Finally figured out my line choices in Moab after 8 years of guessing

I used to just pick a random line through rock gardens and hope for the best, usually ending up on my diffs or sliding off a ledge. Last month I started getting out and walking the trail first with a buddy who races, and now I actually see the left-side tire placement before I even start. Anyone else find that scouting on foot saves you from expensive repairs out there?

3 comments

3 Comments

gracea194mo ago

Eight years of guessing and hoping for the best? That is a long time to rely on luck with expensive bike parts on the line. I've seen too many friends crack a rim or bend a hanger from a bad line choice to leave things to chance like that. Scouting on foot seems like a smart way to cut down the repairs.

uma_nguyen244mo ago

Is it really that deep though? I've been riding for over a decade and never scouted a trail on foot once. Sure Ive cracked a rim or two, but that's just part of the sport if you ask me. Most of the time you can just feel the line and adjust as you go. Spending twenty minutes walking a trail before riding it sounds like overkill for something that might not even happen. Plus the trail changes after a few runs anyway with ruts and braking bumps. I'd rather just ride and replace parts when they break.

graceprice2mo ago

Three cracked rims in one season convinced me to start walking lines, and honestly I see the same pattern everywhere. @uma_nguyen24, it's like people who refuse to read reviews before buying a big appliance or check the weather before a camping trip. A little upfront work saves a lot of hassle later. You don't have to walk every single trail for twenty minutes, but spotting a hidden rock garden or loose root from the ground just clicks in a way that guessing at speed never does. Trail conditions change sure, but the basic shape of the track is still there. It's not about overkill, it's about not treating bike parts like they're disposable.