Mountain Bike America: Moab
"Imagine a mountain bike guidebook written by Edward Abbey."
This first edition of my guidebook is now out of print, but there is a need to make good people aware of what has happened to it. Falcon Press now prints a second edition, called MOUNTAIN BIKE MOAB. It was edited. International sales were sacrificed for local sales, which was not the original purpose of the book. Anyone who comes to Moab and buys a guidebook off of the grocery store rack, came here unprepared. The book was written to prepare you for Moab, not give you secrets so you can fuck them up without an education first. Because I tend to piss people off by being honest, condescending (to those who deserve it--others laugh) and self-promoting, I will point that those who take offense at honesty tend to be dishonest. Also, reviews for the second edition (the mostly castrated version put out by Falcon Press) are compromised by jealous and idiotic locals (some of whom don't live in Moab anymore and many who say the "used" to live in Moab, but never did). One of the reviews states that I get my clients to write reviews. I always ask those who like the book to post a review, but they seldom do. After I read the reviews, I can see why. Who wants to join that crowd? If you read the book (and it is a book by the way, not a "guidebook"), you know what it is about--a spirit of place. Terry Tempest Williams once told me that my book "captures the spirit of Moab better than any other." Her books are about what surrounds Moab. Mine is about the idiots and characters who live here and the mountain biking environmental disaster that has happened and continues to happen here. Below are a couple of unsolicited letters about the book.
Dear Mr. Bridgers,
I'm writing to comment on your book, Mountain BIke America: Moab. I picked it up at Borders Books here in Santa Monica, CA. I have all the other guides of Moab and Utah, But I like to have as much info on an area before I ride it. And since Moab is one of my and my friends favorite places to ride and recreate, I had to buy your book.
I was surprised by its dissimilarity to any other book on Moab: It is not only a guidebook, but a great collection of stories, humor, and maybe even folklore. You've got a great gift for the written word, and your passsion is evident on every page. I applaud you for your insights and not only on the trail, but in the town ("where not to eat/stay in Moab"), and of the equipment, but primarily for the layers of experience that comes out in the telling of the many stories in the book. That is what makes it so unique, and it motivates the reader to not only want to experience Moab for him/herself, but to cherish and handle it with respect once they arrive.
Case in point: A couple of years ago when I was resting at Gemini Bridges a caravan of 15 jeeps from a club or outfit called "Hog's" pulled up. One of the jeeps drove up near the edge of the cliff and started unreeling his winch. Another guy proceeded to don a climbing harness and attached it to the hook of the winch cable. They threw the cable over the edge of the sandstone cliff and lowered him into the hole/canyon. But the cable was cutting into the soft sandstone and soon a groove several inches deep was created. It cut so deep it got stuck and they had to move the cable over to continue their foolhardy adventure. All their friends were egging them on, and before you knew it, there were three or four deep grooves cut into the rock. Even to access this area, the caravan had to disregard a sign which said this was an environmental recovery zone and not to dive upon it. I went up to the morons and told them they were in a few selfish minutes destroyiing a monument that took thousands of years to create. They threatened me with bodily violence and said, "everybody makes mistakes, you better hope we don't catch you making one." At that, my pacifist friends urged me to depart with them back to the trailhead. I did, however, furnish the BLM with my written statement and documenting photos of the incident. They said they would follow up.
At last point: I was particularly moved by you "Dalton Wells Fourth of July Celebration." Your courage to expose the disease of hatred and injustice impresses me. Many people will read your book. They will be touched by this one story. They will possibly make a change in their attitude. This world will become a better place. Thank you again for your courage.
Sincerely,
Ken Seino, Venice Beach, California
March 27, 2001
Dear Lee,
Just a quick note to let you know how incredibly good your new Moab guide book is! We were in Moab last week for our annual fix and as usual it lived up to expectations: great book, great weather (but we did get snowed on in the La Sals for a few minutes) and very quiet. Sorry we didn't hire you this time! the flights and hire car seemed to have hiked in price and with the exchange rate about 30% worse (for us) than last time things were pretty tight to make the trip at all.
Anyway, the next bext thing to a Dreamride day out is a day out with your new book: The descriptions are spot on, the landmarks used to identify the route are obviously chosen by someone who knows what a biker would look for. Amongst other things we did Eagle's Perch (great route but no-one we spoke to had heard of it, hope it stays that way) and Gold Bar Rim via the Portal. The description for the latter was excellent, we only briefly lost the singletrack a couple of times and the whole ride felt a lot more demanding than the mileage suggests, a great day out. As for other stuff, well the Singletrack at the end of Moab Rim was just as you described and the descriptions for the La Sal sections were spot on: we did a trip round the 'back' via La Sal Pass/ Sheepherder's Loop/Geyser Pass/Trans-La Sal Singletrack which was a 'full' day out if a little chilly!
The GPS references in some route descriptions are a great idea, perhaps a few more at key intersections on complicated routes would be good for a next edition. I got one of these from my girlfriend this year so was keen to check some waypoints on the rides.
Many people we spoke to were also heading out to Fruita: is it really that good, I can't imagine it's better than Moab but maybe worth a visit on our next trip out.
Anyway, congratulations on a great book, hope it sells well and that you've had a succesful season.
cheers,
Adam Bannister
11/16/01
Call 1 (888) MOAB UTAH in the states.
If you are calling from foreign shores the number is 435-259-6419.
FAX number is 435-259-8196.
or write to:
DreamrideP.O. Box 1137
Moab, UT 84532
Come to our tour office and pro tune shop in heart of Moab:
59 East Center Street
across from the Moab Visitor Center
just east of Main Street adjacent to Eddie McStiff's