Missouri Headwaters 100K Permanent Populaire

Three Forks, MT

It's been a couple of years, but I finally submitted a new permanent.  The Missouri Headwaters 100K Permanent Populaire starts and finishes in Belgrade and takes mostly quiet roads over Churchill then to Manhattan, Three Forks, and the Headwaters State Park before going back to Belgrade.  It's a relatively flat valley ride that on a calm day would be good for setting a fast time.  Hopefully the route will stay relatively snow free to faciliate a P-12 award!

My first ride of this route, on May 6, 2012 went well.  I think I'm going to like the 100K distance.  It allows me to pile up some RUSA kilometers while also getting in some training in a reasonable amount of time-either on the weekends or after work.  I've got ideas for a few more in the area.  I think this is going to be fun!

Route Map and Info

Cue Sheet

Entry and Waiver Form

Beartooth Pass Permanent

Entry and Waiver Form

Map and Profile.

RUSA Permanent No. 675 climbs into Wyoming and over the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge, MT to Cooke City, MT and back.

The road construction that kept me from attempting this ride in 2009 appears to be substancially complete other than a short quarter-mile section of hard packed gravel after the Top of World Store.

A cue sheet is hardly necessary-the only controls are at both ends of the route which is entirely on US Highway 212.

The route has 14,000 feet of climbing in 207 kilometers. Oh yeah-it tops out at over 10,947 feet above sea level so bring your lungs along! I finally attempted this ride on September 12, 2010. I made it to the Cooke City with only about 16 minutes to spare, then totally blew up about half way up the climb on the way back. I probably could have finished within the time limit, but I would have been descending switchbacks in the dark-not really recommended. A kindly motorist gave me lift to the East Summit where I then dropped back into Red Lodge. My friend and fellow randonneur, Ken Billingsley, did complete the ride however. Congrats Ken! This DNF will eat me up all winter-I'll attack it with a vengance next summer (when the days are a little longer). UPDATE: I did conquer this route in 2011, ride report here.

I don't know if there is any harder 200K route in the USA-if there is I sure don't want to ride it. Anybody attempting this ride needs to be fit and prepared. Aside from the obvious climbing, there are always unpredictable winds and constantly changing weather conditions (don't attempt this ride if thunderstorms are predicted-there's no where to hide on the plateau). The altitude will have an effect on your performance. The reward for attempting is some of the most scenic and majestic views anywhere in the world-all the more enhanced from the seat of a bicycle! Also, aside from Beartooth Pass, you will ascend Colter Pass to get to Cooke City. At about 5 miles long and topping out at 8,000 feet, this climb is no slouch either!

Search For Plummer's Gold 237Km Permanent (147 miles)

Entry and Waiver Form

Route Map

Cue Sheet

I've often thought that a ride around the Tobacco Root Mountains would make a nice route for randonneurs. Thus I present "Search for Plummer's Gold". The name of the route derives from it's passage through Montana's rough and tumble past along the gold fields of Alder Gulch near Virginia City-one time Montana's territorial capitol. Legend has it that Virginia City's Sheriff Henry Plummer, who was accused of being the leader of an outlaw gang called the Innocents, offered to bring back his weight in gold to the Vigilantes if they spared his life. The plea fell on deaf ears, and Plummer met his end dangling from a noose in the winter of 1864. Ever since rumors have persisted, and treasure hunters have hunted, for Plummer's gold-thought to be buried somewhere in the hills around Virginia City.

The ride starts out near Three Forks at I-90 Exit 274 and goes to Ennis. In between Ennis and Three Forks is a long, but not so steep climb called Harrison Hill. This hill will get you warmed up for things to come-but with this hill there's no downhill payoff. It just gets you to the high plains around the small town of Harrison. After Norris, you hit a much steeper hill. Norris Hill kicks up to 7% grades and it does have a heart stopping downhill into the Madison Valley. But that's not all! After Ennis you start climbing-first gradually-and then in earnest as you go over a 7000 foot high-10mile long monster. The hill has a false summit-you'll actually go downhill for a little ways-but you're not done. There another mile or so of climbing before a fast descent into Virginia City.

The rest of the route flattens out on the way to Whitehall Montana in the Jefferson River valley before going over some rollers back to Three Forks. The ride has approximately 7600 feet of climbing concentrated in the three hills previously mentioned-all within the first sixty miles.

The route overlaps Adventure Cycling's Trans-America route from Ennis to Twin Bridges. In the summer months it's very likely that you will encounter cross-country touring cyclists on this stretch.

Search for Plummer's Gold Permanent (Route No. 487) is open to any RUSA member. Get in touch with me if you want to ride this route and we'll work out the details.

I rode this route for the first time on October 19, 2008 with a Garmin GPS unit. I created a map and info page with photos about this ride for Bicycling Magazine's Rides Website. Click on "trip details" on the map below to get to the info page and photos.

Martinsdale Mail Run 300Km Permanent (186 miles)

Entry and Waiver Form

Route Map

Cue Sheet

One of my favorite groups to ride with is the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club touring group. We try to do a ride once a month or so in the summer. In July the touring group rode from Ringling to Martinsdale and back. It was a nice 62 mile route. When I got to looking at the route earlier this summer I realized that using the core of the touring group's ride and expanding it to Bozeman I would end up with a challenging 300 kilometer event. Thus the idea of the Martinsdale Mail Run was born.

The ride leaves from the Holiday C-Store on Durston Road in Bozeman, goes up Bridger Canyon and over Battle Ridge Pass to Wilsall. After a control in Wilsall the ride goes to the very small and unique little town of Martinsdale on US Highway 89 and the very lightly traveled and tranquil Montana Highway 294.

The ride tasks the ride with "carrying the mail" over the Bridger Mountains to Martinsdale and returning to Bozeman within the 20 hour time limit.

Standing in the way of the out and back route is Battle Ridge Pass in the Bridgers. It's a relatively short (about 2 miles on either side) but it shoots up to 6372 feet. There's also some significant hills in the vicinity of Bridger Bowl ski area to deal with. The total ride has 10,000 feet of climbing-and wind-especially around Ringling and Wilsall is usually a factor.

Any RUSA member can ride this route for RUSA distance credit. Just contact me and let me know when you want to ride-and we'll get the details sorted out from there.

I successfully rode this route for the first time on October 26, 2008 with a Garmin GPS unit. I mapped the ride and created a brief info page with photos for Bicycling Magazine's Rides Website. Click on "trip details" on the map below for the info page and photos:

Hollowtop 200 Permanent (203 kilometers, 126 miles)

Entry and Waiver Form

Route Map

Cue Sheet

I am pleased to present my first RUSA permanent route-The Hollowtop 200. For more information on just exactly what a permanent route is go to the RUSA Permanents Page.

The route combines a few of my local favorites, including the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club's Tour de Jefferson and Three Rivers Century-with an out and back to the town of Whitehall for good measure. The ride starts from the Town Pump C-Store on East Main Street in Belgrade (next to Lewis and Clark Park) and takes you to Three Forks via the Frontage Road (MT 205) parallel to I-90. At Three Forks you will take Montana Highway 2 to the Lewis Clark Caverns and the first checkpoint. After the Caverns you'll proceed to Whitehall and the next checkpoint. From Whitehall you'll head back the way you came for about 7 miles and then head over the very lightly traveled and scenic MT Highway 359 towards Harrison and Norris. The third checkpoint is the gas station in Norris. The last stretch goes past the very scenic Bear Trap Recreation Area along the Madison River before going over some rollers as you get back to the Gallatin Valley and Belgrade.

The route takes the randoneuring cyclist along and across all three of the tributaries that form the the Missouri River-the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson-and past the spectacular Tobacco Root Mountain Range-featuring Hollowtop Mountain (10,604 ft). Hollowtop is plainly visible from most of the route-including the start/finish in Belgrade. It can be recognized by a distinctive dish-shaped formation at its apex. The photo above shows Hollowtop on the right and Mount Jefferson on the left.

There are no mountain passes on this route, but there are some pretty good rollers. My Garmin GPS unit tells me there's about 6000 feet of climbing. It's a very pleasant route that any cyclist will love!

To ride this permanent you must first be a member of Randonneurs USA (RUSA). Annual membership is only $20 and you get a lot of useful information, including a handbook and a terrific newsletter.

Next-contact me via email at belgradebobcat @ msn dot com and let me know when you want to ride the route. I will charge no fee, but I will need each rider to fill out an entry form and provide a signed waiver before the ride. I will provide you with a brevet card and up-to-date route sheet.

Next-arrive at the starting location, the Main Street Town Pump in Belgrade (305 E. Main Street) at the agreed upon start time. Have the clerk stamp your card in the appropriate box with a rubber store stamp and sign and note the time, or instead of a stamp obtain a cash register receipt and have the clerk note the time and initials in the appropriate box.

Next-ride the route...At checkpoint No. 2 at the Lewis and Clark Caverns you will have to answer a question on your card, at the Whitehall and Norris checkpoints you will follow the same check-in procedure as you did in Belgrade. Make sure you verify arrival at the checkpoints during the open times for that checkpoint as noted on your card.

Next-finish your ride at the Belgrade Town Pump within the prescribed time period, obtain time and date verification, fill-out the rest of the card, including your RUSA member number and name and address, and get the card back to me within 10 days. I'll take care of it from there.

That's all there is to it!

I successfully rode this route as a permanent for the second time on April 18, 2009 and mapped it with my Garmin GPS unit. The map and a little more info are provided below (click on trip details):