Hi everyone,

I'm seeking out off-the-beaten-path biking trails. Specifically, I'm interested in trails with:

• Cracked or uneven pavement
• Overgrown bushes or vegetation
• Other challenging features that make for an uncomfortable ride

Share your experiences and suggestions for trails that are a bit rough around the edges. I'm trying to understand the condition of paved bike trails in and around SLC for research purposes.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I know this isn’t a biking question, but I wanted to reach out to the community that knows the sidewalks and paths best. I’m a nordic skier looking for some good places to roller ski around Salt Lake City. I’m specifically seeking newly paved bike paths that don’t have steep downhill sections or major cracks. Ideally, I’d like to find something within 20 miles of SLC. If anyone has recommendations or knows of any spots that fit the bill, I’d really appreciate your locations. Thanks in advance!

Can you recommend some gravel riding trails in the SLC/PC area? I'm getting started but want to have an idea of the trail options. I know about the Jeremy Ranch road and PC rail trail, but are there gravel roads like forest service in the area?

Really sad to see these guys go. I love the shop. Everything is 50% off, Picked up a new Salsa Cutthroat for less than $2k.

I'm in town visiting for the weekend and wanted to do the Elevation Canyon climb, starting in downtown SLC, and then turn that into a century loop. I used Strava to create the route, crossing over the mountains just north of Layton, and it created the attached route for me. Halfway into my ride I reached the highlighted portion and realized (a) Strava has put me on a 3-4 mile segment where I am apparently supposed to ride on the shoulder of a major interstate highway and (b) I have no other option except to go forward or return the way I came (later, I learned I could also have gone ~10 miles north and crossed there, but this wouldn't have been an option for me).

I'm posting to complain, but also ask if others have seen this happen, and furthermore to see if maybe I missed some kind of bike trail or something hidden off the side of the highway. This situation was incredibly dangerous, and it also includes a short segment over a bridge where the shoulder is maybe only a foot or two wide. At this point, you are literally on the highway, separated from 70 mph traffic by a hair's breadth. I would have thought that Strava would never even consider such segments when creating routes, which is why I didn't check too closely before heading out.

Route from SLC through Elevation Canyon and across I-84 (top horizontal segment)

The segment that lies across the shoulder of I-84.

Looking for the best shops for fixing/maintaining mountain bikes in the SLC area.

I've taken my bike to several and have always had mixed results with the quality of work. I'd prefer to stick to one place, but with how many issues I've experienced over the years I've been bouncing from shop to shop.

Let know who you like and why!

I've got a classic road bike. I want to keep it in good paint shape to avoid rust. I would do the work myself but rather pay an expert. This makes me ask, does anyone know anywhere/anyone who paints touch-ups in the valley?

Hey fellow bike nerds! If you want to watch the Tour de France stage replays every day at 5 PM, come down to Chappell brewery in South Salt Lake! Have a cold one in AC in our sweet lounge and check out the days racing. Should be fun! Hope to see you all there!

I wanna cross the lake via the Lucin Cutoff as part of a bikepacking trip to Oregon. I know it’s technically trespassing, but also it does get done at least occasionally. Anyone have any beta on what attempting to ride it might look like?

Cheers

I need a 280mm j bend Sapim X-ray spoke and would prefer to purchase locally.

Any tips on a bike shop that builds wheels and may have what I need?

Thanks.

During my biking adventures around SLC I observe a lot of people riding without a helmet. I am now using a combination of biking and public bus/train for all of my commuting, and wearing a helmet is a part of my safety plan. There is a recent data-driven, peer reviewed article in Nature that supports wearing a helmet as beneficial "regardless of crash severity or crash type" https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35728-x

This article states that the benefit "is found to be higher in high-risk situations and when cycling on shared roads and particularly preventing severe head injuries". In the Netherlands, where the bike infrastructure is remarkably good, most riders don't wear a helmet (2.4% according to the article); maybe that is fine there, I don't know but don't care all that much because I don't live in the Netherlands.

But here in SLC, it is often hard to get from point A to point B without deviating (at least for a little bit) from a protected bike lane. And so this means I could be riding quite close to possibly aggressive motor vehicle traffic (on a 20 or 25mph road). To increase my chances of avoiding a serious head injury in a crash, I wear a helmet.

I also strongly support the wearing of a helmet even if the planned route is solely on protected bike paths -- for example the 300 West bike lane lies along a busy, fast stroad with big box store entrances.

While the article I am citing is not the full story -- I am sure there is more research on this topic, and no study is without its limitations -- and there are certainly many types of crashes in which I would be in terrible shape regardless of whether or not I put on a helmet, I believe it is a good choice to wear one.

Do you wear a helmet when you ride? If not always, what makes you decide not to wear one? (I reserve judgement and just want to better understand peoples decision making process on this)

I’m visiting SLC in early July, doing one day on the road bike and one day at Deer Valley for DH. Wondering what my options are for renting a DH bike. Should I just go through the resort rentals, or is there a shop in town (in either PC or SLC) that I should check out?

From looking at the websites for the local shops I haven’t seen anyone who advertises that they do rental/demo DH bikes (pretty much everyone has enduro’s, but no DH), so I guess I just wanna make sure I’m not overlooking anyone before I just use DV’s rentals. Thanks!

Is anyone doing this on 5/11? Looking for some friends to pace with!

Do any of you have experience riding up Mt. Blue Sky? I'm riding the Bob Evans race (just a ride for me) in July. I won't have much time to acclimatize - 2 days before the ride. Any recommendations on local rides/training to buildup to the race?

I am just getting into cycling but as I was commuting to work an idea struck me that seems like it would be a slam dunk. Bike infrastructure is always hard to create because usually you have to take space away from other types of transportation. For example making a bike lane will upset people in cars because they lose a few feet of the road. But what if they installed bike paths on top of the tram lines? There are a few issues that I can see but in general it seems like an idea worth looking into. Because the only real limit would be how fast the paths could be installed. As long as the path could have 2 lanes for a normal lane and a pass lane, it would open up bike paths all across the valley. Here are a few points of issue I have thought of and also possibly solutions.

1. You are raised off the ground several feet. This is true but could be helped by having railing to avoid people falling off.

2. Wouldn’t look good. I disagree I think it would make the city look more vibrant as you would increase the amount of cyclists on the roads and it is not like commuters care what’s above them they can’t see it anyways.

3. How would bikes get off the bike highway. This could be as easy as installing stairs on all the tram stops. This gives cyclists the same convenience other commuters have.

4. Snow. This would be tricky but i think either having a cover over the path would work or having someone plow it could work.

It seems like a great idea but feel free to bring up counter points or points that I may have overlooked.

I am new to biking in a busy urban area, and am nervous about using the protected bike lanes -- for example the 300 West protected lane.

I am concerned some motorists may be perceiving the protected bike lane no different than a sidewalk. This is particularly dangerous because motorists would then not check for bike traffic on what they perceive to be a sidewalk when making turns.

Ultimately I know I am responsible for my own safety while biking, and as such I do not assume a motorist will expect to see me when they are turning into a drive.

Do you feel safe using the protected bike lanes on busy streets like 300 west? And if so, what are some tips you have for safely using the protected bike lanes? Right now I am being extremely careful, walking my bike across any intersection that poses even a remote threat to my existence :)

Looking for a shop that works alot on older road bikes. I have a fuji from the 90’s that needs repairs

A bill was introduced to post the 10 Commandments in Utah schools. We know which rules Utah school children need to see.

I'm giving some thought (again) to riding from Salt Lake area to St. George. I have a rough idea of a route but wanted to see if anyone else has done it and what their experiences were like. Any insights or ideas are welcome, including: route, season, time/duration, style (cc or bikepack), gravel, road, sag, etc.

I came back home from a ride today and I could see a lot of black dust on my face. When there's inversion, do you stay inside the house or still go for a ride if the temperature is good?

Does anyone know of any resources for someone that was in a serious accident where a municipality is at fault for the accident?

Howdy neighbors!

I've been riding a buttload this summer and want to keep on it into the winter. Simple question, but how do you ride in the winter? What tires do you use? What do you wear? How many lights are on your bike? Does it suck?

Can I equip an old cx bike to be a winter commuter? Do I need a second set of wheels? How can I ride snowy paths and trails (PC Rail Trail?)

Interested to see what other folks are planning around for the 2024 riding season. For me personally, here is what I am thinking:

• Gran Fondo Moab in May 2024. Never ridden my bike in Moab, so this should be a fun thing in the early season to get my training off to a strong start.

• Triple Bypass in Colorado. Did it last year for the first time and had a great experience. Only planning on doing it again if my father in law decides to register. But he is a sea level dweller, so we'll see what happens there.

• If that doesn't work out, I will try to do Utah-Cache Gran Fondo perhaps the race format, but this is the same day as the TB, so it depends on that.

• Maybe one or two of the Utah hill climb events?

• I also want to do more community events, so thinking about joining a local club.

• And I want to do more casual things like the Tuesday Night Emigration group ride and maybe the weekly practice crit races.

I want to hear what you guys have on your radar for the 2024 riding season.

The new bike lane on 300 W is super useful for me, but I live in SSL and want to get to it from south of 2100 S. From both north and south, the bike lanes in the section of 300 W between Home Depot and ~Best Buy just kind of end, and that whole intersection around 2100 S is pretty busy with fast traffic. How are other people using the new bike path connecting it with roads south of 2100 S? 300 W all the way through the intersection and just commit to being in traffic? Maybe Main St. to 1700 S to the bike path? I'm hoping to find a route that's as direct as possible while still being reasonably safe and minimizes having to share space with fast traffic. FWIW, I've either ridden or walked through the intersection so far, and it works, but it either feels sketchy or clunky getting off and walking.