MTNR Report

Taking a break from my regularly scheduled "Photos of 2009" to bring you a Missoula Thursday Night Ride report. Last night was the first official MTNR of 2010.  I posted a YouTube video of the adventure.

The group has been hiking all winter and to show off their new found fitness they all were at the meeting spot raring to go. Ed and his new predator glasses and Lydia with the new drive train that would unravel her ride later. It was just the hiking crowd, none of the "June Buggers" or "Flower Tourists" showed. Maybe it was the ominous clouds overhead. It was the "Hard Cores"!

On the first climb up "US West" trail Lydia disappeared with Aarons gloves while he rocketed up the climb. She had fallen to chain woes and turned around. our first casualty.

Around the corner to the sweet single track over East Missoula we ran into the "Other" Thursday night group. I was disappointed that I had waited all day for this little section of side hill and I had to stop my group and wait at least 3 hours for the pesky bike group, who was spread out by the way, to pass. Pesky "Other" group.

We toured East Missoula and pace lined out to Marshall Canyon. It was clear, there would be a all out race effort to the top of the climb. I immediately shifted into a support position for my man Ed "MCRibs" "Mr. Cymbals" Stalling and surged ahead to push the tempo. Near the top I handed Ed a musette from the sidelines and shouted "Go Lance". It really made the difference as the rest of the field disintegrated and fell to the wayside on the big climb.

We decided to take a side trip down some technical single track on the East side of the road before we took on the second and final big climb of the day. Then it was up and over Jumbo Saddle taking on only a slight patch of the white stuff. We finished on top just as a big snow storm bore down on us.

We took refuge at Alden's house where Sally his wife had waiting for us a spread worthy of royalty. We feasted on pizza, great local suds, chicken enchiladas, and chilled shrimp. This is where I shined for the evening as I put away the most calories. We passed around Alden's pulse oximeter just to prove we had all depleted our energy resources and to justify that extra helping of food. Julie was pronounced dead as her readings showed that of a zombie