The Cycling House hosted our first point to point Montana cycling trip this past week. The point to point trip across Montana had been a pipe dream for many TCH staffers.
Over the years our clients have learned that Missoula, Montana is the center of the universe and Montana is the best state out there. The Tour De Montana was our chance to prove exactly why Montana is such a great state and really showcase our back yard. Almost every Cycling House staffer has lived in Montana at some point in their lives and we all know why Montana is such a special place.
The point to point format offered a chance to create a route that would cover a very unique, desolate, beautiful part of the state. We knew that breathtaking views, big skies, quiet roads, mountain ranges, picturesque streams and rivers would be what campers would expect to find in Montana. The route covered all of the above and more!
The Tour De Montana started at Owen Gue’s family’s house (the Gue Farm) just west of downtown Missoula, Montana. Unlike all of our other trips we would be a traveling caravan and our accommodations would be tents and camping cabins. We might have been “roughing it” but that did not keep us from having wifi, espresso, tour de France viewing, showers, or Chef Drew’s amazing food!
The Gue farm was the perfect location for campers to start to get the Montana feel that the tour would offer. The first evening we headed out on the town for an excellent meal at Caffe Dolce for our last civlilized meal before heading out into the great unknown. Le Petit Outre, Birdman Bread, Big Sky Brewing, and Black Coffee Roasting Company all local Missoula businesses donated supplies for the trip including; pastries, pizza dough, baguettes, bread, beer, and coffee. It was amazing to have the support of some of our favorite Missoula businesses as we ventured into a new realm of bicycle trips for The Cycling House.
The Tour De Montana started in Missoula, Montana headed south towards the Bitterroot mountains climbed into the Big Hole Valley paralleled the Pioneer & Pintler Mountain ranges and completed the loop along the Blackfoot River back into Missoula. The course offered some of the best views in Montana along some of the best cycling routes available. Low traffic, near perfect weather and amazing support made the Tour De Montana an amazing trip.
Campers also had the opportunity to fly fish on a pristine Montana river after receiving fly fishing lessons from Chris Corbin husband of Linsey Corbin (top American professional triathlete and Missoula resident). Linsey and Chris joined us for dinner and Olympic mountain biker, Sam Schultz (another Missoula resident) popped in to fish and have dinner as well. I’m sure all of the Tour De Montana participants would agree when I declare the Tour De Montana a smashing success! The Tour De Montana might be best described as, “EPIC” but you will have to sign up for 2014 to find out for yourself.
Tour de Montana 2014
July 14-20, 2014
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