Category: Northern Rockies 2017

Jack planned last year’s tour in Minnesota after RAGBRAI, so the task logically fell to me this time around. I had no idea what difficulties I was about to encounter. Spent most of the month of June in Europe. I’d hoped to do some planning while away, but that’s really hard to do in a foreign land surrounded by great family, great scenery, great food, and much activity. I finally arrived home in early July with planning as my top priority, and soon felt it crash in on me. A simple look at Day 1 out of Jasper revealed no vacancy at

Record heat in Phoenix today. Here in July that’s saying something, as the thermometer topped out at 118F (48C). Instead of fighting it, Phil and I jumped into the SUV and took off for Flagstaff to get in a training ride. In searching for bicycle routes online, I stumbled across a map from Absolute Bikes describing a Lake Mary and Mormon Lake Roads route as “the classic Flagstaff road bike ride.” Our quest for the day was thus set. We breakfasted and staged at the IHOP near the intersection of I-40 and I-17, and were soon on our way southeast

Planning is now seriously underway for this year’s tour.  Jack, Phil and I considered 2 options.  One was north-to-south along the Oregon and northern California coastline.  What won out, though, is a north-to-south route through the northern Rocky Mountains, starting in Jasper Alberta.  Should be fantastic. The route will follow the Adventure Cycling Association’s Great Parks North route.  Starting in Jasper National Park, we’ll basically criss-cross the continental divide a couple of times, wavering between Alberta and British Columbia.  Crossing into the US, we’ll then ride through the Rockies of western Montana through Glacier National Park. The plan is to