Tires, rims, spokes….what’s the big deal??
Remember those auto tire commercials that stress there’s only one thing actually touching the road?? Yeah, tires. Kinda a big deal to bike setup and ride quality. Within the world of mountain biking there are only about 100,000 combinations of tires and wheels. How hard can it be to get the right setup? Actually, easier…
Carbon versus Aluminum Mountain Bike Frames
Remember the days when a carbon framed mountain bike was a rarity, only seen ridden by pro riders in prototype form? You would hear things like “I don’t trust it, it’ll break”, or “it’s too expensive, it’ll never be mainstream”. Those days are long gone. Carbon bikes are more common now than alloy (aluminum), at…
Must Ride Bike Trails in Moab
Moab has been a world class riding destination for many decades, due to the unique desert slickrock terrain with the magnificent La Sal mountains lying just above, offering incredible alpine conditions. The integration of Alpine and Desert terrain in one spot is unrivaled anywhere else. Add in the fun, funky vibe in town, epic camping,…
MOAB Happenings
When is the best time to visit Moab? Unquestionably one of the most anticipated months of the year for all of us that love our desert time is October. Visiting Moab in October has plenty of benefits! Snow may be sticking to the ground in the higher elevations of the mountains, fall colors are still…
Cornering Part 3
Have you ever been on a ride, feeling awesome, thinking you are looking pretty much like Aaron Gwin on a World Cup downhill track? Then it happens, you smack a hole in a turn, your front wheel folds up under you, and before you can blink you are flying OTB on your way to a…
Cornering Part 2
Schladming, Austria is steep, fast, and not at all like the western US. European downhill tracks go DOWN THE HILL, with the fall line, at sustained grades. The tracks are natural, rooty, rocky, off camber, and again, steep. My bike was not feeling like my bike. I was feeling terrible arm-pump, overturning in almost every…
Cornering Part 1
The day was hot. The smell of sweet ponderosa pine filled the forest. A six minute World Cup level downhill outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado was in perfect condition from the rain the night before. I was doing training laps with the Australian “Thunder from Down Under” Mick Hannah and Colorado ripper Matt Fischer. I…
Bike Setup and Line Choice: Two things to make Moab biking a better experience for you!
Have you ever been on a bike ride and felt like you were going to bounce right off the bike? Most likely, your bike was not set up specifically for your weight (hydration, repair kit, helmet, shoes included). Bike setup is critical to the terrain you are riding. Moab is rough! It’s like running over…
Explore the Best Trails in Moab with Chile Pepper Bikes
If you’re an avid mountain biker, Moab, Utah is a dream come true. The region’s diverse terrain offers a variety of trails to suit all skill levels. At Chile Pepper Bikes, we’re conveniently located for direct shuttle access to three of Moab’s top trails: Slickrock Bike Trail, Raptor Route, and Moab Brands Trails. Let’s take…
Classic Moab bike shop in new hands
Tracy Bentley has run the Chile Pepper Bike Shop, a mainstay of Moab’s mountain bike community, for 17 years. “There’s been a hell of a lot of change in Moab itself, and also within the shop,” she said. “I just wish I had kept a journal of all the people and events that have happened…