indyfabz

An article about the financial impact of cycle tourism in Montana featuring yours truly:

Cyclists bring millions of dollars into Montana

I certainly dropped some coin during trips there.

This is how people get discovered!

RoadHolland

I can imagine riding there! The video at the end didn't show any "SUN" as the road suggested. Take Road Holland on your next tour!

indyfabz

It can rain a lot in June in Glacier National Park. I have ridden the west side of Gong to the Sun three times (and descended the east side once). The first time ('99) it was nice, although the visitor center at the pass was still burried under snow. The second time ('00) it rained much of the way up, and it was pretty cold. At the summit, a ranger let me into the employee break room where there was a fire burning. She also let me snag some newspaper to stuff in my arm and leg warmers to help keep me warm during the descent back to camp, during which a bear ran across the road. The third time ('09) it was cloudy at the start, but then the sun came out about half way up, and it stayed sunny the entire time. It's an amazing ride and not as difficult grade-wise as oyu might imagine.

One correction to the article. I did not ride 10,000 miles during my cross country trip. I told the reporter during the phone interview that between May of '99 and July of '00 to did three long tours totaling about 10,000 miles. The interview was not recorded and I could hear the reporter typing notes. She must have misunderstood me or her notes.

I am slated to ride from the Youngstown, OH area home to Philly starting on 9/6. Budgetting 8 days, but may stretch it to nine if the 82 mile day I have planned, after a 73 mile day the day before, is too much.

kaisersling

Montana has some of the most stunning terrain you could ever imagine. Do what you can to get there. I have only ridden in the Bozeman, Paradise Valley and Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. I have yet to make it up to Glacier NP. It will be next on my list. Plus you have the added bonus of breaking all of your PRs on Strava when you come back east due to training at altitude

indyfabz

Here is the link to a photo album from the trip:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2...7645062932708/

Missoula is an easy place to start a trip. There is a KOA camground about 4 miles from the airport (MSO). REI is two blocks from the KOA. I flew into MSO, took a cab to the KOA with my gear and then walked over to REI, where I had shipped my bike, racks, stove and empty fuel bottle. REI reassmbled and tuned the bike for only $40. I gave them my duffel bag that contained most of my gear and stored it along with my bike box (no charge). I also picked up some fuel for my stove and a few last minute items. The KOA is not in the center of town, but it's an easy 4 or so mile ride there. At the end of the trip, I went back to the KOA and then took my bike back to REI for shipping home. The $40 packing charge was cheap compared to what I pay locally.

Riding out of Missoula southeast is busy for a while, but there is a good shoulder on U.S. 93. In Lolo, about 12 miles out of town, you can pick up a bike trail all the way to Hamilton. Nice views of the surrounding mountains from the trail. After Hamilton, you can take beautiful backroads off the highway to Darby. By day two you can be riding over the mountains.

With planning (mostly lodging reservations), you can do the loop I did "credit card" style. Any trip to Glacier that does not involve camping requires advance planning as the competition for the relatively limited lodging options is much greater.

Adventure Cycling usually runs a supported camping tour in Montana every year. This year, they did a loop out of Bozeman. I crossed paths with the event when I stayed at the Twin Bridges Bike Camp mentioned in the article. ACA used it as their lunch stop. The next day they did the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway like I had done and got hailed on like I did. I also ran into them during their rest day in Butte.