Canyon Riding Basics - Learn to Handle Some Curves!

This is ride for folks who want to learn the ways of canyon riding but maybe haven't dared tackle it on their own -- yet.

Motorcycle riding is all about leaning, curves, and hitting that perfect line on exit that harnesses your inner Valentino Rossi.

Utah living is all about consuming our gorgeous natural wonder in some of the greatest mountains in the world.

Yet lots of us with bikes never go exploring our wonderful backroads, preferring instead the predictable routine of the interstates out of fear for what the blind canyons hold.

Well fear not! Let's meetup and tackle one of best beginner canyons in the state and learn how to manage this thing called canyon riding. I promise to make this a fun ride but we will be taking it easy and learning the strategies necessary to be safe in the canyons, not testing the limits of either man or machine. So whatever your level of experience with these roads, come and have fun but know that we are doing this specifically for beginners on a more approachable canyon road.

We'll start at the Hogle Zoo overflow parking let -- this is the lot across the street to the north from Hogle Zoo -- where we will discuss canyon strategies and riding techniques to help you have a lot of fun in the twisties while staying within your skill level and making sure you come home safe and with a huge smile on your face.

The route will be up Emigration Canyon and over Little Mountain Summit, then east to, well, East Canyon! We'll crest Big Mountain Summit and then carve our way down all the way to East Canyon Reservoir. From here we'll turn north towards Morgan for a bit of a cool down through a very pretty mountain valley, then jump on I-80 and head back towards Salt Lake, ending at the parking lot of the Walmart at the mouth of Parley's Canyon. We can debrief here, talk about any concerns or questions that came up along the way, and part ways.

The trip is about 100 miles and should take around 2 hours. I do not anticipate stopping except in Morgan to rest a bit before hitting I-80, but if the group wants pictures there is a nice lot at Little Mountain Summit or at East Canyon reservoir. Any stops we make will add on to the 2 hours, so that counts just the ride time.

Here is a link to the route on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cncBjju9bBkAh7wv6

As with all The Riderz Foundation events, this is available to anyone on or off Facebook -- so please invite your friends! Make sure your bike is in good repair for a ride like this -- tire condition and pressures, brakes and pads, throttle isn't sticking, chain/belt in good repair, etc. Also, while it is Memorial weekend, we will be in the mountains so it could be a little more chilly, so check the temp ahead of time and dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Important -- make sure you get gas BEFORE you come! We aren't starting at or stopping at any gas stations along the way, and you need to be able eat up 100 miles on whatever gas you bring with you.

Please reach out with any questions, and I look forward to riding with you all!