A dirty little bike touring blog. Mostly about bikepacking and rigid single speeds. By Montana Miller
Snow removal is funny here. In Pittsburgh, even before it snows, PennDot's fleet of tri-axles are out dumping load after load of salt on the roads. Then they keep running, plowing and melting and turning everything into brown slush. And inevitably, people still bitch that they don't work fast enough. Here, they run a plow … Continue reading Packed Out
The day after we made it to Glenwood Springs, I dropped off resumes to every building with an open sign. And I heard the same thing over and over- "Sorry, it's the off season. We're cutting staff, but Ski Co is hiring." Ski Co is definitely hiring, with one caveat- shave and get a hair … Continue reading Settling In
On Sunday, Colleen and I went to a birthday party for a particularly old golden retriever. We said goodbye to the last of our friends in the dirty river town, then loaded up (or severely overloaded) her tiny car, the Silver Shoe, with all our bikes, stuff, and Gonzo cats. The next morning, we drove. … Continue reading Moving West
Last week, I guided a six-day inn to inn tour along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trail from Pittsburgh to D.C.It was definitely work, 6:00 in the morning to 9:00 at night every day, but it was an awesome time. The group was made up of a retired physics professor, an Australian surgeon, … Continue reading At Work and On Tour
Eight of us are piled next to a keg into the bed of an old red Toyota pickup. The truck turns into a dark field, and bounces down a dirt path. It stops, I drop the tailgate and everybody jumps out. A set of halogen work lights are shining on a blue tarp covered pit … Continue reading Big Bear Ultra and Thunderdome Light
After the crash at the Cheat race, Colleen has spent the past week hobbling around on a knee that doesn't really bend. And she got some bad poison ivy, which flared up right before the race. It hasn't been a fun week for either of us, but it's probably been slightly less fun for her. … Continue reading Dirty Laundry
Dirt Cruise 