Last night’s Thursday Night Ride out at the Blue Mountain Rec Area had about 9 of us.  I started out with 6 and we meet up with three others (The Browns).  It was nice to see Ross, Emily, and Lydia … all in one ride.  Cool! We had a split up when one of us flatted and after that I just did small loops with a sub group of Ross and Emily. I know it appears like only two riders but these are the only two photos that turned out.  Check out the TNR Photos!

Devils Slide This Weekend

Tomorrow I team up with some friends for a LONG AWAITED race weekend. We are going to Lewiston Idaho for the Devils Slide Mountain Bike Race.  I am taking my tent and I am soooo excited to hit the dirt on my Leader. It should be a glorious warm weekend to boot!  The season starts now!

Anyone want to go let me know (like it’s too late now but the more the merrier).

As soon as I got home from work the arrival of the latest storm had me bummed to the max.  Just moments before leaving work the sun was out and the temps were trying to reach 50.  They did not, in fact it started to rain with snow developing on the foothills … AGAIN! So I went home and plopped down in the couch. Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

Just an hour and a half before bedtime I dug deep, very deep, to salvage what time I had left for a workout.  I did Core and Jumps on the trainer for the rest of the evening.  I felt good to have salvaged what was supposed to be a wonderful mountain bike day turned horrible. Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

This morning I found myself wondering.  What should I do to get through the day until tomorrow which just happens to be pay day.  Three days until payday my fridge looks pretty bare.  Ah, life in Missoula. It has character!

Tonight is the Thursday Night Ride … I don’t want to talk about it.  The weather is crap and I refuse to ride my new bike in crap.  So I guess I am looking at a cyclocross situation.  My K2 is broke … I tried to adjust the stem and broke it.  Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

Today’s Parting Thoughts:

• Did anyone see Jill Homers video?
• Alden Wright sent me this link to MTBPost.Com!
• “Ales For Trails” in Billings.
• My comments to the 24 Hours of Rapeljie.
• You can repair torn tires being used for Stan’s NoTubes!
• The radar is not looking good for tonight’s ride!

Big props to my buddy Chris Rose! Remember those days we prepped for a whole season of tearing it up on our mountain bikes? We’d go for these epic rides and then just collapse, spread-eagle, on the toasty driveway pavement (yep, the one next to the place I was renting from him) to bask in the early spring sun. Then, it was all about giving our bikes some TLC on the porch, gearing up for the next adventure. Man, those were the days, huh?

Sending good vibes from an oh-so-promising Missoula, Montana, where I’m feeling top-notch after figuring out where I went wrong. A little PSA for everyone: munch on your fruits and veggies, and when it’s time to chill… snag a massage and dive into some active recovery. Just like that, I bounced back last night.

Guess what? I’ve got a new toy – a commuting totals gadget page. Take a gander at my commuting stats!

And hey, the good times seem to be rolling into town here too. The weather folks are teasing us with forecasts of the 60s and (fingers crossed) possibly the 70s this weekend. One can only dream, right? You’ll find me soaking up the sun – where will you be?

Today’s Parting Thoughts:

The local heroes, Team 5 Valley Velo, rocked it in Spokane! Check out their story: https://ts5vvraves.blogspot.com/2008/04/frozen-flatlands-2008.html

Like the Sammy Hagar song, right? You managed to do just shy of 56 miles last night in under 3 hours. That’s an impressive feat! I’m glad you shared the map (http://tinyurl.com/6dh7mv) – it looks like you had quite the adventure, going out to Frenchtown via Big Flat and Mullan Road, then up to the Rocky Mountain Robeux route before turning and heading home on the access road, including a side trip up Butler Creek Road. Based on your odometer and Google Maps, the total distance was right around 56 miles.

That’s quite a story about the body being found in the river. It’s unfortunate to hear about such tragic events, and I can understand why it would make you reflect on why some people are drawn to fishing in Montana. However, I’ll avoid reproducing any copyrighted material, including potential references to the film “A River Runs Through It.” Let me know if you have any other questions!

Took it out last night for 3 hours at Blue Mountain. Check out the album! Check out my loop! I call it “Spring Blues Loop” and it is 4.7 miles long. The rest of the area is still too muddy to ride. If anyone is interested, I am going on a three-hour road bike ride tonight at 5. Let me know!

This weekend’s forecast in Missoula is a 50% chance of snow and a high of 36 degrees.

The search results include links to the 2013 RMVQ, a blog post about the Remember Marcy Vision Quest (RMVQ), the top 20 most beautiful road biking routes in Montana, and information about the Route of the Hiawatha, a scenic mountain bike or hike trail.

The content reflects a deep passion for cycling, endurance challenges, and the spirit of adventure. It’s inspiring to see individuals push their limits and embark on such extraordinary journeys. The dedication and determination of the participants shine through in these engaging narratives.

If you’re a cycling enthusiast, these links will provide you with a wealth of information about challenging biking routes, personal achievements, and the incredible spirit behind these adventures.

Citations:
[1] https://williammartin.com/mountain-biking/2013-rmvq
[2] https://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/one-big-circle-the-first-90-degrees/
[3] https://www.komoot.com/guide/44269/road-cycling-routes-in-montana
[4] https://williammartin.com/mountain-biking/the-rmvq
[5] https://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail

Hello from City Brew (just kidding about having to sell my body for a scone). I would like to give a congratulations to my cycling friends in New York (see previous conversation). I just updated my schedule after yesterday’s cancellation.

I also updated my training data page, which includes some nifty Google Gadgets to display the data from my training log. Wish I could be going to Fletcher Pass today.

Greetings from a cafe that seems to have left its charm at the door, alongside any semblance of scones and Wi-Fi (currently leeching internet from the electronics store next door). My wallet’s on a diet, meaning the delightful scones and complimentary Wi-Fi at City Brew are a no-go, so here I am, courtesy of a pal’s generosity, nursing a cup of joe at the most vanilla of corporate coffee joints. And oh, the saga of disappointment marches on.

Today’s race in Polson? Axed, thanks to a blizzard’s untimely cameo. There I was, hitting the road at the crack of dawn, only to realize I should’ve been hitting my inbox instead. Fast forward, and I’m hunkered down with my PDA, trying to blog my way through an ambiance thick with the aroma of coffee and the frostiness of its servers. It’s like everyone’s on the brink of a caffeine-fueled duel. Had a chat with a fellow queue warrior whose tennis plans got snowed under too. Marvelous.

Retreating to the confines of my abode, I embarked on a culinary rampage, devouring anything within arm’s reach before succumbing to a food-induced coma… And now, here I am, basking in the glow of my coffee-powered artificial sunshine, attempting to wring out some creativity.

Seems I’m about to face off with the blizzard again, in a valiant effort to rescue what remains of the weekend. I’m pondering ditching racing altogether, just to be a tad more adaptable when life decides to throw its curveballs. Because clearly, it’s throwing blizzards right now.

Hey there from chilly Missoula, Montana! 😬 Facing snow advisories and still talking about races in Polson tomorrow – gotta love the spirit! Last night was a blast at the Adventure Cycling Party over at Missoula Bike Works. That’s the same spot where we kick off our TNR rides each week. Stuffed ourselves with food (I definitely overdid it) before deciding to tackle the fire road for a bit of a Treasure Ride adventure. Check out the map!

We managed to push through to the trees in Crazy Canyon, but that was our limit. The ride down was a thrill, though! Ended up cutting the trip short and split up at the bottom. Next stop? Blue Mountain Rec. Area next week.

Anyone up for a trip to Polson tomorrow? Hit me up!

Ah, greetings from Missoula, Montana, where the sun has decided to grace us with its presence, albeit a tad shyly. Despite the thermometer flirting with the thirties, it seems we’ve got a snowstorm rolling in to spice up the weekend. So, there’s a solid chance my plans to hit the road for a race might get snowed out—again. It’s like Mother Nature herself is plotting against my cycling calendar, having already thrown a wrench in the works for some high school sports that are usually in full swing by now.

Last evening, instead of painting the town red, I opted for a cozy night in. The agenda? Some R&R and tinkering with a new cleat position. Gotta say, it’s not every day you find joy in adjusting bike cleats, but here we are. Managed to sneak in a bit of extra prep on my race beast, gearing up for what I hope will be a smashing time at the Devil’s Slide in Lewiston, Idaho, next weekend. Fingers crossed the weather gods are on our side this time.

Oh, and speaking of good times, tonight’s the shindig over at Missoula Bike Works. We’re bringing our TNR (Tuesday Night Ride) crew there. How about it? Fancy joining a bunch of bike enthusiasts for an evening of tales and trails? Come on, it’ll be fun!

Speedwagon Classic Next

Matt Seeley in Polson, MT, is hosting the inaugural Speedwagon Classic Bike Race this Saturday at 10 AM, and I strongly encourage everyone to participate and enjoy themselves. He promises it will be a memorable ride, and best of all, it’s free! Racing without a fee – that’s exactly what I’m excited about. Below are the details and the map.

The race begins at 10 AM, with a barbecue to follow at 5 PM.

APRIL FOOLS … Spring is NOT here! Good morning from Missoula Montana. We just got hit by another snow squall and it is cold enough that it isn’t melting any more.  The parking lot is getting coated as I blog. Last nights hike with Marcy afforded me a great view of white nothing. Were have all the flowers gone ??? On top of all that I am getting a back log of bikes to clean, repair, and ready to ride.  The weather is killing the parts.

I plan to leave work today and go snow biking (yes, snow biking) to Blue Mountain Rec. Area.  I plan to explore what will be doable for Thursday.  Anyone want to go … contact me!

On a cool note I have posted some Google Gadgets on my site, sort of like a health dashboard.  Check it out!

Hello from Missoula, Montana, where we’re expecting 6 inches of snow, and it seems winter’s decided to overstay its welcome with a flair for the dramatic. Just yesterday, this reminder hit me hard, and today, I find myself in desperate search of a sliver of sunshine—anything to break through the monotony and reignite our hope that summer isn’t just a myth.

What kicked off as a promising day and a journey to a breathtaking spot quickly turned into an epic saga of endurance. I embarked on a road ride from Plains to Thompson Pass—a whopping 91 miles that, despite the ordeal, I don’t regret one bit. The beauty of the area is undeniable, a true classic in its own right.

Campin’ out at City Brew ’til the clock strikes 10, then I’m homeward bound by 11. Got this itch to hit the trails at Thompson Falls – think secret passage to Idaho vibes, just asphalt and the open road, no bumper-to-bumper nonsense. Anyone up for a map quest? Wouldn’t say no to a bit of company… Hit me up! Planning to roll out at the crack of half-past noon, by which time the sun should’ve done its bit to thaw us out.

Splashed some snapshots onto my My Picassa Gallery. Morning kicked off with me tinkering on my mountain bike project, then it was all systems go for the day’s race. Got there, already signed up and all, to find tumbleweeds. Did a victory lap solo and crowned myself champ. Home next, for a winner’s nap, then back to greasing the gears on my mountain bike ’til the stars came out.

From City Brew, I’m building up Lolo, my racing bike, as I prepare for the MJCF Missoula Road Race #2. With registration looming, the race’s status is uncertain, but I’m ready to head out, hoping it’s on or to find a riding partner at Missoula Bike Works.

Tomorrow’s big plan involves a pass ride from Thompson Falls into Idaho, exploring a lesser-known pass to the West. Interested in joining? Let me know!

Check out the photo I’m smiling about in my Picasa Gallery and more about the race at MJCF Missoula Road Race #2. Planning a ride? See the route on Google Maps.

Greetings from Missoula, Montana! The sun’s up and shining bright, but don’t let it fool you – it’s still nippy out here. March is doing its usual dance, teasing us with light but holding back on the warmth. Had a bit of an adventure last night checking out the local trail scene. Decided to give Treasure Ride a go, only to discover it’s more of an ice rink than a trail right now. Clearly, the trails aren’t quite spring-ready.

But, not all was lost! I found solace in the new trail up South Sentinel – that one’s good to go. It intersects the fire road and, let me tell you, it was a treat. Managed to get in 6 laps before the sun dipped, basking in what felt like a preview of spring, soaking up those warmer temps.

The descent, however, was a whole other story. The temperature drop turned my ride back into a chilly endeavor – Brrrr, indeed! Here’s to the sunny but deceptive days of early spring in Montana.

So there I was, gallivanting across the great outdoors with Marcy—our so-called “active recovery mission” (fancy talk for hiking with a purpose), when lo and behold, a splash of color caught my eye amidst the monotony of the earthy terrain. I stooped down, half-expecting to unearth a rogue piece of litter, perhaps a strip of plastic tape gone rogue. But then, I paused. My brain couldn’t quite make the connection; this splash didn’t seem to belong in the otherwise dormant, frost-kissed field.

After a moment, the proverbial light bulb flickered on. Holy guacamole, it was a flower! You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. Considering we’ve been living in a snow globe since just before Thanksgiving, this little bloom felt like a herald of a long-awaited thaw. My apologies to my tele-buddies—oops, I mean tele-tubbies (darn you, spring fever, you’ve got me all mixed up!). Get it? Because it’s like the end of our own wintery episode. Ha!

On a whimsical note, if this little encounter has tickled your fancy for some floral escapades, why not check out a gallery of wildflowers? It’s like nature’s own version of a rebellious art exhibit, splashing color where you least expect it. It will be updated in the future with images uploaded to this blog.