Fifty Plus (50+) - Moab Skinny Tire Festival

This fun festival of road riding in the Canyonlands of the Colorado River is March 10 - 13. I love riding in Moab and also get in a few nice hikes in the National Parks while I'm there. It makes a great get away from rainy Oregon for me, plus it's a fun and friendly group of riders.

Here's one road you'll ride, Arches National Park
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/Arches6.jpg

http://skinnytireevents.com/content/blogcategory/28/63/

That looks like a great series of rides, but I don't think I could bring myself to go to Moab without a Mountain Bike :) Have a great time!

Outstanding! I was just out there ~6 weeks ago...rented a bike from Poison Spider, and rode down Potash Rd (runs along the Colorado River). Of course, this was intermixed with hiking at Arches and Canyonlands. If you have the time, do the NPS guided hike at Fiery Furnace at Arches - approx 3 hrs, $10 and pure awesome!

...now I'm itching to go back...

That looks like a great series of rides, but I don't think I could bring myself to go to Moab without a Mountain Bike :) Have a great time!I know, the idea of road riding in Moab is a bit odd. The nice thing is that the rides are in the mornings, leaving the rest of the day for other activities. I have rented mountain bikes for afternoon trail rides and last time I was there I took my own mountain bike along with the roadie. One year I took the ski gear and skied a few days in the Wasatch along the way, that's the nice thing about that area, so many things to do.

Sounds like fun. I'll keep it in mind. A buddy of mine recently did a half-marathon at the Moab Marathon. I'd like to go for the road ride, would bring my mtn. bike, and hiking shoes and drive my Jeep. My concern at the time of year though would be wind. Big time wind.

Would really like 2 B there.


http://vimeo.com/32878878

Sounds like fun. I'll keep it in mind. A buddy of mine recently did a half-marathon at the Moab Marathon. I'd like to go for the road ride, would bring my mtn. bike, and hiking shoes and drive my Jeep. My concern at the time of year though would be wind. Big time wind.

I've been to STF 5 times, wind has never been a big issue at that time in March. It has been cold two years, but dry and sunny.

Nice video Barrettscv! I am sure that the road ride will be fantastic, but this would be better!

Sounds like fun. I'll keep it in mind. A buddy of mine recently did a half-marathon at the Moab Marathon. I'd like to go for the road ride, would bring my mtn. bike, and hiking shoes and drive my Jeep. My concern at the time of year though would be wind. Big time wind.

I've done the event a number of times. Yes I know Moab is the MTB place but it has great road cycling as well. Each day's rides are nicer than the prior. When you think it can't get nicer, it does. Not only is the scenary wonderful, but the rides are a real challenge, something any road cyclist would love! The event is well attended, the organizers are the greatest and I've always met the nicest people. The town of Moab is a great place to spend 4 - 5 days; great restaurants and lots to do after the rides. And it is all so cheap (at least to me!). If you like multi-day rides please consider this event. As a cancer survivor, I urge you to give this ride a chance; raising money for LAF is a worthy cause.

Just on the weather: It's been warm; it's been freezing cold (with snow!). Never had a problem with wind but I am sure it can happen. Need to plan ahead and check the weather before you travel.

Would love to do this one.

Thanks for info re wind. I live in Taos, and I know at that time of the year, wind is a big issue around us, especially after noon. Will try to get up there.

2012 is too soon for us, learned about it too late. But I think the concept rung a bell with my wife - 2013 may be our first official cycling vacation!

Now the question - we don't have mtbs, what kind of riding could we do on our cyclocross bikes?

2012 is too soon for us, learned about it too late. But I think the concept rung a bell with my wife - 2013 may be our first official cycling vacation!

Now the question - we don't have mtbs, what kind of riding could we do on our cyclocross bikes?There are lots of gravel roads going in several directions from town that would be great on your cross bikes. There are also many mountain bikes for rent.

Only a couple months to the Skinny Tire Fest, still time to sign up!!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/ST05-River010.jpg

I wish they would do this in the fall. I don't start getting serious about the bike until march or april (depending on the weather) and it takes me a bit longer to get my legs "back" every year.

@rck you want the Moab Century Tour (http://skinnytireevents.com/content/section/12/30/) then --it's in September.

The Skinny Tire fest is a great weekend of riding, the roads are quiet and wonderful, and the scenery can't be beat. Pack for all weather conditions -- my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I got snowed on in 30mph winds. Grrreat way to, um, deepen interest in the sport (oops)....

Outstanding! I was just out there ~6 weeks ago...rented a bike from Poison Spider, and rode down Potash Rd (runs along the Colorado River). Of course, this was intermixed with hiking at Arches and Canyonlands. If you have the time, do the NPS guided hike at Fiery Furnace at Arches - approx 3 hrs, $10 and pure awesome!

...now I'm itching to go back...

I was just in Moab for Jan 1 & 2. I hiked Firey Furnace with a group. No ranger led hikes this time of year. You get to go in yourself for $4/per person. Hiked around in there for a couple of hours and then hiked Tower Arch. Next day went to the San Rafael Swell and canyoneered Ding & Dang Canyons. No bikes, but a lot of fun.

@rck you want the Moab Century Tour (http://skinnytireevents.com/content/section/12/30/) then --it's in September.

The Skinny Tire fest is a great weekend of riding, the roads are quiet and wonderful, and the scenery can't be beat. Pack for all weather conditions -- my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I got snowed on in 30mph winds. Grrreat way to, um, deepen interest in the sport (oops)....

Thanks for the headsup, I'll bookmark and see what the world is like at that time!

I was just in Moab for Jan 1 & 2. I hiked Firey Furnace with a group. No ranger led hikes this time of year. You get to go in yourself for $4/per person. Hiked around in there for a couple of hours and then hiked Tower Arch. Next day went to the San Rafael Swell and canyoneered Ding & Dang Canyons. No bikes, but a lot of fun.The San Rafael Swell is a pretty amazing place to explore, the Indian rock art is awesome and all over the place. I'm not sure where Ding & Dang are located, I've mostly been north of I-70 in the Buckhorn Little Grand Canyon areas. I hope to get to Head of Sinbad Pictographs in March.

Moab has lots of fun rides, including a bridge to nowhere, the kind I like!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/Moab_arch.jpg

Awesome shot, Shifty. That you on the bike?

Not me on the bike there, but it could be you if you ride Uranium Arch. It's pretty wide so it isn't scary, but have a photographer ready to document your ride.

...It's pretty wide so it isn't scary...
When I saw that image, I hoped it was wider than it appeared.

The awesome riding in Moab starts in 10 days, looks like the weather might just be pretty awesome too.

Riding in Arches National Park
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/moab2005.jpg

Another great week in Moab has come to an end, what a great week it was too. The weather was just fantastic, sunny skies, little wind and temps in the 70's ( yes, this is a big deal coming from Oregon in March). I took both the road and mountain bike, got in three great rides on the trails and four days of beautiful road rides during the Skinny Tire Festival. I also had two nice hikes in Arches National Park, including the ranger lead Firey Furnace hike that was outstanding! Turn out for the STF was great this year with over 650 riders, so lots of friendly riders to enjoy the great rides.
Our ride group enjoying the lunch stop at Dead Horse Point, it was all downhill from here!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/deadhorse-1.jpg

On a hike in Arches National Park
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/delicate-arch-hike-1.jpg

Thanks for posting... I really need to get myself in shape to do this ride next year...