A dirty little bike touring blog. Mostly about bikepacking and rigid single speeds. By Montana Miller
Mr. Spaghetti licks my face and purrs. Nuzzles his wet nose into my cheek, then sniffs around the inside of my ear. He chomps down. "Damn it Spaghetti!" I yell, sit upright and smack my head on the low fiberglass roof. The cat runs away. It's still dark out, the creek is loud, only a … Continue reading Five Months in the Shark
We're living in the Shark full time now.So far, this has been about the best idea we've had. The thing definitely took some work. Colleen did most of the painting and nasty glue scraping. I rebuilt the bed, chased down plumbing leaks, ripped out the carpet, fridge, and air conditioner, chased down plumbing leaks again, … Continue reading Sharkin all the Time
This is the Great Blue Shark. It's a 1975, the inside is covered in fake wood paneling, and it smells like oil. It booms and squeaks when it hits a bump, and the small-block Chevy motor sucks down a gallon every 10 miles if I drive it really nice. It's bright blue. It has a … Continue reading The Great Blue Shark Project
"Can't you drop me off at home?" I begged, too lazy to ride up the big hill to the cabin. "I won't make it in time." "Oww. I really don't want to go to this." Colleen had to shoot a comment session for the paper on a proposed marijuana grow facility in Silt. The little … Continue reading The Pots
Continued from yesterday. Part 1 Cost I saved about two grand for the race including travel costs, and it wasn’t enough. But after graduating, moving to Colorado, and barely making rent all winter, it was the best I could scrape together. Just one area where my friends and family deserve a huge amount of credit. … Continue reading Tour Divide: Part 2, Cost and Food
Sometimes when I'm standing back in my corner of the shop, spilling black DOT fluid out of an Elixer master cylinder all over my hands, I catch a little of the front counter conversation. "Yeah, really good down there, nobody around." "Oh, that's cool," says whoever is up front, not quite as interested as I … Continue reading De Beque
And man, it's been really good: Everything was riding well in October, up high and down in the desert. Colleen and I did a quick overnighter on Kokopelli's Trail last weekend, and rode some of the singletrack around the trail for the first time. Which got me thinking, there's a better way to do that … Continue reading Gettin it While it’s Good
The aspens are turning gold, and it's the last push through September. One more bike tour to guide, a few more days in the shop, then I should have some days to myself. Not that I'm complaining. Taking people bike riding isn't a bad way to make a couple bucks. Funny contrast to the Columbians … Continue reading Making Hay
A little less than two months out from Tour Divide. I'm starting to feel pretty good about the race.Since leaving Pennsylvania, I've been on my bike a lot. An hour commute in the morning, an hour and a half mountain bike ride at lunch, and an hour commute home. And on days off, a long … Continue reading Two Months Out
Sunday funday front page news- weirdly juxtaposed with not so fun news. I take off my jacket- it's sunny, I'll lose the pullover too. I ride over to the edge of the trees, jump off the groomed path and into some waist deep snow to do my second pre-race bladder evacuation. Almost race time, I … Continue reading The Fat Cycle Challenge
Dirt Cruise 