Post event report:

6 riders gathered at 9:00 AM at Silver Park to ride this birthday celebration ride with Bob starting east on the Riverside Trail to the UM Campus on this pleasant summer morning. Starting temperature around 66 with partly cloudy skies and minimal wind. We started out with a fairly steady pace of 9-10 mph holding the group fairly close as we continued from campus through the residential Lewis & Clark Neighborhood. After one mistaken turn by the leader was corrected with a short retrace we proceeded into the Wapikiya area and to the South Hills Trail. Leaving the South Hills Trail onto S. Reserve St. with a blind left turn we rode Briggs St to Miller Creek Road to cross Hwy 93 to the Bitterroot Trail and Post Siding Rd. After arriving at the Bella Vista Pavilion we paused for a short break and were joined by another rider. From Bella Vista we made a slight change in the planned route by continuing north on Tower St. to 7th and followed the planned route from there to Bayern Brewery for a delicious and companionable lunch. We all departed Bayern and proceeded to our individual destinations in great spirits and looking forward to next week's ride.

Statistics via Strava: Distance: 15.26 mi., Moving Time: 1:58:55, Elevation Gain 179 ft., Average speed  9.7 mi/h

 Pre-ride information:

Special event: Bob's Birthday

Time Change - due to changes in forecasted high we will gather and start at 9:00 AM.

Given the current long range weather forecast, Tuesday, 8/15, looks to be a good day for a morning to lunch ride. We will gather for this morning ride at 9:00 AM at Silver Park. Any cancellation/postponement will be posted here and a cancellation email will be sent out not later than 5:00 PM the day before the ride, Monday 8/14, to all who have RSVP'd.

We will follow a route that will begin eastbound on the Milwaukee Trail as a reversal of the South Hills Trail ride we have used previously, circling the UM Campus before riding the residential area to the South Hills Trail. After leaving the South Hills Trail onto S. Reserve, we will rejoin the Bitterroot Trail at Miller Creek Rd. and Hwy 93, to Post Siding Rd to ride through the Fort Missoula Regional Park with a short stop at the Bella Vista Pavilion. From the pavilion we will ride the east side trail to cross South Ave. at the roundabout to make our way to North Ave. and to Clements Rd. to continue the usual route to the Milwaukee Trail at Grove St. When we reach Catlin St. we will leave the trail to proceed north to Montana St. and the Bayern Brewery where I hope many of you will be able to join me for a no host birthday celebration lunch. Following lunch we will proceed back to the trail and return to Silver Park. See the map below. If the map does not show, click here.

We will try to leave our assembly point as soon after 9:00 AM as possible. This will be a slow to moderate paced ride (9 to 12 mph on the flats). No one will be left behind. 

While this ride is targeted towards UM Retirees, it is open to all MBC members. Please remember that this will be a slow to moderate pace and potential of moderate hills to climb and descend. Please RSVP if you’re considering joining the ride so that you will be provided the leader's contact information and can be informed of any late-breaking changes (e.g., weather or smoke related cancellation).

• Ride name:  MBC UM Retirees Ride 8/15/2023
• Date: August 15, 2023
• Start time: 9:00 AM
• Gathering place: Silver Park east parking lot near the baseball stadium
• Distance in miles: 11-24
• Pace:  Slow to Moderate 9 - 12 MPH
• Planned stops: Bella Vista Pavilion in Fort Missoula Regional Park and Bayern Brewery for a no host lunch. 
• Leader: name - leader contact information will be provided in the autoresponse email you will receive after you RSVP below.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=14J7L7ZSaC1SPDrJK_L0Bwqq19fjBonY&usp=sharing