Mancation: Day Three & Four

Funny to four other guys and just about nobody else. Whatever...

Day Three

We left Denver in our rear view mirror and headed towards Vail. On the menu for the day? Bowman's and Two Elks... a shuttle run that would see us descending through the color changing aspens back to the car. With interloper Joe joining the Mancation crew of Sean, Jeremy, Mark, and Big Ring, trying to get the shuttle organized was quite the case of the farmer trying to get the chicken, feed, and fox across the river in a small boat without losing his shit. My help was no "help" as I had absolutely no idea what shuttling in this area entailed, but I offered it nonetheless. Once packed up and sorted, we headed for higher ground.

It was as high country Colorado should be if one had expectations as such. Aspens, open meadows, powdery dirt, blue skies, and a certain lack of assholes. The riding up there was my cup of tea followed with some swoopy dirt in a high field of scrubby grass and pokey bushes.

photo cred: Big Ring

While the rest of us were having a swoopy good time, Mark had to contend with a SRAM rear derailleur that was having the same issue that mine had a year ago, except worse. With no P-tension to keep his chain tight and more than half the ride to go, we contemplated our options. After much head scratching, discussions of using tape, zip-ties, sticks, and all manner of ill-conceived solutions, Mark just opted to go big-big and let the chain fall where it may.

photo cred: Jeremy

Even though it was only Big Ring's second ride on his new JET 9, he was quickly coming to the same conclusion I had reached some time ago. Although suspension and gears can be fun, it didn't quite sit well with him. While I was affirming his belief system, Jeremy was trying to beat Big Ring into submission.

Jeremy was an enthusiastic leader, but he was not above a little high altitude bullying.

Photo cred: Big Ring

After the ride was over, we gorged on food and beer and headed to a bike shop looking for a new derailleur for Mark's rental bike. The first option was an XO jobber for $250, but after Mark fainted another employee dug into the pile and found a more appropriate-for-the-situation X9. Once we were loaded back up, we headed into the night towards Moab, along the way diving through a median to avoid an accident caused by lookie-loos who were paying more attention to a roadside inferno than the traffic ahead.

Day Four

Coming into Moab in the dark is such a disappointment for first timers. Big Ring and Mark could only see darkness through the windows the night before, so it was pretty cool to see their reactions the next morning as we shuttled up to the La Sals to do The Whole Enchilada. This route was not an option when I was here in 2001 and 2004, and I was anxious to see if Porcupine Rim could get any better and whether or not it was worth $25 for a shuttle (shared with none other than Beth Roberts formerly Pisgah Princess of Asheville now Porcupine Princess of Moab).

Photo cred: Big Ring

Was it worth $25?
In two words: hell yes.

Photo cred: Big Ring

Formal wear was not required, but that didn't stop Sean from going all "Wedding Singer" on Burro Pass.

Photo cred: Jeremy

Apparently we were practicing our finish line antics on the mountain. I think Mark was doing his rarely seen outside of Ontario Juan Antonio Flecha move.

Photo cred: Jeremy

Big Ring was not informed that he had been bested to the top until after he raised his arms in victory.

Embarrassing.

Photo cred: Jeremy

The Whole Enchilada delivered in spades. Crazy aspen canopy riding, high desert swoopy lines, and classic Moab chunder.

Photo cred: Jeremy

Our descent was not without incident. Sean's XT rear wheel froze up, we encountered mechanical addled riders, and Mark had a few flats.

Photo cred: Big Ring

The mechanicals were a huge drain. There was nothing to do but stand around and wait. The views sucked.

Photo cred: Big Ring

Mark and Jeremy managed some sick lines on the way down that impressed more than a few desert creatures.

Photo cred: Big Ring

None of the desert creatures felt moved in the least by my technical performances of the day.

Photo cred: Jeremy

Before the day was over, Sean was the owner of a new set of wheels, and he took the lead in "The Most Money Spent Fixing Broke Shit" contest, though Mark was still crushing "The Most Money Spent Fixing Broke Shit on a Rental Bike" division.

More and more Moab tomorrow.