A day before I did one of my rides in Bozeman, I went through my camelbak to check all my spare parts. I have made it a habit to carry 2 of everything I might need to at least get me off the trail if anything happens to my bike. I noticed that I only had one spare derailleur hanger, so I wanted to get a second. It was for a Giant, so I needed a Giant dealer.

With a bit of research I found that Owenhouse Bicycling & Fitness in Bozeman was my best bet.

Straight from my ride the next day I popped into the shop, and was surprised how well stocked the shop was… every model of Giant, and a lot of very nice looking Rocky Mountain Mtb bikes all lined up.

I was approached by the young and pleasant Matt, who was a great help. While he looked up the proper derailleur hanger for my bike, I was admiring the really nice looking Giants that were on show..

A while back I was looking into getting a new Trance X4, 2009 ( Not 2010, as the 2009 has far better specs) I did some research back then, and the best deal I found was in California for $1300,- so I thought I would look again when I passed through California sometime this year. Here in Bozeman the Trance X4 was priced at $1500,- which is the normal price. I asked Matt if the prices were negotiable, thinking that if I could persuade them to let it go for $1300, I would snap it up, and worry about the consequences later. I was not surprised when Matt told me that the prices were not really negotiable, but he followed it up by saying that in the coming days, certain bikes were going on sell, and the Trance X4 was one of them. I got really exited when he told me that I could be the proud owner of the Trance X4 for a giveaway $1000,-

I explained that I was leaving town in the morning, and they let me have the bike for the coming sale price.

I found Matt, and the other guys working at Owenhouse bike shop very friendly, professional with a no pressure approach. The shop is very nicely stocked with not only some great looking bikes, but also with everything you will need for your bike and for yourself.

Matt himself was really into the downhill riding, and another employee was into the BMX and another into XC Mountain Biking, so they don’t just “Talk the Talk” they also “Walk the Walk”

I also appreciated Matt taking his time to show me, and print out some of his favorite trails in and around Bozeman

So, if you are ever in or near Bozeman Montana, and you need a new bike, or a new bike pump or even just some reliable trail advise, pop into Owenhouse Bicycling and Fitness Bozeman, and see for yourself why I and so many others highly recommend them.

From their website

Owenhouse Bicycling and Fitness has been in the bicycle business circa 1895. We sell bicycles and all related accessories year round. We sell indoor fitness equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, recumbents and weight machines. From wheels to seats, helmets to baby strollers, BMX bikes to mountain bikes, comfort bikes to downhill full-suspension bikes, we have it. Fitness oriented? We have toning balls, Yoga blocks, fitness mats, heart rate monitors, dumbbells, resistant bands and body balls. Special orders welcomed.

We carry quality, serviceable products with emphasis on the ability to repair the major items. We service what we sell. We are a division of Owenhouse Ace Hardware located right across the alley specializing in full service hardware since 1879! Our passion is all about the ride! Our motto is to always, Live Life… Love Life… Enjoy the Ride!!

Bicycle Service & Repair

We offer a full repair service repair shop that is dedicated to keeping your bike in tip top shape. Our staff would be glad to inspect your bicycle and provide recommendations for repair before our mechanics get started. We do not like surprises when it comes to repairs and strive to make sure you know what is needed before we begin. Most of the year we enjoy keeping our repairs to a short wait of only two days to a week.

Every bike sold comes with a free 30 day check and a One year tune up to keep your new bike riding like the day you bought it. The atmosphere of Owenhouse Bicycling & Fitness is one of learning. We encourage all questions from novices to experts. Getting you on the best bike you can ride is our goal. Our passion is all about the ride!

We provide a full service repair shop for bicycles and fitness equipment. Bikes are designed to run well for a long life with proper care and maintenance. Even that old bike in the garage may just need a tune up which the professionals at Owenhouse are here to provide for you.

When your bike gets checked in it will be evaluated for any underlying issues and you will be given an upfront estimate before the work begins. Our mechanics dig deep to bring any old bike back to that smooth shifting dream from years gone by. Our turn around during the winter months is one to two days. In the peak summer months it can run three to seven days.

Address:
25 S. Black
Bozeman, MT 59715

Phone
(406)587-5404

E-mail:
info@owenhouse.com

Hours:

Summer Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Saturday 8am-6pm
Sunday 9am-5pm

Winter Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Saturday 8am-6pm
Sunday 9am-5pm

Many people / books claim that the Curly Lake Highline Trail could well be one of the best mtb trails you will ever ride.. anywhere!!
I set out early on a beautiful Friday morning and can guarantee you 2 things about this trail.. It is extremely scenic, and it is probably the most strenuous trail I have ever done..

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Cardwell | Whithall

Length: 23.43 total miles

Trail Type: Loop

Skill Level: [ What the books say ] Aerobically: very strenuous. Technical : very difficult

Skill Level: [ My opinion ] Aerobically: extremely strenuous. Technical : moderate

Duration: 4.5 – 7 hours [ my time ] 5.50 hours

Trailhead Elev: 5,800 feet

Top Elev: 9,723 feet

Book Description

This Trail starts at 5,800 ft. and climbs to just under 10,000 ft the trail starts off steep and technical with plenty of obstacles making this a strenuous ride. Once above treeline the views of the surrounding mountains of the Tobacco Root Range are stunning. Continue over a couple of alpine tundras and prepare yourself for a fast and bumpy downhill ride with numerous very technical switchbacks.

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My Experience

Everyone I spoke to mentioned the Curly Lake Highline Trail and everyone recommended it, so I was pretty stoked even the day before.
On another fantastic Friday morning at 10.am I set off from Rock Creek Trail , the first 4 miles on a smooth dirt road to Curly Creek Trail…. This is where the fun ( should have ) started. The sweet singletrack started an immediate assault on my lungs, and I knew this was gonna be strenuous. I was right, it was strenuous, I just did not have a clue just how brutal it was gonna be. The first 3 miles of singletrack to Curly lake took me 1,40 hours!! I was knackered, but there where too many bugs to stop and rest at the lake so I pushed on. I have to admit that from Curly Lake to theDevils Slide Saddle I probably walked 50%.. I really tried to keep on the steed, but it was just out of my league.
I stopped for a 20 min. break on the first Saddle and got stuck into the fluids and snacks.
The 1.5 miles from the first saddle to the second saddle was actually a lot easier, and I actually spent more time on the steed than I did walking.
Once at the top, I admired the stunning views, and prepared myself for a fast decent.

I screamed off, but within seconds I knew it was not gonna be a good idea, the trail was far to rocky to open up. Once I had passed the tundra, and hit the sprees, I opened up again… Again this was not a good idea, I managed to just clear the first switchback, and then opened up again, and going way to fast I over did the next tight switchback, and went over the edge, landing about 20 feet down from my bike and trail. I was pretty shook up, but luckily no serious damage was done to me or the bike.

Two minutes later I cleared another switchback, and headed for the following one… First time I crashed cos I was going too fast, and this time I was too cautious, going too slow my front wheel jammed on a rock and I did a classic endo, but my legs got caught on the handle bars and I really landed with a smack on my chest, knocking every bit of air out of me.

With my rib cage hurting, I thought my wrist was broken, I had torn my muscle in my calf and I was covered in bacon.
The last 10 miles of the trail, which was mostly downhill, I took it easy, and luckily for me the trail was a lot smoother, but there were still quite a few really tight and narrow switchbacks.

Conclusion

Even though I bit the dust a couple of times on this trail, I would rate this trail as technically moderate, just be very careful with those switchbacks!!.. however, aerobically this trail is extremely challenging and in all honesty, it was aerobically out of my league. This trail is very scenic, and the remoteness is pretty unique.. but, I was just too knackered to enjoy it.
My time of 5,50 hours is not bad at all, but we all know that walking up a mountain is sometimes faster than riding up a mountain, and I spent too much time walking.

I would highly recommend this trail, it really is unique, for all you ironmen, go for it, but otherwise I would suggest you take this ride like you are going on a picnic.. do it in 10 hours, 8 for the climb and 2 for the downhill.. then this could well be one of the nicest trails you will ever ride.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : no one at all

Wild Life : I did not see anything, but don’t forget you are in Grizzly land.

Scenery : The higher you get, the better it gets.. Stunning!!

Other : Bring extra water, bug spray, more water and more bug spray, and lots of nibbles

My Trail Rating : 7.5 / 10

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Emerald Lake Trail near Bozeman is an extremely popular trail, not only among mountain bikers, but even more so among hikers and horse riders. Once at the top of this trail at Emerald Lake you will know why this trail is so popular. The mountain lake and meadows are absolutely stunning, there is no doubt about that. But, is this trail really what it is made out to be?

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Bozeman

Length: 9 total miles

Trail Type: Out & back

Skill Level: [ What the books say ] Aerobically: Moderate to strenuous. Technical : very difficult

Skill Level:  [ My opinion ] Aerobically: Moderate to strenuous. Technical : easy / moderate

Duration: 2-3 hours

Trailhead Elev: 7,300 feet

Top Elev: 9,100 feet

Book Description

Located 17 miles southeast of Bozeman, about 4 miles south of Hyalite Reservoir in the Hyalite Peaks high country. Highlights: This is the singletrack stairway to heaven. It has roots, rocks, and water bars but always offers a rideable line. Intermediate riders will enjoy looping through the many switchbacks, all relatively easy to ride, up and down. Plus you get a babbling creek, wildlife, spectacular alpine scenery, and a “gem” of a lake.
Tread: Outrageous singletrack.

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My Experience

I had heard and read alot about this trail and one thing became very clear, it is a very popular trail, which of course means it is a very busy trail. Another thing that became clear to me was, that you either love this trail or you hate it. I like most Mountain Bikers do not like crowds, luckily though I can ride whenever it suits me, so to avoid the crowds I set my alarm for 5.00am on a tuesday morning, hoping to ride at about 6.30am. When I arrived at the trailhead, there were already 3 cars there ( luckily they must have been campers, ‘cos I did not see anyone later on)

The first 2 miles is pretty easy going, and non eventful. After the 2 mile mark, the trail starts the real climb, nothing really serious, and definitely manageable, some places are pretty rough with rocks and root carpets, but again, nothing too serious. At about the 3.5 mile mark, the scenery opens up and you enter the basin. Once in the basin and near Lake Emerald, you can see why this trail is so popular, it is an absolutely stunning place to be. I arrived at the lake at 7.30, the ky was deep blue, and there was a layer of mist hovering over the lake, and the sun was just hitting the surrounding peaks, turning them red. No matter what happened on the downhill, it was worth it just spending 40 minutes enjoying this spot.

The downhill is fast and furious, and the buzz factor could easily reach 100% if it was not for the fact that, in the back of my mind I knew that there could be someone just a few feet ahead of me. I was lucky, I did see about 10 friendly hikers, but they were all on the last mile near the trailhead… and it was still only 8.15am

Conclusion

To be honest, I think that this is a “Destination Trail”, and you would probably enjoy this trail just as much if you walked it, cos it really is all about the lake and the scenic surroundings. As a mountain biker this trail is far too busy for my liking, in the weekends it is simply over crowded, and week days it is just too busy. The potential is definitely present, ‘cos the trail is sweet

Would I recommend this trail?… Definitely!!.. Emerald Lake is a very special place, and I would highly recommend it, either mountain biking or hiking, it i just worth the trip

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : about 10 hikers ( all near the Trailhead )

Wild Life : lots of deer

Scenery : Emerald Lake is absolutely beautiful

Other : Weekends are over crowded, and week days are very busy

My Trail Rating : 7 / 10

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The Hyalite to South Cottonwood Trail is a real Jekyll & Hyde Trail, definitely not a trail for the cocky gung-ho riders, and definitely not a trail to test your $89 full suspension Walmart Mongoose.

But, if you are up for a scary challenge then this trail is definitely the dogs bollocks!!

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Bozeman

Length: 11.4 miles

Trail Type: Point 2 Point, or loop ( for loop add about 14 miles )

Skill Level: Technically very difficult. Physically difficult.

Duration: 3-4 hours

Trailhead Elev: 6,600 feet

Top Elev: 7,920 feet

Book Description

The History Rock trail almost immediately begins a 3 mile climb out of the parking lot. The first 1/2 mile is a good warmup before it becomes steep and sustained for about 2 miles to a junction. This is all cleanable, but will definetly get your heart pumping. Once you reach a meadow with beautiful views of Mt. Blackmore, you know you are done climbing, from here on it is downhill.
Technical switchbacks, rocks and roots will make this a terrifying ride.

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My Experience

Traihead was easy to find, it was well marked easy to follow. The first 20 minutes on the History Rock Trail was easy going, and I was pretty confident I would manage to reach the top without stopping.. 10 minutes past History Rock and I was walking!! and I probably spent 10-15 walking, this trail was killin’ me!!.

The strange thing about this trail, is it looks and feels easy, it is not overly steep, the trail is in good shape, not rocky or many roots, but that was just deceiving!!.. I am a fairly decent climber, but you would have to come from a very good stable to make it to the top of this one without stopping and walking.

Once at the top, it all opens up to a mountain meadow with stunning views, and right there in front of you, is a beautiful very narrow singletrack dropping down as far as you can see.. I am not much of a poet, but when I saw that I almost became one!

I was off like a greased whippet screaming down the smooth singletrack, just as I was hitting take off speed, the trail became rocky, and I was up & down like Bangkok Betty still going too fast, then out of nowhere a 130 degree switchback was in front of me. Don’t ask me how I did it, but I managed to get around it in one piece, but I had been warned, this trail is not to be taken lightly. The 5 miles that followed were darn right abusive and pretty scary, absolutely zero room for error, if you fall on this trail, you are gonna have some serious bacon… and that’s if you’re lucky, this is definitely not a trail you want to fall off your steed. Uncomfortable with large rocks and tech switchbacks?.. how about a 3 foot fall on a switchback? thank the lord I saw it on time and managed to come to a safe stop, ‘cos if you Endo here, you are gonna have 5 seconds to learn how to fly, or get hurt very badly..

This is a fantastic trail, but to fully enjoy it you have to remember 2 very important things.. Go too fast and you are gonna get seriously hurt, and go too slow and you will get seriously hurt

Treat this trail with respect and don’t forget to thank the ” Trail Guardian” if you make it down in one piece.

Conclusion

Great Trail with a high buzz factor and some great views, really sweet singletrack. The climb is physically very demanding, and the downhill is pretty abusive and technical

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : no one untill the last mile from the Cottonwood TH

Wild Life : too tired to notice while climbing, and too much concentration on the downhill to notice

Scenery : Some very scenic stretches

Other : Just be very careful and Good Luck

My Trail Rating : 8.5 / 10

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My first time riding in the Bozeman & Big Sky area. Arrived on another glorious sunny day, set up camp and headed straight to the bike shop for a map and advice. There are plenty of trails to choose from in this area, but I quickly opted for the Bangtail Divide Trail.

So, did this first Bozeman trail impress me? or was it a big disappointment?

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Bozeman

Length: 23.8 miles

Trail Type: Point to Point with shuttle or loop [ for loop add 8 miles to total length ]

Skill Level: Aerobically: strenuous; Technically: easy

Duration: 4-6 hours

Trailhead Elev: 5,560 feet

Top Elev: 7,950 feet

Book Description

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My Experience

Trailhead is easy to find, the trail is well marked. There is a lot of climbing on this trail, but it is definitely doable, just put your steed into low gear, switch off , and enjoy the climb. This trail is in my books technically easy, but it is a long ride and a long walk out if anything goes wrong, so go well prepared. I did this trail as a P2P (point 2 point) starting at Stone Creek and finishing at Bracket Creek, however this trail can be done from both directions.

Conclusion

Oooohhh yes!! this trail is what mountain biking is about, not too strenuous, 23 miles of sweet singletrack through stunning scenery. The trail is well maintained and well marked. The scenery is fantastic, and it came with the smell of fresh pine and 1000′s of wild flowers. The 2-3 hour total climb is rewarded with a fantastic smooth downhill with in most places more than enough visibility to open up to a fair speed.. Don’t open up too much, cos there are a few very tight switchbacks that appear out of nowhere, and some have some pretty brutal drops that you definitely don’t want to hit going too fast.. If this trail doesn’t put a smile on your chops, then nothing will!

All in all, the Bangtail Divide Trail is a definite “Must Ride Trail”.. I did this one in 4 hours 29 min. and I enjoyed every second of both the riding and the scenery.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : 5 mountain bikers, one jogger, one hiker

Wild Life : I did not see anything

Scenery : 23 miles of scenery

Other : Take extra fluids, don’t forget the bug repellent there are ( were) lots of pesky horseflies.

My Trail Rating : 9.5 / 10

AUDIO IS BEING ADDED TO THE VIDEO’S

MORE VIDEO’S COMING SOON
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This was my last ride in Missoula I decided to put an Epic together, I just connected 4 trails to create what I thought would make a fantastic full day Missoula Epic.

The trails I combined were :

• Woods Gulch Trail [loop]
• Spring Gulch & Wallman Trail [loop]
• Stuart Peak Trail [ Up]
• Curry Gulch Trail [Down from Stuart Peak]

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Missoula

Length: 33.7 miles

Trail Type: Loops and out & back

Skill Level: Aerobically: very strenuous; Technically: moderate

Duration: 7 hours

Trailhead Elev: 3,500 feet

Top Elev: 7867 feet

Book Description

This is not mentioned as a trail in any of the books, however info about each of these trails can be found [ see my other Missoula trail posts].

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My Experience

This Epic is very strenuous, and although I like climbing at a steady pace, there were times that I felt like calling it quits. All in all I spent just under 7 hours on the trail, and of those 7 hours about 6 were spent climbing and just one hour of downhill on the various trails, but that combined hour of downhill was well worth all the uphill slog.

Conclusion

If you are in or near Missoula for more than a few days, I would take things a bit slower and just do these trails as individual trails, because although the fun factor is high coming down these trails, the climbs are very long and very tedious. However, if you are just passing through Missoula and would like to get the best of what it has to offer Mountain Bikers then I would definitely and highly recommend this epic, just take along extra fluids and plenty of nibbles… But remember, if you don’t like climbing, then these trails are definitely not for you. If you don’t mind climbing then the reward is well worth it.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : around the trailhead was busy but in the 7 hours on the [ real] trails I only saw one mountain biker

Wild Life : none this time

Scenery : too tired to notice while climbing, and going too fast to enjoy while on the downhill

Other : Free map at trailhead, Trails are VERY busy during weekends

My Trail Rating : 8.5 / 10

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VIDEOS COMING SOON

Two days ago I busted my lungs climbing the Wallman Trail combining it with the Stuart Peak Trail, I knew while I went up Wallman that I had to come back soon and go down the trail, cos this loop definitely puts Missoula on the map, and should be on the wishlist of every mountain biker. The only downside of this loop is, it is a pretty short loop, but believe me the buzz factor reaches max!!

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Missoula

Length: 8.3 total miles

Trail Type: Loop

Skill Level: Aerobically: very strenuous; Technically: moderate to difficult

Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

Trailhead Elev: 3,500 feet

Top Elev: 5,065 feet

Book Description

This steep, technical trail carries from the heart of the Rattlesnake Valley into some close-to-home heights through fields of wildflowers, while offering one of the more challenging short rides in the area. Recently reworked by the Forest Service and volunteers from LIMB and IMBA, the intent seems to be to offer an alternative to many of the more popular rides in the Rattlesnake. Still, only the truly talented and strongest riders will be able to climb this route in either direction without taking a break. The reward? Screaming, generally unpopulated downhilling. Tread: Singletrack.

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My Experience

This was my second ride in the Rattlesnake Trail System, and I had actually climbed the Wallman Trail while doing it in combination with the Stuart Peak Trail. While busting my lungs going up, I knew I had to come back, and do this little beauty going downhill.. One thing is certain, The Wallman Trail is a hell of a lot more fun coming down than it is going up!!

Conclusion

Absolutely fantastic loop, Wallman Trail downhill offers the ultimate buzz, sweet singletrack at it’s best. A couple of fairly easy but tight switchbacks and enough visibility to switch off your common sense and put your steed to the deed. The fun doesn’t just stop when the trail bottoms out, you’ve still got a sweet mile of level but fast zigzagging through the Rattlesnake pine forest.

I did this trail on a week day, I spent 2 hours on the trail, and did not see anyone untill I reached the last 0.5 miles from the trailhead

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : Trailhead was busy but I did not see anyone on the trails

Wild Life : none this time

Scenery : scenery is low, but the fun level compensates for that

Other : Free map at trailhead, Trails are VERY busy during weekends

Recommendation : If you are willing to put in an extra hour, I suggest you continue all the way UP to the end of Stuart Peak Trail, then turn around and enjoy about 10 miles of downhill mayhem… just don’t miss the Wallman trail while bombing down

My Trail Rating : 8.5 / 10

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VIDEOS COMING SOON

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Anyone that thinks about Montana automatically thinks MOUNTAINS!!.. We took to the road and headed for the “Big Sky Country” looking for some trails that will possibly put Montana on the USA Mtb Map.
Our first stop was Missoula, and our first trail was a network of trails in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby City: Missoula
Length: You decide (Trail Network)
Trail Type: Loops, Out & Backs
Skill Level: Aerobically: strenuous; Technically: easy to moderate
Duration: How much can you give?
Trailhead Elev: 1,500 feet
Top Elev: 5,100 feet

Book Description

Once the most popular trail in Missoula, the arduous climb from the Rattlesnake Main trailhead to the wilderness boundary still draws quite a few visitors. But because of bike technology and a proliferation of trails throughout the area, some use has been mitigated. Still, this ride, while supremely bumpy, captures much of what’s great about Missoula riding; it carries riders along a meandering old ranch road from low mountain meadows to the pine forests protected forever from human development (and invading cyclists) by dint of its wilderness designation. Rattlesnake Creek still has a lively fishery, which can be fished above Beeskove Creek. Franklin Bridge is entirely accessible for novice riders. Tread: Gravel road, jeep track, and occasional doubletrack.

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My Experience

2 years ago I spent some time in Helena on the Trails, and it was a horrible experience.. not so much the riding, but the extreme lack of updated maps and guidebooks, and most trails were no longer possible due to land disputes.
Luckily Missoula was a lot easier, and most trails are fairly close to each other.
My first choice of trails were in the Rattlesnake Trail System which offers a great network of trails for every level of experience.
Trailhead is easy to find, and there are maps (free) at the trailhead. There were numerous vehicles at the trailhead, but once a short distance from the trail head, I did not see many people at all.
These trails are shared with hikers and horses, so caution is always needed.

Conclusion

I started this ride at 10.30am on a Tuesday, the weather was ideal and the trails did not seem to be too busy. The trails I opted for started off on an easy level double track. After about 0.5 miles I veered off onto a singletrack, from this moment on, it was just myself on the trail.
The first 3 miles was easy going on a steady climb, and had more of a XC feeling. After the 3 mile point the trail suddenly changed, and really started to climb, still manageable but it did start busting my lungs.
While climbing I was getting pretty hyped about ride back, which was 100% downhill on some fantastic singletrack, all in all about 8 miles of sweet downhill. I followed the “Stuart Peak Trail” all the way to the Rattlesnake Wilderness, which is the turn around point, as bikes are not allowed past this point.

The ride back to the trailhead following the “Stuart Peak Trail” was FUN, FAST and FURIOUS!! sweet singletrack with enough clearance to be able to “Open Up”

All in all, this trail does not offer much scenery, but what it lacks in scenery, it definitely makes up with the fun factor.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : 2 hikers on singletrack, numerous near Trailhead
Wild Life : lots of deer ( did see steaming bear scat)
Scenery : Not very scenic
Other : Free map at trailhead, Trails are VERY busy during weekends

My Trail Rating : 7.5 / 10

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VIDEOS COMING SOON

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