Ringling – Maudlow – Belgrade Tour - Saturday, September 24
PLEASE NOTE – The Ride is on Saturday the 24th and NOT Sunday. There was a mistake on the GVBC Website.
The Route: goes south from Ringling over the hills and then drops down into Sixteen Mile Creek Canyon. We will cycle through this beautiful canyon and stop in one of its meadows for lunch. We are hoping that the aspen will be in full color. The route follows Sixteen Mile Creek west out of the canyon to Maudlow (a former railroad and logging center and now a semi-ghost town). The road from Ringling to Maudlow is 29 miles in length and mixed clay dirt and gravel. After a food stop in Maudlow we will turn south on a good gravel road and begin a steady but moderate 5 mile climb. A long steady decent follows all the way to the Dry Creek Church where we finally hit pavement and where the sagged ride will end with refreshments. Maudlow to the Dry Creek Church is 18 miles for a total distance of about 47 miles. Plan on taking all day as it is slow going at times. Map links below.
Equipment: I would recommend a front suspension MTB or a cross bike. A full suspension MTB would work but I would lock out the rear if possible. A touring road bike with stout wheels and tires would probably be satisfactory, but plan on getting bounced around some. Needless to say, have an extra tube, patch kit, and pump with you.
Meet: at the Fairgrounds parking lot on Tamarack Street at the end of North Bozeman at 8:00 am. We will car pool to Ringling through Bridger Canyon. We plan to leave on bikes from Ringling about 9:00 am.
Support: The route is very isolated so plan on self-sagging and self-support. You must carry all of your own food and water on your bike or in a sag vehicle. We have rented a large trailer capable of transporting around 25 bicycles to Ringling. We will have furniture pads to protect the bikes. All of us must share some of the driving and gas expenses for
the sag vehicles. We will carpool to transport the cyclists in the fewest number of cars. Start with a full tank as there are no gas stations in Ringling and along the route. Make sure you arrange transport from Dry Creek Church, Belgrade
to Bozeman (unless you want to cycle).
Weather: The weather report so far looks favorable. If we get a lot of rain just before the tour, we may have to cancel as the road could turn to impassable gumbo. Check the website at www.gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org for updates. We will also send out updates on the email listserv.
Cost: Gas money.
Maps:
Ringling to Maudlow – 29 Miles – http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mt/ringling/227346521749
Maudlow to Dry Creek Church – 18 mi. http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mt/maudlow/812998686064
Maudlow to Bozeman xx mi. – http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mt/maudlow/954556429127
More Information: Jerry Coffey, 587-8872
