Jordan Canada to Denver Day 2

The day began with a much-needed night’s sleep. I woke at 4:30 AM and quietly packed so Jordan could rest. He aimed to be on the bike by 7:30 AM, so everything was packed by 6:00 AM. Jordan woke at 6:15 AM and had a traditional free hotel breakfast of eggs, oatmeal, toast, cereal, biscuits, and gravy.

We arrived east of Big Fork at 7:50 AM, where the ride began. Considering yesterday’s hard day, Jordan looked tired. Concerned about Highway 83 out of Bigfork, a sign read, “Construction underway, motorcycles consider another route.” Though there were no logical routes for bicycles, he proceeded onward. (See video here.) The views were pleasant!

The wind, despite the web’s claim of only 2 mph, was a substantial headwind. Jordan exclaimed, “I rode 17 mph yesterday with the same effort as 12 mph today.” We estimate the wind was over 10 mph.

The temperature rose, and the road was busy (see video here). After traveling 50 miles, we encountered a road under construction. We knew it’d be dangerous, so we skipped the next 5 miles. Eventually, a new paved road appeared, smooth as silk. We used a lot of gas in Kalispell. When we realized we needed gas, we were deep in the mountains. Condon said MT had a gas station, but it was permanently closed. Another gas station was 40 miles away (Seeley Lake), and the car estimated 80 miles of fuel remained. The 80 miles were concerning because there were many steep climbs.

We arrived at Seeley Lake, a large city with more services than expected. We found a food cart by the lake, had burgers, and rested for an hour. We hoped for cooler temperatures but were disappointed. After 6 miles, Jordan’s road narrowed, making it unsafe to continue. I offered to drive him 6 miles to Highway 200 (Clearwater Rest Stop). Highway 200 had a good shoulder. Realizing he needed only 30 miles to reach 100 miles for the day, he decided to ride to Missoula instead of staying at the earlier spot. The last 30 miles had significant descents, making for a great time.

This route also had some desperate barns, which I was able to photograph.  

Jordan arrived in Missoula at 6:30 p.m. and was tired, ready for bed by 9:00 p.m. While I washed clothes and prepared for the next day, we ordered pizza.

The total miles for the day was 102.4, totaling 202.5 for the first two days. The first and last segments were:

The first and last Segment:

Ride (first 57.5 miles) Summary:

• Strava Link - 57.5 miles – 4:01:47
• The average speed is 14.2 MPH, and the maximum speed is 38 MPH
• The average cadence is 77 RPM, and the maximum cadence is 108 RPM
• Average heart rate of 116 BPM and maximum heart rate of 155 BPM
• Ascent 2,240 feet and descent 1,200 feet

Ride (last 34.6 miles) Summary:

• Starva Link - 34.6 miles – 1:52:50
• The average speed is 18.39 MPH, and the maximum speed is 34.88 MPH
• The average cadence is 77 RPM, and the maximum cadence is 98 RPM
• Average heart rate of 136 BPM and maximum heart rate of 158 BPM
• Ascent 754 feet and descent 1,200 feet

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!