Round and round they go, but too often bike tires roll over old territory, that is, grounds covered on the last ride . . . same rocks, same bumps, same barking dogs, same scenery.
Finding a new biking route, however, isn't easy, especially mountain biking trails. Being adventuresome sometimes leads to long walks, short rides and often a stop at the medicine chest for bandages and antiseptic.Some trails are too difficult, some not difficult enough. Some trails are too long, some hardly get the leg muscles warm.
Realizing this, and that biking has turned to mountain riding these days (sales are about 10 to 1 for mountain bikes), Utah's tourist leaders have identified the need and come up with a solution - biking guides.
Most of Utah's nine travel regions have brochures identifying recommended trails, from those for the novice bikers to those for the more experienced, from riding desert roads, mountain passes, dry streambeds and scenic overlooks.
Information covered includes difficulty ratings, miles from start to finish, elevation changes and a few words on the landscape.
In Dinosaurland's publication there are eight rides listed, ranging from easy five-mile rides, to arduous 50-mile tests. Trails span the scale in diversity, going from the high-country in the Uintas to challenging desert riding.
One ride goes from Vernal to the ghost town of Bonanza near the Colorado border.
In Bridgerland there are 23 different routes for both road and mountain bikes.
The most demanding trail is a 25-mile ride over mountain roads, with elevation changes over 2,200 feet, to "Old Ephraim's Grave." Old Ephraim was a 10-foot tall grizzly bear that once roamed the area and became somewhat of a celebrity. There is a monument to the old bear at ride's end.
In Canyonlands there is Moab. The area has been called by many biking magazines one of the best in the country.
One of the most popular rides is the famous Slickrock Trail near the town. It is a marked loop that covers 10.3 miles over nothing but slickrock. There is an easier 2.3-mile practice loop that is recommended for starters.
Color Country, in the southern most tip of the state, has identified 23 mountain biking trails, and another five for road bikes.
One of the more popular rides at this time of year goes between Cedar Breaks National Monument and Panguitch Lake. It is a loop ride that covers 14 miles. This ride offers alpine to desert settings.
Castle Country has three brochures. The one for San Rafael Swell, considered one of Utah's undiscovered secrets, lists five rides; the Skyline Drive ride lists but one; and the pamphlet for Nine Mile Canyon lists two.
In the Panoramaland brochure there are 21 rides listed. One of the more popular rides takes about 2 1/2 hours and takes riders over some high-country peaks near Fish Lake.
In the Golden Spike Empire, the booklet lists six different trails in the Davis and Weber areas. One of the more dramatic rides follows a four-wheel drive road for 21 miles and leads to Francis and Bountiful peaks for a spectacular view of the Great Salt Lake.
There is also a book put out by the Utah Travel Council called the "Scenic Byways and Backways." The book was put together to introduce vehicle tours, 85 in all, but many are adaptable to two-wheel travel.
There are 58 rides listed in the "Backways" portion of the publication. Any one of the trips would make interesting mountain biking rides.
The Mojave Desert/Joshua Tree Road, for example, is two miles north of the Utah/Arizona border. It is a 14-mile loop that starts at Joshua Tree National Landmark. The road is maintained gravel.
The Dry Lakes/Summit Canyon ride is 19 miles. It starts near the town of Summit and ends near the town of Parowan. The road is improved with gravel in some sections, and is narrow and steep in areas.
Then there is the more accessible Guardsman Pass Road that beings at Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway. There is a junction at the summit that branches off to either Brighton or Park City. It is a 14-mile route, but could add up to as many as 22.
For information on biking routes contact Bridgerland in Logan at 752-2161; Canyonlands in Moab at 259-8825 or Monticello at 587-3235; Castle Country in Price at 637-3009; Color Country in St. George at 628-4171; Dinosaurland in Vernal at 789-6932; Golden Spike Empire in Ogden at 629-8288; Great Salt Lake Country in Salt Lake City at 521-2822; Mountainland in Provo at 377-2262; or Panoramaland in Richfield at 896-9222. Information is also available from the Utah Travel Council in Salt Lake City at 538-1030.