One Big Circle: The first 90 Degrees

The loop sounded awesome, 160 miles of single track and logging roads around Missoula, MT, typically accomplished in 24 hours, hmmm .... well, maybe not?

Most folks who know me know that I love sleep, I kind of worship it, I mean I daydream about my down comforter, so the whole 24-hour test of endurance wasn't going to fly. Not to mention needing to ride my bike through the night, and oh yeah the stats: 34,000 feet of elevation gain, including summiting an almost 8,000 ft high point, and riding 160 miles of single-track, all in 24 hours, yeah right! Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm a couch potato, actually this route was very enticing, I have lived in Missoula for over 11 years, and never experienced some of these quintessential rides.  And heck, at any point on the route we would technically be no more than 10 miles from my cozy bed, as the crow flies, that is, and at a few points along the journey we would cross some main roads and services, so technically there were lots of 'outs', and even a few re-supply points.   However, I really had no intention of entering the 24-hour pain cave ....  ever, well maybe...


Most folks who know Bill know that he can endure lots, and lots of pain.  And this route was strictly Bill's, known as the Remember Marcy Vision Quest (RMVQ). Carefully designed for various reasons to take in the local 'high points', to be a 24-hour test of endurance (that's the pain part), and most importantly to honor a friend, Marcy.  Granted Bill is known for his 'bicycling madness' but there was just no way I could even begin to follow him on a traditional RMVQ journey. This route is beefy! However, the lore of it had me hooked and I really wanted to test my multi-day chops, not to mention just have a great adventure by bicycle, and in my own backyard to boot. In 2010 Bill rode this route in 23 hours, for me this feat is truly spectacular, and I cannot even comprehend it, it blinds me and weakens me just thinking about it.  But, I was in luck, I think, Bill was willing to accommodate a team effort and this year we would inaugurate the first RMVQ bikepack edition! And of course, there was absolutely NO WAY I could complete the journey in 24 hours, so we settled on me needing 4 days (no laughing). No problem, right?


We started Mo style,* well, sort-of, taking off at the Blue Mountain trail head around 11am. The day was a gift -- beautiful fall weather, not too brisk, and the Salsas (Bill's fatty and my El Mariachi) seemed to fit all our gear; tent, sleeping bags, pads, coffee (we actually forgot the coffee), 4 days of food, water, etc. With a shake-down cruise through the parking lot we headed up the trails to the first check-point, Blue Mountain Lookout, to post the first picture of Marcy and to 'check-in' along the route. Everything was going well, sort-of, Bill had a 'loose' bottom bracket, and the steep hills required equal amounts of energy pushing the loaded bike as well as preventing myself from sliding back down the hill.**  I mentally checked-off the 'ignorance is bliss' theory as still being true (someday it will officially become a proof), and pushed/slipped onward. This first day was hard but the magnitude and expanse of the Grave Creek Range was awe-inspiring, I had never been on these trails and the newness (ignorance) ruled the stage for me that day.


With both darkness and drizzle descending, I had to make my first executive decision of the trip: to stop and set-up camp for the night. I wasn't going to make it across the valley as hoped, but Bill was super supportive and a true powerhouse (he would have just kept on going, but I  think he felt like he was killing me). I was fine, I was outside and riding/hiking my bike, I never wanted 'to be' anywhere else that day, but I needed food and sleep.  So, with city lights twinkling down below we filled our bellies, and drifted to sleep in the soft fall air, doubts rumbled like sliding gravel in my head, I wasn't exactly sure I could pull-off another 128 miles, 30,615 ft of climbing in the remaining 3 days ... but I had embodied 'ignorance is bliss' and the 'one day at a time' attitude: sleep first, then pancakes in the valley tomorrow morning, everything would be fine ...


Please stay tuned for another 90 degrees of RMVQ fun, the second day challenged my sitting power, but we had a BBQ to attend in the Rattlesnake ....  would we (I) make it?

This blog is dedicated to following your instincts, taking a chance, trying something new, maybe something a little over your head. Check out some of Adventure Cycling's more adventurous 2013 tour offerings:

Great Divide Canada
Cycle The Divide Montana 
Wild Country Utah
Grand Canyon

- Mo

* A true Mo-style start would have been 1pm, the 11 am start was pure compromise.
** Please note that Mo pushes her bike. On very, very, very rare occasions does Bill ever 'push' a bike.

Photos by Mo 

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Arlen -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's Tours Department. Find your  dream tour now!

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/11/one-big-circle-first-90-degrees.html

pro cycling magazine

Madison Genesis announce 2013 lineup

A blend of youth and experience will be the key to success for the Madison Genesis team in 2013 after the squad for the British team was revealed today. Half of the ten-man squad for next season are U23 riders as the team looks to make the step up to UCI Continental level. Part of [...]

Source: http://magazine.bikeradar.com/2012/11/06/madison-genesis-announce-2013-lineup/

descente cycling

Bike Travel Inspirations

Meet Nancy Krupiarz in 1982. Nancy and her husband, Tom cycled the Adventure Cycling Great Parks North route and experienced, "the best trip of our lives -- nothing has ever come close."

Indeed, Nancy and Tom were not short on stories. Nancy lovingly recorded every day's adventures and, upon returning home,  typed them up for the photo album that today lies in scattered pages. The years have taken a toll on the binding, but the stories and photos remain alive to this day. Over dinner, Tom described the time they encountered Greg and June Siple while cycling through Whitefish, "You'd have thought we were the celebrities by how much attention they paid us. As we cycled away from them and Greg snapped photo after photo, I told Nancy, I wonder if they'll use those photos for something."


Sure enough, when the couple returned, much to their surprise, Bike Report's cover (predecessor to Adventure Cyclist magazine) featured them riding away on their tandem with Nancy peeking over her shoulder. Nancy said that encounter was symptomatic of their trip and that it ignited her passion for all things related to bicycling and active lifestyle.


Nancy eventually put her experience to work, dedicating most of her professional life to trail development and bicycle and pedestrian advocacy. As the executive director of Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA), she works on everything from the Great Lake to Lake Trail, and Complete Streets, to Safe Routes to School, and other policy and program work under the umbrella of the Michigan Fitness Foundation. MTGA is also the non-profit partner in the development of U.S. Bicycle Route 20 and a strong supporter of U.S. Bicycle Route 35.

Over the years, I've met people who were inspired to change their lives because of their love for bicycle travel. True, trips are often taken at transitional times in people lives -- when they are searching for a new job, a new place to live, a new beginning, or just want to complete something on their bucket list. But often, their focus is shifted toward the betterment of their communities. I find these tales  incredibly inspiring. I am grateful for the Nancys of the world, it is because of them that we will be successful in building the largest bike-route network in the world.

Photos of photos by Ginny Sullivan, bottom photo by Mitch Barloga

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/11/bike-travel-inspirations.html

womens cycling clothes

Andreas Klöden Wins Stage 3 of Criterium Int?l 2011

Team RadioShack?s Andreas Klöden (GER), continued to show his strong form this spring by winning Sunday?s final 7.8 kilometer individual time trial stage at the Criterium International in France, by 4 seconds over second place finisher Bradley Wiggins (GBR) of Team Sky. Third place went to Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) of Leopard-Trek, 10 seconds back, and [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/andreas-kloden-wins-stage-3-of-criterium-int%e2%80%99l-2011/

cycling shops

Photos From The Working Burgundy Wine Harvest 2011

This year while taking a break from running gasronomic cycling holidays for DuVine Adventures I picked grapes for two weks. For over 2000 years this anchient havest take place producing some of the greatest wines in the world. Back breaking...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/thehungrycyclist/~3/FExQHMrakyQ/photos-from-the-working-burgundy-wine-harvest-2011.html

cycling clubs

Oliveira Wins the Time Trial Championship in Portugal

Portuguese rider Nelson Oliveira has just won the national time trial championships on the circuit of Pataias in Portugal. Things are really happening for the rider who is in his first year as a professional, riding for Team Radioshack. Just a little over a week ago Oliveira finished fourth in the Tour de Suisse time trial, [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/oliveira-wins-the-time-trial-championship-in-portugal/

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