Big Sky of Montana Bike Tour

DAY 1: We will meet at our starting hotel in Missoula for an orientation at 2:00 pm, followed by a bike fitting and dinner together. If you arrive early, be sure to visit the carousel in Caras Park downtown along the banks of the Clark Fork River. 0 miles.

DAYS 2-14: We’ll run this tour as we do our other epic tours. We'll start early with breakfast prepared by our guides. Then, you'll pack your bike bag with snacks of raisins, nuts, energy bars, and peanut butter sandwiches. We'll make sure we have an extra layer of clothing and perhaps a rain jacket with us. We leave on our own, usually between 7:00 and 8:00 am, and cycle at our own pace.

About every 15-20 miles, we'll meet our SAG vehicle along the route. It holds water, snacks, tire repair tools, and a first aid kit. Even if you don’t need anything, you can stop to chat about the wonderful tailwind or the view. If you’re too tired to bike anymore, you can take a ride in the SAG vehicle to our hotel for the night. The SAG makes sure everyone is in safely at the end of the day.

There will be few places to stop for lunch on our routes, so our SAG vehicles will be stocked with abundant snacks. Once at our hotel, you'll find your luggage (delivered earlier by the WomanTours van and trailer) and can check into your room. You can grab a quick late lunch on your own before dinner.

Most of our hotels are simple, family-run places or chain hotels. We rotate roommates every time we change lodgings unless you've requested a specific roommate or upgraded to a single room. There will be time to shower before dinner and perhaps take a dip in the hotel pool.

If anyone has experienced bike problems during the day, you'll use the time before dinner to work with the guide to fix it. If it's a complicated repair, we'll help get your bike to a professional at a bike shop.

Then we'll all eat dinner together, usually served buffet-style outside. Our traveling chef will create hearty and healthy dishes from our trailer kitchen. While our chef will accommodate guests with specific allergies and provide a nonmeat protein source for vegetarians, she cannot adhere to everyone's likes and dislikes. We ask that you be flexible. If you require a vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or other special diet, there is an additional fee of $150.

After dinner, our guides will hold a map meeting to discuss the highlights of the day and go over the details of the next day's route.

We'll have two layover days on this tour to give our bodies a chance to recover. We'll celebrate the end of our adventure at dinner on our last evening together. 47 miles on average per day.

Day 15: After breakfast, take the hotel shuttle to the Missoula airport at your leisure. 0 miles

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Missoula, MT

• Continental Divide

• Selway Bitterroot Wilderness

• Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

• Montana State Capitol of Helena

• Adventure Cycling Headquarters

• High plains, mountain passes, and charming small towns

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS: To sign up for this tour, we require a nonrefundable deposit of $300. There is a discount of $300 if you sign up by September 1, 2024. A payment of $2000 is due by January 1, 2025, and is nonrefundable and nontransferable. The balance of the tour price is due 75 days prior to the tour, by March 31, 2025, and is nonrefundable. We offer a 2% discount for paying by check or Zelle.

TRIP INSURANCE: We will provide you with a source for trip cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend insurance, especially for a trip of this magnitude.

TOUR DETAILS: We will provide you with a detailed packing list, advice for clothing, a sample training schedule, and a series of Prep Talk newsletters to help you prepare for the tour after receipt of your registration.