Thanks for this video. I've been to Moab once and am a flatlander from the Midwest with a hardtail. Road Dead Horse Point and lots of road (with the MTB) out to Needles in Canyonlands. Even in Moab, I found a 20% hill I cranked up. But I was riding alone and wasn't ready to try Slickrock that way. But you're video has shown me I need to get back and ride the beginner loop which I think will be really cool. If I can do that several times in a day I can probably do the long trail (I hope!).
Awesome! There are some really steep parts even on the practice loop, but it is waaaay shorter, and totally doable, although you may need to walk a little bit. Good luck and have fun in moab. It's an amazing place.
There are 2 important facts missing in this otherwise great video. 1- This is the desert, bring lots of water as the dryness litteraly wicks the water out of your body. 2- this place is at over 4000ft in altitude. Even if you are young and in great shape don't expect to be shredding those trails until you get acclimated to the altitude. Count 5 days of light exercises to feel better under strain on the steeper climbs.
I was lucky enough to ride this full trail a few weeks ago. It is everything and more that you have read about. I tried the practice loop first to get an understanding of the surface and its perfect for that. I would definitely say its not for beginners but relatively easy ride for me with lots of experience around the world
Going to Moab next week with my bike, and I have a question……am I better with my 2.8” Nobby Nics or my 2.6” Maxxis Minion/Dissector wheels? I have a 2018 Ibis Mojo 3.
I'd probably ride the 2.6 tires. Just a little faster rolling but still grippy for the chunky loose and very long day on the WE. Note that you could probably ride slicks on slickrock. It's so sticky, a really interesting experience. It wears down tires fast. If you threw on some old worn tires for that trail it wouldn't be a bad idea.
@@RideLabs THANK YOU! Great advice! I will bring my 2.6” Minion/Dissector combo wheels. My other concern is that the Nobby Nics have more exposed spaces between the tread nobs, prone to cuts, stabs from sharp rock.
I am making the transition from BMX to mountain right now and am not in shape for big hills. I can handle the drops and manuvering the bike. Where are some good beginner trails to get in better shape. I live in Utah county.
Greetings from Newfoundland! Awesome video! Hoping to get down your way next year to explore this area during March. Just a simple question, if you don't mind! What did you use to capture this video? Gopro? If so what model? Thanks!
Calling this a beginner ride is - well, let's just agree to disagree! A beginner with great strength and fitness will still probably walk in a number of spots. It's highly unlikely that a beginner would have the level of fitness or strength to succeed. A beginner would certainly survive it! But don't expect to clean many of the steeper climbs and there's at least one drop into a sand pit that a beginner will likely have to walk. As long as you're aware of that, you're fine, otherwise, a beginner would be quite demoralized by this experience.
Hmmm, maybe I should say intermediate? I thought that since there are just a couple of hard climbs that could be walked it would still be a good beginners trail, giving people a taste of slick rock without them getting destroyed by it. I've seen beginners out on the main loop and worried about them... But maybe you are right.
I only say this because my son and I ride it yearly because, at my age, it's a gauge of my overall fitness. We always ride the practice loop to the beginning of the trail then take it clockwise. Along the way, on the practice portion, I always see quite a few people struggling. Intermediates who are fit, I think would be just fine.
I think it gives you a taste. I asked the guy at the bike shop is it for beginners and he said no. The mistake I made was riding my bike there from where I was staying in Moab. Seriously steep ascent, and then start riding. I did the practice loop twice, much better the second time. I would say I’m a novice rider. I’ll be 54 in a few months. This was a great ride. If I had another day in Moab. I’d do the whole trail. Oh, yes I also did it in August in afternoon heat. If you don’t have two litres of water, which I did, so I didn’t make that mistake, it’s so dry you can’t even feel your sweat, it just sublimates.
Slickrock Trail is definitely NOT for beginners. Unfortunately, its fame has led to a LOT of unprepared and under-skilled riders attempting it. It's deceptively short "10 miles" gives people the impression that they'll cruise through it in an hour or so. Nope. Beginners will crash and burn in short order. Well, at least today's bikes give the beginner a better chance. And those who don't will find themselves struggling mightily after two or three hours of intense effort. A 13 year old died on Slickrock due to exposure. He and his father ran out of water in short order, and despite getting water for others, still got seriously dehydrated. Once they got to the point where they could see the parking lot, they made the bad decision to split up. The kid tried to bee-line it to the parking lot, while the dad rode the trail back. Dad made it, his son didn't. A terrible tragedy partly due to Slickrock's fame and easy impression of only 10 miles. DO NOT TAKE SLICKROCK LIGHTLY! It's intermediate/advanced. No inexperienced riders should ride the entire loop. Practice loop for sure. Unless they're in top shape and have natural athletic ability. Even then, a hard crash can turn into a SAR call and life-saving extraction.
EXCELLENT! Thanks for presenting!
Thanks!
Thanks for the information and sharing your video with us.
" Moab rocks "
Greetings from Norway
Thanks Michael!
Thanks for this video. I've been to Moab once and am a flatlander from the Midwest with a hardtail. Road Dead Horse Point and lots of road (with the MTB) out to Needles in Canyonlands. Even in Moab, I found a 20% hill I cranked up. But I was riding alone and wasn't ready to try Slickrock that way. But you're video has shown me I need to get back and ride the beginner loop which I think will be really cool. If I can do that several times in a day I can probably do the long trail (I hope!).
Awesome! There are some really steep parts even on the practice loop, but it is waaaay shorter, and totally doable, although you may need to walk a little bit. Good luck and have fun in moab. It's an amazing place.
Super good review, thanks for posting.
Thanks for your support!
SlickRock Practice Loop is awesome. Lots of challenge. Great introduction to the full trail.
Yes, if you didn't like it, your not committed to the big loop. I personally like to do both haha.
There are 2 important facts missing in this otherwise great video. 1- This is the desert, bring lots of water as the dryness litteraly wicks the water out of your body.
2- this place is at over 4000ft in altitude. Even if you are young and in great shape don't expect to be shredding those trails until you get acclimated to the altitude. Count 5 days of light exercises to feel better under strain on the steeper climbs.
I just ran this trail and did a video as well. Fun place!
A++
Yea, it's a classic.
I was lucky enough to ride this full trail a few weeks ago. It is everything and more that you have read about. I tried the practice loop first to get an understanding of the surface and its perfect for that. I would definitely say its not for beginners but relatively easy ride for me with lots of experience around the world
Yea, maybe not beginner... But much shorter with enough to give an idea of what you are getting into.
That's pretty cool they have a practice loop. That landscape looks amazing, can't wait to ride it some day.
It is amazing, the full loop is exhausting. I hope that you get to ride it soon.
Great video! One of these, I will ride trails down there. Slickrock is one of them. Good idea doing this practice loop first, though.
Thanks!
Very cool, i think may wife would enjoy the practice loop to expand her riding.
Awesome! Just prep her that there might be a little bit of walking up some stuff but if she pushes it, it's possible!
good deal
Going to Moab next week with my bike, and I have a question……am I better with my 2.8” Nobby Nics or my 2.6” Maxxis Minion/Dissector wheels? I have a 2018 Ibis Mojo 3.
What trails are you riding?
@@RideLabs slick rock first day, the whole enchilada the next, with my son who’s been there, it’s my first trip.
I'd probably ride the 2.6 tires. Just a little faster rolling but still grippy for the chunky loose and very long day on the WE. Note that you could probably ride slicks on slickrock. It's so sticky, a really interesting experience. It wears down tires fast. If you threw on some old worn tires for that trail it wouldn't be a bad idea.
@@RideLabs THANK YOU! Great advice! I will bring my 2.6” Minion/Dissector combo wheels. My other concern is that the Nobby Nics have more exposed spaces between the tread nobs, prone to cuts, stabs from sharp rock.
I am making the transition from BMX to mountain right now and am not in shape for big hills. I can handle the drops and manuvering the bike. Where are some good beginner trails to get in better shape. I live in Utah county.
Doing cycles on lambert park (in Alpine) is a great way to build up strength of both lungs and legs while not being too intimidating.
Greetings from Newfoundland! Awesome video! Hoping to get down your way next year to explore this area during March. Just a simple question, if you don't mind! What did you use to capture this video? Gopro? If so what model? Thanks!
Hi Derrick. Yea the hero4 black. With a gimbal for stabilization. Sounds like you are going to have an awesome trip! Moab is so fun.
Thanks bud!
Is this trail good for E-Bikes?
I would imagine that its way fun on an ebike. The full loop is long for a regular bike, an ebike on there would be cool. Motos are on there too.
Calling this a beginner ride is - well, let's just agree to disagree! A beginner with great strength and fitness will still probably walk in a number of spots. It's highly unlikely that a beginner would have the level of fitness or strength to succeed. A beginner would certainly survive it! But don't expect to clean many of the steeper climbs and there's at least one drop into a sand pit that a beginner will likely have to walk. As long as you're aware of that, you're fine, otherwise, a beginner would be quite demoralized by this experience.
Hmmm, maybe I should say intermediate? I thought that since there are just a couple of hard climbs that could be walked it would still be a good beginners trail, giving people a taste of slick rock without them getting destroyed by it. I've seen beginners out on the main loop and worried about them... But maybe you are right.
I only say this because my son and I ride it yearly because, at my age, it's a gauge of my overall fitness. We always ride the practice loop to the beginning of the trail then take it clockwise. Along the way, on the practice portion, I always see quite a few people struggling. Intermediates who are fit, I think would be just fine.
I think it gives you a taste. I asked the guy at the bike shop is it for beginners and he said no. The mistake I made was riding my bike there from where I was staying in Moab. Seriously steep ascent, and then start riding. I did the practice loop twice, much better the second time. I would say I’m a novice rider. I’ll be 54 in a few months. This was a great ride. If I had another day in Moab. I’d do the whole trail. Oh, yes I also did it in August in afternoon heat. If you don’t have two litres of water, which I did, so I didn’t make that mistake, it’s so dry you can’t even feel your sweat, it just sublimates.
And the altitude is a factor for people living near sea level.
Slickrock Trail is definitely NOT for beginners. Unfortunately, its fame has led to a LOT of unprepared and under-skilled riders attempting it. It's deceptively short "10 miles" gives people the impression that they'll cruise through it in an hour or so. Nope. Beginners will crash and burn in short order. Well, at least today's bikes give the beginner a better chance. And those who don't will find themselves struggling mightily after two or three hours of intense effort.
A 13 year old died on Slickrock due to exposure. He and his father ran out of water in short order, and despite getting water for others, still got seriously dehydrated. Once they got to the point where they could see the parking lot, they made the bad decision to split up. The kid tried to bee-line it to the parking lot, while the dad rode the trail back. Dad made it, his son didn't. A terrible tragedy partly due to Slickrock's fame and easy impression of only 10 miles.
DO NOT TAKE SLICKROCK LIGHTLY! It's intermediate/advanced. No inexperienced riders should ride the entire loop. Practice loop for sure. Unless they're in top shape and have natural athletic ability. Even then, a hard crash can turn into a SAR call and life-saving extraction.