I rode over Lost Trail Pass and Chief Joseph Pass today. It was a tremendous amount of work. I had to keep focused to make sure I kept the pedals turning 65 rpm (4.9 mph nearing the summit).
Trapper Peak. The highest peak in the Bitterroot Mountains.
Pastoral scene before the climb.
The last time I climbed this 3,000 feet in 5 miles (in 2003), someone stopped and said that there was another cyclist at the bottom of the hill who needed help. I didn’t know this cyclist. Today’s ride reminded me that there is no way I would go back down this ride to help another cyclist out, unless I was riding with that cyclist. If someone stopped me to say that there was a cyclist at the bottom of the hill who needed help, what I am supposed to do? They have a car, why don’t they help that cyclist.
A bald hill above the Bitterroot River
This homeowner was very fortunate. Thank you Forest Service.
Along the way, I saw naked cyclists - from New Hampshire to Portland, Oregon. I hope they wear sunscreen.
The end of the line was nice: Wisdom, MT. Lots of firefighters and forest service in this town. I stopped at the "all smoking/all the time" bar to get a wilty lettuce salad and a sandwich on moldy bread. Of course, later, I found the nicer restaurant, but I was already full at that time.
The best part of the ride is the Big Hole. This high altitude valley is best known for great fishing, wheat farming, and best of all - no traffic. I ride for miles and yet nary a car or tractor passes. I stopped at the Big Hole National Battlefield site. A very important battle occurred here between a band of the Nez Perce tribes and the U.S. Army.
Drivers - those who pass and those that don't
Riding all day long, I have a lot of time to thing about the different types of drivers out there. Of course, this is all in relation to how close or how far these drivers get to me.
- Lon or Hon - Those drivers who pass me by entirely driving into the other lane of traffic. My favorite type of driver.
- Strads - "Stradlers." Those who can't be bothered to pass me correctly - in other words, pass by using entirely the other lane. They pass me by stradling the median line. Most people who pass me are strads. Dear reader, you may think that I am being greedy in amount of road space that I need, but I assure you, when there is NO shoulder, it is very nice to have a person pass me using the other side of the road (especially if the driver is a zoomer, see below).
- Zoomers. Those who don't notice me as they pass. They just drive by me as if I weren't even on the road. These drivers pass me too close or too fast or both too close and too fast. A little slowing down is always appreciated. All that is required is that the driver just has to slow down to make sure it is safe to pass, the pass carefully (hopefully using the "London Calling" technique), and then they will be on their way. Many Montana drivers are zoom-strads. A speed limit was only recently imposed on Montana drivers (probably, 10 years ago). This only goes to show that regulations are not the best way to affect behavoir (hint: there should be stiff penalties). Most Montana drivers have a lead foot, they won't let off the accelerator for anything.
- Pogs - "Apogees." Those who start their pass too late and are at the widest part of their passing arc some 50 yards after they had passed me.
- Lurkers. Those who can't pass even if we are on a straight seciton of road and even if there is no oncoming traffic. These drivers just sit behind me. They are willing to follow me at 7 mph for miles. Safe, but slightly irritating.
Day 14 - Darby to Wisdom - 58 Miles
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