Hello from Bozeman Montana where the mountains are tall and the men are riding on them. Tommorrow is the state championships out at the Bohart Ranch near Bridger Bowl. My host has wireless internet so I figured I would post and say hi to all my friends and family out there battling this hot summer heat.
It got up to 106 today in Missoula but I did not notice as I was extremely stressed out at work. I had big deadlines to make before leaving to come here. I wanted to come with my friends and they were leaving town around 3:30. I did not make my deadlines and to make it all worse I deleted a clients database by accident. I was near the end of my rope and even my boss tried to settle me down. I proceeded to have a mental meltdown right there at work and that is where I picked up this massive headache that I am enjoying now. Just when it looked so bleak that it seemed that I was going to miss the race, I overcame a small hurdle and finished the site enough that it appeared to be online and working. The boss mentioned that I could leave and without hesitating I left and went home.
It seemed that I missed my friends so it looked as though I was on my own for the weekend. Then I learned that my friends had not left town yet and that I would get to go with them after all.
So after all that stress we have finally made it. Everyone is tucked into bed and I am the only one left up as I end this blog. I would like to give Mom and Dad a shout out, thanks, I got your message and I will do my best tomorrow.
(By: Karl Rosengarth) The 3,100-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) runs the spine of the Rockies from Canada to Mexico, and is predominately open to bikes in non-Wilderness areas. However, bike access to the country’s longest shared-use trail is now in jeopardy. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) reports that the Forest Service just released a draft rule that would encourage land managers to kick bikes off existing routes, and not include bicycling on future segments. Your help is needed to help preserve bicycle access! Here’s what you can do:
Send Comments. File formal comments with the Forest Service. IMBA’s simple form makes it easy. The Forest Service’s deadline for comments is Monday, August 13.
Spread the Word. Rally your friends and ask them to echo your support for bike access on this outstanding trail. We need thousands of comments to hold out hope for continued access.
Help Maintain the CDNST. If you live or play near the CDNST, consider organizing or attending trailwork days to help build and maintain this magnificent trail.
Donate. The IMBA Legal Fund needs your financial support to preserve singletrack.
Hello! I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July. Since I have the day off, nothing to do, and no one around to do anything I thought I would get more photos processed from last year [Check out the photos!] . Some day I’ll get caught up.
These photos were mostly taken by my friend R. Brown and I have to say that he got some great shots. The race was Thunder and Lightening and my buddy was able to stop by after work to check out this sport we call cross.
The course was great and the crowds were too. I was not great as I had pulled some muscles and was in tons of pain. Even so; these photos will make a cyclist Jones for the cross season. For now I am enjoying the mountain bike season so I have no urges to race cross yet.
Week #2 of the Graymont Mountain Bike Series just rolled by, courtesy of ROAR. I’ve been getting a ton of messages about it—yes, the very one from the Adirondacks, where I claim my roots in Plattsburgh, despite my upbringing in Roundup, MT. Thought it’d be neat to share the lowdown on the races from back home!
Next week, the action continues at Cadyville Park. Scoop up more deets at web.northnet.org/roar/.
Kids Race:
Colden Mitchell
Myles Mitchell
3 Lap Race:
Charlie Mitchell – 55:00
Rob McCarty – 56:15
Chris Rose – 56:39
Bruce Bunn – 61:08
Andy LaPlante – 64:15
Mike Williams – 66:58
The Mitchells are setting the pace, Ed’s MIA, and Rob’s pulling his usual early-season hustle. Keep an eye on Rob; he’s likely to shift into high gear soon. And Chris, my old racing sidekick from the East Coast adventures, knows too much for his own good!
Good morning from a cheap coffee house downtown. If Starbucks or Bernice’s had free wire-less, believe me, I would be there. I have two observations today and I acquired them while riding my single speed to the coffee shop downtown for a holiday coffee and snack fest.
Losing Weight Isn’t Always A Good Thing! Yea! So if you find this paragraph offending; so what. Its my blog and I’ll blog what I want to. So I am riding my bike and my computer/bike bag is digging into the small of my back. You know right were that fat collects when you go on a Ben and Jerry’s binge every day for a year. So I came up with this conclusion or thought. Losing weight has its drawbacks. Everything is now uncomfortable. I can not sit to long because my bony ass falls asleep and now carrying back packs and bags hurt like hell. That fat used to be such a cushion. So even though i am light now I must carry light. Hmm, paradox in there.
Considerately Cleaning! I say this to all you bums that spill your coffee and the creamer/sugar stand in the coffee shops. If you don’t clean up your mess Karma says that someone in a black beetle will run you over while you are crossing a street. If you are lucky to survive that I am going to pull up in your driveway, walk into your house, and spill a cup of coffee on your carpet. JERKS! I put my scone down today in a puddle of someone’s dribble. JERK! Clean it up!
Ok so it is on to cheerful things like getting together a blog about last nights big adventure. Until then, keep that sun in the sky and the trail beneath your bike.
Greetings from my Missoula, Montana apartment, where sleep eludes me again. It’s odd; after struggling to sleep until 3 AM last night, you’d think exhaustion would win tonight. Yet, here I am, wide awake, no naps, but no drowsiness. Physically, I’m at my peak, ready for the state championships with a resting heart rate better than ever.
In this solitude, wondering about the whereabouts of my friends and my recent loneliness, I’ve decided to share some photos. Click here to see the new set from the Western Montana Hill Climb Championships held annually in Pattee Canyon. The race is a four-mile ascent, climbing 840 feet along Pattee Canyon Drive, starting from Takima corner.
I’ve participated twice, the first time three years ago, and missed another year due to a neck injury. My mountain bike schedule might jeopardize this year’s entry.
Today I was supposed to do some work for someone so that I could attend next week but that fell through so I decided to get a little caught up with photos. I decided to post some pictures that some of my friends took of me while I was racing the Wednesday Night Cyclocross series.
Boy have I come a long way since then. These photos were taken at a race where I was DQ’ed for being lapped. I was overweight and slow and it was this series that I started to develop and get fast once again as a bike racer. Take note at how much body fat I have compared to now. I cant wait for cross season to see how the new body works out.
Have a good weekend and please feel free to keep in touch (post to the lodge).
Hello from somewhere in Missoula Montana where I am just about to head on over the the Kettle House to pick up a growler of Double Haul for tonight’s TNR ride. Tonight is the annual “Seed Spitting Contest” after the ride and I will provide the beverages. Before I head off to mountain bike nirvana I have uploaded the pictures from last weekends race the Epic Soldier Mountain March.
It was a march as the epic course feature two hike-a-bike sections. Normally this would proceed a good bitching session on how the course sucked. But the course did not suck and is possibly the best race course I have ever tackled. And if a great course was not enough I was luck enough to catch up to some of the pro racers and they helped me stay out in front and win expert overall and another podium appearance.
After the race I did some back roads in the beetle as the photos will show. All in all it was a memorable trip and I packed into one day as much as a human could possibly do.
Well it is off to the evening I look forward to all year!
Hello from the Green Hanger Laundromat where I try to get caught up with life stuff. I drove around Idaho all day yesterday checking out the mountains, towns, and back roads. Instead of camping when the sun went down I had this urge to get home so I could relax today and prepare for the up and coming week of work (YUK!).
I am much to exhausted to go into any detail or get some photos up at this time but I must say I had a memorable trip. The race and it’s course yesterday still defy logic in my head and I have come to understand that it is the best race course I have ever been on. I had a awesome time.
This evening I plan to get some groceries and take in a movie before I take a look at the bike to get it ready for another ride. I did come to the conclusion that my stem is too short so I will be putting on the one I had last year. I need more weight over my front tire.
Enjoy your evening everyone and give me a shout out, tell me what your up to. Bye all.
Hello from Soldier Mountain Resort where the awards just completed and I thought I would use the wireless sig to post my results. Well ladies and gents I just stepped off the top podium position once again and continuing the win streak to 6 wins in a row. I am quite lucky given my age.
I was the top expert finisher and right from the gun I took off the front to catch two pro riders that had started a minute before. When I realized I was in fast company I just sat back and enjoyed what I have to say is the best course I have rode to date.
The race started out climbing and when we got to the jagged peaks and flower strewn and still snowy meadows we went hiking. Yes hiked the bike up the mountain. The section was called the Monster and then after hiking the bike for two miles there was a mini grunt to the top of the Sawthooths. I hiked the bike so much I felt like I would cramp.
The downhill would give Mount Snow Vermont a run for its money. It was a truly spectacular decent. I am talking technical folks. I would like to come back with friends to ride this loop. It is unbelievable.
So yea! I wont go on and on how this was a great bike race but just wanted to let everyone know that I had a fabulous ride today and now I am going to go find a bunch of Aspen and hang my hammock in them.
Hello everyone. I took it at Discovery Ski Area last weekend. How purty! Any-hoo I am taking off tomorrow for another adventure which will take me into the Sawtooths of Idaho. Here is a link to my driving plans ==> [link]
Located in the rugged mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest, Soldier Mtn. Resort is just 12 miles north of Fairfield, Idaho. Soldier Mtn Resort, “one of Idaho’s best kept secrets” showcases the kind of terrain that first-time beginners to hard core pros seek to race on – it is a challenging and epic cross country adventure. Racers travel through pine forests and quakin’ aspens, climbing to 8000′. Long technical descents, creek crossings and plenty of rippin’ fast single track – Soldier has it all.
No, I did not write that last paragraph, I got it from theKnobby Tires Website. Hey I have great news as well! I am now leading the MORS series … check out the standings [standings]. It really has not sunk in yet but it feels good given the fact that I never thought I would have a chance to do so well again. The moral of the story is to not EVER think you are to old.
It’s funny how when certain events happen it starts a series of events that enable us to do more than we thought possible. Last weekend I had such a phenomenon and I am still basking in the glory of victory.
Last Saturday I traveled to the Discovery Ski Area just outside of Anaconda to pre ride the course that was to be used for the Discovery Mountain Bike Race the next day. I was nursing an injury so the ride was not totally fun but it was nice to be riding around so much beauty. The course was the same.
The course starts out on a cross-country ski trail climb and then plunges back down on a double track. At the bottom of the first hill the trail turns to east coast style single track but this only lasts about 100 yards as it turns back to cross-country ski trail. Then comes the pretty fun rollers which you have to big ring to keep momentum. Another wicked fast downhill takes you to the second climb but thankfully short and fast.
The road section is next which shoots you down to another logging road. A mile up the logging road you start the third and hardest climb of the race. It is four wheeler double track that goes through the meadows and brings you to the top of a sweet downhill section. The downhill is long and fast although disappointingly double track. Being smooth here means picking up major time on your competitors.
After whooping it up you shoot back out on a major gravel road and stay on it fro what seems 100 miles (actually only 2 or 3). It is a slow climb so you must big ring up it or loose time to your competition. I found this climb the hardest just because of the pure output needed. From the road you climb up and scream down some more cross-country ski trails.
About a mile or two from the finish line you encounter meadows full of spring run off. Major wetness occurs here and this is a part I hated. I was not looking forward to the meadows. I did see some elk there though. From there to the finish is real flat but slightly uphill cross-country ski trail.
On race day I lined up determined to ride with the leaders. The field looked pretty rich as Clint Muhlfeld showed up to race. Thank god the nation champ Grant Keir was not there to push the pace even harder.
We started up the hill and I had no problem keeping up with the main pack in fact I took the lead going into the downhill section so as to not let the faster racers get out of touch. At the bottom of the hill Clint passed me and I prepared for the onslaught of pain as he tried to get away. I miss-shifted and landed myself in a tree. I hoped back on but lost 5 places and the leaders were gone.
I hammered my way to at least a point where they were visible. As we climbed the second climb I was still in contact and in 4th place. I gained a position on the road and rode up to the leaders Clint and Douglas Shryock. It seemed as though they were waiting for me and allowed me to lead to the hardest climb. Thanks for letting me feel like a big shot guys!
On the climb their nature kicked in and they pass me with such vigor that I lost contact. I kept up the good faith just trying to hold off and onto 3rd place. The guy behind seemed strong enough to overtake me and I hammered as hard as I could.
On the downhill I went as fast as I could and let go of the brakes (a very dangerous situation). Once on the road climb I looked up the straight-away and saw my competition a quarter mile ahead of me. I had still lost time but I did put distance on 4th place. I climbed up the road going as fast as I could and by the top I had almost caught Clint as well as 4th place (Matt Butterfield I think) because when I looked around he was right behind me.
As we shoot down to the meadows Clint went down and he seemed very angry so I figured that he dropped a chain or something. later I found out that he cut himself to the bone and went to the ER. At the time I wanted to put on as much time on him as I could and possibly squeak out a second place. This surge would pay off later. Halfway around the second and last lap I caught up to Doug and I stayed behind him for a while. I figured that when we came to the big climb he would charge again so I rested.
We turned the corner and he had nothing so I went. I went all out and barely made it over the crest of the hill. I looked back and I had a huge lead. I hammered through the trees on the downhill faster than I care ever to do again and when I came out on the last road section I had really put on a good lead. I attacked at every incline fearing that Doug would catch me. I went all out to the finish line and was victorious.
For whatever reason the head official John Coulthard shouted to me that I was not finished and that I needed to do another lap. He said this as Matt rolled up in second place. We angrily went off to do another lap. I was able to ride away again but only because he was not willing to chase. I barely made the second lap which would take me to around 40 miles for the day. I finished again but only before a lap of cramping and suffrage. I felt like a fool as everyone laughed and told me I did an extra lap. Damn John! Your a mean person! I felt like the victory had been taken away from me.
But in the end I in fact won the race. So as you can see sometimes events fall into place just right and enable you to do big things. Now it is rest time and preparation for he Knobby Tire Series race this weekend in Fairfield ID. have a good week everyone.
Hello from my apartment in Missoula Montana where I just got back from being ripped off. I would like to post a statement that the local coffee shop “Break Espresso” is the most wacky establishment downtown. Possably a litle dishonest.
Last year I experienced a situation where depending on the mood and employee I would be over charged for a cup of coffee. When asked they would say that the coffee costs $1.25. I stated that previously I paid $1.00. Don’t get me wrong I do realize that that is cheap but that is not the point. So anyway I paid the $1.25. Later in the week I would go in and it would be $1.00 again. So since it was cheap I kept going.
The Break Espresso is my friends favorite place so I kept patronage. Last winter this fried and I experienced another dishonest practice. What this place does is supply 30 black porcelain cups to be filled with coffee for $1.25. What they don’t tell you is that once these cups are in use you must pay extra to use one of their paper cups. So you walk in and notice that all the cups are in use so you grab a paper one … that would be $1.50 please (maybe more I cant remember). And the refills are more as well.
This morning was the last straw. Let me explain. Saturday mornings in the summer is when the streets in front of this shop is the busiest. Break Espresso’s new plan is to get what they can from the wireless users and send them on their way with out so much as one email being read. And they are being very tricky about it. I would have no problem with a sign in the front window that says “Saturday Mornings No Wireless Available”. Do they do that? No! It says “Free Internet Wireless”. So that gets you in the door.
Now I am one of the smart ones, I check that the wireless is up before I get a cup of coffee. That way if the wireless is down, no problem, I’ll just go to another place where it is better. So I go in and sure enough their is a signal and my laptop assures me that I am connected. In the meantime I notice I am only one of three people in the store (last week there were 50 people in their at least).
So after spending $3.00 for a cup of coffee and a day old scone I sit down and check my emails. Something appears to be wrong. I connect to the other access point (the break has front and rear). It says that I am connected but I can not get out on that one either. I check and find out that they disabled the routers functionality that assigns you a unique address (required to connect to the Internet).
So to make this mornings rip-off clear this is what they are doing. They are dishonestly selling you a product while you are under the idea that you will be able to use an advertised service. After paying for your product they pull the rug out from underneath their service offer. So you finish your product and leave. That way they can get more of the crowd in and make more money. When the wireless is going we tend to sit around and do stuff. When others pass by and see a full house they don’t stop in for coffee. Break Espresso takes us wireless users money under a false assumption and then kicks us out so they can pick the pockets of Saturday shoppers. Ha!
Here I sit and an unknown location in the heart of Missoula Montana in a sort of bliss, cup of coffee, and a blueberry scone. Who ever used the link at the top to recharge my Starbucks Gift Card; you are a saint! Thank you, thank you! And … that’s not all. The Starbucks near me (Albertsons) started stocking blueberry scones. So yes! I am in heaven and with a mountain bike ride coming up tonight, life is good. All of you that say “sell out” and stuff against Starbucks I say this; get off your lazy ass and open a coffee shop with “REAL” coffee and “really” good blueberry scones. Until then, just leave me be! Good Day all. Oh yea! Pictures of Lindbergh Lake coming soon.
Hello from somewhere in Montana. I will be out on a training ride tonight and will not make the unofficial Web Lodge chat tonight. I know it has been canceled already but once people started showing up. Now it is an unofficial chat. Still though, I will be out tonight on a ride that will take me to Clinton … Swartz Creek … Miller Divide … Miller Creek … Missoula.
Click on the image to the right for the Google map or try this [link] for the official Google map. I’ll start out on Route 200 and then to 210 which parallels I90. Once I get to Clinton I’ll catch the Schwartz Creek Road up to the Miller Creek Divide. From there it is a burst down into Miller Creek Drainage via Miller Creek Road. The trip is 56.7 miles so I am hoping for a 4 hour affair since most of it is climbing on a loose gravel road. And did I mention? I am taking the cross bike “Askia” or as many of you know as “the fetish”.
Hello from my apartment as I just finish unpacking from the camping trip to a buddies cabin on Lindbergh Lake in the Mission Mountains. The beargrass is out and the place was absolutely spectacular. I even found a bit of outstanding single track. I will post the photos soon, you will have to check back as they are beautiful.
I went up Saturday and spent the night in my friends cabin on the lake. He is building a new lodge and we stayed in his dad’s cabin which I can say that I would be please to live in it as a home. I really must win the lottery.
Saturday I went for a 2.5 hour ride and found some great singletrack called “Glacier Slough Trail”. The trail had it all with technical roots and rocks with fields of wildflowers and the Bob Marshall looming to the East. Absolutely stunning stiff. I saw a cow elk crossing a road at one point of the adventure.
As I approached the summit and my shoulder brushed a tree limb knocking off a bunch of snow I thought to myself that just a month ago we were mountain biking up here. Tonight I hiked University Mountain from town. After the stout 3 hour hike which included heavy snow I decided to finally get those pictures from last weekends race in Salmon up.
Last weekend I attended two races winning both of them. The first race was in Salmon Idaho and I went down with my friend Alden. It was a good time with all my friends getting on the podium, hot showers, and a feast at the end.
Alden
The second race was Sunday in Couer D’Alene and I went with my friends Ross, Lydia, and Emily. We slept overnight at a fisherman’s access (I will be getting these pictures up soon). After a trip into town for some awesome coffee and blueberry scones we proceeded to go to a hot field and race in the Moose Chase. this race had a great course that we raced one lap on. I did not see the moose but I raced with the pros and ended up coming in right behind the third place one.
I am very pleased with the results and I had a great weekend of racing. I have to give credit two My friends and Ross’s daughters who also did races on both days. It takes some courage and a little ambition to do such a feat. My helpmate off to them. Enjoy the pictures and keep the tread to thee trail.
Good morning from a cheap coffee house downtown. If Starbucks or Bernice’s had free wire-less, believe me, I would be there. I have two observations today and I acquired them while riding my single speed to the coffee shop downtown for a holiday coffee and snack fest. 
Boneshakerbike 