Jordan Canada to Denver Day 4

We slept through the massive storms in Wisdom on a cool night. At 2:30 AM, Jordan woke and asked for his sleeping bag. At 5:45 AM, I saw a double rainbow outside my window. I tried to wake Jordan at 6:30 a.m., but he was still asleep. I processed photos and videos and prepared a blog post. Just before 8:00 a.m., Jordan woke up. We prepared for the day and left for Dillon at 9:00 a.m. The ride is half ascent, followed by a descent.

Jordan stopped at Jackson for a 10-minute rest (about 20 miles). His legs are fine, but his hand hurts. He looks tired and worn. He wants to complete 100 miles before the end of the day, making four consecutive 100-mile days. If successful, he’ll take Wednesday off before heading to Yellowstone. The steep climbs began from Jackson. Fortunately, the weather held, with only the high 60s—a huge reprieve after yesterday’s heat. By the time he reached the top, the clouds arrived.

To beat the storm's arrival, he aggressively rode down the road, sometimes reaching 50 MPH. In the video, he was traveling at 42 MPH, as indicated by the Subaru speedometer. He successfully caught up to Dillon at 1:30, covering 71 miles in under 4 hours, averaging over 18 MPH. However, the weather was dangerous, with lightning and dark clouds on both sides of the route.

The road became dangerous, so I gave him a ride for about 8 miles, during which time the road improved. He was racing the storm again, but this time, it was terrifying. After Three Forks, we realized he couldn’t outrun it. At 100.1 miles, we loaded the bike into the car. Within seconds, the downpour became atrocious, making driving difficult. This was our lucky day!

Ride (first 71 miles) Summary:

• Strava Link - 71 miles – 3 hours 56 minutes 13 seconds
• Speed: Average 18.05 MPH, maximum 46.7 MPH
• Cadence: Average 77 RPM,  Maximum 121 RPM
• Heart rate:  Average 113 BPM, Maximum 155 BPM
• Ascent 2,598 feet and descent 3,543 feet

TOTAL FOR THE DAY:

• 100.3 miles
• 5 hours 24 minutes 18 seconds
• 18.6 MPH

NOTE: Day 5 is a rest day.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Jordan Canada to Denver Day 3

Last night, I felt stranded in a car during a snowstorm. Jordan had set the air conditioning at 63 degrees, blowing hard all night. I woke up at 3:30 AM, unable to breathe due to congestion. I turned off the air conditioning at 5:00 AM and started cleaning and packing.

Jordan slept until 7:30 AM, when I began packing. He was tired after two 100-plus-mile days and was getting ready to go. I replaced the chain on my bicycle, which had over 1,500 miles of wear. He had a solid breakfast of pizza, a bagel with cream cheese, and leftover salmon. I was pleased he fueled well to start the day.

We discussed route options and decided he’d leave the hotel and ride through Missoula to Lolo, where there’s a 51-mile bike trail. We’d rather ride safer roads than risk what we experienced yesterday. The forecast is hotter, so we’d prefer earlier, cooler hours.

The ride out of Missoula was nice, with dedicated bicycle routes and a slight grade. An extensive shoulder followed an on-street bike lane. He reached Solo without issue. The temperature rose several degrees every hour, reaching the 80s by noon. Jordan slowed down and drank a lot of fluids.

I decided to ride back to meet him halfway. I parked at Victor, MT, and headed toward Solo on the trail. Less than three-quarters of a mile in, I hit a significant edge on the bridge path and blew both tires. I called Jordan to warn him. He needed a bunny hop over the edge, possibly due to my weight. I was looking forward to the ride, but I will repair the tires instead. While repairing, I saw a young man and a woman touring.

Jordan reached Victor, MT, just before 1:00 PM, looking sun-whipped and tired. He rested in the air-conditioned car for 15 minutes. I suggested we pack it in for the day and try again later due to the heat. Jordan pursued the two touring bicyclists I mentioned. After 12 miles, we arrived at Super 1 Food at the same time. They’re college graduates riding the entire 4,228.5-mile  Transamerica trail They’ve been on the ride for 21 days and expect to be on it for another 50 days or more.

The temperature soared above 100 degrees, and the sun’s intensity was intense at 3,000 feet. Amazingly, Jordan survived the heat. Before Sula, the road was once again dangerous. We loaded the bike and drove a few miles. Jordan made it to the State line!

The fun rides began with mostly descents. He sped, going 42 MPH in a 25 MPH curve down the mountain. As a father, I cringed and sweated. As a 28-year-old, he wanted to do it again! I saw some deer, which distracted me.

He was thrilled by the 20-degree drop in temperature by 7:00 PM and continued riding. I set up the car for the night and met him. While driving, I thought I’d forgotten something. When I found him, I suggested I check, but he kept riding. The mountain weather worsened. Just before meeting him outside Wisdom, MT, lightning struck 60 feet away, frightening him. I was his only release valve.

We quickly loaded the bike as the rain began to fall. There was no phone service in the middle of nowhere. We drove a few miles to Wisdom, MT, and found a great restaurant, The Crossing at Feddy’s. Remarkably, it manages to survive financially despite its remote location. The staff said they get many visitors like us.

Upon arriving at the park at approximately 9:15 PM, we were prepared to rest. The park was well-maintained and operated on a donation basis. Notably, it featured an outhouse. It was a remarkable gem, and we discovered two exceptional secrets of Wisdom, Montana. Are there more such gems to discover?

He has averaged 103 miles a day for the first three days!

Ride (first 75.8 miles) Summary:

• 75.8 miles – 4:39:21
• Speed: Average 16.3 MPH, Maximum 33.3 MPH
• Cadence: Average 76 RPM; Maximum 101 RPM
• Heart rate: Average 117 BPM; Maximum 157 BPM
• Ascent 1,722 feet and descent 744 feet

TOTAL FOR THE DAY:

• 120.6 miles
• 6 hours 39 minutes 28 seconds
• 18.09 MPH

Carry on my friends, carry on!

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!

Jordan Canada to Denver Day 1

It was such a treat to catch some Z’s in a hotel last night! A good night’s sleep really helps both of us feel less grumpy and more awake. We hit the road bright and early at 5:45 AM, heading from Kalispell to the Canadian border, where our adventure would begin.

The drive to the border gave us a chance to take a peek at those less-than-ideal roads! The shoulder areas were covered in debris, and the roads without shoulders were super fast (70 MPH) and twisted through the forest. The weather was just perfect: a light breeze from the north and a cool 45 degrees. To keep everyone safe, we mounted the NightRider Lumina 350 with the strobe on the back to ensure we were visible.

We arrived at the border just before 7:00 a.m., and Jordan crossed into Canada. Londell, unfortunately, didn’t have a passport, so he had to stay behind.

Jordan had a quick chat with some Mounties and USA Border Patrol before hitting the road. After just a mile, he realized he was overdressed and quickly shed the jacket, arm warmers, and gloves. Not long after, he was back on the road, heading to Kalispell (73 miles). The road was relatively quiet, and the first 90 minutes were uneventful, making for a relatively enjoyable ride.

Londell discovered a car wash in Eureka, Montana, where two days of insects had been removed from the vehicle. Eureka, Londell thoroughly washed the car (Pun intended)! Soon after, Londell and Jordan were reunited, and the day appeared promising.

You know how it is, right? Everything good has its challenges! The rocks and stones were a real headache, and we figured they caused some trouble with the bike. Jordan mentioned that the rear tire seemed to lock up, which gave him some concern. So, we put the bike on the rack and took a good look. It turns out the brakes might have been the culprit. Since we couldn’t find anything wrong, he was back on his way! Londell managed to snap a few photos and get a good feel for the road.

The last 20 miles were a bit of a slog. People were generally friendly, but there were a few who weren’t too keen on sharing the road with a bicycle. We finally arrived back at the hotel just before noon. The tourists were out in full force, and it was great to take a break from the road for a bit. Jordan took a quick break before heading to the store to grab some Powerade and oranges. Now it’s time to chill out, but Jordan might go for a quick ride later.

Ride summary:

• Strava - 72.8 miles - 4:26:27
• Speed 16.4 MPH average, and maximum 33.52 MPH
• Cadence is 76 RPM average, and maximum 128 RPM
• Heart rate 128 BPM average and maximum 169 BPM
• Ascent 2,565 feet and descent 2,221 feet

In addition, we encountered challenges during our evaluation of the trip from North Kalispell to Swan Lake. The available options were either unsafe or unappealing. Consequently, Jordan opted to embark on a 20-mile journey out of town in the morning, followed by an additional 10 miles to complete the 100-mile day.

At approximately 4:00 PM, we packed our bicycles (including the second one, which Londell would ride), and proceeded to Kila, located at the western terminus of the Great Northern Historical Trail. This trail would lead us to Somers, Montana, situated at the northern end of Flathead Lake. Jordan would ride the trail to Somers, Montana, where Londell would park and ride in reverse to rendezvous with him.

Londell and Jordan met up on the trail, and Londell covered just over 2 miles. After getting back to the car, Jordan thought it would be awesome to ride back and hit 30 miles for the day! So, he set off again on the trail. Once he got to the Kalispell trailhead, we loaded up the car, grabbed some food at Q’doba, and headed to the hotel to pack and get ready for another ride tomorrow.

Ride summary:

• Garmin tracking - 30 miles - 1:50:52
• Speed 16.23 MPH average, maximum 26 MPH
• Cadence 77 RPM average, maximum is 117 RPM
• Heart rate 128 BPM average and maximum 161 BPM
• Ascent 347 feet and descent 528 feet

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Getting set for Jordan's Canada to Denver ride

On June 21, at 5:00 PM, I headed to Colorado to meet Jordan. We planned to drive to Canada for his bike ride. Despite the good weather, I was tired from a hard few weeks. The drive was easy, with little traffic after leaving the Twin Cities. I stopped at a rest stop in York, Nebraska, at 11:45 PM. The Scion IA seat was uncomfortable, and the temperature was in the 80s. I slept little and drove again at 3:45 a.m. The drive was easy, and I arrived in Golden, CO, by 8:00 a.m. Jordan was sleeping, so I ran a few errands.

At 9:15 AM, I called Jordan, and we packed and prepared for our trip. I set up the new bicycle rack while packing the car. We met the real estate agent in Keystone at 3:00 PM and bought an air bed, tarp, and bungee cords. I was exhausted and getting double vision, but we needed to leave by 2:00 PM.

At noon, we tried to start his car, but the battery was dead. I bought jumper cables and a $100 jump-start kit from the hardware store. The cable couldn’t reach, so I planned to return the kit. It didn’t work! The neighbor was gone, and we couldn’t move the car. Then we realized the jump kit worked (initial user error). We headed to return the jump kit and found Walmart was closing. Everything was 50% off, but we couldn’t find an airbed pump. We did see a jump-start kit for $35, which was better than the one we returned. Things are looking up!

We were on the road at 2:10 PM, late due to heavy rain and concerns about being late. I was exhausted from having slept only a few hours the previous night. We reached Keystone by 3:30 p.m. and met the agent. It’s a great place, and I hope he finds a home here. His face and body language conveyed his affection for the area.

We left for Montana at 5:00 p.m., but encountered heavy traffic. We had close calls with deer as dusk set in. We stopped at a rest stop near Rawlins, WY, to sleep. We settled in and were sleeping by 11:00 PM, but the inverter broke, making it uncomfortable.

It was 4:15 AM, and I was wide awake, ready to head to Kalispell! We made a pit stop in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where we stopped to grab an inverter. Jordan was also craving ice cream for breakfast, and guess what? He got his wish! We tried to make good time, but we took the scenic route so Jordan could check out the road. I was starting to feel tired, and we had a minor disagreement. I kept it under wraps to maintain peace.

We finally arrived in Kalispell at 6:00 and quickly unpacked. We headed to MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub. I’ve been there before and loved it just as much as the second time. By 8:30 PM, we were both so tired that we were ready to start the ride and crashed HARD!

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!