Cycling Routes in Montana

Cycling Routes In Montana

Montana | Big Sky Country

CYCLING ROUTES IN MONTANA

Get ready for some great cycling adventures for you and your family. When you've picked the ride you want, just click the button and download the map for output on your own printer!

We've chosen some of the best cycling routes in Montana for your perusal. They're graded by difficulty and length, so you can find a short, easy ride that's just right for you and your family, or a longer multi-day adventure. Go to the index below for a list and description of the currently-available rides. We're adding more rides all the time, so check back before you throw your bikes on the rack and head for the Big Sky Country. (What, no bike? Check out these bicycle rental locations.)

Rating Scale for Rides

Ride Name Type Location Rating

1. Lake Koocanusa Loop Road Bike Eureka/Libby Experienced

2. Flint Creek Ramble Road Bike Deerlodge Moderate

3. Pioneer Mountains/Crystal Park Road Bike Wise River Easy

4. Wolf Creek Foothills Loop Road Bike Wolf Creek Moderate

5. Columbia Falls Out and Back Road Bike Columbia Falls Easy

6. Two Moon Park Mountain Bike Billings Easy

7. Alkali Creek Mountain Bike Billings Moderate

8. Big Hole River Road Bike Dillon Easy

9. Clark Fork River Trail Mountain Bike St. Regis Moderate

10. Rimrock Trail Mountain Bike Billings Easy/Experienced

11. Red Rocks Lake Wildlife Refuge Mountain Bike Monida Easy

12. River's Edge Trail Road Bike Great Falls Easy

13. Beartooth National Scenic Byway Road Bike Red Lodge Experienced

14. Big Sky Loop Road Bike Livingston Experienced

15. Elkhorn Mine Mountain Bike Near Helena Easy to Moderate

16. Harrison to Cardwell Road Ride Near Ennis Easy

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17. Hornet Peak Loop Mountain Bike Polebridge, MT Moderate

18. Lolo Hot Springs Road Bike Near Missoula Easy to Moderate

19. Reid Divide Mountain Bike Near Whitefish Experienced

20. Sawmill-Curry Loop Mountain Bike Missoula Moderate

21. Star Meadow Mountain Bike Near Whitefish Moderate

22. Big Hole Battlefield to Jackson Road Ride Big Hole Valley Moderate

23. Big Mountain Coast Mountain Bike Whitefish Moderate

24. Bowdoin Nat. Wildlife Refuge Mountain Bike Near Malta Easy to Moderate

25. Choteau to Augusta Road Ride Choteau Easy to Moderate

26. Gardiner to Point of Rocks Mountain Bike Paradise Valley Easy to Moderate

27. Going To The Sun (Glacier) Road Ride Glacier NP Moderate to Exp.

28. Holland Lake Lodge Mountain Bike Swan Valley Moderate

29. Horse Creek Pass Loop Mountain Bike Bitterroot Valley Moderate to Exp.

30. Lolo View Loop Mountain Bike Lolo Valley Moderate

31. Lumberjack Loop Mountain Bike Lolo Valley Moderate to Exp.

32. Paradise Valley Road Ride Paradise Valley Easy

33. Polebridge to Kintla Lake Mountain Bike Glacier NP Easy to Moderate

34. Billings-Molt Road Bike Billings Easy to Moderate

35. Bridger Canyon Road Bike Bozeman Moderate

36. Highwoods Mountain Bike Near Great Falls Experienced

37. Lionhead Mountain Loop Mountain Bike West Yellowstone Experienced

38. Whitefish Lake Road Bike Whitefish Easy

Some Tips For Better Cycling For maximum safety and comfort when bicycling, you should learn and develop some essential cycling skills. Depending upon the length and difficulty of the ride you've chosen, you might be spending many hours in the saddle. You might also face extremes in terrain or road surfaces. Following are some basic pointers that have been provided to thousands of cyclists through the years by the Adventure Cycling Association.

The bicycle is a legal vehicle in Montana, which means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Find out more about Montana's cycling laws and find additional contact information at the Department of Transportation's cycling resource page. View Montana bicycle map with sholder widths, rumble strip indicator, grades and average daily traffic.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

LAKE KOOKANUSA LOOP

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Location: Between Eureka and Libby Type: Road Ride Rating: Experienced Mileage: 80miles

This 80-mile loop ride is arguably one of the best road riding opportunities in the Big Sky state. When the government created Libby Dam in 1972, they flooded towns and the whole Kootenai River Valley. The monster of a lake created now extends 90 miles upstream with 48 miles in the U.S. and 42miles in Canada. Without knowing it, the Corps also created a road cyclist's

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It is difficult to find a level section on this ride...you'll continually find yourself going either up or down and around another bend as the road hugs high above the lake's shore. The hills and the distance earn this ride an Experienced rating.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

CYCLING ROUTES IN MONTANA

Get ready for some great cycling adventures for you and your family. When you've picked the ride you want, just click the button and download the map for output on your own printer!

Rating Scale for Rides

Ride Name Type Location Rating

1. Lake Koocanusa Loop Road Bike Eureka/Libby Experienced

2. Flint Creek Ramble Road Bike Deerlodge Moderate

3. Pioneer Mountains/Crystal Park Road Bike Wise River Easy

4. Wolf Creek Foothills Loop Road Bike Wolf Creek Moderate

5. Columbia Falls Out and Back Road Bike Columbia Falls Easy

6. Two Moon Park Mountain Bike Billings Easy

7. Alkali Creek Mountain Bike Billings Moderate

8. Big Hole River Road Bike Dillon Easy

9. Clark Fork River Trail Mountain Bike St. Regis Moderate

10. Rimrock Trail Mountain Bike Billings Easy/Experienced

11. Red Rocks Lake Wildlife Refuge Mountain Bike Monida Easy

12. River's Edge Trail Road Bike Great Falls Easy

13. Beartooth National Scenic Byway Road Bike Red Lodge Experienced

14. Big Sky Loop Road Bike Livingston Experienced

15. Elkhorn Mine Mountain Bike Near Helena Easy to Moderate

16. Harrison to Cardwell Road Ride Near Ennis Easy

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17. Hornet Peak Loop Mountain Bike Polebridge, MT Moderate

18. Lolo Hot Springs Road Bike Near Missoula Easy to Moderate

19. Reid Divide Mountain Bike Near Whitefish Experienced

20. Sawmill-Curry Loop Mountain Bike Missoula Moderate

21. Star Meadow Mountain Bike Near Whitefish Moderate

22. Big Hole Battlefield to Jackson Road Ride Big Hole Valley Moderate

23. Big Mountain Coast Mountain Bike Whitefish Moderate

24. Bowdoin Nat. Wildlife Refuge Mountain Bike Near Malta Easy to Moderate

25. Choteau to Augusta Road Ride Choteau Easy to Moderate

26. Gardiner to Point of Rocks Mountain Bike Paradise Valley Easy to Moderate

27. Going To The Sun (Glacier) Road Ride Glacier NP Moderate to Exp.

28. Holland Lake Lodge Mountain Bike Swan Valley Moderate

29. Horse Creek Pass Loop Mountain Bike Bitterroot Valley Moderate to Exp.

30. Lolo View Loop Mountain Bike Lolo Valley Moderate

31. Lumberjack Loop Mountain Bike Lolo Valley Moderate to Exp.

32. Paradise Valley Road Ride Paradise Valley Easy

33. Polebridge to Kintla Lake Mountain Bike Glacier NP Easy to Moderate

34. Billings-Molt Road Bike Billings Easy to Moderate

35. Bridger Canyon Road Bike Bozeman Moderate

36. Highwoods Mountain Bike Near Great Falls Experienced

37. Lionhead Mountain Loop Mountain Bike West Yellowstone Experienced

38. Whitefish Lake Road Bike Whitefish Easy

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Montana | Big Sky Country

COLUMBIA FALLS OUT AND BACK

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Location: Columbia falls Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy Mileage: 23 miles

This 23-mile moderate road ride will take riders up and back on the North Fork Highway #486. The road parallels national forest lands to the west and the designated Wild and Scenic North Fork of The Flathead River to the east, which forms the boundary of Glacier National Park above it's confluence with the Middle Fork of The Flathead River.

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The town of Columbia Falls sits along the Flathead River in the northeast corner of the Flathead Valley. It is the nearest large town to Glacier National Park. Logging, tourism, and an aluminum plant are the town's major industries.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

THE CLARK FORK RIVER TRAIL

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Location: Near St. Regis Type: Mountain Bike Rating: Moderate Mileage: 18 miles

This 18-mile, all-singletrack ride is one of the premier trails in Glacier Country. The town of St. Regis, near the trailhead, is along the route between Spokane and Missoula.

The trail runs through the Lolo National Forest, hugging the east bank of the Clark Fork River. The smooth singletrack is almost entirely rideable; it's a lot of fun as you roll up and down through thick forest, open meadow sections and dive down to the river banks.

Once you're done biking, there's a hot springs to soak weary muscles available at Quinn's Hot Springs, located a couple of miles north of the trailhead on Highway 135.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

FLINT CREEK RANGE RAMBLE

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Location: Deer lodge Type: Road Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 112 miles

You can begin this two-day road loop tour in Deer Lodge, Drummond, Phillipsburg, Anaconda, or Gold Creek. You’ll be circling the Flint Creek Range, which trends southwest/northeast as it bisects the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. On three sides of the

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This is an area rich in Montana history. At Deerlodge, don’t miss the Grant Kohrs Ranch, a well-maintained early homestead administered by the National Park Service. If you’re a car buff, plan to visit the Towe Ford Museum. And, the old Montana Prison is open for tours in Deerlodge. Anaconda, originally called "Copperopolis," was the site of Montana Copper King Marcus Daly's smelting operation.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

WOLF CREEK FOOTHILLS LOOP

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Location: Between great falls and Helena Type: Road Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 50 miles

Start this scenic loop in the small town of Wolf Creek, located along the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Wolf Creek is 35 miles north of Helena and 50 miles southwest of Great Falls on Interstate 15.

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This is a favorite road ride of Montana cyclists. Rolling hills wind through a maze of buttes, craggy peaks and widespread ranches. While the area is ranching country, it is also home to an abundant wildlife population. Herds of elk, mule deer, raptors and even the occasional bear may be seen, especially when riding early or late in the day.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

RIVER'S EDGE TRAIL

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Location: Great Falls Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy/Family Mileage: 7 miles

The River’s Edge Trail along the Missouri River offers an excellent outing for a family, or just an enjoyable breather from meetings, a conference, or whatever has brought you to Great Falls. It passes by the new Lewis and Clark Trail Interpretive Center, which is well worth a visit.

The Rivers Edge Trail joins together several community parks. If you do the entire trail, you’ll travel from the Oddfellows Park on the southeastern end of the Trail to the Lewis and Clark Overlook/Trailhead, a total of just over 7 miles. Ten wooden shelters with tables are located along the trail, offering rest and picnic opportunities.

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Additional River’s Edge Trail Information: Recreational Trails, Inc.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS AND CRYSTAL PARK

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Location: Wise River Drainage Type: Road Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 16 miles

This 16-mile road ride, rated moderate, follows the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway, one of the finest stretches of pavement in all of western Montana for road riding. You consistently climb as you ride south on the road, fairly steeply at times. (If you opt to ride south to north that changes to an "easy" rating.)

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The scenic byway begins in the Big Hole River-side settlement of Wise River, heading south first through open sage flats as it takes aim at the big dark bulk of the Pioneer Mountains. By the time you reach the recommended beginning point, you're well surrounded by the East and West Pioneers, steep, timber-and-scree- covered slopes that occasionally give way to lush meadows.

The ride's terminus/turnaround point is Crystal Park. Here there are mining claims that are open to the public. Families and individuals come from near and far to dig for crystals - using hand tools only - in the area's decomposed granite soils. Crystals of both smoky (brown) quartz and amethyst, a purple-hued quartz, can be found here, generally ranging in size from about an inch up to six inches long. There's also top-notch picnic facilities at the site.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

THE BIG HOLE RIVER RIDE

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Location: Dillon Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy Mileage: 20 miles (plus options)

The Big Hole River ride is an easy road ride of just over 20 miles, with an optional extension on into Dillon that just about doubles the one-way route length.

Spectacular scenery along the way includes vistas westward into the Pioneer Mountains and, at the northern end of the ride, eastward into the Humbug Spires

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Wilderness Study Area. Farther south you'll skirt desiccated, sharks-teeth-like foothills, and enjoy close encounters with the hissing Big Hole River. Verdant, cattle- filled meadows, irrigators spraying water, and old ranching relics scattered about the landscape offer a real taste of the old West.

This ride, although described here going north to south, can be ridden in either direction. You may want to determine which way the wind is blowing before setting out, and choose your direction of travel accordingly.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

RED ROCKS LAKE WILDLIFE REFUGE

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Location: Near Monida Pass Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy Mileage: 17 miles

This 17-mile easy ride along a stretch of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route begins in the tiny "town" of Lakeview, most notable as the location of the headquarters of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. It penetrates one of the least visited, yet most scenic major valleys of the northern Rockies. The road surfaces are of hardened gravel, which remains in good riding condition even when wet.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935, primarily to help rescue the trumpeter swan, which at the time was in imminent danger of becoming extinct. Today at the refuge you'll likely see trumpeters and many other sorts of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. There's also a chance of spotting moose, deer, elk and pronghorns.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

THE ALKALI CREEK TRAIL

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Location: Billings Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy/Family Mileage: 3 miles

This Billings area trail is an easy mountain bike ride, perfect for a quick getaway from the hotel or a ride for beginners or families. It includes an all-too-short stretch of singletrack trail that's so smooth, gentle and fun that you may decide to do the loop more than once.

The Alkali Creek trail skirts a rim of sandstone as it wraps along the north side of Alkali Creek just above Billings. It make a great singletrack sampler for the neophyte, since the distance is so short and it's surrounded by civilization.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

TWO MOON PARK- BILLINGS

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Location: Billings Type: Mountain Bike Rating: Easy/FAmily Mileage: Varies, 2 to 5 miles

Two Moon Park (Yellowstone County) contains several narrow, gravel- surfaced trails that wind through stands of cottonwoods above and beside the storied Yellowstone River. The trails - Roche Jeune, Dull Knife, Mallard and Weeping Wall - can be linked together in various ways to come up with a number of do-it-yourself of loops and out-and-backs. The area is popular among hikers and birders, so please yield

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At the Two Moon Park entrance you can jump onto the paved Dutcher Trail (shown above), which from there winds down to the Yellowstone then upstream to Coulson Park.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BILLINGS RIMROCK TRAIL

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Location: Billings Type: Mountain Bike Rating: VAries, easy to difficult Mileage: 4.5 miles or longer, many options

Despite the urban setting, on a clear day from the Rimrocks you can spot no fewer than five distinct mountain ranges teeming with wild country: the Pryors, Bighorns, Beartooths, Snowies and Crazies. For a leisurely ride, plan simply to go out and back on the Black Otter Trail. Then, for a fun trail ride, head to Zimmerman Park and Rimrock Trail West (see below).

Riding the Rimrock Trail is a rather surreal experience, offering Moab-like slickrock ledges, sandstone humps and canyon rims, yet with a bustling, cacophonous ambiance of jet planes landing, city buildings rising below, horns honking, sirens

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The easiest portion of the Rimrock Trail is that found in Zimmerman Park, an area west of Zimmerman Trail and east of a private-property fence. It's not a large expanse of land, yet you'll find a surprisingly diverse selection of single-track and double-track trails to explore.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BEARTOOTH NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY

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Location: Beartooth National Scenic Byway Type: Road Ride Rating: Experienced Mileage: 65miles

This straightforward ride begins and ends on U.S. Highway 212 and never deviates from that road, so finding your way is no problem. Yet negotiating the Beartooth National Scenic Byway is no picnic: You begin riding at around 7,600 feet in elevation and top out at almost 11,000 feet.

Although the road’s apex is in Wyoming, the Montana section is still high enough to make it the loftiest highway in all of the mountain-filled Big Sky State. It is also one of the most spectacular roadways on the North American continent. Cooke City, where the ride begins, is strictly a tourist town and Red Lodge, at ride’s end, is primarily one, too, so expect to find all services in both communities.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BIG SKY LOOP

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Location: Livingston to Harlotown Loop Type: Road Ride (with some graded gravel) Rating: Experienced Mileage: 187 miles

This challenging three-day ride can be done either self-supported or sagged. It traverses nearly 200 miles of some of the most scenic and least populated landscapes of south-central Montana.

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You begin by riding up the bucolic Shields River Valley to Clyde Park and Wilsall. From White Sulphur Springs you'll climb eastward over the northern flank of the Castle Mountains, then descend along the Musselshell River through one of the prettiest pieces of mountain-and-ranch country anywhere in the West. From Harlowton you'll bear due south for Big Timber, where you'll turn west to follow the Yellowstone River back to Livingston.

A couple of attractions that shouldn't be missed along the route include The Castle in White Sulphur Springs, a mansion built in 1892 for rancher-businessman B.R. Sherman that today houses the Meagher County Museum; and the altogether fascinating Charles M. Bair Family Museum Ranch in Martinsdale.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

ELKHORN MINE

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Location: Elkhorn Mine Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 12 miles one-way; 12 miles out-and-back

Glimpse into Montana's rugged and colorful mining past on this easy mountain bike ride to the historic town of Elkhorn, through the heart of the beautiful Elkhorn Mountains. The total elevation gain is approximately 1,600 feet; so, depending on your fitness and motivation, you can tailor the outing by riding one-way either uphill or downhill (if you have a shuttle), or you can do the

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Elkhorn boomed as the result of the discovery of silver in the area in the 1870s. The town is now a state park with interpretive signs highlighting the historical buildings and sites.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

HARRISON TO CARDWELL

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Location: Near Ennis Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 15 miles

This ride starts in Harrison, located 35 miles north of Ennis, a popular outfitting location for Madison River flyfishing trips. The ride is predominantly downhill as described. If you're looking for more of a workout, simply do it in the other direction, from Cardwell to Harrison. The rural setting encompasses ranches and log yards, as well as close-up views of rugged, desert-like slopes and long-range vistas

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If you have extra time on your hands, make the six-mile side trip - by bike or by car - from Harrison southwest to the old mining town of Pony. You can also find the crumbling remains of the Morris & Ellings Gold Stamp Mill.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

HORNET PEAK LOOP

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Location: Near Whitefish Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Experienced (sustained climbs) Mileage: 22 mile loop

This outstanding loop traverses the Salish Range west of Whitefish. On certain portions of the route you'll whiz through impressive stands of tall timber reminiscent of Oregon and other places in the Pacific Northwest.

The ride begins and ends at Tally Lake, the deepest lake in Montana, with its Forest Service campground and great swimming opportunities. You can also use the campground as a base camp for further adventures, as there's a wealth of both mountain and road bike rides in the area.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

LOLO HOT SPRINGS

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Location: Near Missoula Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 25.5 miles

This ride incorporates a very popular stretch of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, the 4,500-mile cross-country route originally mapped by Bikecentennial in 1975.

A few years before that historic cycling route was laid out – 170 years to be exact – the Lewis and Clark expedition followed a similar route, heading up Lolo Creek from a campsite near present Lolo (they called it “Traveller’s Rest) into the Bitterroot Mountains and then over Lolo Pass.

The turnaround point (or ending point, should you have a shuttle and choose to to the ride as a point-to-point) is the Lolo Hot Springs Resort. With a full slate of amenities that include luscious soaking pools, this is one hot spot that is popular with recreationists the year around.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

REID DIVIDE

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Location: Near Whitefish Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Experienced (sustained climbs) Mileage: 22 mile loop

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Montana | Big Sky Country

SAWMILL-CURRY LOOP

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Location: Near Missoula, MT Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 5 miles

This ride takes place just outside Missoula, in the popular Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. As you will discover, “the Rattlesnake” is one of America’s wildest and most beautiful wildland areas in such close proximity to a major urban area.

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The 61,000- acre Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness (RNRAW) was established in 1980 by an act of Congress. Most of the lands on which this ride take place were added later, in 1986, through a land exchange between the Lolo National Forest and a private party.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

STAR MEADOW

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Location: Near Whitefish, MT Type: Road Bike Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 36miles

This ride is a favorite among local road riders due to its lack of automobile traffic and because it offers some good "workout" hills. In fact, there are several climbs that will have your lungs heaving and legs burning.

A pleasing medley of rushing creeks, abundant wildlife and tidy ranches makes the miles go by quickly. Star Meadow Ranch, located 14 miles from Round Meadow, offers lodging, meals and outdoor activities, including mountain biking.

There are also great mountain-bike loops in Round Meadows, perfect for family rides. Simply follow the blazed cross-country ski trail signs.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BIG HOLE BATTLEFIELD TO JACKSON

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Location: Bighole Valley, MT Type: Road Bike Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 28 miles

You’ll begin at the Big Hole Battlefield National Monument, the site of a skirmish between Chief Joseph’s rag- tag band of Nez Perce and the forces under the command of Colonel John Gibbons. The band of Nez Perce, forced from their ancestral home in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon, were fleeing toward the Canadian border when

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BIG MOUNTAIN COAST

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Location: Big Mountain Ski Resort (above Whitefish) Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Moderate (some technical sections) Mileage: 8 miles

What could be better than riding a gondola/ chairlift high into the Rockies, with terrific views of Glacier National Park, and then getting to ride downhill all the way back to your starting point? That s the experinece that’s waiting for you at The Big Mountain Ski Resort above Whitefish, Montana.

The Big Mountain features approximately 20 miles of marked trails; 70% of those trails are single-track, with the remainder being service roads for the ski area. The summit of the Big Mountain Ski Area is at about 7,000 feet; getting to the top the old-fashioned way would be quite a workout. Before starting your ride, do a thorough check of your dropouts and brakes, then enjoy the winding eight-mile descent!

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BOWDOIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

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Location: Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 29.5 miles

The Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1936, lies in the Central Flyway of the great waterfowl migration corridor extending from Canada to Mexico. It serves as a major resting area for waterfowl on their journeys to and from prime nesting areas in Canada.

The best time to observe the migrating flocks of waterfowl is in early fall or late spring. While cycling around the perimeter of Bowdoin Lake, in addition to ducks and geese you may spot white pelicans, Caspian terns, California and ring-billed gulls, white-faced ibis,double crested comorants,and great blue herons. Before heading

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Montana | Big Sky Country

CHOTEAU TO AUGUSTA

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Location: Choteau and Augusta, MT Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 23.6 miles

This is a wonderful short road-ride with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountain Front. You ll travel between two friendly Montana towns: Choteau and Augusta.

From your starting point in Choteau, you ll be only 20 miles east of the Rocky Mountain Front. The Front forms the border between the wild lands and wilderness of the Lewis and Clark National Forest and

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At the Old Trail Museum in Choteau you can learn about the vast inland sea that covered this area some 80 million years ago,and the dinosaurs that roamed the shores of that sea.If you ve got some extra time, plan on a tour of the dig site. From prime dinosaur habitat you’ll ride to the home of the Wildest One Day Show On Earth. Each June, the town of Augusta hosts the American Legion Rodeo, bringing in cowboys and visitors from all over the west.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

GARDINER TO POINT OF ROCKS

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Location: Gardiner, Montana (near Yellowstone National Park entrance) Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 22 miles

This fun, point-to-point (shuttle required) cruiser begins in the busy little tourist town of Gardiner, located a mile high and adjacent to the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Yankee Jim Canyon, which you ll traverse on the ride, is the namesake of Jim

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George, the man who hacked a wagon trail/toll road through the canyon in the 19th century. Yankee Jim earned his keep by charging Yellowstone-bound travelers a fee to pass through the canyon, as well as by providing overnight accommodations in a roadhouse he constructed.

If you re feeling energetic, at the suggested ending point at 22.0 miles you can turn right onto U.S. Highway 89 and return to Gardiner on pavement, or link to the Paradise Valley/East River Road ride, also on this site.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

GOING TO THE SUN HIGHWAY

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Location: Glacier National Park Type: Road Bike Ride Rating: Moderate to Advanced Mileage: 56.5 miles

This is one of the most popular bicycle touring routes in the Northwest. The scenery is what the adjective “awesome” was originally meant to describe. This ride will take you over the famed Going-To-The-Sun Highway between Apgar on the western side of Glacier to Saint Mary on the eastern side of the Park. Along the way you ll see vestiges of was nearly a continuous ice cap covering this region up until approximately 10,000 years ago.

Be advised that traffic will be heavy along this route; this is a popular motorway as well as a popular cycling route. Avoid weekend riding if possible, and start your ride early in the day.

Please note the cycling restrictions on this ride. Certain sections of the

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● From June 15 to Labor Day, the section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from Apgar to Sprague Creek Campground is closed to bicycles between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

● From Logan Creek to Logan Pass, east bound bicycling is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

HOLLAND LAKE LODGE

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Location: Swan River Valley Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 13.5 miles (plus options)

This is a moderate 13.5 mile one way, mostly downhill ride near Holland Lake in the Swan River Valley with a variety of trail conditions. The ride starts with a downhill forest road run to Clearwater Lake trail-head. From here, after a slight grade up for 2.5 miles, the route turns onto a 3-mile grassy downhill single track section.

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Then, a four-mile forest road downhill leads to Holland Lake where you can take the road or ride the trails through the campground to a very scenic lunch spot at the Holland Lake Lodge.

Consider adding the four-mile single track loop down to and around Clearwater Lake or the two mile hike to the falls at Holland Lake. Loops can be made by riding south on Highway 83 from Holland Lake and up West Morrell Rd. to the FR 4370 intersection.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

HORSE CREEK PASS

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Location: Bitterroot Valley Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Strenuous (hilly) Mileage: 20 miles

The Bitterroot River bisects the valley that bears its name, bounded on the west by the Bitterroot Mountains and on the east by the Sapphire Mountains. The valley opens into wide plains with historic towns, including Stevensville, the first European settlement in the state. The Bitterroot’s West Fork was once the gateway to Montana, bringing first miners and, later, loggers north from the Salmon River Country. Today it provides

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For generations Native Americans used the Bitterroot Valley as a natural corridor in their annual migrations. On your way to the trailhead, you can stop and see evidence of the these migrations by taking a short hike on the Alta Pine National Recreation Trail.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

LOLO VIEW LOOP

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Location: Lolo River Valley Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Moderate to Advanced Mileage: 21.5 miles

This loop ride offers some terrific views of Lolo Peak, as well as many opportunities to spot elk and other wildlife. You ll have a chance to visit the West Fork Butte fire lookout along the way. The entire loop is 21.4 miles in length. With some moderate hill climbing to accomplish, you should allow between three to six hours for the ride.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

LUMBERJACK LOOP

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Location: Lolo River valley Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 27.1 miles

This spirited ride refers to the start/ end point of a popular watering hole called the Lumberjack Saloon. This loop includes some fun ridgetop riding, with views into large, heavily-timbered drainages. The hill climbs are moderate; plan on three hours of riding for a rider of average cycling ability. From Highway 12 out of Lolo turn at mile marker 16, Graves Creek or from Interstate 90 take Petty Creek Exit and go over the hill to the Lumberjack Saloon. Don't forget your swim suit, Lolo Hot Springs is just up the road.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

PARADISE VALLEY

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Location: Paradise Valley (near Livingston, Montana) Type: Road Bike Ride Rating: Easy Mileage: 24 miles

They don't call this part of the upper Yellowstone River basin "Paradise Valley" for nothing: it’s absolutely beautiful! You’ll find a spectacular mix of massive, timber-shrouded mountains, private spring creeks teeming with trout, and agrarian fields of alfalfa and other crops.

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Your destination, Chico Hot Springs, is one of Montana’s most popular getaways. The resort is set against the towering backdrop of Chico and Emigrant peaks, members of the Absaroka Range.

Visitors and regulars over the years to have included the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and Charles M. Russell, and, more recently, a long list of literary standouts and Hollywood luminaries. The main lodge is said to still be inhabited by the ghosts of original owners Bill and Percie Knowles.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

POLEBRIDGE TO KINTLA LAKE

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Location: Northwest corner of Glacier National Park Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 29 miles (14.5 one way)

This ride begins in Polebridge, a backwoods community that is an authentic throwback to an earlier day. Except for the first mile (and last mile, if you do it as an out-and-back), the outing takes place entirely within the northwesternmost reaches of Glacier National Park. Particularly early and late in the day, you’ll have outstanding opportunities to spot wildlife, including bears, so be

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Most of the ride takes place amid grassy meadows marking the floodplain of the North Fork of the Flathead River, but the last 2.5 miles penetrate thick forests of Douglas fir, hemlock and other coniferous species. The real visual payoff is at the turn-around point of Kintla Lake: the sparkling glacial lake, long and narrow, stratches some five miles eastward, lapping against the base of lofty mountains. You’ll also find a camp-ground on the lake shore, so hauling in camping gear and spending the night is a highly recommended option.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

Rating Scale For Rides

It's never easy to describe a bicycle ride in terms of difficulty, because what is difficult to one cyclist can be most difficult for another.

You'll note in the individual ride descriptions that some rides are mountain bike rides, and others are road rides. While a shorter road ride can often be accomplished in comfort on a mountain bike, you'll want to be careful about reversing that approach and attempting some of the mountain bike rides with a bicycle intended for road use.

We've chosen to break the rides featured on this site into three categories:

● Easy/Family -- These rides can be accomplished by neophyte riders, and are generally suitable for families with younger cyclists. In this category you'll find short rides with low traffic, smooth pavement or trail surfaces, and few if any hills. * ● Moderate -- Here's where the challenges start. The distances are longer, and typically include some steeper and/or longer hills. Children who have some background in riding will enjoy some of the shorter rides, but be ready to turn back early. * ● Experienced -- We've included several multi-day rides, as well as some very challenging mountain bike adventures in this category. Lots of hills, high vistas, and never-ending scenery.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

BILLINGS-MOLT

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Location: Billings Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy to Moderate Mileage: 35 miles

This is a favorite route among the large contingent of road cyclists that call Montana’s largest city home. This ride offers plenty of heart pumping hill climbs, adrenaline rushed descents and fantastic Big Sky scenery.

You can begin the ride at the Zimmerman Park Trailhead parking area on the city’s northeastern side. This trailhead also is the place to begin Billing’s best mountain bike riding, (see Cycling Route Index). For road riding, head down the steep Zimmerman Trail Road and turn right (east) onto Rimrock Road which will whisk you from the residential bustle of Billings into a sweeping country of wide open spaces and far-away mountain ranges. On the outskirts of town, turn right onto 62nd Street, which soon turns into Molt Road. You’ll pass by a golf course as the road begins a long (and sometimes) steep ascent on a narrow hogback. As the road continues up, the views of the Beartooth Mountains to the south and the

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Crazy Mountain to the east, steadily improve. At approximately 15 miles you arrive at the intersection with Buffalo Trail Road. Unless, you have a real curiosity about seeing the tiny town of Molt which is another mile to the east, turn left (south) onto the Buffalo Trail Road and enjoy a long, mostly, downhill descent of 8 miles. Turn left (west) onto Lipp Road where there are great rimrock formations to view, then left onto 88th Street, which turns into Grand Avenue. Finally, turn left onto 62nd Street and reconnect with Rimrock Road, turn right and head back to Zimmerman Trail. You’ll end the ride with a rather steep climb. You can thank us later.

For more information contact the Spoke Shop, 406-656-8342

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Popelka Rd. Molt Molt Rd. ★ start/finish directional arrows

Shorey Rd. Buffalo Trail Rd. 3 Molt Rd. Lazy K.T. Rd.

ZIMMERMAN BILLINGS PARK TRAILHEAD INTERNATIONAL 62nd St. AIRPORT ★ 3 Rimrock Rd. Zimmerman Trail Rd. Buffalo Trail Rd. 62nd St. Grand Ave. Billings 64th St. Canyon Lippi Rd. 88th St. Creek Rd.

Buffalo Trail Rd.

★ 01 2 3 45 scale in miles http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/bozeman.html

Montana | Big Sky Country

BOZEMAN ROAD BIKE- BRIDGER CANYON

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Location: Bozeman Type: Road Ride Rating: Moderate Mileage: 40miles

Bozeman has a fine reputation for being another great Montana cycling town. Both mountain bike and road bike opportunities emanate in every direction from this vibrant college town.

The road bike ride from

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Bozeman and up Bridger Canyon is a classic. Good shouldered pavement, stunning scenery and a healthy climb or two thrown in for good measure are recipe for a refreshing road bike outing.

The directions for the ride are fairly simple. Begin in downtown Bozeman, from Main Street look for Rouse Avenue, Highway 86 and head north. There is also signage to Bridger Bowl Ski Area in which to help guide. Rouse turns into Bridger Canyon Road; stay on this road the whole way. You can turn around at the end of the climb at Battle Ridge Pass, which is approximately 20 miles from town. Along the route enjoy the scenic countryside with the tremendous views of the snow-capped Bridger Mountain Range always looming to the west. It is approximately 1400 feet in elevation gain from Bozeman, 4800 feet, to Battle Ridge Pass at 6200 feet, so the climbing is gradual.

This ride is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great riding near Bozeman. Check out the other side of the Bridger’s by going north on Springhill Road or head south into the Gallatin Range by tackling the climb up to Hyalite Reservoir.

For Bozeman area mountain biking, it is highly recommended to purchase the Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone Outdoor Recreation Map. This waterproof map has great detail and is invaluable out on the trail. There are so many great rides to choose from on this map, that you will have a hard time deciding which direction to point your knobbies. You can purchase the map directly from Beartooth Publishing, 800-838-1058 or at any local bike shop.

For more info contact Summit Bike Shop 406-587-1064 or Stark Raven Cycles, 406- 586-1201.

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R BRIDGER BOWL SKI AREA I D ◆ G

E N R

R A N G 01 2 3 4 5 E

scale in miles 480

. d R

n o y n a C

r e g Jackson id r Creek Rd. B

411 86

Storymill Rd.

86 Canyon Rd.

Rouse Ave. Main St. ★ Bozeman

345 ★ http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/highwood.html

Montana | Big Sky Country

MOUNTAINBIKING IN THE HIGHWOODS

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Location: Highwood Mountains Northeast of Great Falls Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Experienced Mileage: 12 miles

A series of small mountain ranges dot central Montana. One of these “island” ranges is the Highwood Mountains that lie northeast of Great Falls. Besides the fact that this range bursts with beauty with wildflowers in spring and early summer and shimmers with golden aspen leaves in autumn is the little known fact that the Highwoods boast some of Montana’s finest single-track.

Because of its fairly remote location, this Mecca of great trails has been largely undiscovered by many cyclists. Rides begin from the Thain Creek Campground. The camp can come in handy as a base since there can be several days worth of riding here. The trails in the Highwoods are mostly smooth buffed out trails, but they do pack plenty of horsepower, at least the need for some in your legs with strenuous grades. The climbs are tough and descents fast making the Highwoods more of an intermediate to advanced rating in both riding skills and endurance.

Much of the trail system’s smoothness and high quality can be attributed to a local

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One favorite loop begins at the campground climbing steadily for 3 miles to 5700 feet in elevation on Trail #453. At the top of the climb lays the summit of Windy Mountain, which is just off the main trail, and if you have time, a short hike to the summit yields a stunning view in all directions. Then it is a ridge top ride to the intersection of Briggs Creek Trail #431, you can either descend directly back to the campground by turning right here or if you would like a longer ride, turn left and descend down Grant Creek Trail for 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Kirby Creek Trail, there it crosses two small creeks and climbs again for 1.8 miles. When reaching the North Fork of Highwood Creek Trail #423 turn right and begin a fun, wild roller coaster 3 mile. You can continue along an old two track or turn right onto another fun section of singletrack through a lodgepole pine forest for one mile then turn left onto Biggs Creek and the finish at the campground is just a quarter mile away. All in the entire loop is a little over 12 miles in length though it seems like more both in effort and on the fun meter.

There are several other trails worth exploring including a tough ridge top loop on the south side of Trail #423. While tough, the view from the top is outstanding.

For more information on riding in the Highwoods contact The Knicker Biker in Great Falls 406-454-2912. You can also purchase (highly recommended) a great trail map from the Lewis and Clark National Forest office in Great Falls, 406-791-7700.

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http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/highwood.html (3 of 3)8/10/2007 11:13:55 AM HIGHWOODS Windy ✛ Mountain 5,998' MOUNTAIN

k e e r LOOP C

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Briggs Creek start/finish Great Trail #431 Grant Creek- ★ Falls Trail #431 directional ★ arrows iggs Cre 8841 THAIN Br ek Grant Creek CREEK CAMPGROUND Kirby Creek- Trail #423

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★ 0 0.5 1

scale in miles http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/lionhead.html

Montana | Big Sky Country

LIONHEAD MOUNTAIN LOOP

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Location: Gallatin National Forest, Near West Yellowstone Type: Mountain Bike Ride Rating: Experienced Mileage: 14 miles

The area around West Yellowstone boasts a wealth of great mountain biking. One of best-advanced rides is the 14 mile Lionhead Loop. Meadows brimming with wildflowers in summer, stunning views down

http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/lionhead.html (1 of 3)8/10/2007 11:14:00 AM http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/lionhead.html into Hegben Lake make the 2,500 feet of climbing worthwhile.

The trailhead is located 7 miles east of West Yellowstone off of Highway 20. Turn right onto Denny Creek Road and drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead. The trail begins as an ATV trail and it is a good stiff climb for about 3 miles along Trail #217 where there is a fantastic view down into Hegben Lake. Go past a gate in the road and then turn left onto another small two track past meadows of wildflowers and the face of Lionhead Mountain looming to the west. Another 2.5 miles of climbing will bring you up to 8750 feet and around the shoulder of Lionhead Mountain. You are near the Continental Divide and the Idaho border. Then it is a fast downhill on Trail #114 before a couple of lefts onto forest roads before coming out onto Highway 20 turn left (east) and back to Denny Creek Road.

Highly recommended is the purchase of the Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone Outdoor Recreation Map. This waterproof map has great detail and is invaluable out on the trail. There are so many great rides to choose from on this map, that you will have a hard time deciding which direction to point your knobbies. You can purchase the map directly from Beartooth Publishing, 800-838-1058 or at any local bike shop.

For more information contact Free Heel and Wheel in West Yellowstone 406-646- 7744.

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http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/lionhead.html (3 of 3)8/10/2007 11:14:00 AM LIONHEAD MOUNTAIN LOOP HEBGEN LAKE

Trail #217

Trail #217 Trail #114

Lionhead✛ Mountain 10,180'

Trail #217 Trail #114 ★ W est

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE 1735 F o r k

2525

Denny Creek Rd.

★ start/finish D en n y k directional Cree arrows MONTANA 20 20 IDAHO 1710

Targhee Pass 7,072' N

01 2 scale in miles ★ http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/whitefish.html

Montana | Big Sky Country

WHITEFISH LAKE

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Location: Whitefish Type: Road Ride Rating: Easy Mileage: 22 miles

This is a favorite ride among local road bicyclists. This 22 mile out and back ride features plenty of rolling hills, passes by scenic creeks and ranches while giving outstanding views of Whitefish Lake.

Begin the ride in downtown Whitefish. Head north on Baker Street, go across the railroad viaduct bridge toward Big Mountain Ski Resort, the road becomes Wisconsin Avenue. Pass by the Big Mountain Road turn-off; the road becomes East Lakeshore Drive. There is generally light traffic on this road. Soon, the road begins to climb

http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/whitefish.html (1 of 3)8/10/2007 11:14:04 AM http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/Rides/whitefish.html and you enter the heavily forested, rolling hills section of the ride. Rushing creeks tumbling down from the Whitefish Range and pass under the roadway in several locations while there are several fantastic views of Whitefish Lak e. After passing by Upper Whitefish Road (gravel), the road becomes Delray Road. Stay on the road passing by several meadows and ranches, the road curves around the end of the lake. When the pavement runs out, simply turn around and head back to Whitefish re-tracing your route.

This is a fun route with the hills and views. Be careful around the tight curves and keep a close eye on the traffic, as the road is narrow along the lake.

You can add some serious climbing to this route by taking one of several spur roads. The climb up to Big Mountain Resort is a little over 5 miles and some 1800 feet gained in elevation. A little closer to town and heading east, look for Reservoir Road. It climbs for a little over 2 miles and around 800 feet gained.

For more information on the great riding around Whitefish contact Glacier Cyclery, 406-862-6446.

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Upper Whitefish Rd. ★ start/finish Smi th C re E. Lakeshore Dr. ek directional arrows

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Lazy Cr.

W h ite fi sh

i g L a M o k u e Plaza Rd. n ta in

. E. Lakeshore Dr.

487

Big Mountain Rd.

Reservoir Rd. N

Denver St. Wisconsin Ave. 01 2 scale in miles Baker St. Whitefish 93 ★ 2nd Ave. ★ 93 http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/safety.html

Montana | Big Sky Country

Bicycle touring is as safe a sport as you make it. Some cycling techniques mixed with common sense can greatly reduce your chances of injury.

In some on-road routes, vehicle traffic can present the greatest danger to the cyclist. Cars, motorcycles, and trucks are heavier and faster than bicycles; always anticipate that the next driver you meet may do something bizarre. When a car or truck Click Here For A Current Listing of Routes overtakes you, assume that there is a line of traffic following it, and that the second driver back has not seen you.

Towing units and recreational vehicles are often equipped with mirror extenders that protrude far to the right side of the vehicle and can clip an unsuspecting cyclist. Be attentive to the extra space requirements of commercial vehicles.

It would be a mistake to only look out for vehicles; many accidents are caused by cyclists running into each other. Following too closely, whether for purposes of chatting or for staying out of a headwind in a “pace line,” leads to a number of accidents every year. But, the classic cycling accident occurs when a cyclist stops for a rest or to take a photo, and remains right on the shoulder travel lane. A second cyclist, who perhaps is looking at the scenery or just concentrating on the road, runs into the first. While usually not life threatening, these accidents can lead to bruises and perhaps damaged equipment. It’s an easy accident type to avoid…simply by getting well off of the road, trail, or travel lane whenever stopping.

Stationary hazards account for the majority of cycling accidents. Watch out for oil, wet leaves, hot tar, parked cars, rocks, broken pavement, and railroad crossings. Watch for loose gravel, especially at intersections and where side roads or driveways enter your shoulder. Cross the rails at railroad crossings as perpendicular as possible; a track at an angle to the road can easily trap a wheel. In Montana, especially on back roads in ranching country, you'll encounter an obstacle that makes urban storm sewer grating ride like blacktop by comparison: the cattle guard. This is a series of 5-8 railroad rails spaced 3 to 6 inches apart so that cattle won't try to cross. Always dismount and walk across cattle guards; there is no sense in risking a damaged wheel or a more serious crash.

In Montana, the bicycle is recognized as a legal vehicle on the roadways, so you as the cyclist are subject to all of the same traffic laws you would obey as a motorist. But, there are also rules of the road dictated by common courtesy. Show courtesy to motorists and pedestrians as well as fellow cyclists. If you’d like to take a look at specific cycling laws for the state, you’ll find them at this link.

Time of day is often an important safety consideration. Temperatures are usually best, and traffic is lightest, in the early morning hours. Avoid leaving or approaching major population centers during rush hours or at the noon hour. If you can, be off the road before 5 p.m. Low or glaring light conditions, heavy traffic, fatigue of both driver and bicyclists, and the appearance of the drinking driver make this the most dangerous time of day. Be aware that when you are riding directly into the sun (at dawn or dusk), motorists behind you are doing the same, and they may have difficulty seeing you.

Night riding is not recommended. If you must ride at night, wear bright, reflective clothing; use lights and reflectors front and rear, and listen for traffic. When on the highway, leave the roadway when you hear a car approaching. Always assume that the driver has not seen you.

Fog presents another danger for cyclists. If you must ride in fog, treat it like nighttime. Under conditions like these,

http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/safety.html (1 of 3)8/10/2007 11:14:09 AM http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/safety.html helmets, safety flags, safety triangles (fanny bumpers), and rear view mirrors make extra good sense. Remember that heavy fog severely distorts a driver's sense of depth perception; a motorist may be on top of you before he/she realizes it.

Tunnels are almost never designed for use by bicyclists. Use lights, flags, and safety triangles. Stand just inside the tunnel on the walkway or shoulder until your eyes can adjust to the poor light. Ride as far to the right as you can get. For long tunnels, the group may want to appoint one person to stand at the entrance waving a flag to warn motorists of cyclists ahead, but this person will still have to get through. A better solution is to flag down a sympathetic motorist who will agree to follow your group through the tunnel with flashers blinking.

Cycling proficiency, safety consciousness, and visibility are your best keys to safe bicycle touring.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

For comfortable and safe cycling, you must have a bicycle of the proper size. A good test for determining the correct frame size is to straddle the top tube with both feet flat on the ground. If you can lift the bicycle more than two inches, the frame is too small.

Don't be afraid to adjust your bicycle for comfort and maximum efficiency, and keep Click Here For A Current Listing of Routes on adjusting it until it feels right. As a starting point, the saddle should be raised until there is only a slight bend in your knee when your foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Too high a saddle will cause you to roll back and forth with each pedal revolution, which can lead to early fatigue and saddle sores.

After adjusting the seat for proper leg extension, check the handlebars. The distance from the front tip of the saddle to the center of the handlebars should be the same as the distance from your elbow to the tip of your outstretched middle finger. You can move the seat back and forth, or purchase handlebar stem extensions in different lengths. The handlebars can be level with the saddle; however many cyclists prefer to have the bars 1/2 in. to 1 inch lower than the line of the saddle.

Surprising as it may seem, many cyclists don't listen to their own bodies, and so push themselves well past the safe level of their own endurance. When something starts to ache or hurt, stop cycling and find out why.

So many cyclists suffer from saddle sores that this condition is accepted by many as a part of the cycling experience. It doesn't have to be. Your body is telling you that your saddle isn't broken in correctly, that it isn't adjusted to the right height, or that you are wearing clothing that is rubbing and irritating your skin. Do something about it!

Another very common problem that cyclists try to ignore is knee pain, often brought on by cycling in too high a gear. The knee is a complicated mélange of ligaments, bones, cartilages, and tendons; the latter are subjected to huge amounts of force with each turn of the crank. Knee strain is pretty simple to detect even in the early stages. Continued strain can result in damage to the knee tendons and/or tissues. When you feel it coming on, take a break, and then shift to a lower gear.

If the knee pain continues, stop and check your saddle position. You may have your saddle situated back too far, which causes your body to sit back too far for an efficient pedaling posture. When your pedals are horizontal to the road, with your feet on the pedals or in toe clips and straps, the center of your knee (slightly bent at this point) should be just about directly above the center of the pedal.

Cyclists who should pay more attention to body signals often ignore a stinging and numb feeling in the hands. The problem is caused by continued compression of a nerve in the palm of the hand between the handlebars and the bones of the hand. In extreme cases this can lead to damage to nerves or a partial paralysis of the hand. The simple solution is to use well-padded cycling gloves, a padded handlebar, and the good sense to change your hand positions frequently.

This last technique will also help alleviate the wrist, shoulder, and back strain. If you continually suffer from sore shoulders or upper back pain when cycling, check your position. It is likely that your top tube length is incorrect, either forcing you to sit up too high, or (more likely) to stretch too far to the handlebars. This can in many cases be solved by replacing your handlebar stem with a longer or shorter model.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

It is essential that you develop a smooth, straight form while riding. Cyclists who weave all over the road are dangerous to themselves and to others. Practice these skills:

Steering. It is likely that you have been riding a bicycle for years, and that your sense of balance is well developed. Remember that a bicycle with a camera-laden Click Here For A Current Listing of Routes handlebar bag and possibly panniers will handle differently. Don’t trust to luck. Put your panniers and handlebar bag on your bicycle, and load them with weight equivalent to what you'll be carrying on your ride. Then find a straight line on a little-used road or in a deserted parking lot, and practice.

One thing you'll want to do on any ride is to keep an eye on what's happening behind you. If you're like most people, the bicycle will automatically veer to the left or right as soon as you turn your head to look back over your shoulder. Learn to anticipate this sudden change in course, and correct for it. Placing your hands far apart on the handlebars will give you more steering stability for a quick turn-around and glance. Small mirrors that attach to caps, helmets, or glasses are readily available and are highly recommended.

Steering a bicycle is accomplished by both turning the handlebars and leaning the body. Don't make abrupt steering movements, especially on down hills or on slippery surfaces such as wet asphalt or gravel. Loss of traction is all too easy with the thin tires used on touring bicycles. The wider mountain bike tires fare better, but you can still find yourself quickly unseated from rapid steering movements.

Be careful not to pedal when leaning sharply into a turn; a pedal or toe clip could catch on the pavement and result in a tumble. Also avoid shifting in turns -- the forces and counter forces involved in shifting in a curve could tax anyone's equilibrium.

Cadence and gearing. The system of gears found on multi-speed bicycles lets you choose different pedaling rates, or cadences. Selecting a comfortable and efficient pedaling cadence is important. Spinning your pedals in too low a gear is very tiring, and results in choppy, wobbly riding. A laborious, grinding cadence in too high a gear (a more common error) also results in instability, and is a primary cause of knee problems for many cyclists.

Skillful riders often use a brisk, steady cadence of 65 to 80 pedal revolutions per minute. Your choice of cadence may vary from this average, but your steady, even style should not. You may choose to start at a lower cadence of, say, 50 rpm, and gradually work up to a cadence that is comfortable over long distances.

Use the number of gears at your disposal religiously to maintain constant cadence over varying terrain. Avoid jumping from very high to low gears too quickly when trying to maintain cadence. You'll only lose your momentum. One trick used by some cyclists is to choose a gear combination that they feel they could maintain over a given headwind or terrain situation, and then click down to the next lowest gear. This slightly easier gear can then be easily maintained, even allowing for minor terrain changes or headwind gusts.

Braking and emergencies. A cardinal rule of bicycling is to brake before you have to. This especially relates to curves and down hills. Brake just before getting into a curve; then, if you need to reduce your speed further, brake gently with the rear

http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/techniques.html (1 of 3)8/10/2007 11:14:14 AM http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/techniques.html brake while in the curve. Always apply brakes evenly; do not slam on both brakes, and never slam on just the front brake.

On down hills, many cyclists make the mistake of waiting too long before they start braking. A bicycle – especially one loaded with equipment – can pick up speed with surprising swiftness. Loose gravel or rocks, vehicles, cattle guards, and other obstructions can come up quickly at 40 or 50 mph.

Keep your body in an upright position on steep down hills. This will provide increased wind resistance and help to slow your speed. Brake in a rhythmic on-again-off-again pattern, holding the brakes on for a few seconds, and then releasing them. Continuous braking will glaze the surface of the brake pads and heat the rims, resulting in a partial or complete loss of braking power. On long downhill stretches where you feel you must brake continuously, it is a good idea to stop frequently to allow the tire rims to cool. Failure to do so can result in actually blowing the tire off of the rim as the heated air within the tire expands.

Emergency braking is a very important technique. It involves three actions that must be performed as one continuous motion. To brake rapidly, (1) shift your weight toward the rear of the saddle, while (2) moving your hands onto the brake handles and (3) apply firm even pressure to both brakes. Practice this technique both with and without equipment on the bike, on level and down-hill surfaces.

Ankling. This technique – more useful for the road cyclist than for the off-road cyclist – allows you to distribute your effort evenly over most of the pedal revolution, increasing riding efficiency and smoothness. Ankling makes full use of the ankle and leg muscles, because you are pulling up on one pedal while pushing down on the other. Toe clips and straps, or quick-release pedals locked into your cycling shoes, are a must for ankling.

In normal pedaling, the foot applies downward thrust from about the two o'clock to the six o’clock position (viewed from the right side of the cranks). Then the foot, still parallel to the ground, rides the pedal as dead weight from the six o'clock position back to about the 1 o'clock position, where another power stroke begins.

In ankling, the foot pivots at the ankle joint from a toes-up position at 12 o'clock to a toes-down (with reference to the ankle) attitude at the six o'clock position. The ankle then swings the foot back up to a toes-up position while the pedal moves from six o'clock to 12 o'clock. The ankle and leg muscles are all pulling up on the pedal during the second half of the cycle.

At the top both the stroke (12 o'clock), the foot is again in a toes-up position, ready to apply downward trust on the pedal. Of course, the opposite foot just starting to pull the other pedal upwards at this moment. Thus, you have immediate power at the top of each stroke, and increased efficiency because you aren't pushing the other foot as dead weight through half of a power stroke.

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Montana | Big Sky Country

When faced with stiff headwinds, an arduous climb over a mountain pass, or other challenges of terrain or weather, put both the bicycle and your mind into a lower gear and keep going. Acknowledge that the prevailing condition is going to slow your pace. Then, continue to spin the cranks in a lower gear, and let the bicycle do the work.

Click Here For A Current Listing of Routes A moderate yet steady pace will conquer uphill stretches. Too slow a pace may give you a sense of self-defeat; too fast a pace will deplete your energy. Use the time and the frequent rest breaks to view the scenery or take photos. When you do stop on an uphill stretch, leave the roadway first. Always be ready to yield to traffic that has backed up behind you. Some hills will require walking -- no cyclist should ever ashamed to get off the bike and stroll for a while. It’s a great chance to stretch some of the leg muscles not directly used for cycling.

Mountain descents and other long down hills are the cyclist's reward for the long hours of uphill riding. Unfortunately, many cyclists are so struck with the euphoria of having conquered a hill that they immediately treat themselves to a flat- out zip down a steep, unfamiliar road.

Approach a long descent with a mixture of joy and caution. Before starting down, check brakes, cables, hub quick releases, tires, and handlebar stems. A malfunction of any one of these components could result in a serious accident.

If it is chilly, you may want to add a layer of clothing. Reduced exertion means less body heat being produced. Keep your legs moving even when coasting downhill; otherwise, you'll have stiff leg muscles in the knee joints when you resume pedaling, especially if the conditions are cold and damp. Again, get well over on the side of the road or trail if you decide to stop.

Gravel roads require slow, steady riding. On thick patches of gravel, a slightly increased cadence in a lower gear will give you better stability. Keep your hands well apart on the handlebars, and your eyes trained on the road surface ahead. Steer straight through patches of gravel, and avoid quick steering inputs. Be extra alert on hills with a loose gravel surface – get off and walk if necessary.

High winds can bring some of the most frustrating experiences to be found in road cycling. Use your head before you use your leg muscles. Remember to drop to a lower gear, just spin the cranks, and let the bicycle do the work. Use the drop section of the handlebars to keep your profile low, with less wind resistance. You can't fight a headwind with anger or a foul mood.

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