How Do You Mountain Bike On Slick Rock?
The mountain biking in the Southwest is known for its’ canyons, dry riverbeds and that sticky, red rock called slickrock. Many areas have whole trails atop slickrock. Consider getting a front suspension or dual suspension bike for riding slickrock. Slickrock is hard and the riding is often bumpy. Shift your weight forward while remaining on your seat to ride uphill on slickrock. You can ride up incredibly steep slopes due to the sticky nature of slickrock. Slide your weight back so that your belly is above your seat when riding down steep slickrock sections. This will give you more traction on your back tire to prevent an end over end crash. Ride it, don’t slide it. Jamming your brakes causes your tires to leave black marks on the slickrock. Take corners slowly at first until you get the feel of the slickrock. The rock grabs at your tires when cornering which could cause a tumble to the uninitiated.
