Dudes decided to celebrate Eric W. and John D. for their pre-and-post nuptials. Jimijo and Anne Solene are wonderful ladies, and these badass men are lucky to have those women on their arms. Thanks to both ladies for donating these dudes for the bike weekend. While we missed Adam, Dave, Tony (and Jason of course), we were lucky to have Eric, KC, Mike, John, and Scott all together.

The original plan was to hit Frisco, CO and remind everyone around that old dudes still get rad on BMX bikes. Sporty 40s in full effect… Snow in May…the unpredictability of Colorado weather, stopped the trip before it could even start. Dudes pivoted and headed south to St. George for a much-needed MTB trip. Bikes to the rescue no matter the wheel size.

Every good bike trip begins with a box of bike parts. In this case, it required assembly of the mothballed Starling. New carbon wheels, risky rubber Delium tires, fresh wireless shifting installed and working effortlessly out of the box. A guy wants to hate SRAM, but it is hard to when it just works so damn well. The old green bike was done and ready at 2am. The only next logical thing was to get up at 6am to make Banana Bread for the dudes.

Eric brought us all coffee. Moose’s Tiny Beans Aerated Americanos via jelly jars. Professional home-brewed coffee was heavily appreciated to begin the drive. Eric, KC, Mike, and Scott loaded up and drove from Northern, UT to meet John in St. George in the early afternoon. After long hugs and high fives, dudes changed clothes and headed out in search of chunky trails and jumps. John served as test pilot for the rebuilt Starling. Scott rode the Banshee Prime for its first real bike trip. Eric shredded his mullet Starling with air suspension. Mike rode his trusty Starling. KC begrudgingly rode MTB on his Banshee Rune that needed a brake bleed and tire sealant but is otherwise always ready to shred. We neglected to bring our Tony, so a handful of tailgate repairs had to be done without the proper toolbox that our Wizard friend keeps in his backpack.

Dudes began the weekend at Revenant Bike Park outside of Ivins, UT. A combination of groomed bike park jumps and natural terrain. The climb trail was short and forgiving. The upper descent sections were smooth. A few rolls down the green and blue trails for some of us, and then everyone was ready to roll black line. Dropping in makes the heart race almost immediately. Drops, berms, and a hip jump leaner that requests fingers to come off the brakes and trust in yourself, your bike, and the infamous ‘trail speed’. Trains, sessions on jumps, and laughs were shared all around. The lower third of the trail becomes loose moon dust with a light gusty wind. Eric, John, KC, and Mike jumped the biggest of the big line. Eric rolled the berm line while KC and Mike launched the creek gap over him. The sun began to set but dudes weren’t ready for the ride to end. A quick hike up a shuttle trail as far as possible before turning around and racing down. That single afternoon at Revenant left us all wanting more. Revenant is a future destination to return to. The first night closed out with Thai food and a hockey game that the Mammoth unfortunately lost.

Day two began with everyone devouring the homemade Banana Bread. John taught us that you “never show up to someone’s home empty handed”. I try not to make that mistake, so after a 6am baking party, I am glad that dudes were willing to humor me by having homemade breakfast paired with Keurig coffee. Dudes support dudes, even when it includes mediocre coffee.

The first trail of day two was Paradise Rim. The short trail that packs in as much southern Utah terrain as possible. The approach trail is a short chunky descent followed by a mild sandy climb up a wash that is lined with reeds and willow bushes. BODs are always up for the plus-one feature, so a hike-a-bike to a steep drop is a must-do before continuing the ride through the dry creek and on up the trail. Turtle hill climb brings Moab slickrock to mind leading to a plateau with a pair of steep rollers that yell at you to stop and play. KC flushed a toilet bowl berm to drop, and John piloted the rebuilt Starling down the steepest rock roll he could find. After another quick climb. The trail comes to a viewpoint lookout. Ivins, Santa Clara, and the Green Valley Gap are all in view from the top. Discussions about bikes, life, and how we monetize our variety of personal skills were had before we got back on bikes.

The top of Paradise Rim offers a solid chunky descent that is worth walking back up for seconds. With no set line it becomes a choose-your-own adventure of stair steps and small drops that dudes trained down with smiles and laughs. This trail is one of St. George’s quiet highlights. The finale of the trail ends in a playground of drops to steep sculpted landings. The large drop was sessioned by dudes while Scott rolled the bigger side of the baby drop…a nice re-entry into riding that has been tentative and unpredictable for him. On the ride out we saw a jackrabbit run by, followed by the largest desert tortoise we have ever seen in person. The rare sighting of the famous animal race, we wonder if the turtle or the hare finished first by the time the sun set.

After the first real trail ride was done, and the bread and shit coffee were metabolized, we were all ready for a brunch break. Feel Love Café provided vegan burritos, pastries, and a much-needed proper coffee break. The fuel up before the infamous Virgin, UT stop.

The drive to the old Red Bull Rampage site was full of fun and conversation (with a quick pit stop for some magical mushrooms). Pulling up to the old Rampage site is surreal. If you have never been there, imagine showing up to one of the most iconic bike spots in the world that sits only a few hundred feet off a State Highway. The largest possible drops, jumps, and fear inducing chutes are fully accessible by the public by a simple hike-a-bike.

Amazingly the terrain is surprisingly varied and forgiving for every skill level. It is built for all and gives confidence to move up the food chain of jumps and gaps. The first part of the afternoon was spent in relative solitude, just five guys on bikes hitting a line with variety that includes head high drops, rock lips into hips, and a fast/steep line down a mini spine that raises hair on your back. From there it turned less into a riding day and more into a search and find mission. We stood at the top of house-height drops, and a left hip that may be the biggest single BMX inspired lip and landing that we have ever seen in person. Drops that were simultaneously gigantic yet looked entirely doable. We jumped the jumps, but we left many, many jumps un-jumped. Stickers saying “jump some jumps” are currently on order.

The afternoon brought a dozen cars with a team shredding defunct GT downhill bikes. It was impressive to watch 14-year-old kids roll the steepest chutes as part of the “development group” of the sponsored team. Eric and KC laid a couple of the flattest MTB tables that a dude has ever seen, and the riding was nearly done for the day. Returning to the truck had Mike and Scott out of their bike gear and hydrating, while Eric, John, and KC went back on the hunt rolling down the road. Those three climbed up a spine of drops and steeps while Mike and Scott hid in the shade debating what future bikes could look like. We hooted and hollered as dudes dropped in from the top. We couldn’t tell from the bottom, but John scared the shit out of Eric and KC by test piloting a drop and nearly careening off the mountain. All was good, dudes reset, and the trail was conquered top to bottom with no drama besides a parking lot overshoot that had rims clanging off the bead. Everyone made it safe and smiling. Celebratory magic mushrooms were consumed by Eric, KC, and Mike on the way to Red Rock Coffee for dinner.

Staring out over the ravine we all watched a horse packing group almost get swept away, and listening to Mike tell us how “ears never get a break” and that he “can see sounds”. So many highlights in a single dinner with the mandatory veggie burger proving to be delicious. The drive home was no less entertaining, while Scott bothered everyone with the zoning question of “what constitutes earth tone colors?”. Mike had enough of it and kept asking “WHY are we STILL talking about fucking colors?!?”. When we got home, we spent the next several hours sitting outside enjoying the beautiful southern Utah weather. Looking up at the stars, full moon, and having meaningless conversations that end up meaning everything to a group of friends.

Sunday morning began slowly. The final day of a short trip ending too quickly. We woke up with no agenda, packed bags, and decided that Barrel was the trail ride for the day. Coffee first then the trail. St. George development is encroaching fast on our beloved trailheads, and our hope is that these iconic (at least to us) trails will remain open. The Green Valley Gap is a sight to see whether you venture up the hill on a bike or not. With sore asses and dusty bikes, we ascended. The entry to Barrel has become confusing and unmarked. A trail we have all ridden several times was hard to navigate. Novices from northern Utah stumbling up the rocks like its our first time on Trailforks. We ended up saying fuck it, and pedaled up the down trail.

The waterfall, Yeti drop, and jump line were the highlights we were looking for. All of the elevation gain with none of the traverse. Up we went. The Yeti drop was the first stop. KC casually eyed it up, but no one really said much about dropping it on the way down. The rest of the ride up to the waterfall was serene. Low wind, and all of us chatting and enjoying the last ride of the trip. I don’t care how many times I have seen it or ridden down it, the waterfall is properly rowdy. Choose a line, commit to it, point and plummet, and hope for the best. I followed dudes down and then watched Eric and KC charge those steep stair steps at ludicrous speed. One of the highlights of the trip for sure! The ride down was full of smiles and laughs. As if it was no big deal, KC exited the main trail above Yeti drop, and without a single camera in sight he sent the drop. Into the ether and out of sight, we took a breath and waited to see him shoot out the exit and on down the trail. It was simultaneously no big deal and everything all at once. Hell yeah!

The bottom of Barrel is a riot. Jump after jump. Designed and ridden like they were built in a previous era of MTB. Flat lips and shotgun landings. Fun all around. We got back to the truck with everyone intact and the overall stoke high. We dusted off, packed the truck, and grabbed food. The real downfall of the trip was Mike’s disappointment as we were unable to get the vegan Pupusas that he had talked about for 30+ hours straight. It was nearly as disappointing as anything could possibly be on a trip that had gone so well. Chipotle it was, which was just ok, and with full bellies we drove John to the airport to say farewell.

There was no hurry on this trip. This was a hang out trip with bike riding in the background. A good time with good friends who fully enjoy each other and happen to like riding bikes as well. Celebrating milestones of life, excited for Eric and Jimijo’s and John and Anne Solene’s next life journeys. Congratulations you four, we love you all. Ride fast and ride safe. Until the next one.