Wheels for Moab

[thewwkayaker]

In less than 2 weeks I'm hitting Moab. I've been there once but didn't do much riding other than Slickrock due to the heat (110).

Now I'm going back and I've been scouting out trails to ride that would be fun (an excellent site by the way is www.utahmountainbiking.com which has info, pictures and some videos - check out Amassa Back if you think Moab riding has nothing for you (some nice jumps to flat rock) and Bartlet Wash video is cool too).

My question to those who've biked there: I'm taking my Turner 5-spot which has Mavic 321 (original) rims. I have an option of taking a Mavic 219 (original) wheel for the front. My concern with the lighter wheel is "will it break/fold"? I'm 185-190lbs. I'm there for 6 days of actual riding and plan to hit: Amassa Back, Bartlet Wash, Poison Spider+Portal, Gold Bar+Gold Spike, Behind the Rocks, Slickrock, maybe Moab Rim and Pritchett Canyon (basically anything that might be technical and fun in the area). I can take both wheels but will I just trash the light wheel? My brother from ON is joining me on the trip and he's a XC guy so I'm sure I'm going to be doing more climbing than I like! I'll be using some lighter tires I have laying around (Mobsters 2.1 and High rollers 2.3).

[Del]

whatever you do, make sure you do porcupine rim. it is fucking awesome. 10 mile downhill, how can you say no to that?? :thepimp:

lighter wheels should be alright, but honestly, is changing the wheel gonna make that much of a difference? i would probably just stick with the beefy one and suck it up on the climb.

[.243racer]

bring the stronger rims... on porcupine rim there is lots of ledges you could bend one on.

DO NOT BRING SOFT TIRES! they will be destroyed by the slickrock. it is like sandpaper

[jonny.zee]

I agree - bring the stronger rims. You'll be able to do bigger stuff on the Porcupine Rim and Amasa Back trails. Also, Amasa Back has a cool alternate route back that makes it a loop. (I don't see it on the Utah Mtn. Bike web site map.)

[thewwkayaker]

Thanx for the opinions. Yes I forgot to mention Porcupine Rim - of course I'll be doing that one.

I won't be using Comp50 or less tires in Moab (I'll be stripping my Mich Comp16s off and putting on one of the other sets I mentioned - actually I'll be bringing both sets (Highroller and Mobsters - both Comp60a)

Maybe I can get my bro to pull me up the climbs! :-) Just trying to reduce spin weight - too bad I don't have something inbetween like a Rhino lite rim wheel to use :-(

[coolie]

i think it's really not a big deal. i went three weeks ago and the only change i made to my bike was to throw on some old worn out kujos instead of using my fresh sticky nevegals.

my friend rode a vpfree with a 888 and dual doubletracks and was an f'ing wildman on the climbs, climbing absolutely everything. me, i just pushed up most of the climbs.

slickrock and porcupine at full speed downhill can be just as jiggly as ned's in sections, but not as many big hits. it can still be harsh on wheels though.

[Ninja]

Meh, my friend took his stinky down to MOAB an he didn't have a prob with his 219's. Unless you like, to run into square shaped things. Pick what you want to ride.... That said... I doubt you'll be thanking your self on the downhills that you brought your heavy rims..... but on the uphills........ yuck! I can hear the curseing allready.

Edit: forget the mobsters.... no mud down there... or if it does rain NOO mud tire will shead that crap.

[Bryce]

take both wheels, there are definitely trails where you'll want one or the other