Cycle 4:00:00 [3] 48.0 km (5:00 / km) +670m 4:40 / km
UTAH MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP - DAY 1
This is a very cool place, Park City Utah, despite the fact it is not nearly as charming and genuine as Moab. It is slightly ruined by an outlet mall and tons of commercial ski operations. Nevertheless, we took advantage of off season rates and found a quiet resort suite with a fire place, balcony and hot tub for $103 CDN per night. Mountain biking here has been rated gold by the IMBA, but it seems to have a low profile around town.
I may have been blinded by the cute trail name in picking our first ride - Flying Dog Trail. This route involved a 6km ride out of town to the trail head and then, well up, oh so gradually and forever up single track switchbacks with loose rocks. On this forever ride up, I learned a painful lesson about the need to pack one own's saddle when renting a bike, as well as the need to test the bike before riding up 2000ft. However, on the way up we saw a wild horse, no it's a cow, no it's a moose with white legs! Who knew there were moose in Utah?
Once we reached the peak, things turned up, as we started down. The ride down the other side was absolutely ideal, fast flowy singletrack through aspen forests and meadows. So much fun, just like the utube videos!
Maybe today was a bit much climbing for day 1 on a poorly fitted bike, and so we will weeney out and take a shuttle tomorrow to avoid a huge climb off the bat. Plus, we wouldn't want to tire out Storm's legs before the ultra this weekend.