I almost set off for a hike when Sten H. called, inviting me for a ride in Butte on the 4th of July. Still recovering from last weekend’s 24-hour race, I was hesitant. Sten promised a short, easy recovery ride.
After posting about the ride on Twitter and Facebook, Alden W. called, interested in joining. I assured him it’d be an easy ride, and we agreed to meet at 8:30 am at Triple Ring Productions headquarters (Bob W’s house).
Despite my initial reluctance to push hard, the day was perfect for a ride. We watched some European bike race at the headquarters before deciding on a 20-mile loop. I hoped for a slow pace to make the ride manageable.
We set out from Butte, following the old Highland Classic race course, passing through tunnels and trestles. Decked out in my GrizzlyMan Adventure shirt, while the others wore team gear, we even practiced our ambush technique for the upcoming Butte 100.
The weather was clear, and from a bridge, I could see our entire route, covering sections of the Butte 50 and 100. Alden confirmed my guess of “lupine” for the trailside flowers. The trails were in excellent condition and lushly green.
Though the pace was gentle, the ride stretched to over three hours. A bit too long for my recovery plan, which now needs another two days’ adjustment. But no regrets – it was a fantastic day.
Boneshakerbike 
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