Jerome, just few quick notes about Moab...I've taken a few trips there, all of
them in
Spring or summer (we started rides at 6am in summer). Spring or fall are the
best times to
visit. March is usually 60-80 degrees and perfect cycling weather. However, it's
also
snowed there in March, so April might be ideal. It starts getting very hot by
May. As for
Fall riding, September is still hot and October is pretty good. Winter is
generally cold there
and summer is scorching.

As for types of rides, Moab is an excellent, challenging XC and technical trail
wonderland.
The rock landscape and slickrock riding is mind blowing. It's like nothing we
have here
(except our little tidbits of slickrock by Roslyn). What we consider downhill
isn't really
available there, thankfully, so you don't need to worry about finding that. That
said, there
are some fast, technical trails and serious, life-threatening sections of trail
where a false
move will shoot you off a high cliff. It's great.

As for your other questions:

Every time but one I have driven down and brought my own bike. The first time I
rode
there in 1989 we rode fully rigid mountain bikes and had a total blast (we were
bike
touring from Seattle to Colorado Springs, so arrived in Moab by bicycle). These
days, a
somewhat light but durable, all around FS bike is probably the best choice down
there. I
think you should plan for at least a week in Moab. Take a rest day and see
Arches
National Park or go rock climbing. No matter what you do, just be sure to GO!

Cary



--- In bbtcmembers@yahoogroups.com, jerry <jerome.arnaud5@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Since I have been here I have heard many good things about Moab and Bend.
>
> So I'm fancying the idea of riding there before I go home (1 year to go). That
> would be 2 separate trips.
>
> XC, Enduro light (does that actually mean something?) no downhill nor
> freeride.
>
> So, a few questions:
> 1- when is the best time of year for riding Moab and Bend?
>
> 2- when is the worst time of year (so I don't go there for nothing!)
>
> 3- I don't want to ride alone so I'm looking either for a ride buddy (anyone
> want to ride there this year?) or a tour operator multi-day ride. Any advice,
> good and bad experience? A quick search on Google returned rides from $700 to
> $1990 for White Rim trail. Quick a range!
>
> 4- Do you take your own bike or rent?
>
> 5- Do you fly or drive there?
>
> 6- Minimum number of days to spend?
>
> That's the first round of questions. Expect more!
>
> Thx,
> Jérôme
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
>