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?

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!