Pine Trees Vs. Red Rocks

Is there a true quiver killer? In Utah, it’s challenging to find one bike that suits all your riding needs—from the high alpine trails to the red rock of Southern Utah and everything in between. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of what to look for in a bike optimized for specific terrain, conditions, and riding styles. While you might not find one bike that fits all scenarios, we hope this helps you narrow down the best bike for you, even if you want to mix it up across terrains.

High Alpine 

When we say high alpine, think of the mountain ski resorts with pedal-accessible trails or rides similar to the Wasatch Crest trail (pine trees, shade, and steep climbs). Much of the riding here resembles the elevation gain and loss experienced on a typical ride in the Pacific Northwest. But climates are much different in a high alpine desert with less water, dryer air, and hotter temperatures. Utah’s high-alpine will get dustier, have smoother climbs, and won't have the same levels of loam.

When looking for a bike for general high-alpine use, pedaling efficiency is key. Climbs in the mountains tend to be long and steep, without a ton of tech. This suits bikes with good pedaling efficiency, and some pep in their step. Park City downhills can get gnarly if you know where to look and want a tougher downhill, but generally stay pretty doable on mid-travel bikes. With that said rougher trails are doable on short-travel bikes if you coax them right. Most of the Park City trails are blue or black, and rarely ever stray to double black. This suits a cross-country to downcountry bike or light-weight trail bike.

Ideal Suspension Range:

• Rear Travel: 120-130mm
• Fork Travel: 120-140mm

This travel range keeps the bike light and efficient while providing comfort. People who want more downhill capability might push for the lighter trail bike, whereas those focused on climbing might hedge towards a cross-country bike. Our shop choice for Park City bikes will be the Orbea Oiz, Scott Spark, Santa Cruz Tallboy, or Scor 2030. Going bigger in travel than this tends to make a lot of Park City trails feel “boring” as the longer wheelbase and more suspension of bigger bikes overly smooth out the trail. If you are looking for a bike that can take bigger hits, but will not remove the playfulness of a smaller travel bike, check out the Santa Cruz 5010. It won't pedal as well as the other bikes mentioned, but the mixed wheels and short wheelbase keeps the downhill fun!

Desert Riding 

Southern Utah is renowned for its legendary red rock and stunning views, but this different biome calls for a different bike. Desert riding has fewer smooth climbs and a lot of very technical short ascents. This favors a bike that offers better traction at the expense of efficiency. Rougher descents are also a factor here; big compressions and square-edged rocks are plentiful.

If you're looking to get sendy in the desert and a slower-handling bike doesn’t bother you, consider the Scott Genius ST. For a lighter, snappier desert-capable option, check out the Specialized Stumpjumper.

Want Some Assist? 

E-bikers fear not! We have recommendations for you too. Alpine and desert riding are both absolute blasts with some assistance from a motor, helping you chug along with a little less effort. 

The same considerations apply when selecting electric mountain bikes: focus on geometry and desired travel range. Shorter wheelbases and around 130mm of travel are suitable for high alpine riding, while larger wheelbases with 140-150mm travel excel in the desert.

If you’re looking for an electric bike for the high alpine, check out the Scott Lumen, or BMC Fourstroke LT AMP! Red rocks call your name? Look at the Scor 4060 Z ST, the Santa Cruz Heckler SL, or Orbea Wild.

For the Roamers

At this point, you might be asking yourself, 'Well, I do a lot of both,' and you may feel torn between options. Fear not! There are some fantastic choices that cater to both styles. Look for bikes with 140-150mm of travel and full 29-inch wheels, combined with a pedaling platform that emphasizes efficiency over traction.

Check out the Santa Cuz Hightower, Scor 4060 ST, Orbea Occam SL, and the Scott Spark ST. All of these bikes can split the difference very well and leave most riders happy. If you are looking for an e-bike that can split the difference well, check out the Orbea Rise, or the Specialized Turbo Levo SL.

More Thoughts? 

Still curious about which one you should be riding? Or any other questions? We are happy to help out! Chat us here on the site, call in, or even visit us in-store. Let’s get you riding!