Slickrock, Moab UT - Day 3

Tuesday 4th Oct
“Its all about the ride”-Mark had us kitting up early bells in the am in preparation for our ride on Slickrock. A series of weatherworn bald rocks stringing out like giant beads making for a rollercoaster ride of fast, slippery down hills and brutal uphill climbs where the front wheel barely makes contact.

I started out slow at the back fighting muscle burn, short breath and aching shoulders. I watched impressed as Jerome tackled everything head-on with his Bianchi single-speed. How the hell he does it I don’t know.

The views were spectacular and the cloud cover was a welcome relief from what could have been searing sun. The canyons that dropped down shear to the Colorado River were off to our right as we rode on a faint hint of a trail on the side of smooth rock. Any loss of traction would definitely be bloody.

We traversed to the furthermost end of the Slickrock loop. There was a cave right up on top of a rocky bluff that Randy suggested we visit. To get there you had to ride up a narrow, seriously steep chute. We all gave it a whirl. Only ‘The Man’ Lackman did it effortlessly. From the cave we had fabulous views of the trail we had ridden to get here. The painted white lines on the rocks marked the trail like bread crumbs.

I was breathing easier now and the up hills posed less of a problem. Every time I looked, I would see Tim bulleting out in the lead. Mountain Man, no doubt!

The clouds were threatening now as we head back to close off a 14 mile ride. As we got back to camp the temperature plummeted. It began to drizzle, then fall and then pelt.