Riders began gathering by 12:40 PM at the Big Dipper in Missoula. By 1:00 PM we had 14 riders signed in with necessary paperwork completed. We discussed some of the characteristics of the potential routes and everyone decided to ride the 13 mile option. We started out heading west on 5th to the Bitterroot Trail then north to the Milwaukee Trail. Please see the map below for the route as ridden. The afternoon was partly sunny with a west wind picking up as we headed west on 3rd and continued the rest of the afternoon. 2 of our riders decided to drop off at 3rd and Grove St. as this was their first significant ride of the season. All other riders continued to complete the 14 mile route and top the ride off with a no-host treat at the Dairy Queen on Higgins Ave. The original map of the alternate routes can be viewed using this link.

Pre-ride information

Now is the time to break out your favorite early season bike and ride with us as we explore some features of Missoula. Hopefully, the weather be more comfortable for this easy, early season ride. In an effort to continue a previous tradition, we will gather at the Big Dipper on Higgins and ride mostly multi-use trails and bike lanes, with some short segments of residential streets.

If you would like a pre-ride ice cream at the Big Dipper, please arrive early so that we can begin the ride at 1:00 PM. If you plan to ride, please RSVP below. An RSVP will help the leader contact you if there are any late changes.

Rider requirements and responsibilities:

• A helmet is required for all participants.
• All participants will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of risk (once per calendar year).
• All participants must check-in with the ride leader.
• While we are riding as a group, each individual rider is responsible for complying with all traffic regulations as an independent vehicle operator.
• Due to continuing COVID-19 considerations please bring a face mask for times when we may not be able to maintain safe distances. We will also be maintaining appropriate distances between riders during the ride.

See map below for our potential routes with a 1st and 2nd choice depending on the weather. Feel free to let me know if you have a preference between the options. Use the comment box below the RSVP.

• Ride name:  Big Dipper to Dairy Queen ride
• Date:  February 19, 2022
• Start time:  1:00 PM
• Gathering place:  Big Dipper Ice Cream, 631 S. Higgins
• Distance in miles:  13.5 miles or 8 miles
• Duration in time:  approximately 2 hours
• Pace:  Moderate 10 - 13 mph
• Planned stops: Big Dipper gathering and calorie intake if desired, Dairy Queen for after ride refreshment if desired.
• Leader is: Bob Wachtel, email: [email protected] 

We invite anyone to join us and discover the joy of riding with a companionable group of like minded bicyclists. Due to insurance policy requirements, members can ride as often as they like and first time participants may either join or sign a waiver to participate in this ride. If you would like to continue riding with us during the 2022 biking season you must become a member.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - E-Bike restrictions on Missoula Bicycle Club rides:

We will welcome e-bike users to participate in MBC events as long as the e-bike is what is known as a Class 1 e-bike. Class 1 e-bikes will engage the electric motor only when the bike is being pedaled by the rider and will disengage the electric motor when the speed exceeds 20 miles per hour. If your e-bike does not meet these qualifications, do not bring it to an MBC ride. You can review our complete policy definition "Definition of Vehicles Permitted in MBC Sponsored Events" using the preceding link.

Using the map:

The map defaults to showing both route options. Click on the box in the upper left corner of the map header to access the legend and control. Uncheck the box for the route you do not want to view. You can zoom in on the map using the + in the lower left corner then scroll around. You can also open the map in a new window using the segmented box in the upper right corner of the map header.