Mountain Bike America Moab [Paperback]

Lee Bridgers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mountain Bike America Guides | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

We flock to it in droves to pay homage to what many consider the North Shore, the Mount Everest, the Vatican, the Taj Mahal, the Empire State Building, the Marilyn Monroe of mountain biking-Moab, Utah. But mind you, Moab is not for everyone. Nowhere is the terrain more challenging or more dangerous. Nowhere is the penalty stiffer for screwing up. But if you don't ride Moab, you will forever dream of what could have been. Moab is simply the best mountain bike destination on earth. No question. No controversy. No ifs, ands, or buts. It gets under your skin. Come here once, and you'll come again and again.

From this book you can expect exhaustive and comprehensive trail descriptions, from beginner to advanced. GPS-quality, digitally designed relief maps detailing each ride and accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each ride. In addition detailed directions get you to the ride without getting you lost. Detailed mile-by-mile directional cues are also provided with difficulty ratings, elevation gain, trail contacts, and much more. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 398 pages, b&w photos and maps)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Moab is a mecca for mountain bikers, who come from around the world to ride its challenging trails. Whether you're a newcomer to the area or a frequent fat-tire flier, Mountain Bike America: Moab is a great addition to your fanny pack. Local cyclist Lee Bridgers blends his passion for mountain biking with his obvious love of Moab, describing 49 rides ranging from easy (Old Moab Highway, Dalton Wells) to "very difficult to abusive" (Porcupine Rim). Each starts with an overview--where to start, how far the ride is, how long you can expect it to take, warnings, environmental concerns, and how to get there--before launching into a detailed description of what you'll experience along the way, be it slick rock, deep sand, dinosaur tracks, or rusted mining equipment. Bridgers is careful to point out places where cyclists should use caution, encouraging less experienced riders to dismount--"if you are pushing a mountain bike, you are still mountain biking. Live to ride tomorrow." Detailed maps will help you plan your days--especially the cross-sections of each ride's ups and downs. Throughout the book, Bridgers emphasizes the need to protect the environment--"as mountain bikers we had better learn to co-exist with nature or else we'll lose the privileges to enjoy it from the saddle"--and offers up stories from his experiences as one of Moab's leading bike tour guides. Special sections on safety (carry more water than you think you'll need), bike selection and repair, Moab-necessary techniques (sand riding, dealing with flies), and area food, lodging, and services make this a useful all-around resource. --Sunny Delaney

From Library Journal

These two guidebooks are part of Globe Pequot's extensive new series on mountain bike trails throughout the United States, all written by local mountain bikers familiar with the turf. Of these two, D'Antonio's Philadelphia is perhaps more representative of the series as a whole, which also includes guides on Boston, Colorado, Washington, New Hampshire/Maine, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, DC/Baltimore. D'Antonio is a knowledgeable guide and a skilled writer who provides the reader with a solid account of the 44 trails from Philadelphia and the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and even Maryland. He gives basic specs on how to get to each trail, how long the ride is, how difficult it is, and who else uses the trail. Each description features a narrative overview of the trail, with backgroud information as well as a trail map, an elevation map, milepost-by-milepost directions, and ample black-and-white photographs. In addition, contacts are given for local information, organizations, events, accommodations, and food. The Moab guide includes the same features but takes a more gonzo, extreme tack that probably befits the exhilarating nature of what might be the ultimate challenge in bike trails. Bridgers, owner and operator of Dreamride Mountain Bike Tours in Moab, UT, includes a lot of local color beyond the trails, elaborating on the notable characters, history, and scenery of the canyon-lands area. He also injects more of his life and opinions into the work than the reader may want to know. Nevertheless, the guide as a whole is exceedingly thorough and its subject spectacular. All libraries will want to buy at least the trail guides local to their regions. Larger libraries may want to consider purchasing the entire series.DJohn Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 398 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076270702X
• ISBN-13: 978-0762707027
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,168,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going to Moab? BUY THIS BOOK! A MUST HAVE!, August 8, 2000

By 

Shineylewis "shineylewis" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Bike America Moab (Paperback)

This book is the ultimate guide for anyone headed to the Mountain Bike Capitol of the World...Moab.

I have taken several guided rides with Lee during my visit to Moab 2 summers ago, and believe me, this man knows what he is talking about.

I found his attention to safety impeccable. He was extremely cautious when necessary, and I appreciated that.

There is ALOT more to Moab mountain biking than the Skickrock Bike Trail. As a matter of fact, the Slickrock Trail would have been considered a beginner trail compared to a few of the remote places that Lee had taken me to.

The places I am referring to were so obscure, that it would have been easy getting lost just driving to the trail. The trails were extremely exposed and very dangerous. If a serious injury occured on one of these rides, even a helicopter rescue might not be an option. This is why Lee takes saftey VERY seriously. He leaves NOTHING to chance. A person died on Slickrock while I was out there, and that was not the first time.

In fact, a 13 year old boy died just this week (Aug, 2000). The group he was with ran out of water and hightailed it off of Porcupine Rim, accidently leaving him behind. Death happens. Safety is an serious issue, and Lee knows this!

As for Lee's navigational skills...they are incredible. He has radar. His rides are not found on any map or in any other guidebook of the Moab area. You would NEVER find these places on your own, and you could die trying.

I trusted Lee explicitly and look forward to riding with him again this September, on my return trip to Moab.

Please take into consideration when you read the negative comment on this book that your safety is Lees' business. If it appears that he is pushing his guide service, it is for a reason. His rides are worth twice what he charges.

Please note that I have no affiliation with Lee, or his company, Dreamride...just a satisfied customer.

Buy this book and hopefully you will take from it the respect that the remote Moab territory deserves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy the best; learn the rides, the place, and the people., July 17, 2001

By 

Murray T. Hann (Malabar, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Bike America Moab (Paperback)

My wife and I have mountain biked in Moab on two separate, week long trips. From this limited experience, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of the best local rides. On our last trip to Moab, we purchased (really on a whim, because we have 5-6 other Moab guide books) the Mountain Bike America "Moab" book by Lee Bridgers. WHAT A GREAT BOOK ! I read it like a novel, from cover to cover. This book has it all. It includes more rides than other guide books, and describes many rides which are in no other books. The ride descriptions are well done, and very complete. Lee Bridgers goes to great lengths to point out interesting history, geology, and excellent "dinosaur details" for each ride. Why does this place (which looks like it could easily be on another planet) look the way it does? What further separates this book from other guide books is the attention to the local color of the area. The author introduces you to the colorful people of the Moab area.

Having read this book, I know I must return to Moab. I discovered I had not even scratched the surface of the rides in the Moab area. I discovered 3-4 new rides in the "Gemini Bridges" area alone, where most guide books describe only one option.

If you go to Moab, be careful. This area should be treated with utmost respect. I suggest you should consider hiring a guide for this area for part of your trip.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way more than I expected, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mountain Bike America Moab (Paperback)

I've been going to Moab to ride the awesome Slickrock for years. This place is Mecca for mountain bikers. I just wish I had this book a long time ago. I've bought just about everything that ever came out on trailguides to this area, but nothing compares to this book. The maps and trail descriptions are so detailed. Cool shaded relief on all the maps show every crater and canyon. I really will know what I'm getting into next time I go. Finally I'll have a book that shows me where to go other than Slickrock Trail with maps I can actually read! The best part of this book is the hilarious stories that the author tells throughout the whole book on everything from locals to the film industry. I've read just about every one (there are a lot of stories in this book) and I could hardly put it down. It's obvious thta the author knows this place and loves Moab and the crazy people who live there. This book is much more than I expected from a mountain bike trail guide. Great job!