Topics

1

General Discussion / Waterford/Gunnar Closes

« on: May 31, 2023, 12:24:35 pm »

Extremely sad news that Richard Schwinn has decided to retire and close Waterford and Gunnar. Good thing I got mine when I did. I've visited the factory a couple of times and Richard was always gracious and loved having visitors.
https://bikepacking.com/news/waterford-gunnar-closing/

2

Routes / NW Montana: A trip report

« on: August 04, 2021, 05:10:17 pm »

NW Montana: A Trip Report
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36907788
Four of us in July using the route in the link.
 Much of this route was wonderful: beautiful, low traffic, good roads. However, two lane roads in Montana are posted as 70 mph. Roads that in Wisconsin would be posted  55 mph.

The pandemic affected many aspects of our trip. Many restaurants along the route and all the National Park facilities could not use the usual young people from Europe and Scandinavia since they couldn’t get visas due to the pandemic. It also meant that in the remote area between mile 120 and 200 the National Forest campgrounds were not full because the Canadians couldn’t cross the border. Outside of that area all the private campgrounds were very full and the campgrounds that were open in Glacier were full.

We started at a campground Kalispell and ended at a resort with hot tubs Columbia Falls. There is a lovely bike path leaving Kalispell which ran parallel to US 2. The next 30 miles shoulders on US 2 ranged from 10’ to nonexistent. Thus the experience on Hwy 2 was good to harrowing. After Troy the traffic became very light which helped. The section of US 2 from Browning to West Glacier also varied in the same way.
The stretch from mile 120-200 was amazing. Someone on this forum 18 months ago recommended going to Yaak and I thank them for the suggestion. There’s nothing there but the route from Yaak to the lake was one of our two favorite days (the day going to Yaak was great too).  The other favorite was St Mary to Browning (miles 345-378) on the high plains. Believe it or not Going To The Sun Road was only the third favorite day.

The temperatures were in the low to high 80’s but the extremely low humidity helped moderate that. Overnight low  temps varied from 39-62 F. Smoke was always hanging over the mountains so couldn’t get clear photos. Only one of us felt the smoke physically and for just one day.

Whitefish is a mountain bike town so I had to settle for a 32 mm road tire instead of the 35 I ride when I tore a sidewall that couldn’t be fixed with a boot.

Poor breakfast opportunities in St Mary, Browning, and Columbia Falls. Lots of good restaurants in Whitefish which were very busy at lunch time on the weekend. Ate lots of huckleberry pie along the route.

3

Routes / St Mary to Baab to Browning

« on: April 07, 2021, 12:23:35 pm »

Anyone have experience with  Mt 464 highway?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35630835
I'm not trying to save miles but here is an alternative https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35630770
Scenery and safe roads are the factors to consider. I'll have had plenty of mountains and forests.

4

Routes / Yaak to Rexford Montana

« on: December 13, 2020, 03:34:05 pm »

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34837058
Has anyone ridden this route in the summer? Is it as beautiful as it appears?

5

Routes / Going to the Sun Road

« on: March 17, 2020, 04:12:11 pm »

Does anyone have  knowledge that the traffic east bound on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park will be any heavier on a Sunday morning in mid July v. a Wednesday morning?

6

Routes / gravel near West Glacier

« on: March 17, 2020, 01:57:57 pm »

The ACA Northern Tier section 2 map 23 shows 2.9 miles of gravel on Blankenship Rd just before the route rejoins US 2. Does anyone know if it is still gravel? My map is from my 2004 ride.

7

Routes / Kalispell to Libby Montana

« on: February 21, 2020, 08:27:29 pm »

I'm planning on riding US 2 from Kalispell to Libby. I'm interested in your experience of this stretch of highway.

8

Gear Talk / SON Delux generator hubs

« on: January 01, 2020, 05:06:07 pm »

I'm interested  in your experience with SON Delux generator hubs. Specifically, do  you notice any drag and reliability. I'm not interested in other brand of generator hubs.

9

Routes / north of Missoula

« on: July 09, 2019, 04:48:44 pm »

The Great Parks route only uses a route from Missoula to Whitefish via MT 83 and back. There must be a reason not to do a loop using US 93 and then either side of Flathead Lake. Anyone with experience riding that stretch of highway?

10

General Discussion / campground in Ferndale MT

« on: June 30, 2019, 06:14:39 pm »

The latest map update for Great Parks North says that there is cyclist only camping available on Bob Young's property in Ferndale, MT (map 21). Does anyone have experience camping there? Is there water, showers, picnic tables or just "on property?"

11

Routes / Goint to the Sun Road

« on: March 03, 2019, 06:13:18 pm »

I've only ridden the Going to Sun Road from the west (35 degrees and raining so missed much of the view).  I suspect riding from the east is easier because the elevation at St Mary is already 4515' where it is only 3170' at the Apgar campground. Anyone done it both ways and can comment?

12

Routes / route out of Denver to Siverthorne

« on: March 03, 2019, 05:04:44 pm »

I'd like to ride the Colorado High Country route that has been a guided ACA tour but I'd like to ride up from Denver. Anyone know how to get up to Silverthorne by bicycle?

13

General Discussion / border crossing

« on: February 04, 2018, 05:39:47 pm »

Anyone have negative experience crossing back into the US near North Troy, VT?

14

Routes / US 89 Montana

« on: November 25, 2017, 05:41:14 pm »

Has anyone ridden US 89 from Great Falls to Browning? Is it a good road to ride? Montana's bike map seems to think so.

15

Routes / Green Mtns Loop

« on: November 15, 2017, 08:32:25 pm »

The Adventure Cycling Green Mtns Loop has an alternative route leaving St Johnsbury (clockwise). Anyone have experience with both routes and can comment on what each route is like?