The commitment to ride 100 miles of Slickrock in 24 hours might never cross a typical mountain biker’s mind. The possibility is merely daunting. Slickrock, a scenic desert trail in Moab, Utah, offers 10.5 miles of trail weaving up and down expansive Navajo Sandstone, slick to the original settlers by horse and carriage but tacky to any daring new-age rubber tires. These unordinary, rolling rocks resemble Jurassic times, a total juxtaposition to the full-suspension mountain bikes and gas-powered two-wheeled machines frequenting the trail. Generations ago, this hard-to-the-touch rock was a dueling ancient desert with ever-changing wind-blown sand dunes undeniably treacherous to any curious human.
Founded in 2006, the KÜHL Cycling Team has been an extension of the brand… A community of riders, friends, and family that embodies the Mountain Culture that is KÜHL! The need for speed doesn’t hurt either – and you’ll certainly find that between cycling teams, rally cars, and more, in terms of team sponsorships, the brand loves them some outdoor time & a bit of speed.
With a sprite, youthful demeanor, and an unconventional perspective relative to what is humanly possible, Chase Caughey, 20, is unfazed by the dramatic terrain, heat, and arduous physical demand that mountain biking just one lap of Slickrock entails. What started as a simple idea became a reality because “why not?” Chase thought to himself. “I had a crazy thought pop into my mind: I’m going to ride 100 miles of Slickrock in 24 hours.”
To Chase, this challenge seemed thrilling and possible. No underlying purpose. No race date. No formal start time. No crowd. No competitors–just Chase, his bike, and an ultimate surrender to 100 miles of pedaling in the desert. Chase had never heard of anyone else attempting this pursuit, so why not try it? It’s 100% possible–let’s keep it simple. With ecstatic support from his family and a bump of courage from the KÜHL bike team, Chase chose a date to ride, and we showed up.
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