I'd heard lots of good things about the new Captain Ahab Trail. Rocks, a little exposure, and flow (like a toilet hooked up to fresh pipes).
I read some stuff about the work that went into building singletrack. It all sounded like it would be awesome.
And it was.
Ahab starts with some twisty single track, mixed with fast sections of dirt. The blue paint on the route is all fresh and easy to follow.
Down the first big sandstone roller, picking up speed, around a rock corner covered in little marbly dirt balls. My low-knob tires drift on both wheels, they really are terrible at hooking up on dusty crust.
Twist up and up a bunch of switchbacks, square the bike at the top of a steep chute, let go of the brakes. G-out at the bottom, pop over some slickrock kickers. These lines really are dead on, and they fixed the spots where the natural terrain wouldn't work- down another roller where a huge slab has been leveraged into place.
And into a steeper chute, drag the back tire on the kitty litter covered rock to slow into the next corner, past a sign that marks the start of the descent to the river.
Wide open dirt, then the singletrack heads out to the rim. A few feet of trail to ride, a few hundred straight to the bottom of the canyon. Just stay on the line.
“Caution! Walk your bike!” yells a sign. I slow way down and carefully roll the rock steps. Ride toward the edge and look over- about a 600 foot drop with no stops. A loose piece of gnarled wood acts like a guardrail, and is about as safe as a helmet made out of ballon animals.
Posted with Blogsy
Dirt Cruise 