To Bike or not to Bike, That is the Question.

It had been 5 years since my last trip to the area, previously on a bike.  I think mountain bike is the primary mode of transportation.  This time was however different, attempting to run the trail.  Invited on a trip with plenty of notice, I decided to join the group of four who are much more experienced than I at long distance running.  I had planned to run "The Rut" in Big Sky this year until word that it had canceled.  This final late fall run seemed like a great consolation prize, and a good opportunity for me to cap the running season and run my biggest run to date.  Even though the race had canceled I kept training all summer to learn more about running.  Prior to this summer I had a few years of running as a means to get in shape for ski season, but this year I focused on running to train for running.  It has been an invaluable, interesting experiment.    

Still arguably one of the best continuous single track bike rides in Montana, we had much discussion on how running the trail would compare and which mode of travel would prove the best experience.  The jury is still out and in the end I think both modes offer positives and negatives.  In the end there is a lot of push-a-bike on the ride, but my quads would have killed for a bicycle on the 7000 some feet of downhill, the majority in the last 7 miles.  It was decided that either way you slice it, the trail should be done as an annual event.  It is just too beautiful not to see every year.  It is not all that common to find such well kept continuous trail along alpine ridgelines in Montana.  Of note I think the fall colors warrant a slightly later trip.  Other highlights included spending the day with 4 awesome individuals and enjoying a days worth of great conversation.  Remembering that the shuttle is sizeable, and great conversations around a camp fire on a beautiful fall evening.