Mountain Biking in MT

...is really fun. The horses (and bikers -- and some hikers too) make single-track EVERYwhere. From my brother and Polly's garage, there is riding all over the place -- some that climbs brutally, some that rocks and rolls along the Gallatin River, some that does a little of both. The riding is really good -- I could be in better shape to really get into the woods, but what I have ridden, I have really enjoyed (and felt quite accomplished when I was through).

Mike (my brother -- seen below on the right) is pretty darn fit (understatement) and so does ride all over and deep into the woods and meadows. (He was too close to a grizzly the other evening -- while I was in Tetonia -- on an evening ride. He was climbing hard (as you will see he does so well, in the video below) and was not paying enough attention to the possibility of bears. He spied a clump of grass all dug up and out of whack and thought, "Huh -- could be a bear." No sooner had he that thought, that he startled the bear (who he is characterizing as "nice" because of its started behavior of taking off). The bear whoofed and snorted and ran off into the meadow -- Mike could see its silver hump as it took off. He said it happened so fast and the bear was so close, the bear spray he goes everywhere with may not have helped him much. If the bear had made a different choice, he would probably not have had the time to get the spray out. He feels incredibly lucky. He picked up his bike, turned it around and made it safely back home.) Riding in MT -- beautiful, steep, BIG, expansive, wild and satisfying.

Jim and Mike in a meadow.

Jim and Mike.

Below is a little video of me riding -- fun little down section (notice how I include me going DOWN, not up : )

These two videos are both of Mike. The one on the left is him climbing. Those of you who ride mountain bikes can probably get an idea of how steep this climb is -- those of you who don't -- this is steep -- steep like that is ME huffing and puffing in the video from climbing, while pushing my bike up what Mike climbs like a champ. The other video, on the right, is of Mike heading down a little down section. The riding is FUN here!