Life On A B-I7

Lake Shel-Oole Campground is a bit North of Shelby. Off route a mile. I’ll be going into town for dinner.

Sometimes my mind wanders when I’m riding. It occurred to me that I should come up with some sort of definition of the different types of bicycle touring. When I think of touring, this is kind-of how I classify it. I’ve never been an Elite level tourer. When I was younger, I was able to ride at the Sport level without too much trouble. I’m hoping to reach the Sport Touring level again before this tour is over.

Casual Touring: Under 50 miles per day average.

Enhanced Touring: Over 50 miles per day average.

Sport Touring: Enhanced Touring with a Century thrown in here and there.

Elite Touring: Over 100 miles per day average with a Double Century thrown in here and there

A “Century” is 100 miles or more in a single day.

There are four conditions:

• 1. No electric assist allowed.
• 2. You must be carrying a minimum of 35 lbs. of gear on your bike, which includes camping gear.
• 3. Inn-to-Inn is cheating.
• 4. You must be at least 72 years old.

These are my rules. Of course if you play with me, you have to play by my rules!

So, how am I doing against this arbitrary standard? I have ridden 15 days so far and my average daily miles is 48. By my definition, I currently fall into the Casual Touring category. One thing should be kept in mind. Over the coarse of the last 728 miles, I have crossed both the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. (The most elevation I will encounter in any similar length section from here to Maine.) Cut Bank Montana is considered the “beginning” of the Plains. What that says to me is that in a couple of weeks I have a good chance of working my way into the Enhanced, maybe even Sport category. I’m sure you and I are both waiting with bated breath to see if either of those can be accomplished. Well, maybe just me…

Yesterday, after crossing the Continental Divide, I confirmed that indeed all rivers now flow either East or South, rivers are no longer flowing West or South. Yesterday, about half-way through the day, I came within 4 miles of the most northerly point reached by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They named their encampment, “Camp Disappointment.” They were hoping to find head waters that would allow them to report to Jefferson that the Louisiana Purchase was even larger than originally anticipated. That was not the case.

I’ve decided to camp here tonight and push on in the morning.

No longer in the Rockies!

Itinerary