I rolled into town sat afternoon. Bob from Chip’s shop told me about Leverich, I parked @ Rosauers on the west end of town and researched the trail. I found how to get there which is S of town. The last mile to the TH goes thru private property w/ no road maintenance, once I got on the lane I couldn’t go back. Shit, the road going in was rougher than the actual ride, or so it seemed. The weather forecast called for T-storms and the sky looked like it might happen. There were several cars in the lot, one young guy was leaving ahead of me. He took a pic of the route descriptions that I briefly read: turn left @ first intersection then right @ every other one. The ride started w/ a steep climb up a 2 way. I humped it. It was great again to be riding on dirt for good traction. The trail climbs to a high point then viola, it goes back down another way: the trail is a one way use it. And down I went, bermed turns, great sight lines. And then I was back at my van, 52 min round trip w/a 1449′ climb.
I checked out shower places. I found an Anytime Fitness and used my key card that didn’t open the door. A guy was walking in and he let me in.
I ate dinner @ Aleworks downtown then drove out to the N end of Bangtail Divide trail and slept in the parking lot.
Sunday @ the TH I hoped for a shuttle ride down to the S start of Bangtail. No deal. I rode the 7 miles of pavement and 1.2 miles of gravel to the start. On the pavement I hit 38mph gravity assisted of course. Shortly after the max speed I noticed that my bike felt squirrely. I stopped and checked the tire inflation: the rear was very soft. I pumped it up w/ my hand pump I carry. No explanation for pressure drop. The tire held air the entire ride. Today I rode the entire trail except for 2 short steep rocky sections towards the end that I didn’t want to expend the energy to make. The last 4 miles are almost all downhill and I made the most of each foot of drop.Seat dropper down, crouch, look ahead, stay light and let gravity pull me down. What fun. Back in the TH there were other cars, riders just start later than I did. 30.93 miles in 3 hrs 39 mins climbing 4143′. A doozy. Third time I have ridden it. It is now an IMBA epic and I was curious how it might have changed: none.
I spent the night on a dead end gravel road nearby.
Today was a catch up internet day, this being one. I made an appointment w/ my friendly ortho DR in Spokane to look @ my shoulder. Next step is an MRI to learn if rotator damage has taken place. I got to know as my right arm doesn’t work pain free.
Friend randy from Spokane is arriving tonight on business then tomorrow driving up to Helena which mirrors my travel plan. Except the weather forecast calls for probability of heavy rain vs here a probability of t-storms. If I follow Randy we can ride tomorrow.
I found a Conti trail King 2.2 Black Chili hand made it Germany tire to replace the same that performed for 70 rides and 1075 miles. Cost $76.
I visited w/ Beartooth Will.
Gotta go to meet guys for beer.