This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The desert flora isn't the only thing blooming outside Moab this weekend. Springing up in all its glory is the tent city that mountain bikers from all over have known to come and love, the annual Outerbike demo event.
Once held only in the fall, Outerbike recently expanded to include a spring Moab event and another in August in Crested Butte, Colo.
Held at the Moab Brands trailhead just outside town on Highway 191, the event gives bikers an opportunity to try out new bikes on all the trails.
The value in doing so is prospective buyers can learn what a bike really feels like on trails, rather than just tooling around a parking lot trying to duplicate the traction and challenge of going over sandstone ledges by scooting off curbs. It's hardly the same, as any mountain biker knows.
Ashley Korenblat, the creator of the event through her company Western Spirit Cycling, said there are invitations to hold Outerbike events in seven other locations and two countries, but the group remains committed to Moab and showcasing the area's beauty and trails. (Last month, Outdoor Retailer announced it would be moving its massive twice-yearly shows from Salt Lake City in a dispute with state lawmakers over public lands issues.)
"Moab is like no place on Earth for testing bikes, among many other types of recreation," Korenblat said, "and Western Spirit is proud to work with all of Moab's recreation visitors and local businesses and groups to make our home in Moab a model for communities across the country. While we have plenty of work left to do, our successes in providing world-class experiences for both motorized and nonmotorized visitors along with balancing oil and gas development with conservation of large backcountry areas are to be applauded."
This year, Outerbike kicks off Friday morning and offers shuttle rides to Navajo Rocks, one of the premier areas built specifically for mountain bikers.
Shuttles on Saturday will go to the Magnificent 7 area, giving riders a chance to check out what might be one of the best routes in Moab as they can access Bull Run, Arth's Corner, Great Escape and the Gemini Bridges trails before making their way back to the event area.
Sunday's ride will hit another area, accessing to Hymasa, Captain Ahab, Pothole Arch, Rockstacker and Jackson trails.
For those looking for more than just sweet trails, the trends to watch for, and try out, are experiments in size — not so much the frames; the 26-, 27.5- and 29-inch wheels have reached the point of becoming standard options instead of a novelty — but in tire size.
Bigger, grippier tires are all the rage and perform particularly well in the desert landscape.
As always, bike companies such as Specialized, Cannondale, Rocky Mountain, Ellsworth and Pivot will be popular, so make sure to show up early to score a ride.
We would urge those who have a few dimes to spend to check out Pivot's carbon long-travel suspension Switchblade Pro XO1 Eagle, which features a single-chainring that offers Sram's 12-speed gearing instead of 11 and is framed to handle burly tires as well as 29-inch wheels.
Such innovations do come with a price, clocking in at $6,999 on the Pivot site.
Another bike to seek out would be the Scott Spark RC 900 SL for serious racers. It weighs around 21 pounds and is designed for cross-country racing.
E-bikes, which are becoming more and more popular, will also be present at Outerbike, Korenblat said.
Other vendors in town will feature new gadgets such as lights, clothing and other items riders think they must have. —
Outerbike Moab
When • Friday-Sunday
Where • Moab Brands trailhead
Tickets • Costs range from a social card of $70 to $200 for the full event ticket; Outerbike.com
Event info • Outerbike.com