| Every mountain biker worth his or her salt will want to | | | | environment...but that's just the way things are. Be |
| try the Slick Rock Trail, located in Moab, Utah - one of | | | | responsible for your own personal "footprint", even if |
| the most challenging mountain biking trails in the world. | | | | you can't control what other people do. Moab biking |
| Every sport has its "ultimate" challenge. Golf has the | | | | trails consist of what's called "Slick Rock." I'll get to that |
| Augusta National - host of the Masters tournament, | | | | in a little bit. For now, here's the list of good practices. 1) |
| Tennis has the grass courts of Wimbledon, car racing | | | | Ride only on open roads and trails 2) Learn to |
| has the Daytona International Speedway, home of the | | | | recognize and preserve cryptobiotic soil crusts. Okay - |
| Daytona 500. Mountain Biking has the Slickrock Bike | | | | that's going to be tough. Wait until you get to Moab |
| Trail in Moab, Utah. The Slickrock Bike Trail is a 9.6 mile | | | | and then have someone point them out to you. 3) |
| trail which most experts consider to be "the ultimate | | | | Avoid skidding your tires 4) When it's wet, avoid clay- |
| mountain biking experience." There's plenty of "easy | | | | like surfaces. Stay on the rocky, slickrock or sandy |
| and scenic" bike trails as well, but for the ultimate ride, | | | | areas 5) Don't ride along the sides of streams 6) Don't |
| Slickrock is it. Moab is located in eastern Utah, about | | | | pollute the water resources Mountain Bike Trails 1) |
| 230 miles east of Salt Lake City, or 350 miles west of | | | | Over 100,000 people a year ride on the Slick Rock |
| Denver, Colorado. The origin of the name of Moab for | | | | Trail - so named because its a trail of "naked" |
| this once small town (incorporated in 1902) are unclear, | | | | sandstone - stone that can hold onto your bike's tires |
| but now the name is iconic for great mountain biking. | | | | at "gravity defying angles." The trail is rated a "Class 4" |
| Moab isn't a big city - only about 5,000 people live | | | | - 4 being the hardest class. The trail is twelve miles |
| there, but they get plenty of tourist traffic - so much | | | | long, and if you weren't concentrating on the ground in |
| so that you'll find over thirty hotels and motels, ten bed | | | | front of you you'd see that it crosses an elevated |
| and breakfasts, two resorts, 26 guest houses, and | | | | platform of sandstone surrounded by cliffs – cut |
| fifteen privately owned campgrounds. There are also | | | | by the Colorado River over millions of years. You'll be |
| over a dozen public campgrounds in the national parks | | | | able to view canyons, see Arches National Park |
| nearby. Tourists don't just come for the mountain | | | | across the river, and the La Sal Mountains on the |
| biking, of course. There's off-road jeep trails, hiking, | | | | eastern skyline. The trail is a 12-mile long loop (if you |
| camping, and motorcycling...there's even the Mill Canyon | | | | don't take any side trips) and will take at least four |
| Dinosaur Trail, on which you can walk and see traces | | | | hours. Make sure you bring a lot of extra water with |
| of dinosaur bones of a variety of species. The first | | | | you. You can bike on the trail from mid-February |
| thing any visitor to Moab should do is visit their Visitor's | | | | through November, but of course is most popular |
| Center, which will have brochures for every activity | | | | through spring and fall. The trail is in the Sand Flats |
| under the sun, trail maps and more. If you're new to | | | | Recreation Area, and there is a small fee enter. The |
| Moab you do not want to go anywhere without a | | | | fee pays for the maintenance of the entire area. 2) |
| selection of trailmaps, and you should never go | | | | The Porcupine Rim Trail, also located in the Sand Flats |
| anywhere without letting someone know where you're | | | | Recreation Area, is also rated a Category 4. This is a |
| going and when you plan to be back. Better still, | | | | one way trail and takes about half-a-day to ride. |
| always hike or bike with a buddy who can help you | | | | However, if your family is full of both skilled mountain |
| out in case of trouble. If you're a beginner, there are | | | | bikers and beginners, don't despair. There's plenty of |
| plenty of tour operators - mountain biking, white river | | | | other easy mountain biking trails in this beautiful area.- |
| rafting, skydiving - who can take you to the right | | | | such as the Bar M Loop. |
| places and ensure you have a good time. As you ride | | | | Alastair Hamilton is the editor of different articles with |
| along on your bike you may see others littering or | | | | reference to mountain biking for . A focused website |
| misbehaving, and wonder why you are supposed to | | | | that offers the best articles on mountain bike reviews |
| have the "least possible impact" on their | | | | and bicycle parts. |