Author: Bill

Good, wonderful, sunny, and courageous Monday!  Well, it is not great because although it looks sunny out it is brutally cold.  If the wind were not blowing 140 mph we could maybe, just maybe, warm up.  Yesterday was good though and I got in a good ride to boot. Check out my photo gallery for an album full of awesome pictures, look for “March 23rd, 2008 – Bearmouth Road Ride”.

I went with my buddy to ride from Bearmouth to Drummond and back.  It takes just a tad under two hours at a moderately easy pace.  it was the perfect ride for yesterday.  Heck, the temps even got into the upper 40s. Now that is spring weather!  Keep it fast!

So, yesterday marked the debut of the season’s racing shenanigans, and it took us to the scenic roads of Clinton, MT. Now, our dear Mr. Jedzilla decided it would be a brilliant idea to toss me into the ‘A’ group. You can imagine me there, sweating bullets, paranoid about either stepping on the toes of the ‘big boy’ peloton or, heaven forbid, causing a spectacular tumble. The main mission? To clock in a 30-minute time trial. Why? Oh, just a tiny quest for my anaerobic threshold data – no biggie. And would you believe it? The stars aligned, and I hit an AT of 172! How’s that for sweet?

As for today’s agenda, it’s looking like a 1.5-hour joyride to shake off the cobwebs and get the legs spinning – Bearmouth is calling, and hopefully, it’s not a solo adventure. Oh, and get this: I might just be inching closer to the team life. Team NRO threw a line my way, hinting at a spot on their roster. So, what’s the moral of the story? Keep those pedals turning, and who knows where the road might take you. Ride hard, folks!

Just dropped the snapshots from our epic Thursday Night Ride – take a gander! Somehow, today’s vibe is more “meh” than TGIF, and I’m wrestling with the guilt of maybe ruffling a few feathers. But hey, last night’s escapade was a blast, as per usual.

We tore through the concrete jungle and the trails of Rattlesnake drainage like there was no tomorrow. Turns out, winter’s hanging on by its frosty fingernails – today’s snowstorm barely blinked at us, and it looks like the white blanket’s gonna tuck us in for a bit longer. But we’re a stubborn bunch; we’ll hang tight until the sun decides to grace us with its presence, melting our chilly moods along with the snow.

Now, onto the gossip mill – John W. relayed a note from Jed Dennison, basically saying tomorrow’s training race is a no-go if it’s under 40 degrees and raining or, heaven forbid, snowing. For the adventurers journeying from afar, Jed’s your go-to guy for a weather check-in come morning.

Feeling a bit deflated about the race and still reeling from this morning’s drama (cue the quick palaver). That’s all, folks – signing off with a heavy heart and soggy sneakers!

After work, I was greeted at the door with a box from Price Point. My new kit from my new team ‘Unattached’ had arrived. I couldn’t help but try on the new gear to see if I would look out of place at the races. I must say that I really like the Fox Racing jersey; it’s lightweight, has a full zipper, is inexpensive, and even has a sunglass wiper – how cool is that?

Last night, my buddy Josh showed up with some beers, and a simple shifter replacement turned into a mild overhaul of the cable system. You know how it goes when you’ve had a bike for a while and it’s been a bit neglected. You take off one thing to fix it, and you have to replace or repair all the adjoining parts.

Tonight is the Thursday Night Ride (http://thursdaynightmtbr.org/). I’ll see you all there!

Last night threw me a curveball, giving me the perfect excuse to swap out my tires for those slick road bike tires, gearing up for this weekend’s race.

Good morning from Missoula where I just woke up and feel like another three days of sleep would feel so good. Yesterday I rode my bike from Drummond to Georgetown Lake and beyond.  In all I rode 90 miles and that completed my 222 mile week.  Now it is time to rest. Another big milestone is that I have reached the 1000 mile threshold and now can officially call myself “in shape”.  Time to race!

The drive to Drummond was spectacular and again just like the day before it was sunny and very nice which was in stark contrast to Missoula’s dark overcast and snow storm.  But just like the day before, a sunny drive doesn’t mean a sunny ride.

I left Drummond starring straight into a cloud that looked like it was dumping precipitation.  Entering into Hall the clouds looked like they were on the move and I was bracing for a long day in the saddle. After cycling an hour I reached Maxville and discovered that the clouds had passed and the sun was coming out.  The entire ride it seemed as if the sun was following me around.

At the 2 hour mark I finally reached the climb up the pass. I remarked to myself that now the fun would begin.  It was a blast and I must say this is my favorite pass.  It seems dramatic and the views can not be matched.  Once on top the Pintlers are astonishing. The road is great and to my surprise the driest roads I have encountered this year.  The best part is that there is barely any traffic.  If found myself reaching for the camera one to many times.  Stay tuned for video!

The trip back to the car was fabulous.  The sun came out in force and the all downhill route went by so fast I had to do a side trip once I got back to Drummond.  All I can say about this ride is, thank you sun.  This is the best one of the year so far. Next week is a road race and the week following I am working on a 150 miler … stay tuned.

Bundled up and carbing on a bagel while snowflakes dance outside… life indeed goes on. I’ve uploaded some photos to my web album to share the experience.

Yesterday’s venture to Lost Trail Pass was a repeat of the blizzard challenge from two years back. The drive there was stunning, but as I pedaled towards the pass, Mr. Blizzard decided to join the party.

This year, I may not have ‘won’ against the elements, but I completed my ride and had a blast.

The cold was biting, especially as I returned to Sula. My knees were stiff, almost as if my muscles had turned to ice. A detour down East Fork Road into Badger Gulch brought some warmth back into my limbs and lifted my spirits. From that point, the ride was fantastic, despite the earlier discomfort.

Stay warm and enjoy your own rides!

Big shoutout to Don for the level-up: Hats off to USA Cycling, folks! They’ve bumped my road racing license from the newbie ranks of category 5 right up to 4. Now, I’m all for the thrill of early-season races, but let me tell you, nothing zaps the fun out of it like being greeted with eyerolls and those “Oh look, another sandbagger” comments at the starting line. You see, I’ve been perpetually stuck in cat 5 purgatory, not because I’m a slouch, but simply because I couldn’t cram enough races into my schedule to climb the ranks. But then, bam! At the state cyclocross championships, I somehow managed to snag third place overall. That’s right, third! Doesn’t exactly scream “novice rider,” does it?

Now, there’s a darn good reason they make sure you’ve got some miles under your belt before they let you race on the road – it’s a whole different beast compared to the forgiving trails of mountain biking. Just the other day, I got this notification from the man, the myth, the legend – Don Russell himself, granting me this upgrade. And while landing in category 4 might not have me doing cartwheels, it’s a step closer to my ultimate goal: category 3.

Why this sudden obsession with road racing, you ask? Well, in the wilds of Montana, bike races are as rare as hen’s teeth, so I grab ’em whenever I can. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts!

Epic Road Rides Alert This Weekend: Just so you know, I’m plotting two epic out-and-back road adventures this weekend, both kicking off at the civilized hour of 1PM from their respective launch pads. Open invitation, folks – join me if you’re game. We usually stick together like a happy little peloton at the start, but eventually, it’s every rider for themselves, cruising at whatever pace doesn’t make your legs scream in protest. I plan on setting a brisk pace, though.

Lost Trail (Saturday): http://tinyurl.com/27ekme
Georgetown Lake (Sunday): http://tinyurl.com/293b2k
I’ll be caffeinating at City Brew each morning, so drop me an email if you’re keen. For those of you who decide everything last minute, give me a ring. If I’m not home, the answering machine will happily listen to your life story.

Hope to see some of you there!

Ah, the sweet siren song of payday echoed through my life today, and what did I do? I marched right out and renewed my racing license. The quest for sponsorships this year? A resounding echo of crickets, my friends. So, here I am, flying the flag for Team Solo (a.k.a., the self-sponsored warrior).

In a valiant effort to stretch those dollars, I scoured the earth for the most wallet-friendly racing jersey known to mankind. And voila, to your right, behold the glorious ensemble. Found a steal on Price Point for a cool 30 bucks (link omitted—still a bit salty they ghosted my heartfelt sponsorship plea).

And let’s not overlook the pièce de résistance—the team bottoms, also courtesy of Price Point. Yes, my derrière will be gracing the most budget-friendly piece of fabric out there. Fingers crossed my backside outlasts the durability of these bottoms. On the bright side, racing results under USA Cycling will list me as Un-Attached, a fancy way of saying I’m flying solo without any team or club ties. A shoutout to all the underdog racers out there—surely we deserve a discount on these license fees, right? If only that $90 fee hadn’t been a barrier, I might’ve joined a bike club instead.

But hey, no use crying over spent cash. The season is upon us, folks! So here’s to the thrill of the race. Bring it on—the track awaits us!

Yesterday was a teaser of what could’ve been a glorious outdoor adventure, but alas, duty called with an indoor strength workout that just couldn’t wait. However, the real party started afterwards when I got to tinker with my buddy Paul’s bike. It’s shaping up pretty nicely, if I do say so myself.

Now, here comes the plot twist—tonight marks the grand premiere of the TNR (Tuesday Night Rides, for the uninitiated) season, and guess what’s making a dramatic entrance? Our first spring snowstorm, right on cue. It’s like deja vu all over again, mirroring last year’s soggy start to the riding season, complete with a side of rain that seemed to put a damper on everyone’s spirits—and attendance. Let’s cross our fingers and hope we’re not about to hit replay on that dreary tune!

The sun eventually made its comeback, completely transforming the day. The only souvenir from the earlier chill is my frozen fingers. Tonight’s ride took me up Miller Creek Road, which is quickly becoming my favorite. The photos really say it all. Covered about 26.1 miles, with 40% of it on dirt.

There is a lot of snow in the passes, but nonetheless, yesterday’s weather made the runoff-covered roads not so bad as a select group of friends and myself rode from Lolo to the Pass, 33 miles uphill. I actually went on into Idaho deeper so that I could do my annual ride up the pass on the NW Passage Scenic Byway.

Ross took a half-hour head start while I waited for Bill S. to arrive at the meeting spot. The day was marvelous, and the usual wind coming down the valley was pretty much calm. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and great temperatures. This was the first ride since before Thanksgiving that I have done without a jacket. I heard rumors that it may have reached the upper 50s yesterday.

We found Ross pedaling away at Lolo Hot Springs, then at the chain-up area before the actual climbing began Bill S. stopped for some grub… I took on the climb in hopes of dashing my previous record of … hmmm … well, I know I have never done it in under 2.5 hours (stats). So I topped out at about 2 hours even if not a couple of minutes over (time was not accurate because of the riding around I did waiting for the ride to start).

I refreshed, ate a snack, and bombed down the Idaho side. I paused at the bottom for some great views and snapped off a couple of photos. I was such a tourist! After taking it all in, I hammered out the climb, which did not take long either.

I set off on a tempo ride back to Lolo where I just caught up to Bill S. as he was driving away at the parking lot. He reported a great first ride of the season. Not long, I arrived at Ross’s house to discover that Ross had a great day and hammered out the 66 miles in style. For me, I had cycled 78.9 miles in all and felt pretty fresh at just 4 hours and 15 minutes in the saddle. A great ride!

Next week! Training Camp at Lake Como … anybody want to come?

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

Hello from City Brew as I watch the sun come up over Lolo Peak.  Today is a good day for a ride and ride we will, over Lolo Pass to Idaho (check out the map). Yesterday’s training ride was tempo and was going great until BANG! I broke a rear spoke and had to hobble home.  I felt good because it would force me to put on the new Neuvation wheel that the president of the company sent me to replace this one before what had just happened, happened.

Waver Report and Award

Yesterday’s wave report was much better than the previous one where I got 0% wave back from other cyclists.  Yesterday I got 4 wave backs and 2 non wavers (screw them).  One of them I yelled at because not only did he not wave he gave me the “look”.  This weeks Waver of the Week is Shawn Radley of MontanaCycloCross.Com.  He not only waved but he said “Hey Bill” … awesome.  We should all be like Shawn, it will brighten up our road riding world here in Missoula. Head on over to his site and say, “hey” back.

Taking a day off training doesn’t mean just lounging around—nope, not at all. It’s all about those chores and taking Marcy out for her hikes. “Active rest” is the phrase of the day.

So, what’s on the agenda today? A bit of riding, and… well, what else do you really need? Tomorrow’s the Lolo Pass Ride, and it’s an open invite. Speed doesn’t matter; it’s all about soaking in those stunning views and enjoying the ride. Let’s hit the road and make the most of it!

Just two days ago, I was battling hypothermia in a snowstorm. Contrastingly, last night’s ride was in sunny, warm weather, albeit brief. For a detailed route of this stark change in adventure, See map.

I did face a challenge running out of roads. Aiming for a three-hour ride, I ventured out towards and beyond Frenchtown, only to return and discover I had ridden for just 2:15. Next time, I’m pushing to 9 Mile. I’m riding all weekend—anyone up for it? Don’t let your hesitation hold you back; it’ll catch up by summer!

Good morning from Missoula Montana where today is stacking up the be a great day for a road ride.  Tonight, 3 hours … anyone? Give me a holler! Yesterday I woke up to another white coating of devil dust but lucky for me (specially after the Hell Ride) I had a indoor power workout planned.  I am feeling a bit tired and it is good to feel.  It only means the season is right around the corner.