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20 Responses to “Testimonial Redrock Canyon Tours”

1. Kathy says:

   June 10, 2017 at 8:44 am

   Hi John, Leslie, Michael and Sarah!

   What a team! This was a terrific trip and Len and I are amazed at your ability to gently nudge us to do a little more, go a little farther, be a little stronger.

   We hope to see you again next year in Glacier.

   Sincerely,
   Kathy and Len

2. Matt D. says:

   November 20, 2016 at 11:30 am

   Hi there! thx for reaching out. Funny, I was just talking about how spectacular this trip was to some friends tonight. It was truly a cycling & life highlight. I can’t begin to say enough great things about Leslie & DeAnne! They were almost as amazing as the scenery.

   Lizard Head is a top-notch guide. I can’t wait to schedule my next trip. I’m not sure if it will be in 2017 – I desperately need new road & mountain bikes. Plus, I just bought a new house. The spirit is willing, even if the bank account isn’t.

   I absolutely recommend & refer LH to anyone that listens. Your shop hires superb guides & knows how to take care of guests.

   Best,
   Matt

3. Chi says:

   June 4, 2016 at 8:28 am

   The RedRock Canyons ride is the best cycling tour I have ever had so far. The only problem is that I was too spoiled – only worrying about how to enjoy and letting Leslie and Deanne to take care of all the rest. I don’t have to tell you how lucky you are to have these two dedicated and enthusiastic ladies working for you.

4. Janet A says:

   June 17, 2014 at 11:14 am

   Lizardhead never disappoints! This was my second tour with Lizardhead and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. The scenery was beautiful and the riding was spectacular – challenging but with the coaching of the guides, all cyclists accomplished more than they thought possible. The views left me speechless and smiling the whole tour. If I had to choose between the Colorado Cols and the Red Rocks Tour, it would be a very difficult decision. For those cyclists who “love to climb,” this tour offered the climbing option in a very different way than the Cols tour. The food and accommodations were outstanding as well.
   Thanks to John, Emily and Ben for guiding us and coaching us all along the way. Thanks to all who rode this tour last month. Memories, memories, memories
   I’m already trying to decide which tour to do next with Lizardhead.

5. Scott B says:

   January 4, 2014 at 10:31 am

   I really enjoyed the Redrocks tour. The scenery was fantastic and roads through area
   were great choices. I had enough challenge completing two centuries and the 85 miler. One of the hardest days was ride into View Hotel Monument Valley, Chuck kept us going, cool, strong head wind, all day made it more of a challenge. Thank you and Eric and Chuck did a wonderful job in all area, great guides. I want to do another tour.

6. Paul B says:

   November 10, 2013 at 1:46 pm

   I just want to thank you on behalf of our Mexican cycling group for a terrific tour in the Redrock Canyons of the Far West.
   Your guides Erik and Joe were wonderful! Leslie, our massage therapist, relieved our aching muscles every evening. She is a great rider too!
   The tour was very challenging but very satisfying! The rides through those incredible canyons, deserts and wide open spaces are awesome!
   Thank you for changing the program for the last 2 days. It was great! We loved flying from Lake Powell to Moab and from Moab back to Grand Junction.
   You’ll have to let us know about other great bike tours to do in the coming years. Let’s stay in touch!

   All the best,
   Paul

7. Jeff Fehr says:

   November 6, 2012 at 4:05 pm

   This is a terrific ride with endless, gorgeous vistas of hauntingly beautiful landscapes, ubiquitous sheer redrock walls, exquisite geology, geomorphology and structural gelogy, pleasant pinyon pine-juniper uplands, and idyllic river valleys. The tour visits several fascinating Ancestral Puebloan villages, and petrograph and petroglyph sites. Good roads, light (but fast) traffic, steady climbs, exhilirating descents. Each day offered its own challenges and delights (and as each day unfolded, I kept thinking ‘this is the best day ever, the ride can’t possibly get any better than this’ – well, except for the flat tires on day 1!), in retrospect, perhaps my favorite was the last day, despite the weather drama, and in particular the last 30 miles or so tooling along state route 95, with the greater White Canyon area on the right and Wingate Mesa on the left, trying (but faliing!) to outpace the brooding storm. The first views of the Henry Mountains to the west, on rounding the corner of Copper Point, were truly remarkable – huge, looming, shrouded in clouds, wearing a dusting of snow on the peaks (?). Wow. And then the swift drop to the bridge over the Rio Colorado. Spectacular!

   String this tour together with Lizard Head’s equally fabulous Whiterocks Canyons Tour, which I rode last year (and which started, oh, maybe 20 miles from the end of the Redrocks Tour on “the shoulders of the Henry Mountains”), and you are treated to most of the best scenery, landscapes and geology the Colorado Plateau has to offer.

   Fantastic! Highly recommended. John, Joe, Nicole, and Leslie are very fine people to spend time with on and off the bike; they are great hosts and did a superb job of looking after us. Can’t wait to do another ride with them!
   Jeff Fehr

8. hendrick (rick) barner says:

   November 6, 2012 at 12:00 am

   My second wonderful ride with the Lizard! It was challenging for the old guy and when everyone repeatedly flew by I said to myself, hope they feel good because there are not many people out here to pass (unlike Ride the Rockies where all I heard was, “left”; about 870 times a day).
   Joe and John continuously nurtured and I was able to draft when the head wind was tough. I thank you guys for this and more.
   The support team is first class and performed accordingly. Thank you John, Joe and Nicole!

   I am ready for something a little easier and Glacier looks my speed. I promise to not hold up you guys if anyone wants to come.
   Those who ride in these circumstances are special and only enhance the experience which is unique when you add up all the parts and without a doubt motivates me to do it again.

   Rick Barner

9. Don Saroff says:

   October 15, 2012 at 11:54 pm

   A fantastic bike tour that is hard to put into words.

   Otherworldly, riding on Mars, tarantulas crossing the road, horses galloping beside us, long climbs, long descents, following rivers, chasing mountains, cold, hot, stillness, wind, green pastures and dried sand…just words.

   Like trying to explain a good poem. Can’t be done.

   But to try and explain my favorite moment, or part of the ride…

   On some isolated road in Utah. Don’t know where. Just me and no people at all, no buildings, no cars, no animals, nothing growing, just the road and sand and rock cliffs and no background noise whatsoever. Kilometers and kilometers of this emptiness! A slight tailwind that makes it even quieter. My head is down. The computer holding a steady 50kph. Smoothness and just the sound of my breathing and the ‘thup, thup, thup’ of the trispokes cutting the wind…heaven…to me..

   Anyway. Good people on the tour. Lent my bike to Matt on the last rainy day when his had a mechanical…and didn’t worry about my bike for a second…

10. Joanne says:

    October 15, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    I still stand by my claim that they are all crazy.

11. Matt Muldoon says:

    October 15, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    John, our guide, host and leader, opened the Redrocks Canyon tour with a riddle:
    Q: How do you know if your guide is lying?
    A: His lips are moving.

    Five days later, it was the eve of the final stage of our tour- 107 miles. Up to this point, we’d been blessed with cool but clear weather. Now the forecast had turned ugly. As we sat together breaking bread, there were murmurings of doubt among some of us. Do we really want to ride in a storm?

    John, sensing the concern, set his lips in motion. Addressing the group, he said that bad weather makes for the most memorable experiences; that if we’d rise to the occasion and overcome the elements, we’d be rewarded for our efforts in a way that can’t be otherwise attained.

    I was one of the doubters. I get cold easily, and once I reach a critical point, I can’t be thawed through conventional means. Sometimes my hands get so cold it’s like trying to operate the shifters with frozen bratwursts.

    Still, having ridden every mile to this point, to bail now would be a shame. I’d wait for morning to check the conditions and decide then whether or not to abort the mission.
    **********
    6AM- I look out the window. It’s dark. The reflections of hotel lights glimmer on the wet, shiny surface of the parking lot. Guides Joe and Nicole are out there, preparing a hearty breakfast for us under a pop-up rain shelter. Most of the troops are huddled around them, filling their tanks for the journey ahead. Their determination inspires me. What the heck, how often do I get to ride in a desert in a thunderstorm? At least I’ll have good company- most of my tour-mates have opted to brave the elements.

    We ride away from Monument Valley in intermittent sprinkles. It’s not all that bad, and for our efforts, we’re treated to the sight of lightning bolts striking the buttes and mesas, beams of dazzling light bursting through holes in the clouds, vivid rainbows and atmospheric vistas. We’re backtracking a portion of the previous day’s ride, and yet everything looks entirely different.

    At Mexican Hat, Utah, about 25 miles into the ride, we encounter our first real downpour- rain, followed by hale, followed by rain. The storm cell is a fast mover, and the whole thing lasts just a few minutes. Nicole parks the Lizard Head van to check on us, and notes that all are in good spirits. I’m damp but warm, like a host organism culturing a yeast infection.

    36 miles into the ride, the rolling profile of Highway 261 is interrupted by the side of a towering mesa. The three miles of switchbacks that climb 1000 feet up its side are the Moki Dugway, the name a derivation of the original Native American appellation, “Soaky Mud Spray”. Highway engineers decided that paving this steep, narrow road was a bad idea. After all, the rest of the highway is nicely paved, how about a change of pace on the side of a cliff? You know, just to add some excitement. In spite of the rain, the dirt road is navigable even with our skinny road tires.

    At about 60 miles we gather for lunch, which as always, is excellent. For the past couple of hours, we’ve been riding under partly cloudy skies. Dark, threatening storm cells slide by in the distance. Hopefully we’ll manage to stay out of their way. Some riders who opted for a van ride over the Moki Dugway remount their bikes and resume their journey.

    At about 70 miles, my bike decides it has had enough of memorable experiences, and goes on strike. Apparently it is sentient. Tour-mate Don kindly offers to let me use his bike. He is an orthopedic surgeon/national champion pursuit team rider who prefers napping in the van to riding in the weather, so he doesn’t need it. Equipped an aero-shaped frame, tuck-bars, 3-spoke carbon wheels, itty-bitty sew-ups, and a seat that looks a jawbone borrowed from a pygmy skull, it’s not your father’s Oldsmobile. It’s more like his carving knife. As I push off into the gusty, erratic winds, I understand how the men of the Powell Expedition felt trying to maneuver their Whitehall boats through the rapids of the Colorado River. This thing could really use some ballast. Would Don mind if I poked a hole in the frame and filled it with sand? I decide against it.

    Once I’m out of the crosswinds, though, Don’s bike really scoots, and I’m off the front, alone. Here I encounter the most intense storm cell of the day. First the wind hits me head-on. I’m making maybe 5 mph going downhill. Hail, flying sideways, is derma-braiding my face. Hey, free cosmetic surgery! (Note to self: cancel appointment with plastic surgeon). Then the wind swings around to the side and I quickly decide to get off the bike before we both land in Oz. I take shelter on the leeward side a tree and hope the cell will pass away before I do. Passing time by watching miniature drifts of hail form on the windward side of bushes and rocks, I take stock of my situation. I’m wet, cold, alone, and about 25 miles from the finish. Perhaps it’s time to call it a day. I look hopefully down the road for the Lizard Head sag wagon.

    The storm cell blows by quickly, and as it does, it takes my enthusiasm with it. Its intensity was both startling and sobering. Back on the bike, I’m weaving down the road, wondering what the hell I’m doing here. My wife,Joanne, a non-cyclist, pulls alongside in her rental car. She says we’re all nuts, and for once, I agree with her. Dispirited, I take shelter in her car, awaiting the van so I can return Don’s bike to him. Game over.

    That’s when tour-mate Jay rides by. Last night at dinner, it was observed that Jay is always smiling. And so he is now, a big grin on his face, as if riding through hail storms was the most fun a guy could have. (He would later remark that he was having a religious experience). The Lizard Head van arrives and drops off Leslie, who also wants to get in on the fun.

    Once again, I am inspired by my tour-mates. If they can do it, what’s my problem? How can I quit now, so close to the finish? Looking down Fry canyon, I am buoyed by the sight of patches of blue sky and sunlight glinting off distant canyon walls. I resolve to finish what I started. I pull on a dry pair of gloves and get out of the car. Joanne says, “If you get hit by lightning, I want to see it!” She follows me in the car so she won’t miss it, camera at the ready.

    The weather stays relatively benign, and Don’s bike makes quick work of the remaining miles. I cross the Colorado River and pull into the finish area, shouting “Yo Adrian! I did it!” I’m like, so stoked, dude, that I don’t even feel tired. Through the example of their spirit and determination, my tour-mates got me going and kept me going, and I’m so glad they did. As they roll in, we celebrate each one’s arrival with high-fives, cheers, beer and food. Wow-what a day!

    John told us that if his lips were moving, he was lying. His lips were moving when he told us the ride would be memorable, which was the truth- which means he wasn’t being truthful when he said if his lips were moving he was lying. The bottom line is that I’m not lying when I say it was a ride I’ll never forget- and I forget almost everything.

12. Carl Sommers says:

    June 28, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Yes to what Marcia and Pierre say above. For someone who wants lots of challenging (and rewarding) cycling and a chance to see the beauty of the Southwest, this is the perfect combination. It was organized so well that all you had to do was show up. Looking forward to more. .

13. Marcia and Pierre says:

    June 19, 2012 at 3:40 am

    The Lizard Head Redrock Canyon tour was a truly amazing experience and both Pierre and I recommend this tour to all our cycling friends. The tour organization was perfect down to the last detail and Chuck and John the best guides. Not only did they set out a perfect table day after day, but they knew the history and geography of the region which made it all the more interesting. We don’t think bike tours get any better than this combination of drop dead gorgeous scenery and superior organization. Try it – you will not be disappointed.

14. Joel Snider says:

    November 26, 2011 at 6:01 pm

    Read my day by day account of a October 2011 Redrock Canyons Bike Tour with Lizard Head Cycling Guides.
    http://rometoredrocks.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-one.html

15. john garrett says:

    November 14, 2011 at 1:51 am

    I joined the Redrocks Canyon Tour the week of Sept. 24 with a group of friends. I have led cycle tours in the British Isles and Europe, and participated in tours in Canada as well as North and South America. Our Redrocks tour, led by John and Chuck, was the best bike tour I’ve ever taken! Hands down! The folks at Lizard Head have not only nailed down the logistics: rider safety, catering, and a spectacular route, but also the intangibles: setting a fun and upbeat tone, facilitating new friendships, creating an itinerary with rides as challenging or manageable as each participant desires, and even providing geography lessons and motherly advice (use your sunscreen in the desert!). The leaders are superb and we will be back!

16. Edward Scown says:

    October 31, 2011 at 3:43 am

    The Red Rocks Canyons tour October 16-21 was an amazing trip. Experiencing this area of the country from a bicycle is awesome and humbling… The ride was filled with challenging ascents; exhilarating descents, all seasoned with sweeping and winding turns. One could not ask for better group of folks to ride with! Our guides John, Chuck and Nicole — did a fantastic job of ensuring that everyone was taken care of, and on the right route. Do this again??? Absolutely! ( EFI! ) Looking forward to the White Rocks Canyons tour!

17. Ron Douglas says:

    October 25, 2011 at 12:29 am

    “Awesome” is the best one word description I can come up with. From the scenery, to the food, to the very well organized support, to the sunny weather for six straight days, this was a wonderful experience. Possibly the best bike tour Barb and I have ever done and we’ve done quite a few. Highly recommended!

18. Daniel B. DeRuyter says:

    October 24, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Now, THIS is the way to vacation!! Liz and I enjoyed our time on this Redrock Canyon Tour very much. In truth, it was difficult this summer for Liz to get in preparation training miles. But, to our mutual amazement, she rode “every freakin’ inch”. That wouldn’t have been possible without the encouragement of our fellow Riders, but importantly from each of our guides: John, Chuck & Nicole. We surrendered to them all the hassels & work, so we could simply relax, focus on the Riding, and immerse ourselves in the Canyon’s stunning beauty, not to mention the plunge into Lake Powell at Tour’s end. They did great. Best Tour, and one of the very best vacations we’ve ever had. Good job!

19. Lisa Schmidt says:

    October 11, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    What an awesome trip! I loved the wild scenery and the great laid back attitude. We rode hard but it was never stressful, only great fun. John and Chuck, and everyone else along the way, were delightful to be around. We met some great people and made some new friends.

20. Scott Magill says:

    September 29, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    This was my first experience with the desert south-west, somewhere I had always wanted to go. Pictures do not do justice to just how beautiful (and empty) the terrain is. I believe that there was one 60 mile stretch were did not pass a single building, other than a park ranger station. As you can also image, we usually had the road to ourselves.

    This was my first multi-day ride. I found it to be challenging but quite doable. Took one “bump” on Day 2 and now wish that I had not. If you are in reasonable cycling shape you can do this ride.

    The Lizard Head team was just great and ride support is excellent. The lodging run the gamut from spartan but servicable (one night) to outstanding (most others). They also know the best places to eat in town.

    Finally, I took the plane option from Lake Powell to Grand Junction. If you thought the ride scenery was spectacular, wait until you take the plane!

    Overall a first class trip. I’m looking forward to doing another tour with Lizard Head.