One thing I like about BKXC is your knowledge of local history which you share on the trail. No surprise to see moto since "The Slickrock Trail was originally created by dirt bikers in 1969."
I rode slick rock on an E-Bike last summer and let me tell you. The trail is already a blast. But having an E-Bike just makes it more enjoyable. Highly recommend doing that.
"Always good when you feel your heartbeat in your teeth." Another Brian classic. Love this trail. Nothing else like it in the world. Love all that climbing. Such a sticky surface. Only the strong shall survive.
I was one of those dirt bike riders during the 70's on my new 1973 Yamaha 175 enduro. I saw 70's riders on Honda Tail 90's. It's fun on smaller and light dirt bikes that created many of the routes long before mountain bikes came along. I switched to a hardtail later, a Peugeot Canyon Express with clips, 1986. After the 80's I've done it on many brands of suspension mountain bikes. If you can do a forever track stand and power up long and slow it's a great day there!
I haven’t watched your Channel in a very long time. It was around the time when you, Seth, and Alex all went to Moab and rode and you dominated that one climb on Alex’s bike. But now that I’m here years later seeing you in Moab makes me realize how far you’ve come as a rider. You’ve become so much more skilled and you still got those climbs all day! Even the quality of the videos and sound have changed so much and the whole time is a history lesson with tire asmr. Amazing video!
I rode here back in late 2017 on a rented SC Hightower. Such an amazing trail and so very different from what we have here in east TX. The grip there is amazing… and regarding the climbing, it’s the only place I’ve ever had to stand and grind up a hill in the biggest cog at max effort.
I grew up in Utah when Slickrock was easily the most famous MTB trail in the world. Nothing against alpine single track, but for me Moab and Slickrock will always define mountain biking-freedom to choose your lines, stop and session various features, and enjoy the beauty of one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
"Dreaming the impossible dream and climbing the impossible climb." BKXC is Don Quixote, in the most positive sense. An Idealist. A Riding Romantic. Not tilting at windmills, but conquering climbs, vanquishing descents. And he always has a trusty Sancho Panza up front. Ride on Brian, ride on...
Yes the trail was actually built by motorcycles. It's fun on MTB or motorcycle. The hills on a motorcycle have the same pucker factor but traction and falling over backwards isn't an issue. Given the choice I prefer the MTB just because it's such a quiet beautiful area.
Rode it for the first time last Oct. Never experienced so much tire grip in my life. It made climbing everything almost sweat less, even with a nasty headwind. Descending was super deceiving. The ground looks like the tires will slip at any moment, yet they are glued to the ground. It was surreal. Personally, I wouldn't recommend people ride Slickrock first on their trip. Not unless they are very fit and are used to LOTS of climbing. For those who aren't, there's a good chance riding it will ruin your next couple of days recovering. Love Moab. Can't wait to go back
So many people rag on Slick Rock. Mainly because there are MANY better trails in the area, but if you've never ridden there Slick Rock is a MUST RIDE on your first trip. It's just such a classic trail.
This made my hands sweaty. I rode this trail once and I can’t believe you say this is one of your favorites. Sure the trail is one of a kind and its a Moab classic. But I thought I was going to die out there. Dr. Seuss type landscape that felt eerie and farther away from any civilization than I was comfortable with 😹 Maybe if I had your strength and momentum, I wouldn’t have suffered so much… Great video!
Old geezer here. We rode slick rock way before droppers came on the seen. Very challenging trying to get back over your seat on steep drops. Rode it like that 8 years in a row. Much easier with dropper for sure. Great channel by the way.
Stumbled upon your vid. Moab looks like fun. When I was into MTB, Ibis as a company was just getting started. Good on them for still being around. I enjoyed your workout!
First trail I did in moab was slickrock and after completely failing I drove my rc jeep around and the next day I found a green trail to regain my confidence 🤣🤣 the bar-m trails are great for beginners but not so great for rc rock crawlers, slickrock had lots for rc rock crawlers, no rc crawling the trail
I rode Slickrock on my Epic- no dropper, cleaned everything and really enjoyed the spot. It is different that what I imagined it to be. I believe you rode here with Seth and that video influenced my trip!
I've ridden this trail 3 times, and each time it was a killer. That was a long time ago, when I was young and bulletproof, I probably wouldn't make it now. Good Times, loved it.
I rode slick rock and it was perfectly good for me. There are so many more new trails there in Moab now! We stayed one week and rode every day and still didn't do all the stuff, we wanted to do. I also love Fruita. More fun trail is a kick! You make the scary stuff look easier than it is! Great riding!
I use Moab as my Proof I was a climber. . . . and yeah slick rock has some verticals to climb!!! Going up the backside of gold bar rim, hopping the shelves. . . .
Nice Brian! My last ride there at age 65 convinced me to learn flat pedals. Still prefer clipless, but next time I ride SR I’ll know I can easily bail out to avoid big tumble downhill.
First ride on slickrock was in 2001 on a cannondale Raven. The seat is in your stomach on some of those steep descents and you can’t go nearly as fast. Way different experience on a modern bike. Just rode it last week and had a great time. Super fun, unique, challenging trail if you are an all around competent trail rider up and down. It gets hate from the enduro bros that only spin up fire roads to bomb sustained descents.
You need to come to Colorado Springs....we have multiple rides over 20 miles with Amazing singletrack and massive elevation. Tons of ways to link so many amazing options. Just saying! My first MTB vacation (20 years ago, at 15) was to Moab as well, such a good time!!
If you are ever one I-75 going from north Georgia to Florida or other way there are two trails(with nice camp grounds) Indian Springs/Dauset trails which has 30 miles of trails 15 really good miles. And Arrowhead Park which had 8 miles of really fun and hill trails in Middle Georgia so hilly that it is Chainbusters hardest race they do even compared to their North Georgia races.
Road Slick 3 times - more fun on my eMTB ( I'm 73) my girl friend who doesn't ride but ❤️you videos. She yells at you everytime you get close to a cliff. Oh an she said the redemption rides made her heart beat fast.
Did the Kokopelli Trail about 2 weeks ago, if you look up "brilliant" in the dictionary the primary definition is "mountain biking out in Moab". There's something like 16,000 feet of climbing they say, if you don't botch it and drop a wrong canyon in some delirious dream state, that is. I dunno how much vert it actually is but if you like climbing and descending in the desert canyon country and up into the mountains...it will not disappoint. Even solo unsupported with no cashes and some snow/mud issues, happy happy happy climbing. Git yer hike a bike on a bit if yer fully loaded, there are mandatory spots anyway. It's a f@cking magic route like everything else in the area, day in and day out, the whole silly way. It's hard to notice how hard you are actually grovelling when you can't stop looking around agape... it is Mars here on Earth. Happy trails all you burly Desert Rats! Slickrock is is a mandatory desert party, don't botch the life sequence and miss out on that kind of fun. Go man , go.
The first few times I rode this was on a 26"-er. But the most recent time was on a 29"-er. I found the climbing much more difficult with bigger wheels.
The climbs are something else out there but the descents are pretty easy. Still one of the best trails out there and its a classic, so it has to be done.
Moab is an amazing place and you are correct - it is highly recommended to be an advanced rider with climbing skills to ride there. That said it is still an awesome destination even if you don't mountain bike or are mid-level skills, just use common sense and stay off of trails and features that are above your level. You, Seth and Alex's videos got me inspired to travel there from South Florida a few years ago and it was fantastic, but it I feel lucky to have not crashed and gotten seriously hurt or died, as it was crazy steep coming from flat South Florida! Moab and BKXC rock!!!
Pretty sure I broke my chain once on that first big climb you showed. That was fun. I was riding a Specialized Hard Rock. Try riding Slickrock on that and do a comparison video. 🙂
I was out their last year and I didn't ride that trail. I didn't trust my skills and was their as a solo rider. I should have looked for a group ride.... But I rode Island in the sky trails. Awesome stuff. and I got schooled in some skills.
My girlfriend and I only did a few laps of the Slickrock Practice.. we only had a week before Returning to the Sea on the East Coast. That elevation difference is brutal
I’m also an east coast flat lander, I was there for 3 days and then did one lap of practice loop. I’ve never been so short of breath but I was having a ton of fun. I even managed to ride all of the sand pits but had to take breaks when I topped out a few of those punchy climbs.
I loved the trail -- fun and the views out there are so spectacular. But it kicked my ass. It's not really technical, but the climbs are damn steep. Heartbeat in your teeth, indeed. And I did it on a hard tail with no dropper post, so that added to the ... experience. No crashes, but it clearly wasn't the right tool for the job. Still glad I did it though.
Please make a video of a place that fits "If you know you are NOT a good climber, this place will make you think again." Been looking hard for that. For decades.
I actually didn’t feel like using my dropper seat post was called for on this trail as opposed to a lot of local trails in Colorado. I’d love any feedback on my short or long Slickrock video!
Sadly, at 3:45, that used to be a more difficult off camber step, but "they" (whoever they are) decided to dumb it down a little and chopped off the step a bit.
Based on your cadence going up thr climbs, I'm guessing you have a pretty small front chainring? My son and I rode it last month....hardest punchiest climbs ever. Hit an all time high of 1200 watts on one of the climbs!
One thing I like about BKXC is your knowledge of local history which you share on the trail. No surprise to see moto since "The Slickrock Trail was originally created by dirt bikers in 1969."
I rode slick rock on an E-Bike last summer and let me tell you. The trail is already a blast. But having an E-Bike just makes it more enjoyable. Highly recommend doing that.
"Always good when you feel your heartbeat in your teeth." Another Brian classic. Love this trail. Nothing else like it in the world. Love all that climbing. Such a sticky surface. Only the strong shall survive.
I was one of those dirt bike riders during the 70's on my new 1973 Yamaha 175 enduro. I saw 70's riders on Honda Tail 90's. It's fun on smaller and light dirt bikes that created many of the routes long before mountain bikes came along. I switched to a hardtail later, a Peugeot Canyon Express with clips, 1986. After the 80's I've done it on many brands of suspension mountain bikes. If you can do a forever track stand and power up long and slow it's a great day there!
Some fun climbs indeed. I loved the grip for the climbs and side hills. Also on a Ripmo.
I did it a few years ago, in moderate biking shape at best. Threw up three times. Didn't really enjoy it, but glad I did it.
I haven’t watched your Channel in a very long time. It was around the time when you, Seth, and Alex all went to Moab and rode and you dominated that one climb on Alex’s bike. But now that I’m here years later seeing you in Moab makes me realize how far you’ve come as a rider. You’ve become so much more skilled and you still got those climbs all day! Even the quality of the videos and sound have changed so much and the whole time is a history lesson with tire asmr. Amazing video!
This is one of my favorite trails as well! Conquering those climbs is incredibly satisfying!
Trek 850 for me.
I rode here back in late 2017 on a rented SC Hightower. Such an amazing trail and so very different from what we have here in east TX. The grip there is amazing… and regarding the climbing, it’s the only place I’ve ever had to stand and grind up a hill in the biggest cog at max effort.
I grew up in Utah when Slickrock was easily the most famous MTB trail in the world. Nothing against alpine single track, but for me Moab and Slickrock will always define mountain biking-freedom to choose your lines, stop and session various features, and enjoy the beauty of one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Amen to that!! It has a very special place in my heart
Love how you strung together the entirety of the downhill bits in your intro!
"Dreaming the impossible dream and climbing the impossible climb." BKXC is Don Quixote, in the most positive sense.
An Idealist. A Riding Romantic. Not tilting at windmills, but conquering climbs, vanquishing descents.
And he always has a trusty Sancho Panza up front. Ride on Brian, ride on...
Yes the trail was actually built by motorcycles. It's fun on MTB or motorcycle. The hills on a motorcycle have the same pucker factor but traction and falling over backwards isn't an issue.
Given the choice I prefer the MTB just because it's such a quiet beautiful area.
Rode it for the first time last Oct. Never experienced so much tire grip in my life. It made climbing everything almost sweat less, even with a nasty headwind. Descending was super deceiving. The ground looks like the tires will slip at any moment, yet they are glued to the ground. It was surreal. Personally, I wouldn't recommend people ride Slickrock first on their trip. Not unless they are very fit and are used to LOTS of climbing. For those who aren't, there's a good chance riding it will ruin your next couple of days recovering. Love Moab. Can't wait to go back
So many people rag on Slick Rock. Mainly because there are MANY better trails in the area, but if you've never ridden there Slick Rock is a MUST RIDE on your first trip. It's just such a classic trail.
I love the slickrock trails in Moab. I was Born and raised there and the mountain biking is amazing.
This made my hands sweaty. I rode this trail once and I can’t believe you say this is one of your favorites. Sure the trail is one of a kind and its a Moab classic. But I thought I was going to die out there. Dr. Seuss type landscape that felt eerie and farther away from any civilization than I was comfortable with 😹 Maybe if I had your strength and momentum, I wouldn’t have suffered so much… Great video!
It looks amazing out there though. Alien almost
Slickrock was my first Moab trail I ran when I was 10 (2000). I was on a full rigid bike haha, I can’t imagine doing that on a full rigid now
Old geezer here. We rode slick rock way before droppers came on the seen. Very challenging trying to get back over your seat on steep drops. Rode it like that 8 years in a row. Much easier with dropper for sure. Great channel by the way.
It becomes my favorite trail. I must try in the future! I like your video and thank you for sharing it!
I need a "going for it!" T shirt with a picture of Brian riding off a cliff
Stumbled upon your vid. Moab looks like fun. When I was into MTB, Ibis as a company was just getting started. Good on them for still being around. I enjoyed your workout!
Idk what’s more impressive, how easy you make it look, or the fact that you’re still able to talk whilst riding. Truly incredible!
First trail I did in moab was slickrock and after completely failing I drove my rc jeep around and the next day I found a green trail to regain my confidence 🤣🤣 the bar-m trails are great for beginners but not so great for rc rock crawlers, slickrock had lots for rc rock crawlers, no rc crawling the trail
I rode Slickrock on my Epic- no dropper, cleaned everything and really enjoyed the spot. It is different that what I imagined it to be. I believe you rode here with Seth and that video influenced my trip!
Rode this last year while it was raining. such an amazing trail to ride.
I've ridden this trail 3 times, and each time it was a killer. That was a long time ago, when I was young and bulletproof, I probably wouldn't make it now. Good Times, loved it.
Oh how I would love to ride there once! I love the two-mics-setup!
I rode slick rock and it was perfectly good for me. There are so many more new trails there in Moab now! We stayed one week and rode every day and still didn't do all the stuff, we wanted to do. I also love Fruita. More fun trail is a kick! You make the scary stuff look easier than it is! Great riding!
I use Moab as my Proof I was a climber. . . . and yeah slick rock has some verticals to climb!!! Going up the backside of gold bar rim, hopping the shelves. . . .
This is so cool, i've always wanted to try mountain biking but dont know where to start
Looks like a certified leg burner this trail is, would love to try it someday
Nice Brian! My last ride there at age 65 convinced me to learn flat pedals. Still prefer clipless, but next time I ride SR I’ll know I can easily bail out to avoid big tumble downhill.
You got your van fixed up? To make the trip is seems. Glad your back on the road and making more videos of your adventures.
that wireless dropper/shifter combo makes the bike look so weird, but clean and beautiful.
First ride on slickrock was in 2001 on a cannondale Raven. The seat is in your stomach on some of those steep descents and you can’t go nearly as fast. Way different experience on a modern bike. Just rode it last week and had a great time. Super fun, unique, challenging trail if you are an all around competent trail rider up and down. It gets hate from the enduro bros that only spin up fire roads to bomb sustained descents.
“Enduro bros that only spin up fire roads to bomb sustained descents”
I’m in this comment and I don’t like it ha
My first mountain bike vacation was Moab on a rad hardtail 😎
Now, that looks like some fun ridin'
Love this classic. First time was late 80's on the rigid Trek 850, need to get out there again on the plush full. Great vid!
Yeah I rode Slickrock years ago and it kicked my butt.
I didn't have a dropper post, so I had to do the old stomach on the seat move.
I do tough technical climbs on my entry level Hardtail I would love to try that on a high end FS.👍😎.
You need to come to Colorado Springs....we have multiple rides over 20 miles with Amazing singletrack and massive elevation. Tons of ways to link so many amazing options. Just saying!
My first MTB vacation (20 years ago, at 15) was to Moab as well, such a good time!!
Many years ago I was camping there and met some guys from SLC.
We road slickrock, one guy riding a "HUFFY".
This place looks like so much fun!
Slick rock is super fun. I live in Moab and work at moab cyclery washing bikes.
My heart rate felt elevated just watching this… you’re a goat! I mean that in the nicest way 😂
In my country we would call Brian a cabron ;)
If you are ever one I-75 going from north Georgia to Florida or other way there are two trails(with nice camp grounds) Indian Springs/Dauset trails which has 30 miles of trails 15 really good miles. And Arrowhead Park which had 8 miles of really fun and hill trails in Middle Georgia so hilly that it is Chainbusters hardest race they do even compared to their North Georgia races.
Road Slick 3 times - more fun on my eMTB ( I'm 73) my girl friend who doesn't ride but ❤️you videos.
She yells at you everytime you get close to a cliff.
Oh an she said the redemption rides made her heart beat fast.
Did the Kokopelli Trail about 2 weeks ago, if you look up "brilliant" in the dictionary the primary definition is "mountain biking out in Moab". There's something like 16,000 feet of climbing they say, if you don't botch it and drop a wrong canyon in some delirious dream state, that is. I dunno how much vert it actually is but if you like climbing and descending in the desert canyon country and up into the mountains...it will not disappoint. Even solo unsupported with no cashes and some snow/mud issues, happy happy happy climbing. Git yer hike a bike on a bit if yer fully loaded, there are mandatory spots anyway. It's a f@cking magic route like everything else in the area, day in and day out, the whole silly way. It's hard to notice how hard you are actually grovelling when you can't stop looking around agape... it is Mars here on Earth. Happy trails all you burly Desert Rats! Slickrock is is a mandatory desert party, don't botch the life sequence and miss out on that kind of fun. Go man , go.
The first few times I rode this was on a 26"-er. But the most recent time was on a 29"-er. I found the climbing much more difficult with bigger wheels.
Fun. First did that trail in January 1987. There were only 6 people on the entire trail.
My bike was steel, rigid, 3×5 friction. shifting.
87 was my first as well. Full rigid Jamis Dakota. Granny gear on a 3x6 was about like 6th on an eagle setup.
Rode out there once when a storm came through. Was so windy, that standing up was tough. Though the slickrock still had good grip with tires 👍
The climbs are something else out there but the descents are pretty easy. Still one of the best trails out there and its a classic, so it has to be done.
We did the practice loop and that was enough for us, then we went to run falcon flow and it was soooo good.
Falcon flow was ok but it certainly wasn't a flow trail. The climb near the end was pretty tough too.
@@mushieslushie I enjoyed every minute of it, climbs and all.
Moab is an amazing place and you are correct - it is highly recommended to be an advanced rider with climbing skills to ride there. That said it is still an awesome destination even if you don't mountain bike or are mid-level skills, just use common sense and stay off of trails and features that are above your level. You, Seth and Alex's videos got me inspired to travel there from South Florida a few years ago and it was fantastic, but it I feel lucky to have not crashed and gotten seriously hurt or died, as it was crazy steep coming from flat South Florida! Moab and BKXC rock!!!
You leave me feeling optimistic! Miami to Moab, here I come!!!
That looks really cool! Wow nice trail!
Pretty sure I broke my chain once on that first big climb you showed. That was fun. I was riding a Specialized Hard Rock. Try riding Slickrock on that and do a comparison video. 🙂
you were riding this with seth and singel track sample. was it like 5 years ago? old but gold. PAIN AND PRESSURE!!!
You saying “Going for it!” Literally reminded me of that time you said it at porcupine rim😂
Love the line. How does it smell? Scarry! Ha funny. Need to get back to Moab!!!
cool track, I love watching you and your rides
That was freakn amazing. Put it on the list no doubt. I might do some walking up here and there, but i gotta blast those downers. lol.
Being from Florida I would no be able to make it up 😂😂
what an awesome place to ride a bike
tingling jubilies I love it!!
I was out their last year and I didn't ride that trail. I didn't trust my skills and was their as a solo rider. I should have looked for a group ride.... But I rode Island in the sky trails. Awesome stuff. and I got schooled in some skills.
SR looks like great ride for an e-bike.
Brilliant Post Brian!! More from Moab eh! Still reeling from watchin your last Video at Portal!
I am absolutely positive that I’m NOT a good climber. 😀 Continue to work at it though.
For a little trail history watch “50 years of slick rock” on RUclips. The trailer is around 4 minutes, full vid around 35 minutes.
While you're in the area you should hit Grand Junction and ride the ribbon, and of course Free Lunch.
That trail was begun in 1969 as a motorcycle trail, discovered by mountain bikers in the early 80s.
Love ur vids bro,ur always out riding some badass trails
My girlfriend and I only did a few laps of the Slickrock Practice.. we only had a week before Returning to the Sea on the East Coast. That elevation difference is brutal
I’m also an east coast flat lander, I was there for 3 days and then did one lap of practice loop. I’ve never been so short of breath but I was having a ton of fun. I even managed to ride all of the sand pits but had to take breaks when I topped out a few of those punchy climbs.
I loved the trail -- fun and the views out there are so spectacular. But it kicked my ass. It's not really technical, but the climbs are damn steep. Heartbeat in your teeth, indeed. And I did it on a hard tail with no dropper post, so that added to the ... experience. No crashes, but it clearly wasn't the right tool for the job. Still glad I did it though.
Yeah, those climbs are serious business!
Please make a video of a place that fits "If you know you are NOT a good climber, this place will make you think again." Been looking hard for that. For decades.
I actually didn’t feel like using my dropper seat post was called for on this trail as opposed to a lot of local trails in Colorado. I’d love any feedback on my short or long Slickrock video!
This is simply amazing
That climb at 10:10 got me the 1st time I rode it, took me like 4 tries to get up and over that 1st hump, you made it look so easy. Kudos
My Dad rode motos on the Slickrock trail in the 70's long before mountain bikes were even thought up.
TO: BKXC Weird message says to txt you on telegram. don't know if it was real or not.
Good video looks like my kind of route. Any plans of heading north of the 49th parallel this summer?
You should borrow a fat bike and come ride the Winnemucca Nevada NON petrified sand dunes after a rain or snow, amazing what you can climb!
Just the game genie. Awesome
I’ve only done “Practice loop” and I don’t think I’ve ever been so gassed on a short ride.
Brian! Have you ridden the whole enchilada? I think that ride may be worth it for over a 20 miler. Going to ride it this fall hopefully.
A little off topic, but how are you liking the coil? Will that Ripmo ever see an air shock again? Thanks for the great content!
Everyone talks about the GoPro effect on downhills but never the GoPro effect on climbs!!!
How long will you be staying at slickrock?
For my birthday I want to see you on the trial BKXC
Because you’re in Utah, will you going back to Corner Canyon in Draper
Yup whens the Gunnison trip bro?
Sadly, at 3:45, that used to be a more difficult off camber step, but "they" (whoever they are) decided to dumb it down a little and chopped off the step a bit.
Made me LOL when you said "Always good when you can feel your heart beat in your teeth"!
Hahaha, it happens from time to time!
Brian, will you try out enduro ebikes???
Based on your cadence going up thr climbs, I'm guessing you have a pretty small front chainring? My son and I rode it last month....hardest punchiest climbs ever. Hit an all time high of 1200 watts on one of the climbs!
Up, Up, down, down! Haha I remember that cheat code
What a wicked trail so different than anything in New zealand
Wicked thanks would love to do slickrock one day
Great content as always
I rode the beginning of February and filmed my experience seeing only one other cyclist on the Slickrock!
I rode this trail twice. The first time I didn’t make all the climbs. The 2nd time I made all of them so I never have to ride it again!! 🤣