Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 8 20 Watch a ride up Sentinel Mountain, cyclocross-style www.distinctlymontana.com/missoula184 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL THE TRAILS Trails come in all shapes and sizes in and around Missoula. Some are steep and require great skill, while others are family friendly and keep cyclists of all ilk off highway shoulders. THE BITTERROOT TRAIL Perhaps the most impressive trail of all: a fully paved thor- oughfare that connects Missoula to the Bitterroot Valley, all the way to Hamilton. e Bitterroot Trail is an approximate 50-mile trail that draws mountain bikes, carbon road bikes, pedestrians, and even two-year-old kids in Radio Flyer wagons pulled by weary moms on weekend mornings. Before it was completed in 2016, it was first a 75-mile round trip from Lolo to Hamilton and back. Michelle Postma, 28, moved to Missoula from Utah in recent months to work toward her MFA in Ceramics at the University of Montana. She frequently rides the Bitterroot Trail on her 10-year- old Specialized commuter bike. "is is a fun paved trail that parallels the highway, but is safer than riding the shoulder," she says, noting that it al- lows riders to take in the beauty of the valley without threat of collision. Her other ride is a mountain bike she helped build at Free Cycles Missoula—a local nonprofit focused on creating sustain- able transportation. She mostly rides on the designated "green trails" (those that are easy and enjoyable for all) around Missoula. Her favorites in- clude the Ewok trail, Lincoln Hills, and Blue Mountain. A lifelong ballerina and former Junior Olympics competitor in air rifle competition, Postma is about as fit as any noncompetitive rider could be, but says she only rides for fun. RATTLESNAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND WILDERNESS: SHEEP MOUNTAIN LOOP RATING: Black Diamond e front side of Sheep Mountain isn't for the faint of heart. It's a 4,600-foot climb within a 10-mile distance to the top that takes an average of two hours to complete. e best part about it, say rid- ers, is the descent on the back side that takes about half that time. A single-track trail rated Black Diamond (very difficult), it's an expert mountain biker's backcountry dream, best for those who un- derstand the perils of this type of cycling. Bring alternate clothing, first aid, snack food, and plenty of water. BLUE MOUNTAIN MAIN CORRIDOR 3.04 RATING: Green-Blue Blue Mountain trail system is vaster than it appears. It's a 4,900 acre recreation area that boasts 41 miles of trails—mostly mountain and cross-bike friendly. e main corridor is a two-mile double-track trail, considered easy for all members of the family. It does, however, have a climb difficulty equivalent to a blue trail (intermediate). For cyclists, the key to this trail is watching out for runners, darting dogs, and large erosions in the trail that disguise rocks and expose uneven terrain. CYCLING RESOURCES For more information on Missoula's many trails, its local bike programs or other cycling-related materials, check out: • BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN OFFICE, city of Missoula 435 Ryman Street Missoula, MT 59802 406-552-6352 • MissoulaInMotion.com offers Missoulians bike resources, such as safety videos, bike maps, and ways to become involved in alternate transportation. • Download the "MY CITY BIKES MISSOULA" APP at Missoula In Motion, or directly from the Google Play Store or Apple Store to have Missoula City and trail maps at your fingertips as you ride. "Not everyone who applies gets an award, mind you," says the program director of Bicycle Friendly America.

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