Getting Dirty: Mountain Biking the Southwest

Mountain biking is an ultimate route out of the concrete mainstream and into the
sandstone-studded backcountry. No other human powered transportation is as fast, fearless, or just plain fun as a fat-tire bike. And few regions rival the American Southwest for its diversity of mountain biking options or classic watering holes in which to embellish on the day’s exploits over a frothy mug.
In this guide, we spin through Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico; pay a visit to eight of the world’s top mountain bike meccas; roll our two-wheeled steeds down their finest ribbons; and sample the après-pedal in these bike-crazed towns.

Each chapter opens with an offbeat tale about the mecca in question. Next, we give you a “tick list” of rides followed by a brief description. Last, we offer up “highs” and “lows” for each locale; a listing of our favorite dive bars, pubs, cantinas and grubstakes; and a recommended non-bicycle diversion for the oft-dreaded “rest day.”