Moab: A Guide to Moab's Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides

by Lee Bridgers

Book Overview

We flock to it in droves to pay homage to what many consider the North Shore, the Mount Everest, the Vatican, the Taj Mahal, the Empire State Building, the Marilyn Monroe of mountain biking -- Moab,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762728000
• ISBN13: 9780762728008
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Falcon Press Publishing
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Mountain bike heaven

Most guide books give you an idea of the route, good ones give you a feel for the area, this one makes you want to leave your job, sell your house and move to Moab immediately.The book combines excellent factual information and clear maps (the kind of thing my husband likes) with great stories of colourful locals and less than perfect Moab establishments (the kind of thing that appeals to me).It is also environmentally obsessed, which is pretty important in an area that could become ploughed by tires and safety mad --- which is great if you don't want to die in the desert. It stirs all this up with an appealingly cranky style - imagine a mountain bike guidebook written by Edward Abbey and you are just about there. A book to make you love mountain bikes and the fragile desert landscape

Excellent book

After visiting Moab 11 times in the last decade I became tired of the oft-repeated scene of totally unprepared people heading out on rides like Slickrock or Porcupine Rim. I came to the conclusion that these people come to Moab because they either read about it as a great family experience in "Sunset" magazine or they read a "Men's Journal" article touting Moab as a cool place to test your manly bike skills. Either way, people like me end up fixing their flats, giving directions, or patching up their wounds. These are the same people who head out at noon in 105 degree weather with a single 16 oz. water bottle.."Dude we're outa water..." Later you hear that someone in that group broke an ankle. That's the reality. Just check out the clinics in Moab in the afternoon..ten broken appendages a day is par. The earlier reviewer who complained that this book "cried wolf" is out of touch. Sure you can take the family on Kane Creek Road and up to Hurrah Pass or Gemini Bridges, etc.(totally safe) but the classic rides are best left to intermediate-advanced riders. Books that have glossed over this in the past are doing the average traveller a disservice. Lee Bridgers' book is the first honest assessment of what it takes to ride in Moab. Being prepared doesn't mean the experience isn't fun, in fact it probably ensures that it WILL be fun. I would also like to compliment the author for the many anecdotes and discussions of the environment. They breathed new life and insight into my last trip. Overall, its a great resource and fun to read!

Going to Moab? BUY THIS BOOK! A MUST HAVE!

This book is the ultimate guide for anyone headed to the Mountain Bike Capitol of the World...Moab.I have taken several guided rides with Lee during my visit to Moab 2 summers ago, and believe me, this man knows what he is talking about.I found his attention to safety impeccable. He was extremely cautious when necessary, and I appreciated that. There is ALOT more to Moab mountain biking than the Skickrock Bike Trail. As a matter of fact, the Slickrock Trail would have been considered a beginner trail compared to a few of the remote places that Lee had taken me to.The places I am referring to were so obscure, that it would have been easy getting lost just driving to the trail. The trails were extremely exposed and very dangerous. If a serious injury occured on one of these rides, even a helicopter rescue might not be an option. This is why Lee takes saftey VERY seriously. He leaves NOTHING to chance. A person died on Slickrock while I was out there, and that was not the first time.In fact, a 13 year old boy died just this week (Aug, 2000). The group he was with ran out of water and hightailed it off of Porcupine Rim, accidently leaving him behind. Death happens. Safety is an serious issue, and Lee knows this! As for Lee's navigational skills...they are incredible. He has radar. His rides are not found on any map or in any other guidebook of the Moab area. You would NEVER find these places on your own, and you could die trying. I trusted Lee explicitly and look forward to riding with him again this September, on my return trip to Moab.Please take into consideration when you read the negative comment on this book that your safety is Lees' business. If it appears that he is pushing his guide service, it is for a reason. His rides are worth twice what he charges. Please note that I have no affiliation with Lee, or his company, Dreamride...just a satisfied customer.Buy this book and hopefully you will take from it the respect that the remote Moab territory deserves.

Wow!

Mountain Bike Moab goes beyond the "here is a trail isn't it pretty" guidebook propoganda that makes you wonder if authors are taking kickbacks from the local chamber of commerce. This book is brutally honest and gives you an excellent idea of what to expect when you visit Moab. The Good, the Bad and the Hilarious.Besides the beautiful maps and bizarro stories, this books strongest feature is environmental education. Learn about the fragile living soil that covers the canyonlands and how to protect it. Lee Bridgers concern for preserving Moab's ecosystem proves that he is an excellent ambassador for responsible Mountain Biking. If you are an Environmentalist AND a Mountain Biker then this book is for you.

Way more than I expected

I've been going to Moab to ride the awesome Slickrock for years. This place is Mecca for mountain bikers. I just wish I had this book a long time ago. I've bought just about everything that ever came out on trailguides to this area, but nothing compares to this book. The maps and trail descriptions are so detailed. Cool shaded relief on all the maps show every crater and canyon. I really will know what I'm getting into next time I go. Finally I'll have a book that shows me where to go other than Slickrock Trail with maps I can actually read! The best part of this book is the hilarious stories that the author tells throughout the whole book on everything from locals to the film industry. I've read just about every one (there are a lot of stories in this book) and I could hardly put it down. It's obvious thta the author knows this place and loves Moab and the crazy people who live there. This book is much more than I expected from a mountain bike trail guide. Great job!