mile routes with hills...if you're up for a challenge you might look at that 2nd link that out spok'n included in her post, which includes route maps for the Moab Century tour. The "Big Nasty" hillclimb up into the San Juans is pretty epic and is very light on traffic. You could do the climb and then turn around & roll back down for about a 50'ish mile ride, or continue on down the other side and do the 65 mile loop as noted in the map. (Note: make sure your brake pads have some life left and that your brakes are in good working order if you do this route - the descent is steep and windy, but a lot of fun! And watch for gravel if you go down the backside.)

Check the forecast before you ride. Moab can get very, very hot in the midday sun (though you'll probably be OK in May), and it can also experience fast-moving desert thunderstorms.

If you have a camera that you can fit in your jersey pocket, bring it. There are lots of good photo opportunites in the area. Have a good trip and then come post all about it!

[Violara]

This is great information--thanks! i had found the map out_spokin' linked to, and thought it looked like a couple of days of interesting rides, and we were also planning to stop by a LBS to chat with the locals there. Living in TX, we are used to having to get up early to get the ride in before the temps get too warm. My friend freaked me out a little because she was just there and told me she didn't recommend it for road cycling, even though she regularly rides up a mountain on winding roads.

I'm excited about this trip! I've always wanted to see this part of Utah and even better that we will get some ridin' in, too.

[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