Freedom Riders follows a core group of riders who evolved to creating a precedent setting relationship with the Forest Service and in doing so created the first freeride specific trails on public lands in the lower 48.

What would typically be a no brainer for FeedTheHabit.com to premier and host, this film has actually found a better fit with WAFTA (Wasatch Area Freeride Trails Association) as the presenter and benefactor of some of the proceeds. WAFTA helps work with communities here in Utah to build freeride trails.

Be sure to get yourself to Brewvies next week to catch this film. See you there.

When: Thursday May 28, 7-9pm

Where: Brewviews – 761 South 200 West, Salt Lake City

What: Cool film, good eats, beverages, tons of swag including a frame from GoRide.com. Ages 21+ only.

Cost: $10 at the door, includes raffle ticket

Show Times: 7pm and 9pm

“Maxxis is excited to partner with a company like Rocky Mountain, a company that is as passionate about racing as we are. Rocky Mountain Bicycles is a leader in performance and quality in their entire line, allowing the feedback obtained from top riders to continually improve the product. Their bikes come from an esteemed line of race pedigree, making it an obvious choice for some of the top athletes in the world to choose to race a Rocky Mountain bike” Said Maxxis’ Bicycle Manager Christopher Warrick.

The agreement was initially the result of Rocky Mountain looking to fill the hole left by the expected retirement of Marie-Helene Premont, the 2008 UCI World Cup Overall champion and Canadian National champion. A long-term prior working relationship between the management of both teams and both teams’ sponsorship contracts ending after the 2008 season allowed the teams to pursue this new opportunity.

The recent announcement by 2008 World Cup Champion Marie-Hélène Prémont to continue racing in 2009 was met with great excitement by both Rocky Mountain and Maxxis.

“Marie won the overall World Cup on the new Vertex RSL and we look forward to giving Geoff Kabush the same edge”, said Peter Vallance, the Rocky Mountain Team manager. “Last year Rocky Mountain athletes raced more days in more countries than any other professional mountain bike team, winning all along the way. This new team takes our racing to yet another level with the new riders, staff and sponsors”.

Geoff Kabush, coming off a banner year in 2008 where he won the 2008 NMBS XC overall title, reached the World Cup podium several times and captured 4th overall in the series, is optimistic about his new team. “The new team has really got me excited about the upcoming year. It is a great opportunity for me to work with a company so close to home and everyone at Maxxis is excited about the future of the team. Rocky Mountain has recently been pushing hard on the development of their race bikes and I look forward to pushing them hard on the race course. We have assembled a powerhouse group of riders, staff, and sponsors and I can’t wait to get out racing again in 2009.”

New to the team is rising American XC star, Lea Davison. Lea had a breakout year in 2008, with stage wins at Sea Otter Classic, several NMBS podiums, and her first World Cup top-10 in Bromont. With such a successful season behind her, Lea is destined for great things in 2009.

Rounding out the XC team is Canadian Raphael Gagne. Gagne, still an espoir, dominated the Canada Cup series, winning the Elite Mens Overall title. He capped off his season with an impressive 7th at Espoir World Championships.

The Maxxis-Rocky Mountain team also signals a return to World Cup downhill competition for Rocky Mountain, one of the original pioneers of the sport.

Vallance adds, “We couldn’t be happier to be back in downhill racing. To have a two time World Champion like Sabrina Jonnier on our bikes is huge. Having Sabrina, Cameron Cole, and Luke Strobel on the Flatline next year means worldwide exposure for the bike and they will certainly be key in product development.”

The team will hold its training camp in Bootleg Canyon, Nevada March 20-24 and will first be in action at the USMC #1 in Fontana California the following weekend. Marie-Hélène Prémont will begin her season at World Cup #1 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa on April 11.

The Maxxis-Rocky Mountain team will focus on the UCI World Cup series, but will also contest the Manufacturer’s Cup Series (formerly the NMBS), the Canada Cup, and select stage races.

2009 Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Race Team

XC Team

• Geoff Kabush – CAN
• Marie-Hélène Prémont – CAN
• Lea Davison – USA
• Raphael Gagné – CAN

DH Team

• Sabrina Jonnier –FRA
• Luke Strobel – USA
• Cameron Cole – NZ

The documentary film Klunkerz examines the genesis of the sport of mountain biking, tracing it’s origins to a small group of friends in Northern California’s Marin County in the late 1960′s and 1970′s. The film includes interviews with many of the sports’ pioneers and some of the more obscure characters that influenced them.

From “Breaking Away” to “Klunkerz”

In attendance with Savage were cycling legends Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly (both featured prominently in the film) and over six hundred of the world’s best endurance athletes. The award was presented by Dennis Christopher, star of the groundbreaking 1979 mainstream cycling film Breaking Away.

“I am honored and humbled to be the recipient of this award,” commented Savage. “This is for all of us, the cycling pioneers who trusted me to tell their story, and the amazing crew who worked so hard on this film. Thank you.”

The Endurance Sports Awards Benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation

Kaiser Permanente was the presenting sponsor of this year’s event, which was created as a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, having raised over $8,000,000.00 to cover expenses for disabled athletes.

More Info: Visit Klunkerz.com

AeroCat LLC, an Indiana based high performance bicycle manufacturer, is pleased to announce the availability of their new lightweight carbon fiber cross country mountain bike. The AeroCat model M450, named “Meddle” is propelling the company into the mountain bike arena complimenting and extending their offering beyond the high-end road bike market. Featuring a hard-tail carbon fiber frame construction, the M450 is specifically configured to be light, efficient, and durable.

AeroCat Meddle M450 Frame Features

• Monocoque 12K carbon fiber construction.
• Classic finish with natural carbon-weave and matte clear coat.
• Standard mounts for disk or caliper brake options.
• Ultra reinforced bottom bracket area to provide maximum stiffness and energy transfer from the pedals to the trail.
• Large diameter rigid down-tube provides excellent strength to weight ratio
• Standard 68 mm English bottom bracket for compatibility with industry standard components.
• Replaceable alloy dropout hanger.
• Typical frame weight of 1450 grams.
• Available in 15, 17, 19, and 21 inch frame sizes.
• Frame MSRP $1199

AeroCat Meddle Complete Bike Options

Standard Package

• Rockshox Sid Race fork
• Ritchey Pro cockpit with carbon seat post and SSM Hybrid Saddle.
• Full Shimano XT Group with hydraulic disk brakes.
• Shimano WH-M775 Wheelset with Hutchinson Python tubeless light tires.
• Complete bike configured with standard package MSRP $3599.
• Typical bike weight is 22 lbs with standard package.
• Custom configurations are available upon request.

More Info: Visit AeroCatBikes.com

Currently, mountain biking is seen as “motorized” in National Parks and hence is off limits. While some areas within our national treasures will always remain off limits to mountain biking, there are some prime trails that have been debated for years. Why not allow mountain biking in certain areas of our National Parks? So long as mountain bikers can be good stewards and consistently obey trail etiquitte, I believe there is no reason to enforce an across-the-board ban on two-wheeled travel.

Again, this new rule change does not mandate that parks allow mountain biking at all. It merely will open up the decision to be made at the local park level instead of mandated by stuff shirts in Washington DC. Here’s to riding at a National Park near you.

More Details on Mountain Biking in our National Parks

An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicyclists. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current “special regulations” process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.

The NPS has said the proposal for new rules will be formally announced later this year. IMBA hopes the enhanced procedure will allow park superintendents to make trail access decisions locally, instead of being tied to a Washington-based, multi-year regulatory journey. The new rule would treat bicycling like other non-motorized trail users, such as equestrians.

The suggested NPS rule change would only apply to places where including bicycling is deemed non controversial, and would maintain current requirements for environmental review and public notice. Opening a trail to bicycling must be done in compliance with the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Historic Preservation Act, and all NPS General Management Planning processes.

Proposed Rule Subject of Misunderstandings

Recently, the American Hiking Society (AHS) published a national action alert opposing the as-yet-unreleased NPS rule. This alert is based on the incorrect assumption that requirements for comprehensive environmental review and public commentary about opening a trail to bicycling will be discarded. In fact, these safeguards will remain in place, as required by federal law. IMBA and AHS leaders met nationally on this issue a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately, the alert has rippled through the hiking community, causing consternation and confusion amongst the shared-use trails community. Some hiking-based groups have expressed concern that mountain biking will infringe on foot travel, but IMBA remains confident that shared-use trails can succeed in national parks, as they do in countless public land settings around the globe.

The alert also suggests that this regulatory change could affect how Wilderness, or areas proposed for Wilderness, will be managed. In fact, these issues are completely separate. IMBA recognizes that cycling is not allowed in areas designated as Wilderness. The NPS proposed rule change would have no impact on Wilderness regulations.

National parks that are not interested in expanding opportunities for bicycling will not be affected by the rule change. The new procedures will not force mountain biking on any park unit, and superintendents that do not see opportunities for mountain biking in their parks will not be asked to adopt it.

IMBA Encourages Clubs to Reach Out to Hiking Groups and NPS Leaders

IMBA encourages mountain bike organizations to reach out to their local hiking trail partners and NPS local leaders with our fact sheet on the issue, to address concerns and answer questions about the rule change.

Creating opportunities for mountain biking will not diminish experiences for existing users such as hikers or equestrians. Park staff are skilled at selecting appropriate trails for shared-use experiences. Hikers and bikers can work together to repair eroded trails, get kids exercising in parks and build excitement about our national parks.

More on What the Rule Change Will Achieve

The current “special regulations” process for opening NPS trail to bicycling is onerous and cumbersome, often typically taking years to complete. Only two of the roughly 24 parks that currently allow singletrack mountain biking have managed to complete special regulations, highlighting the unrealistic and unnecessary burden it places on NPS staff. The special regulations process required for bicycles also applies to snowmobiles, jet skis, airplanes, commercial trucking and other similarly intensive park uses. IMBA believes local park management, using the inclusive NEPA process, can best make decisions regarding bicycle use on the trails that they oversee.

In one real-world example, Tennessee’s Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, trail users and park staff worked for many years to open two existing routes to bicycling, detailing the process publicly in environmental reviews, park planning documents and rigorous scientific research. Regardless, the trail opening was prohibited because special regulations had not been completed. While bicyclists, NPS staff, hikers and equestrians all support opening these trails to bicycles, the opening date is likely several years in the future, at best.

Another example can be found in Washington, DC, at Fort Dupont National Park. IMBA affiliated club Trips for Kids has been bringing inner-city youth to the park to ride the existing network of singletrack trails for many years. This program helps build self-esteem, get kids exercising and exposes an often underserved population to the benefits of bicycling and national parks. Technically, these trails are out of compliance with this bureaucratic, special regulations process – although all groups involved would call this program wildly successful.

More Info: Make a Difference, Join IMBA Today

So, it may require extra planning and a stash of clothes in the office to avoid pedaling your bike in your loafers. Or, there are other options, such as the Keen Commuter sandals, which offer the look and near-comfort of the Keen Newport sandals in an SPD-friendly package. They’re not going to replace your Sidi’s, but in a pinch, they are pretty darn versatile little bike sandals.

About the Keen Commuter Sandals

As the makers of some of the most popular and versatile sandals on the market, it was only a matter of time before they put their two and two together to make the first usable bike sandal. The Commuters are essentially a narrowed-down and stiffened Keen Newport sandal. The famous toe protection adds to the comfort and usability of these sandals–nobody likes to get stabbed by a branch between their toes.

With the simple bungee cord lacing and sturdy webbed straps, the Commuters are 100% Keen sandal. But, the full-shank SPD plate and removable footbed turn these into bike-friendly treads.

A few features of the Keen Commuters:

• Full-length SPD-compatible plate (in sandals… cool!)
• Newport-style uppers (low-key styling)
• Removable metatomical footbed (for easy washing)
• Non-marking outsole (for pickup basketball games)
• MSRP: $115

Keen Commuter SPD Bike Sandals Review

I thought I’d put these sandals to the test on both my normal trails and around the neighborhood. Like any bike shoes, it’s important to get the cleats installed correctly to avoid tread/pedal interference for easy clip in and out. With the commuters, this was easy. Just remove the plate cover and drop in the cleats. With my Crank Brothers Candy pedals, I had no interference problems and am running them without spacers.The cleats are well-seated in the sandals and have provided a secure interface with my pedals.

The Commuters do have a full-shank nylon SPD plate in them, so they don’t quite walk as well as my Newports. But, they do the trick and are way more comfortable walkers than my Specialized MTB shoes.  Plus, my wife won’t get too upset should I traipse through the kitchen since the cleats sit just below the tread level, hence no click clack on the hardwood.

The profile of these sandals is also slightly narrower than the Newports. This is necessary to provide the right bike/shoe interface. You don’t want your feet sliding sideways when pedaling nor do you want your shoes to interfere with crank arms or chain/seat stays throughout the pedal stroke.

I’ve taken these out on the singletrack and they perform admirably. I won’t be replacing my dedicated MTB shoes, but for the casual rider or for summer bike trips that might include stream crossings, these are money. The other nice thing about the commuters is breathability. My feet get hot and sweaty, but with the Commuters, things keep nice and cool both with or without socks.

Riding around the neighborhood with the kids is where I love the Commuters. I definitely don’t want to slip on my MTB shoes just to cruise around the park. And, with the Commuters, I can slip out with the kids in a few seconds and still have a solid pedaling platform.

Now the Commuters aren’t perfect. I’ve had a couple of tip-overs on the trail because I couldn’t get the shoe to release from the pedal. The issue is that even though the sandals feature a fairly snug fit, there’s still more play between your foot and the sandal than with a sturdy bike shoe. My typical twist-out angle gets exaggerated because of that extra slop, so I’ve had to plan my step-outs a little more carefully. With increased use, this may not be a problem though.

Good Commuters

• Versatile sandals for casual MTB or commuting use
• The most walkable SPD-compatible shoes I’ve worn
• Cleats sit below treads
• Ventilation galore
• Rivers, lakes, oceans and mountain biking with the same shoe
• Removable footbed for easy cleaning
• Keen toe protection keeps your tootsies protected from certain death on the trail

Bad Commuters

• A little slop in the foot/sandal interface takes a little extra to release

The Bottom Line on the Keen Commuter Bike Sandals

These sandals are great to have around. Like I said, my favorite application for these sandals is pedaling around the neighborhood, but I pounded out several singletrack assaults with the Commuters just fine. I appreciated the breathability of these shoes and loved the walkability. If you’re into multi-sport adventures that involve water and mountain biking, the Commuters are great. Or, if you’ve got a job where you can sport these sandals, you can go from bike to work and back to the bike without a hitch.

Buy Now: Shop REI.com for Keen Commuter Sandals

The idea behind OnePointFive is that head tubes and steerer tubes would be stronger and less susceptible to ovalizing, which is typical of most DH race frames over a season of racing. Headsets and bearings would last longer and suspension designs could dramatically be altered to take advantage of the stronger steerer tube.

Well, now the new OnePointFive “standard” is here and likely it won’t be going anywhere. With top name manufacturers jumping on board like Intense, Turner, Ellsworth, Cannondale and others, it’s hard to deny it’s a legitimate design. On the other hand, Marzocchi isn’t about to let anyone in on its freeride supremacy–especially with a new head tube standard. At Interbike, Marzocchi unveiled a 6-inch single-crown fork dubbed the Z150. This fork boasted 6-inches of Marzocchi plushness with a standard-sized 1-1/8″ steerer tube. How could it be? We were all duped by the OnePointFive camp that a 6-inch single-crown fork wasn’t possible. Well, with an overly beefed-up steerer tube, the Marzocchi Z150 has hit the shelves of a local bike shop near you.

I’ve been lucky enough to log a good amount of time on both the Manitou Sherman Breakout and the Marzocchi Z150–few people have had that opportunity. Here’s my take on both forks.

Manitou Sherman Breakout

The Sherman is one tough fork. This thing just looks beefy with the reversed arch design and Model-T inspired color scheme. You can have any color you want as long as it’s black. Actually, you can get a camo version, but I have yet to see one in person.

I had the Sherman mounted to my one-of-a-kind Turner Route 66 (below) frame, so the 6-inches of travel was evened out by 6-inches of Turner lovin’. I also spent considerable time on the Cannondale Gemini 900, so I’ve had the Sherman on two entirely different suspension designs.

My first impression of the Sherman was how well it tracked. This thing is stiff! Coming from a 2002 Super T Pro to this, I didn’t lose anything in tracking ability. It corners and steers without any noticeable flex at all. Also standard is a switch that reduces the travel by almost an inch–this came in handy on long climbs, but really didn’t change much. I did notice that the mechanism which decreased the travel seemed flimsy. I have heard of some people breaking that mechanism, but mine functioned just fine on both forks tested.

My biggest disappointment with the Sherman was in its overall feel. I was expecting Manitou to enter the freeride market with something to knock Marzocchi off the block, but the overall feel of the fork through its travel left me wanting a Marzocchi. Don’t get me wrong, the Sherman has some strong points, but I felt the suspension was too stiff throughout the travel and not so plush throughout the stroke. It felt like it got much less than 6-inches of travel because it ramps up so much. I never felt like I was getting the full spectrum of the 6-inches–even if it was.

I’ve talked to a lot of people and some people say they like the ramped feel of the Sherman because it doesn’t just mush out throughout the travel like people say Marzocchi’s do. It will compress and then still have more to compress if needed.

Overall, the Sherman is a really nice fork with more positives than negatives. I like how well it tracks and it is as stiff as all get out. I just felt like the quality of travel was lacking. I like a more supple, squishy fork than the Sherman is. If you like a stout fork and don’t mind the ramped-up suspension travel, then the Sherman should suit you just fine. If you want something supple and smooth, take a look at the Marzocchi Z150

Marzocchi Z150

After placing an order for the Z150 in January, I felt confident the fork would arrive soon thereafter. I had heard that many people had placed orders at Interbike and that it should arrive sometime in mid-March. I thought nothing of it as I got my 2003 Balfa 2Step with the RockShox Psylo. I would ride the Psylo until the trails thawed out, then have the Z150 just in time for the serious stuff.

Well, needless to say I was disappointed as I didn’t even see the Z150 at my doorstep until the first week of May! To look on the bright side, at least I hadn’t placed the order way back in October!

When the fork arrived, I had mixed feelings on the color scheme. I’m not too sure I’m stoked on the flame-like motif, but it looks great with the 2Step’s orange/red color. Well, forget about looks… how does it ride?

Rebound controls on the fork are adjusted via air valves at the top of each leg. The problem is that typically these pressures are very low (about 10 – 15 psi.), so the shock pump I have doesn’t do me much good in fine-tuning the pressure. The scale on my pump is intended for much higher pressures, so I’m basically guessing the pressure–I have no idea what my pressure is set at.

Similar to the Sherman, the Z150 has an ETA cartridge which lowers the travel for climbing. The only bad thing about this is that the suspension action is significantly decreased while engaging the ETA switch, whereas the Sherman keeps it’s normal attributes.

Enough about the little things… honestly, the Z150 blows the Sherman or nearly any other 6 to 7-inch travel fork out of the water. Coming from the Super T, I don’t miss much with the Z150. The ride is very similar–soft, supple and smooth–just like Marzocchi’s should be. It tracks straight and is just as stiff as the Sherman as far as I can tell.

The bottom line with the Z150 is that you get a bomber single-crown fork that delivers the classic Marzocchi plushness you deserve. If you hate dual crown forks, but want more than 5-inches of travel, get the Z150. This fork delivers a super plush and quality ride every time. I totally dig it!

On a side note, if your bike can handle a dual crown fork and you don’t mind the extra weight, I’d just go for the Super T Pro over both the Sherman and the Z150. Where the Z150 shines is with those who don’t want a dual crown fork and/or are afraid of adding an extra pound with a Super T.

Buy Now: Search for Marzocchi Forks or Manitou Forks

Destination: Virgin

“One of the challenges that faces the free ride community is finding the right location”; Wade Simmons, the winner of today’s event, recognizes the difficulty of seeking out an accessible, yet credible event site. Well-known for its pristine parks, its array of ridges, drops and technical lines, Virgin, UT is a highly desirable location for the new movement in free riding. With the help from one of the most progressive BLM districts, Red Bull held the inaugural free-ride competition amidst these untouched canyons. Better hospitality couldn’t have been found as the Virgin, UT town mayor helped build jumps, and kids volunteered to carry the competitors’ bikes up 1,500 vertical feet.

“We don’t need those fabricated courses, this is it!” Unlike traditional mountain bike competitions with set courses, the Red Bull Rampage decided to take advantage of the burly terrain and let the world’s best free riders choose their own lines. Judged similarly to a free skiing competition, difficulty of line selection, control, amplitude, fluidity and style all factored into the overall scores. As Josh Bender, one of today’s most progressive free rider, stated, “This event gave the stagnating mountain bike community a swift kick that it desperately needed”, the Red Bull Rampage conceded, and pushed the limits.

After the first day of qualifications, 12 highly diverse riders advanced to the final round. The competitors included 14-year old Kyle Strait, Canadian competitors, Wade Simmons, Robbie Bourdon, and Thomas Vanderham, and Moab, UT rider, Greg Smith. Upon first glance, the only viable lines were loaded with impressive gap jumps, technical landings, and big drops. After over 3 hours of preparation, the competitors were finally ready to conquer the canyon and the show began.

The Competition

Going into the finals, Wade Simmons was seeded in first place, with Robbie Bourdon and Myles Rockwell close behind. Yet, after the first run of the final competition day, Chris O’Driscoll had the top score of 73.2, while Simmons fared at 67.6, and Bourdon was down to a 59.8. Upon the final run, Bourdon chose one of the toughest lower lines taking an 18-foot leap off a drop and landing safely at the bottom. As a first alternate, Greg Smith advanced and gained a well-deserved score of 76.4 with a very aggressive and consistent, yet extremely technical line. But it was Simmon’s final run that dominated the competition as he executed the most technical line that any rider had chosen from the start and scored a 78.4.

Hidden Finale

In addition to the divided $8,000 prize purse, winner, Wade Simmons was granted an all-expensed round-trip to Australia for the Red Bull Ride. To conclude the event, a $500 prize was granted to the “Flyin’ Lion”, Kyle Strait, for the best trick in the Big Air competition.

Like a Rock

Even former downhill World Champion, Myles Rockwell, pushed his limits and he realized the defying feat that faced him on this vertical course. Competitors needed not only strength and talent, but also skill and knowledge in order to complete the challenge. Rockwell claimed: “This competition will make anyone into a rock.”

As you read this article, please keep into context that I am an amateur rider. I am also 4’11″ and 90lbs, with little legs, as I relentlessly attempted to keep up with my taller friends. This was to be the first extensive mountain bike trip I had ever attempted. And while I trained as hard as I could in the time allotted, I knew that I was undertaking a venture that was going to be challenging. I set personal goals on this journey – to make it through to the best of my ability. To those of you who train for months and make this trail look easy, I commend you. This is my story…

8 October 2000

Time to go…

After all the planning and preparation and nervous exhilaration of the pending trip, finally the day had come. Chris and I tied up our last minute details and drove to Steamboat to meet up with the group and pack the trailer. We were all motivated and excited, and 4 of us left early afternoon to shuttle cars. Surprisingly, it only ended up taking us about 4 1/2 hours all the way to Moab. We pitched a tent at the Lazy Lizard youth hostel campsite so that we could awaken to one final shower, then we were off…

9 October 2000

Section 1: Loma to Rabbit Valley

We met up with Anne and Kevin for breakfast in the morning, and then proceeded on one final 2 hour drive to shuttle the car. We arrived at the trailhead at about 1:30, but unfortunately, the rest of our group didn’t arrive until about 2:30 with our bikes and our gear. Finally, about 3:00, we started off for our first section of riding. I was very anxious about starting that late, because I had been on technical rides in the past with a late start, and I could foresee potential hazards, i.e. getting caught in the dark without enough light, or ending up in some trouble due to elements or fatigue. I also knew that this trail was unfamiliar and difficult, which added to my apprehension. Nonetheless, we started off, so as not to get off schedule of our 6 days of riding.

We opted to stay together the first day, even though our crew of 5 had varying degrees of riding experience. I was glad in the end that we had made this decision, for various reasons that ensued along the way.We started our ride off from Loma, just west of Grand Junction, Co. There are many variations at the beginning of the trailhead, and our group chose to start on Mary’s Loop. The ride started out really well, with an easy degree of difficulty and breathtaking rim views of Horsethief Canyon and the Colorado River below. Robin opted himself as tour guide, and took photographs along the way. As for day one I started out self-assured and energetic. I was very grateful that, so far, I was keeping up with the team.

As the route started to turn to single track, it also started to get progressively more technical. We all knew it was going to get more difficult, as our guide had described sections as “grueling, hike-a-bike” single track.2 The writer of our map also said, “Sections of rock can be hard and abrasive, be considerate to others and don’t leave blood on the trail.”3 We all laughed as we read this, and complimented the map author’s sense of humor. Unfortunately, I didn’t predict at this time, the significance of this description. As we completed Mary’s Loop, we connected back to the main Kokopelli Trail for the second half of the ride.

Section one, in places, was fairly technical rim riding where a serious fall could have led you to plummet into the canyon more than 500 feet below. I was feeling pretty confident, even up to this point, which perhaps led me to push my limits greater than I should have. I guess part of me inside wanted to impress the group. I choose to give it my all, all the time, but in group sessions somehow I feel greater pressure. So as I barreled up a rock laden section of single track, I realized midway that I might be in over my head. My back tire caught between boulders, and I wasn’t going fast enough to ride it out. I ended up flipping over the front of my bike and landing face first into a rock. Fortunately, my right hand broke the fall just slightly, and I smashed my pinky and ring fingers between rocks. What I remember being most upset about at first was that I had broken our map writer’s rule – I got blood on the rocks.

I think I must have looked pretty gruesome and bewildered, because suddenly I noticed my friends rushing over to me. As I sat there on the ground attempting to regain composure, Kevin was immediately by my side with a first aid kit, wiping the blood off my chin. I was certainly humbled and disoriented, but my initial assessment was that I was more or less o.k. I thought for a minute that I might have knocked some of my lower teeth out, but they were all still there. My lip and chin were bloody and swollen. And although I looked like I had just been in a boxing match, I interpreted that it was a survivable wound. My fingers were black and blue and swollen, but I could still bend them, so I determined they probably weren’t broken. Emotionally, however, I have to admit I was pretty devastated. I had worked so hard for so long to be strong for this trip. Now here I was on the first day, busted up pretty good. I always have been very determined and tenacious. Some might even call me stubborn. So in the face of adversity even though I felt like bellyaching, I didn’t give up. I thanked God that I could still continue, picked myself up, dusted myself off, and got back on my bike.

As I rode on, I was really sore. My chin throbbed and my fingers hurt, but I was perseverant. I had been planning this trip for months, and I certainly wasn’t going to let a little thing like pain stop me. I rode on, admittedly much more conservatively, but I rode on, as the guide writer’s “grueling hike-a-bike” single track came to be. At the first hiking section I thought, “this isn’t so bad.” But the guide didn’t specify exactly how long and grueling this section was. It felt very intense at the time. I could see the look on my friend Anne’s face, which described my demeanor accurately, sheer exhaustion, but trying hard to keep our chin’s up through the journey. The technical descent finally led to a nice, soft, single-track section, then to a double track road. Our spirits were high as we determined that we had completed the technical part of our riding for the day. However, new anxiety ensued as we realized the sun was rapidly setting, and we weren’t sure exactly how many miles lay ahead of us.

Group morale stayed high as we cranked along the final stretches of our expedition in the dark. This stretch seemed endless, as I was cold and tired, and still sore from my wounds. But something inside me felt exhilaration as my fears of this ride as being unattainable slowly began to dissipate. I was riding this trail, and I was riding it well. This revelation helped me to crank on with impressive speed. We were blessed with a full moon, and one bike light in the group, and we eventually did pull up to camp altogether, and relatively all in one piece. My last thoughts as I drifted off to sleep were revitalizing and joyous, I had done it – I had completed my first day on the Kokopelli trail.

10 October 2000

Section 2: Rabbit Valley to Cisco

I woke up this morning not certain if it would be smart for me to continue. For some unknown reason, on adventures like this, I have a tendency to loose all common sense and good judgment. My friends looked at my fingers. They were brilliantly black and blue with discoloration, which was spreading down my hand. We assessed, again, by the fact that I could still bend them, that they probably weren’t broken. They suggested that I tape my fingers together, and to try not to crash too hard. Chris, my husband, who is a much better rider than I, offered to stick by my side for the day. The decision was made. I was going.

Fortunately for me, day 2 was a fabulous treat, which offered some climbing, but mainly easy, non-technical, winding dirt roads. One beefy ascent marks the middle of the route, but it is a wide dirt road, which is very do-able with a good set of lungs. I really enjoyed this day. My fingers had finally stopped throbbing. It was also very nice quality time with Chris, who was very patient with me as I grew slower towards the end. It wasn’t entirely my fault however, as gale force winds picked up throughout the day, and literally blew me (all 90lbs.) at times to the side of the trail. The wind became so intense, that I actually had to pedal going downhill. After what in the wind became a very long final stretch of our 35 mile day; I pedaled into our campsite, day 2 under my belt!

11 October 2000

Section 3: Cisco to Dewey Bridge

As each day passed, my body became progressively more sore. As I hopped into the saddle for day 3, I had no idea to anticipate how much the weather would affect us. It was cold and rainy, which was fine, because we were all geared up appropriately. But this section ultimately became very demanding, as the weather dramatically altered our riding conditions. The ride goes from pavement, to long, windy, dirt roads, to a small section of rim and trail riding. I enjoyed gazing along this trail at the beauty of the Colorado River beside me passing through, in sections, a valley lush with trees and vegetation. I would have thoroughly enjoyed this day, except that the rain turned our sand traps to mud, which actually caused our tires to stop dead in their tracks at times. So much mud caked on the wheels and the brake lines, that the tires literally couldn’t roll. We all carried on with a light-hearted sense of amusement at the whole situation, until about the millionth time that we had to clean the mud out of our rims with our bare hands. Then it started to become frustrating. Our bikes, gear, and bodies were covered in mud from head to toe.

To add to the excitement, we all had clipless pedals. Those of you who have them understand; they are rendered virtually useless caked in mud. I thought to myself, “I suppose if you want to be hard core, you have to anticipate these types of obstacles.” Nonetheless, I must admit, as we finally rolled into our campsite at Dewey Bridge I was very relieved. We utilized the Colorado River to our advantage and spent an hour cleaning the caked mud out of the amazingly infinite number of small nooks and cranny’s on our bikes. Then it was finally time to relax and enjoy each other’s companionship in front of the fire, as the sun came out for the rest of the day.

12 October 2000

Section 4: Dewey Bridge to Fisher Valley

Today, unfortunately, I was forced to admit that I am not invincible. I woke up this morning noticing that the blood under my skin by my fingers had spread halfway down my hand. They were still swollen, and now my wrist was sore from muscle spasms shooting up my arm, as I tried to overcompensate for the pain by leaning more greatly on my wrist. I was very determined from the outset that completing this ride was important. In that context, it was very hard for me to make the decision that I did, but I chose to take a day off. The guide had described this section as steep and rough ascents, with a technical descent. I evaluated that this section would probably further irritate my wrist, because descending was when it took the most pressure. I assessed that I’d rather miss one day, then take the chance of not being able to finish the rest of the trip. As I watched the rest of the crew ride on, my heart sank. It felt like torture, not being able to complete in full, the journey that I had invested into heart and soul. Preparing for months had somehow made this venture all the more important to come to fruition. I realized in the moment when I chose to take a rest day, that I didn’t want to. Something inside me, even if all my limbs had fallen off one by one, still would have wanted to press on. It’s a feeling that I can’t quite explain, or a sickness, but I’ve got it. I like to push my limits.

This trip was very important to me internally as well. It was something in life that I wanted to accomplish, not for anyone else, but for me. It was very frustrating facing obstacles that I simply couldn’t control. According to the rest of the crew it did turn out to be a good day for me to skip. Apparently the terrain was rough and steep at times, culminating into a steep, rocky descent. I would have found this very difficult in the shape I was in. To be honest our drive down Onion Creek road in our sag wagon had some elements of technical difficulty as well. Riding through the valley staring up at Fisher Towers and gazing at the sandstone bluffs helped to ease the sadness of missing a day as Anne (my riding partner), Heather, and I made our way around a training ride out from camp. We joked about how we gave the boys an opportunity to bond for the day, which again, helped me to remain distracted. I became reminded that the purpose of this trip wasn’t only for my personal goals, but also to spend quality time with this tremendous group of people I was with. I learned that I really love this group, and internal and external challenges aside, they made this trip extraordinary.

13 October 2000

Section 5: Fisher Valley to Castle Valley

I was really excited to get back on the bike today. I knew it was going to be a climbing day, what I didn’t know was how much my legs would hurt due to culminating soreness. I had failed to use my rest day to truly rest due to our need to ride anyway. So today, even on climbs that didn’t look intimidating, my legs felt like wet noodles. Fortunately, although steep much of the time, the riding was not extremely technical. I was grateful for this, because I thought I hurt well enough as it was. The views of the Polar and North Beaver mesas distracted me from the building fatigue in my body. Thoughts that went through my head as I rode; “This is really beautiful.” “This is really challenging.” “I hope I don’t bite it right now.” “Damn it, more climbing.” “My wrist hurts.” “My legs hurt.” “Wow, look at those views.” “Thank God for this Terry, Woman’s Liberator Seat, my butt is the only part of me that doesn’t hurt.” “I am so lucky to be having this experience.” “My life is so good.” “How much farther can this be?” “Ah, the campsite. Thank God!”

As I quieted the voices in my head, I was able to revel in the beauty of this climb. The climb overlooks mesas and sandstone bluffs, traverses through national forest, and culminates into an invigorating pavement descent. The descent provides an overwhelming view of the La Sal Mountains as you roll down into Castle Valley.

With each passing day I felt more and more proud. I had come this far. This was a genuinely great feeling. I lamented some as we reflected by our last night’s campfire. I was truly sad that this adventure, despite the trials and tribulations, was all too soon, coming to an end.

14 October 2000

Section 6: Castle Valley to Moab.

The home stretch…

Our guidebook described this last section as, “one more obnoxiously steep climb… culminating into a long, steep, jackhammer descent.” This was pretty accurate. I was happy as, ironically, my legs didn’t seem to hurt so bad today. Why, I can not tell you. Maybe it’s because the planets were aligned just so, but for whatever reason, I was grateful to have a second wind. I felt strong. Maybe it was because all the while I was pedaling, I knew that we had reserved a room in a Bed and Breakfast for tonight, and a soft bed was awaiting me. The faster I pedaled, I knew, the quicker it was that I would get to a hot shower. Trust me, by now, I could really use one. The climb was again accompanied by breathtaking views of Castle Valley and the La Sal mountains in the distance, as we traversed along the Porcupine Rim. As we began our descent the 2 track remained interesting enough to keep me from looking around too much. Once we hit the Sand Flats Road, I understood completely what “jackhammer descent” meant. I thought, at times, that I might literally bounce right off my bike. This was the first time ever, I actually considered turning in my beloved Single Track Trek 930, and trading up to full suspension. The one saving grace to my body was that this descent went pretty quick. And as I passed Slickrock trailhead, I knew this was real. I had done it. I had made it. Today I had completed the Kokopelli Trail! It was an exhilarating feeling of natural high.

It was the little things that made this trip so special. The biggest gift was Heather driving sag wagon – relentlessly continuing to greet us at the end of each day, with a warm fire and a bright smile. Robin photographed the entire event. Kevin contributed a wonderful sense of humor that kept us all light-hearted and smiling through the pain. He also contributed, to my eternal gratefulness, the alcohol swab that cleaned my face immediately after I fell. Anne was my riding partner and inspiration; as together we pushed limits that we never knew before we were capable of. Chris, my husband, has never made me feel so proud. Continuously offering support, encouragement and praise throughout my ride, he helped me to feel safe and capable of anything. These gifts were far from small, as they culminated into one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life.

I am a changed person today, because of my venture on the Kokopelli Trail. I feel an overwhelming sense of calmness and peace that I can not completely explain. I absolutely have an internal glow. Before I left I had been very stressed out with events in my life. Suddenly, my perspective has shifted. For 8 days my life became very simple and pure. I breathed mountain air, I pushed my limits to extremes that I didn’t know I was capable of, I laughed with friends. I realized that my priorities are completely in order. I have never felt so alive, and so at peace.

To those of you who are left wondering, “Will she go back for section 4?”, of course. I am an adrenaline junkie after all. To those of you who wonder if you should go – “Carpe Diem!”

– Christine Adams, FTH Contributor

Some content taken from “Mountain Biking Utah” and “Map of Kokopelli’s Bike Trail.” By Greg Bromka and Rick Showalter.