Good night in Missoula Montana. I wonder if tomorrow’s race will go off. It is the rescheduled one that got canceled three weeks ago, the Speedwagon Classic in Polson.
Tonight I got snowed on while I was hiking. I am getting nervous that the race will be snowed out again. The temperature in the morning will be in the 20s and we should get up to 55 in the afternoon. So good night with my ties crossed … for good luck.
Just got back from a ride in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area and brought back some video footage.
Post-work, I biked up the Kim Williams Trail, crossed over to Marshall Grade, then rode over Mount Jumbo Saddle to meet friends for tonight’s ride. Here’s my route.
We tackled the Mandatory Single Track, but it was snowy and potentially muddy. We aimed for South facing slopes for better luck. Ended up hiking a lot because of the snow, especially on the Sawmill Gulch and Drop Out Trail.
Post-ride, a friend gave me a birthday gift – a case of pot pies. Joked about needing to fatten up! I fashioned a makeshift bike bag from garbage bags and duct tape and rode home with my pies, devouring two immediately.
Now it’s bedtime, looking forward to Friday. This Saturday is the Speedwagon Classic in Polson – I have room in my car for a passenger. Anyone interested?
Thoughts … https://alizabethbronsdon.blogspot.com/2008/04/playing-catch-up.html
Still under the snow … every one! Hello from cold, rainy, snowy, windy, crappy, and miserable Missoula Montana. You know what? I am getting sick of cleaning bikes. It seems that by the time I have cleaned the bike after the ride and washed all the muddy clothes, I just fall into bed around 11 PM. I need sleep and I cant seem to get it.
Last nights ride was up Miller Creek Road. Check out the map! I started out pretty well and got to the start of the climb up Miller Creek Pass at just over an hour. I think someone once told me it could not be done. It’s definitely not 20 miles.
I could go no further so I turned around, went back to Missoula, then climbed up Pattee Canyon Road. That did it and I arrived home at the 3 hour mark and around 42 miles (cross bike). I was afraid last night would turn out to be another hypothermia event but with a bunch of layers all I got was wet.
Tonight is the TNR at Rattlesnake. I plan to do some training and meet up with the group a little later. Anyone going? Lets do a poll … when will we get three days solid sun?
Looks like my name has popped up in the Montana Kaimi, a paper published by the students of The University of Montana, Missoula. The peice by Hugh Carey is short but sweet (due to my awesome time) …
“Nearly one hundred racers from around the nation, many from Missoula, participated in the GrizzlyMan Adventure race Saturday in the Mount Sentinel and Pattee Canyon areas. The race requires running and biking through approximately 18 miles of backcountry terrain with 3,500 feet of vertical climb, plus navigating a portion of the course with a compass and a map. Competitors navigate through unfamiliar terrain to checkpoints; midway through the course they pick up bikes, which take them to the finish line. …The average finish time was about three hours, with overall winner William Martin coming in at 1 hour, 46 minutes, 50 seconds.”
http://www.montanakaimin.com/
I promise to be more of a literal blogger soon and maybe even give my accounts of the Grizman Race, but I just started walking again after being crippled for three days and it will take me time to get things going again. How about a three hour dirt (mud) road bike ride tonight up Miller Creek? Let me know if you want to go!
Google Earth File | Google Map | Adventure Race Site | Photos | Results
Mat Seeley in Polson has sent out information on his inaugural road race set for this Saturday.
According to Matt, “No matter what the weather says, the first annual Speedwagon Classic cycling event will happen this Saturday (4/26) in Polson. Check-in at Seeley’s starts at 10:00 am and the riding will commence at noon. After a truly miserable ride this past Saturday, I am still optimistically imagining clear skies, beautiful mountain vistas, and a relaxed backyard finale with burgers and beer. Either way it will be an epic challenge.“
Mat has sent out a PDF map, route description, and the official invite. Check them out. Any one want to go?
New West Net just posted a photo and some incorrect details. Oh well, at least one publication caught wind of this Missoula Race. My feeling that this may not catch on, what is wrong with Missoula media? This is an outdoor town … isn’t it?
Hugh Carey was there with his camera! He has posted 6 photos … they are pretty cool. This race really did take place!
Don’t forget that Kenneth Clizbe has posted photos as well!
A gallery put up by Kenneth Clizbe! I am in one photo (#21) and after that I actually finished the race before the guy got up to Pattee Canyon to take photos at the transition area. That is what you get for traveling so fast. No cool photos … seriously though, these are a great set pf photos depicting the start and transition area. I cant believe I beat all those people … hasn’t sunk in yet. My Winning Route
Hello from bedtime. I went on a recovery mission today and on the way back just about freaking froze to death. I shivered so violently I almost crashed. If I would of only dressed up I would of enjoyed the outing. Can anyone guess where this is?
Can you believe I won the Grizzlyman Yesterday? I can not walk just yet. My friends Alden and Larry finished in 2:34 but I am awaiting their placing as a team. Should be pretty good. I was so impressed with my TNR brethren.
I just took the win overall and finished the adventure race in 1:46:50! More to come after I re-habilitate. Anyone want to go riding tomorrow?
This Afternoon: Isolated showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 11 to 14 mph increasing to between 23 and 26 mph. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: A chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 20 and 23 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming north between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Saturday Night: Periods of snow. Low around 22. Northwest wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Today’s Thoughts:
Random musings:
Caught a glimpse of Natasha’s snapshots capturing the cycling scene in Flathead, draped in RM Robeux’s vibes. Got me pondering – who’s that rider rocking the Cervelo under G.A.S colors, and what’s the deal with Doug Shrylock’s team affiliation?
Also, tossing around in my head – how soon can I snag my packet for the GMAR tomorrow? The anticipation’s real!
Hello from a flooding apartment in Missoula Montana. I have been desperately moving all my stuff to higher ground before the hot water heater bursts and floods the man cave. I must move everything because as soon as someone touches the hot water heater to remove it it will explode. The bottom is nothing but rust. I discovered this early this week when I saw a water line creeping up one of my walls.
Tonight is the TNR and this weekend is the Grizzly Man Adv Race. Come on out and play!
My friend is Lucy Limberis and she is looking for her son’s journal. I am posting this in hopes someone will find it and Google the name on it (leading them to this post). The following is her request:
I am sick over losing my son’s journal that I have kept since he was four years old. I have his Santa letters in there as well as his first love letter. He is 8 years old and I can’t bare to tell him that it is gone. He loves to have me read it to him and to know how special he is that I have kept it for him and have updated it through the years.
I am hoping you will forward this email to as many people as you feel comfortable. Maybe someone has seen it or knows who has it…stranger things have happened.
Please…please help. I left it on a flight from Burlington, VT to San Francisco, CA
It is a standard black and white composition notebook. It says Niko Limberis Bardis on the cover. It has folded pieces of paper inside as well with his art work and letters.
Flight UA 139
Chicago to San Francisco
April 12
Seat 25JI had written in the journal and then put it in the seat pocket.
I will gladly give a reward to whomever can return it to me. I am miserable about what happened.
Hello from Missoula Montana, completely recovered from last weekends race and ready to race again. The problem is that there is no races for three weeks. I am sad. The Twin Rivers Cyclists have updated their site with results (no times yet) so check that out. Also Scott Trost has uploaded hundreds of photos of the race (my favorite). You can see why I love this race so much, the single-track is awesome.
On the home front I have refined my recovery wraps to include spinach! Also I have mentioned to friends that I work in a closet and thought it was time to prove it by posting a photo of my desk. At least I get to sit with my bike.
In future news the Griz Man Adv Race is this weekend and I am curious how they are going to pull that off with a snow storms and highs only in the 40s in the forecast.
Shout Outs:
Morning! I’m starting the day with a bit of a headache—spring’s knocking, and my window’s wide open for that fresh air charm, even though I can feel summer lurking just around the corner. Despite treating my body like it’s a rental this weekend, I’m feeling surprisingly spry. Check out the pics!
Lewiston, Idaho was scorching, believe it or not. Chatted with the race director who swears they barely see a flake of snow all winter. The blooming flowers and budding trees were proof enough—it was a full-on summer preview with the mercury hitting the 80s.
We hit town for the Devil’s Slide Mountain Bike Race, a killer warm-up for the upcoming Sea Otter Classic. Picture this: a bone-dry course with one beast of a climb and a nail-bitingly steep downhill dubbed Devil’s Slide. The bulk of the ride? Twisting single-tracks and dusty equestrian trails. The race kicked off with a climb so brutal, a bunch of us resorted to the walk of shame.
I absolutely adore this race! This year, I snagged the top spot in the expert category and managed a respectable third with the pros. My buddy Garland pulled a solid third in his first expert gig, and his kid? Smashed it in his racing debut, taking the lead among the vets. And Ross? Snagged second in the sport class, with his daughters cleaning up in the junior expert and beginner categories.
My stint was a breezy three laps, but distinguishing between the pros and us mere mortals was a bit of a head-scratcher. My game plan? Hit the ground running and cling to the leaders like glue, hoping to edge out a win in my category since we were a mix of about five pros.
Initially, I toyed with signing up for the open class to mingle with the pros, but the organizer nixed that, blending us into a three-lap free-for-all instead. Ended up finishing third overall but clinched first among the experts.
From the get-go, I was part of a trio that broke away early, setting a punishing pace (got the photo to prove it!). After conquering the first climb, it was clear we were the podium contenders.
Descending was a thrill, especially latched onto the wheel of a Leperrier from Spokane. Had to shake off some jitters from a past tumble (that gnarly crash at Whiteface Mtn, NY, remember?). But my trusty, tweaked fork from Hippietech Suspension boosted my confidence, and I zoomed down, keeping pace with the leaders.
By the second lap, I was glued to the front-runner’s wheel, surviving what I now realize was a sneaky tactical “move”. As the big climb loomed, I powered ahead, briefly tempted to break away.
Yet, self-doubt kept my foot off the gas, and I just kept spinning hard. They caught up, and we played cat-and-mouse for the whole lap.
Nearing the start/finish climb, I found myself ahead again and held steady, passing on another chance to surge forward. Thought to myself, “Keep spinning, maybe attack at the crest…”
But alas, conservative riding let the pros slip right back. I didn’t know they were on my tail until it was too late. In a moment of defensive panic, I let them overtake. Caught in their slipstream, I waited for their next move.
It came all too quickly. I was too generous letting them lead into the slide. The second-placer bogged down the pace, allowing the leader to break away on the tricky trails.
By the time I maneuvered around, the leader had a solid lead, and I hammered the final climbs in desperation, closing the gap to a mere 100 feet in a slicing headwind. The guy drafting behind me then darted past, effectively blocking my every attempt to reclaim my position.
The race ended on a narrow track, with him successfully boxing me out of second place. A bit gutted, but hey, I dominated the expert class. Would’ve loved a shot at duking it out with the leader, though. Guess I just didn’t play my cards right!
Greetings from the picturesque Missoula, Montana, where I’m indulging in a scone and nursing my aching muscles from last night’s epic mountain biking adventure. Seriously, that ride threw everything at me—single-track trails, dusty dirt paths, glorious sunshine, and even a dramatic punctured front tire.
Thankfully, good ol’ Stan’s sealant worked its magic after just three hisses. Today’s agenda? Packing up and gearing up for my upcoming trek to Idaho for the notorious Devil’s Slide. It’s about to get real! So, what’s everyone up to today? Any weekend warriors out there tackling their own adventures?
Boneshakerbike 