Coasting UpHill

For the most part it was an easy day.  We rode from our Warm Showers Hosts home (more on this below) to another hosts home in Darby MT on a paved bike route.  We did have about 14 miles on a back road that provided some awesome views of the Bitterroot Mountains.   Other than…

After 15 days of riding there are some things I have learned I thought I would share… Mountains look bigger on the map and in the distance but once you start up them it’s not so bad. Take breaks and keep going. Subaru drivers are the most courteous when passing cyclists. So far, as a…

The distance between Lowell, ID and Missoula, MT was a bit too much for one day as it also includes a mountain pass that is over 5100’ above sea level. So we decided to break up the distance and do 65 miles of gradual climbing and stay at Lochsa Lodge.  We would be riding beside…

13 days into the ride life has become an interesting routine. It is simplistic in some ways with basic goals like eating enough calories, riding enough miles, dealing with sun, rain, elevation gain, elevation loss, and wind. Also where can I sleep at the end of the day, where can I get water and how…

Living  out of the saddlebags on my bike and refilling with food and water along the way has given me a greater appreciation for those who settled this land. I almost feel like an explorer.  Except, they didn’t have smooth roads, coffee shops, motels or campsites when they arrived, laundry facilities or well made maps.…

I’ve been riding for 11 days now and gone 600 miles.  I’m well behind what I thought I would cover in 11 days.  Originally my plan was to average 70 miles per day.  I’ve had 3 of my days over 75 miles but most closer to 50.  And i’m seriously good with this.  No, really…

Day 9 started with a little breakfast we grabbed from a local store. Well I should explain “little”…. I’m eating a lot on this ride. So the night before I had a huge chicken fried steak, big pile of mashed potatoes, corn and a big salad – went to bed hungry. So when morning came…

It’s not always tailwinds, sunny, and downhill Besides the riding adventure, much of my trip was to provide the opportunity to spend time with the Lord in prayer and in scripture. Using Psalm 1:1-3 as a guide I wanted to meditate on and memorize some verses.  One of those is James 1:2-4 (ESV)  “Count it…

Yep, it was a long day…  82 miles,  3 mountain passes climbed, hours grinding uphill, awesome downhill coasting, great scenery, another flat tire and the last 10 miles in cold rain… But here was the cool part… at the top of the first mountain pass I was taking a break and getting warm clothes back on…

Day 6 started early eating 3 breakfasts…. Oatmeal, bowl of cereal, and then toast with jelly and another bit of cereal.  Also lots of coffee…. Had a big day of riding ahead of me including a long climb out of Mitchell.  The climbs over mountain passes here aren’t easy because they are long but that…