Day 2, Irresponsible Adventures on Bikes

Well, that was quite a start. The forecast on Monday was a high of 60 in Fruita. 70 in Moab. Since we are Phoenix desert dwellers, Fruita was chosen while it was still “warm”. Sunday morning dawned, we broke the fast with eggs and toast, and loaded hydration packs in preparation for riding. Highway 128 along the Colorado River was the chosen route. Two of us had been to Moab before, 2 had not, and along the river is marked as a Scenic Byway. I look forward to seeing those road signs. The Scenic Byways program was established in 1991, part of our tax dollars at work. To me, that’s an appropriate use of tax dollars, but hey that’s politics and this is a bike riding story.

In Fruita, we didn’t have any maps of how to get to the best riding, just knew what names to ask about. We stopped in at Over The Edge Sports, met an “awesome” guide who recommended Horse Thief Bench area and Moore Fun, Mary’s loop, Steve’s loop trails. Can’t say enough good about those guys. To the Loma parking lot we went.

On the road to the Loma parking lot, we saw this guy:

A Collared Lizard (crotaphytus collaris, had to look that up) brilliantly colored. We have our orange and black Gila Monsters, but they don’t quite compete on this level.

Now, Moore Fun is appropriately described as “abusive” and signed as Most Difficult. Those two items alone were enough of a siren call, luring this rider to an uncertain doom or completion of the trail. It most definitely was “Moore” Fun, but could have been called Sirenum Scopuli.

We dropped in at Horsethief Bench trails, and by “dropping in” I mean walking down that rugged descent. At the shop they had videos playing, showing the locals doing the “dropping in” Un-believable. Eric made it a fair part of the way down, after a quick look and plunge.

Really, that is the trail. No camera tricks, no smoke and mirrors.

After the initial descent, the riding was stellar. Meandering along the river, had some good tech steps and general overall fun.

The remaining portion of the loop consisted of some views that inspired, lines that thrilled, and climbs that needed sessioned.

Fruita, as they say, you rock my world. OTE bike shop, excellent. Headed back to give the ride report, and seek out pizza. After reading a Bike Magazine article, I was hoping for Hot Tomatoes Pizza, but they are closed on Sunday. Max sent us to Pablo’s, and we were most surely not disappointed. There the pie consisted of a Delta Blues (bacon, blue cheese, spinach, mushrooms) and a What the Cluck (lemon olive oil sauce, spinach, pesto, artichoke, chicken, garlic, roast tomatoes). In all, after two days of being kings, I must say it’s pretty good.