Dixie First Impressions

When the feeling in my hands returns, I’ll have more to write. But for now, some impressions:

The Dixie Lite is horribly, horribly named. There is nothing “lite” about it. Nothing.

Utah is home to some incredible, vast, enormous terrain. I already knew that. But still. It’s fantastic.

I don’t think I’ll need to ride the Virgin River Rim Trail for a long, long time.

Thunder Mountain, on the other hand, I’d ride again today.

The Panguitch Lake General Store was Heaven on Earth for 20 minutes.

The Spruce “trail” is more obstacle course than trail. 3.5 miles took 90 minutes. About 10 of those were on the bike.

My feet hurt.

The full moon on Saturday night was bright enough to ride by without lights.

The sunset, and then the sunrise at Thunder Mountain was worth the 90 miles I rode to see them.

The sideways glances I got from tourists at the various outposts were priceless.

Nothing, and I mean nothing is better than a cold mountain stream.

Except for red cream soda. And a snickers bar. And a turkey sandwich the size of my head.

Snaking singletrack through aspen forests might just be mountain bike nirvana. Even at mile 165.

Would I do it again? Ask me later.