Helena Bicycle Club

2012 Survey Results

2012-01-12T16:27:00.001-07:00

Forty-six HBC members completed our 2012 Survey, and the results reveal a membership with some definite, if far-ranging cycling interests. The full results are posted here on the club’s web page (in Excel format), but here’s a summary. Thanks for taking the time to fill this puppy out. Now that we better know who we are and what we want, it will be easier to shape the coming years programs and rides to fulfill our cycling desires.

We like to ride. Thirty-six reported their longest ride in the last three years, and these rides reportedly varied from 22 to 151 miles. The mean average was 99 miles, the median was 100 miles. In our ranks exists a cluster of high mileage riders, with 23 reporting riding over the median length at least once in the last three years. Responses to other survey questions asked for more short club rides [Great idea, see Monday nights, attached calendar].

We like to ride roads (87%), followed by mountain biking double-tracks and gravel roads (63%). Day-trip touring, single-track MTB, and running errands followed with about 50% of us reporting these uses of our bikes. A few of us like to race, with the majority (15%) of these competitive swifties being tri-athletes.

Most (65%) reported having ridden, or aspiring to ride, a metric or English century. As you might expect, the same percentage reported having ridden in the club’s annual One Helena Hundred century.

A number reported they liked multiple-day tours (41%), with a modest majority (59%) of these preferring to be sagged (have their gear trucked from campsite to campsite), and most (50%) being willing to consider pavement or gravel-road tours. 59% reported riding the club’s Double Divide Ride at least once in the past three years.

HBC members see themselves as advocates for fun, safe, and convenient cycling in the Helena area. Three topics were selected as being most important (in order of highest to lowest ranking):

Helping the City of Helena establish safer signed and striped bicycle routes;
Supporting completing the Centennial Trail; and
Advocating for complete streets (streets that serve all modes of transportation).

Promoting safe routes to schools trailed as the fourth ranked priority.

Less than half (48%) reported attending monthly HBC meetings, but most said that when and where we meet is fine. There were many solid suggestions for programs and rides included in survey results, some of which is immediately reflected in the attached 2012 club calendar. Most reported liking this newsletter, not using our website, and some found some value with HBC’s sometimes difficult to use Yahoo mailing list. [Your concerns are noted; thanks, we’re on it. You may be asked to help.]

Finally, we received many suggestions including a heartfelt request that we concentrate on the fun of cycling. Sounds good to me. Thanks again for your time and good suggestions. As Newsletter Editor, for your Board, I wish you the best of cycling in 2012, and hope you’ll join in making this yours, and the HBC’s, best year ever.

Draft HBC Communications Strategy

2012-01-05T17:44:00.001-07:00

Rob and Bruce met today and discussed the club's various communications channels. As of now we have a web presence (this page), a printed newsletter, a Yahoo listserv, and we use MailChimp for broadcasting short messages to members. Rob and I feel that this leaves some room for simplification. Here are the elements we'd like to end up with:

A listserv or mailing list that is easy to use, that allows any HBC member to post or reply to posts (for show-and-go rides, want ads, etc.), and low headache, one that works with any flavor of email;
A printed newsletter, about 9 issues a year; and
A web presence that combines and archives (sort of) relevant material from the listserv and newsletter.

We recommend discontinuing use of MailChimp, and either teaching all willing HBC members how to use Yahoo Groups, or, replacing Yahoo with a generic, simple, but flexible listserv service from a commercial vendor.

Going forward, Bruce commits to exploring our options for a simpler listserv, and Bruce and Rob will report on this at our upcoming HBC Board meeting.

Three-foot Passing Laws -- Editorializing

2012-01-05T14:53:00.001-07:00

Nineteen states have a laws requiring motorized vehicles to pass cyclists leaving at least a three-foot gap. There's a wide variety of language used in statute to protect cyclists (extracts linked below), but here's a typical one from New Hampshire: "... the distance shall be deemed to be reasonable and prudent if it is at leat 3 feet when the vehicle is traveling at 30 mph or less, with one additional foot of clearance for every 10 mph above 30 mph."

[From the Biking Biz blog]

"The 19 states with 3-foot laws are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia (July 1), Illinois, Louisiana, Kansas (as of July 1, 2011), Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. (Connecticut, New Hampshire enacted in 2008; Colorado and Louisiana in 2009; Maryland and Mississippi in 2010.)"

I wonder if this might be an appropriate law in Montana? Or is this another example of passing a law made unnecessary by usual courtesy?

January 24, 2012 Meeting

2012-01-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

John Umstead will speak about his participation in the 2011 Tour Divide at the Helena Bicycle Club Meeting, Tuesday, January 24^th, 7:00 P.M. at UM Helena, Room 207.

Helena’s own John Umstead tackled the most difficult mountain bike race in the world, the Tour Divide. A cross-country mountain bike race that follows the Continental Divide from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, N.M.. John Umstead rode his bike self-supported along all the 2,745 miles Mountain Bike Route. He finished 32^nd out of 84 starters and completed the 2,745 mile in 24 days, 1 hour. Come and hear his story.

Much of What Appears New, Isn't

2011-12-17T22:29:00.001-07:00

The 1946 Alex Singer (an all-road bike, fenders, lights, racks) weighed a little over 17 pounds fully equipped. Or so, more or less, writes Jan Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly in a recent blog entry. The Singer was steel, robust, festooned with useful goodies, and had (by today's standards) fat-ish tires. How can this be? Read all about it.

I am not a retro-grouch, but this makes me think.

Cycling Eight

2011-12-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

A heartwarming story of eight pioneering women cyclists, Michigander teenaged girls!, from one of my favorite cycling blogs:

http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/09/cycling-eight.html

They touring in style, on a shoestring, but they sure enough toured!

Recommended during this holiday season.

B.

Bicycling is good for your Health

2011-12-13T13:47:00.001-07:00

News flash: Active transportation is healthy, fun, and good for your community. This obvious lesson is presented with brevity, clarity, and wit in an inspirational graphic. This link will take you to the full-sized (and legible) graphic.

And We Think Mac Pass is STEEP!

2011-12-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh boasts streets as steep as 37%. Read all about it. Be warned, this is a tale of thigh-burning gothic horror.

Touring Hints from 1883

2011-12-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bicycling blogs is Biking Bis. This interesting, Seattle-based blog is less about the business of cycling than it is about all things velo. This blog also is a great link to organized rides, especially in our neck of the woods. Anyhow, this morning Biking Bis featured touring hints written by F. Freeman of London in 1883 in his essay "Hints on Bicycle Touring" in an annual called The Cyclist and Wheel World Annual.

Many of the hints are counterproductive or marginally dangerous, but take a look at how our understanding of nutrition, if nothing else, has changed over 120 years.

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archives/2011/12/11/4956603.html

MTB v Snowboarder

2011-12-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder about who'd be faster smoking down the Great Divide, in the chill of mid-winter, a mountain biker or a snow boarder? Well, this isn't the last word, but it may be the craziest contest ever contrived to explore this important topic. Enjoy.

August 2011 Meeting

2011-08-01T17:13:00.001-06:00

August 23, HBC monthly meeting—Ride around the Smelter, (RATS ride) Join HBC for their august ride from Reber Park on Colonial Drive to Montana City and on to East Helena and back to Helena via the old road by the Smelter. meet at 6 P.M.

One Helena Hundred

2011-06-29T12:59:00.005-06:00

The ONE HELENA HUNDRED
A Scenic Century along the Missouri River

*Pre- Register before July 1st to secure a cool water bottle and custom HBC socks.

JULY 16th – 2011

Proceeds help support the advancement of cycling in the Helena area

The Helena Bicycle Club invites you to join us on our annual century ride, the One Helena Hundred, on Saturday July 16, 2011. Riders have their choice of distances - the metric century (100 kilometers/62 miles) or the standard century (100 miles). Come retrace Lewis and Clark's steps (with a slightly faster mode of transportation!) as they approached the Gates of the Mountains over 200 years ago.

Bicycle from Cascade south toward Wolf Creek and back for the metric century. Continue from Cascade north to Ulm, heading east toward the Smith River and turning back to Cascade for the standard century.

The route is gentle, meandering alongside the Missouri River with some small rolling hills. Lunch is provided at Cascade City Park.

PRE-REGISTER BY JULY 1^ST --Preregistration guarantees an insulated waterbottle and a pair of custom HBC socks. Note sock size during registration. Register at bikereg.com.

Registration for the One Helena Hundred is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Youth can ride for just $25. If you plan to participate in both the DDR and the One Helena Hundred you can join the club and save money on both rides. Be sure to register by July 1 to get the early registration discount. Registrations go up by $5 on July 1!

Double Divide Ride a success

2011-06-26T13:55:00.001-06:00

The annual Helena Bicycle Club Double Divide Ride (DDR) was held June 18-19, 2011 . More than 50 riders participated in the ride, with some doing the full 130 miles in one day. The weather was cool, but the rain held off and winds were not too bad.

Enjoy two days of cycling 130 miles (76 miles the first day, 54 miles the second) through rolling hills, tranquil valleys and challenging mountain passes. Plus, the DDR is famous for its outstanding food fare – you won’t go hungry!

On day one, cyclists take on their first challenge as they ascend MacDonald Pass – a beautiful stretch offering outstanding vistas. Upon reaching the top, a rest stop with hearty refreshments awaits. The ride to Avon is a fast downhill spin with a break for a huge luncheon at Nevada Lake. The final leg heads towards Lincoln on the highway through the Blackfoot River Valley. In Lincoln, camp inside at the local school or bring a tent to camp outside. Hotels are also available in Lincoln. Both Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast are provided.

Day two, head over Flesher Pass – the second crossing of the Continental Divide. The rest stop at the top is well-deserved. After a quick and curvy descent, riders head towards Helena. A few rollers in the Birdseye area offer another challenge, and then riders can meander to the BBQ at the Broadwater Athletic Club.

We are looking at ideas for next year's DDR. Let us know what you think about the ride and possibly making it a one day event.

Helena Bicycle Club Minutes—February 7, 2011

2011-02-17T15:00:00.003-07:00

HBC Board Meeting

The board met at the Staggering Ox. The meeting was called to order at 5:15 P.M. by President Julie McKenna. Board members in attendance were: Julie McKenna, Bob Stringer, Heather Lambott (chair of One Helena Hundred), and Rob Psurny.

1. Financial Report:

Bob Stringer reported that he had paid the club’s liability insurance for the year. He presented the January expense report, and said he will be renewing our club membership with the American Legion of Bicyclists and he plans to have the club become a member of Adventure Cycling.

2. Administrative items:

President Julie McKenna signed the signature card for the bank. Vice President Danica Vanderwaal must still sign one of the cards.

3. One Helena Hundred

Club member Heather Lambott has agreed to be the chairperson for the One Helena Hundred. She was given the binder of information on tasks and logistics. She will be seeking help from some volunteers.

4. Update on Electronic Registration

It was decided that this year the club will again utilize online registration for the Double Divide Ride and the One Helena Hundred. This year, the service fee charged by the registration company (bikereg.com) will be paid by those registering for the events and not absorbed by the club. The service fee is $3.40 for registration fees up to $50 and the service fee is $4.60 for registrations up to $100.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Psurny Jr.

HBC Secretary

Double Divide Ride - June 18-19, 2011

2011-02-17T13:13:00.002-07:00

The annual Helena Bicycle Club Double Divide Ride (DDR) is scheduled for June 18-19, 2011 . Get an early start on the biking season with the Helena Bicycle Club Double Divide Ride. We will follow the same great route crossing the Continental Divide twice.
---------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy two days of cycling 139 miles (83 miles the first day, 56 miles the second) through rolling hills, tranquil valleys and challenging mountain passes. Plus, the DDR is famous for its outstanding food fare – you won’t go hungry!

On day one, cyclists take on their first challenge as they ascend MacDonald Pass – a beautiful stretch offering outstanding vistas. Upon reaching the top, a rest stop with hearty refreshments awaits. The ride to Avon is a fast downhill spin with a break for a huge luncheon at Nevada Lake. The final leg heads towards Lincoln on the highway through the Blackfoot River Valley. In Lincoln, camp inside at the local school or bring a tent to camp outside. Hotels are also available in Lincoln. Both Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast are provided.

Day two, head over Flesher Pass – the second crossing of the Continental Divide. The rest stop at the top is well-deserved. After a quick and curvy descent, riders head towards Helena. A few rollers in the Birdseye area offer another challenge, and then riders can meander to the BBQ at the Broadwater Athletic Club.

Registration is now open at bikereg.com

Registration for the Double Divide Ride is $80 for members and $100 for non-members. Riders under 16 pay only $50 and riding the course in one-day is $60. If you plan to participate in both the DDR and the One Helena Hundred you can join the club and save money on both rides. Be sure to register by June 1 to get the early registration discount. Registrations go up by $15 on June 1!

MIT + Bicycle = Copenhagen Wheel

2010-11-08T16:01:00.003-07:00

There are many new things in this world, not the least interesting is this prototype electric bicycle conversion from MIT.

From MIT's web site: "The Copenhagen Wheel turns the bike you already own, quickly and easily into an electric bike with regeneration and real-time environmental sensing capabilities.

The wheel harvests the energy you input while braking and cycling and stores it for when you need a bit of a boost. At the same time, sensors in the wheel are collecting information about air and noise pollution, congestion and road conditions."

Would this shorten the One Helena Hundred?

October--Annual Club Meeting

2010-10-12T18:15:00.004-06:00

OCTOBER MEETING
“you bring the photos” sharing and election of 2011 Club Officers

TIME—7 P.M.-TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26th, 2010

LOCATION—MOUNTAIN WEST BANK
2021 N. Montana Ave, access on south side

We are asking members to share photos from past rides or trips. We know you have participated in some great trips or rides because we hear about them through the grapevine.
For every member who shares one or multiple photos, we will put your name in a hat for a prize drawing at the end of the show. So bring one or more photographs on a CD or a thumbdrive and share them at the HBC October meeting! Julie McKenna @ 410-1037

OCTOBER OFFICER ELECTION

HBC will also be holding the election of Officers as part of the October meeting.

Names of nominees thus far for 2011 —

President—Julie McKenna
Vice President— Danica Vanderwaal
Treasurer—Bob Stringer
Secretary—Rob Psurny
Newsletter—Bruce Newell

Double Divide Ride chair position—open
One Helena Hundred Century Ride chair position—open

If you have a nomination or are interested in being a part of the HBC, please attend the meeting or contact President Kelly Flaherty-Settle at 439-8379

September Meeting--Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

2010-09-11T21:02:00.001-06:00

Presentation: by Gabe Furshong

TOPIC:

“The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act and Mountain Biking”

WHEN: TUESDAY, September 28th - 7 P.M.

MEETING PLACE: Mountain West Bank -2021 N. Montana

Currently, there are 188 miles of trail open to mountain bike use within the area included in the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act. An additional 158 miles of trail fall outside the area included by the Heritage Act and would remain unaffected in any way. Join us for a presentation by Gabe on what this is about and how this important bill will impact us.

also this will be in newsletter -

ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2011

The nomination of Officers for the 2011 calendar year is open. Several nominations have been submitted and the Board members are still collecting names until the October 26th membership meeting. If you would like to nominate a HBC member or you would like to submit your name for an Officer position, please contact a current Board Member.

Voting for Officers will be held at the October membership meeting.

FYI - October HBC Meeting

We are asking members to share photos from past rides or trips. We know you have participated in some great trips or rides because we hear about them through the grape vine. So– HBC has recently purchased a Projector and we would love to show your vacation pictures to other club members.

For every member who shares one or multiple photos, we will put your name in a hat for a drawing for a prize to be drawn at the end of the show. So gather those photograph(s) and bring them to the HBC’s October meeting!

Questions - call Julie McKenna @ 410-1037

Montana High Divide Trails

2010-09-02T13:12:00.001-06:00

[Text copied directly from the following cite; The Helena Bicycle Club is part of this alliance; Bruce Newell is our representative, bruce dot newell at gmail dot com]
Montana High Divide Trails is the vision of southwest Montana hikers, mountain bikers, horsemen/women and conservationists working together to build and protect a wide-ranging trail system along the Continental Divide between the Pintler and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas that offer quiet trails and wilderness for everyone.

Mountain bikers will enjoy hundreds of miles of quiet singletrack in some of Montana's most scenic mountain lands, including 202 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail near Butte, Helena and Lincoln.

A network of "front country" foothill trails located near cities like Butte and Helena will give bicyclists, horse enthusiasts, hikers and other quiet trail users quick access to mountain trails linked to the rugged Continental Divide trail system.

Hundreds of miles of mountain pack trails will provide horsemen and women wide ranging opportunities to explore Montana's vast wildlands along the backbone of the Rockies.
Hunters and anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy ready access to some of America's finest backcountry and wilderness - lands where grizzly bears, wolverine, mountain goats, big horn sheep, elk and lynx still roam.

The 820-mile trail along the backbone of the Rockies will comprise Montana's contribution to America's longest and most rugged quiet mountain trail, the 3,100 mile-long Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. (CDNST)

Exploring Touring Routes

2010-08-23T09:33:00.002-06:00

Sue and I ran into two very pleasant cyclists, newlyweds, from Billings last week while we were on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's. We got talking about where to find information about extended (and not so extended) bicycle tours. I promised to send them my list, and afterwards thought that perhaps others would have sources to add to my list. Here’s my list, please use the comment field to add your favorite information sources (online and offline). I look forward to learning what you use. Bruce Newell

Adventure Cycling (Missoula HQ, nationwide routes)

Adventure Cycling Bicycle Route Network

"In creating the ever-growing Adventure Cycling Bicycle Route Network, we've researched and developed 40,633 miles of prime cycling routes in the U.S. to date. These routes follow some of the most quiet, scenic roads and bike trails in the North America and are designed with cyclists in mind."

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/index.cfm

August 24th Meeting--Poker Ride

2010-08-15T21:06:00.002-06:00

AUGUST - ‘HBC POKER BICYCLE RIDE’

WHEN - 6 pm. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24th, 2010

STARTING LOCATION - Reber Park on Colonial Drive (look for cupola).

The Helena Bicycle Club is again offering a Poker Ride event. We will be offering a 13 mile loop ride from Reber Park or a shorter version from the cupola to Montana City and back. Riders will collect cards for a poker hand along the way.

This year HBC will offer three groups: the race-pace group, the medium riding group and the shorter distance group. There will be three (3) prizes of a $10.00 gift certificate from Great Divide Cyclery for the winning poker hand in each group. Come join us for a fun evening of riding.

2010 One Helena Hundred Summary

2010-07-29T21:09:00.001-06:00

2010 One Helena Hundred – Another fine ride !!

- 144 riders supported by 12 volunteers, enjoyed some great bicycling along the beautiful Missouri and Smith River valleys at the 2010 One Helena Hundred.

- Folks came from all over Montana – from as small a town as Avon, MT to Billings, MT

- Over 12% of our riders were from out of state – as far away as Vermont and Texas.

o Eight states were represented

- Ages ranged from 12 years old to 82 years young. With a 10 month old boy enjoying the ride from his trailer.

- The weather was PERFECT – cool and cloudy in the morning got the riders going at a fast pace. Then the sun came out to produce a blue bird Montana day. The high was in the mid 80’s with a light breeze.

- One Helena Hundred Tech-T’s where well received and looked really nice on the road.

- The club netted a record $2,900, which will go towards many projects to promote safe and fun cycling in the Helena area.

We want to THANK all the volunteers. Without these folks the One Helena Hundred would not be possible.

- Our experienced rest stop crew, Don Cullen at Ulm and Jens and Alta Jensen at Eden Bridge. We can’t thank them enough for being so flexible and supportive of this ride over the past many years ! We also thank new volunteers, Elli Newell at Ulm, Allen Cormany heading up Dearborn rest stop and his helper Pat McKenna. So many riders enjoy a rest and a chat at their stops.

- Lunch was provided by Susan Brown – 1HH’s steadfast lunch lady provided an excellent lunch all day long….all while having to make a few trips to Tom’s Market in Cascade so every rider would have a complete lunch!! Marsha Worthington – Was back again to help Susan with lunch – they start at 8:00 sharp to prepare lunch all day long!! (she worked harder than rider Bob W.)

- Maggie Settle - who was up early with the sprinklers and helped make sure everyone got the right size of jersey and then made beautiful displays with the lunch food!

- Mark Cadwallader - our bike mechanic, general on the road helper extraordinaire, traveled the route many times just to help any riders in distress, let the aid stations know where the riders were and swept the route at the bitter end!!

- Doug Brown – who keeps the finances straight for many months leading up to the ride.

This year we had a group of community sponsors whom we would like to THANK:

Hammer Nutrition

Dr Andrew Malany

CASA

Manger-Harrington PT

Big Sky Cyclery

Broadwater Health Club

Sound Health Imaging

Valley Bank

Apex Engineering

Dr. Michael Hay, OB/Gyn

Bruce Sweeney & Assoc.

Pillar to Post Home Inspection

Thanks again to riders, volunteers and sponsors who made this a great day for us.

Dee Dee and Mark Cress, One Helena Hundred Ride Coordinators

Volunteers Needed--Montana High Divide Trails

2010-07-21T21:25:00.003-06:00

The Montana Wilderness Association is seeking volunteer trail workers for a project on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail--The longest quiet trail in Montana. The work will be done July 24 and 25 at Champion Pass, in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Details:lodge, Boulder Road to Orofino Campground)

What's Provided:

BBQ on Saturday night, safety gear, tools, group camp gear,Trail Crew Leader, first aid

Volunteers will need to Bring:

Personal camping gear, food for the weekend (except Saturday BBQ), leather work gloves, long pants, hiking boots, daypack for trail work, attitude for work and fun!

Other Notes:

Option to arrive early and camp on Friday, July 23 at campground
Will work both Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm (leave a bit earlier on Sunday)
Those under 18 are welcome if they are ready to contribute and have fun.

All minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and also register as volunteer. FYI: Alcohol may be present at camp.

Thank you in advance for leaving your pets at home.

This is not a dog-friendly work project.

TO REGISTER:

All volunteers must sign up online HERE!

It's free, it's easy and it's quick! This helps us track of how many are coming. Please do not show at the project without registering and please let us know if you need to cancel after registering.

Once you register, you'll receive detailed information on the project including a map, driving directions and other helpful reminders.

For more information contact

Jake Troyer

Outreach Coordinator

Montana Wilderness Association

w-406.782.4329

c-406.202.1062

jtroyer@wildmontana.org

Please visit our website at

www.wildmontana.org

Thank You.

There is space for 20 volunteers maximum - sign up early!

Thanks for the great ride!

2010-07-18T08:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who made the One Helena Hundred such a great ride! Exceptionally benign weather, great food, cheerful refreshment stop helpers, and wonderful riding companions made this one to hold out as 'as good as it gets'.

"Thanks", from a guy who slept long and hard last night. BN

HBC Bylaws

2010-07-18T08:25:00.001-06:00

Your bike club has bylaws, not surprisingly. Doug Brown found (transcribed?) a copy. Here they are. They are fairly current, having been adopted in 2007. BN

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BYLAWS OF THE HELENA BICYCLE CLUB, INC.

ARTICLE I NAME OF CORPORATION

Section 1.1 Name of Corporation. The name of the corporation is the Helena Bicycle Club, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “the Club”).

Section 1.2 Use of Other Names. The Club may do business by other names, if approved by the Board of Directors, provided that all contracts and other formal documents clearly reflect the official name of the Club and are executed only in the official name of the Helena Bicycle Club, Inc.

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

Section 2.1 Membership. Membership in the Club may be held by an individual (“an individual membership”) or by a group of household members (“a family membership”), for annual periods running from January 1 through December 31. Membership is available to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, gender, age, physical or mental condition or natural origin. An individual or a family becomes a member of the Club upon payment of the annual dues.

Section 2.2 Dues. Annual dues for each category of membership may be charged in an amount set by the Board of Directors and ratified by a vote of the membership. Dues, once established, remain the same until changed by the Board and ratified by the members.

Section 2.3 Quorum. A quorum of the membership consists of 10 members or 10% of the membership, whichever is less.

Section 2.4 Voting. An individual membership is entitled to one vote. A family membership is entitled to two (2) votes. Votes may not be made by proxy, except for votes at the annual meeting. Unless otherwise provided, a simple majority of the membership present is sufficient for action.

Section 2.5 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the membership will occur on the fourth Tuesday of October.

Section 2.6 Other Meetings. Such other meetings may be called at the request of the Board of Directors or 5% of the membership, upon notice mailed to the membership or announced at a meeting.

Section 2.7 Representation. All individuals representing the Club in and before groups, commissions and legislative bodies must be paid members of the Club for the term of their selected service.

ARTICLE III OFFICERS

Section 3.1 Officers. The officers of the Club are a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, who are elected by the Club. All officers must be paid members of the Club for the term of their elected/selected service.

Section 3.2 Terms of Office. The term of office for an officer is one year beginning November 1. No member may be elected to the same office for more than two (2) years in a row.

Section 3.3 Election of Officers. Officers must be elected at the annual meeting. A secret ballot must be used at the election upon the request of any member. If there is only one (1) candidate for an office, that person may be elected by acclamation.

Section 3.4 Vacancies. Vacancies that occur during the term must be filled by a willing member who is selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.5 Removal of Officers. Any officer may be removed from office during a term for good cause, upon the affirmative vote of the membership. Such a vote to remove an officer may only occur at a meeting where written notice of the upcoming vote to remove is given to the membership at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting. An officer may be suspended from the duties and privileges of office by the affirmative vote of the other members of the Board of Directors, for a period of not more than thirty (30) days, pending a vote by the membership on whether to remove the officer.

ARTICLE IV BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 4.1 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of the officers of the Club and the following Club members appointed by the president:

Newsletter editor;
Double Divide Ride director; and
Century Ride director.

The president shall also be authorized to appoint two additional board members, subject to approval by a majority of the Board. All Board members must be paid members of the Club for the term of their elected/selected service.

Section 4.2 Quorum. A quorum of the Board of Directors consists of one-half (1/2) the number of directors.

Section 4.3 Voting. Unless otherwise provided, a simple majority of the directors present and voting is sufficient for action.

Section 4.4 Authority. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to make expenditures, set policies and make all decisions on behalf of the Club, unless expressly prohibited elsewhere in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE V TRIPS POLICY

Section 5.1 Release of Liability. The Club may require a release of liability from all participants in Club-sponsored events or activities, including a release from the parent or guardian of a participant under the age of eighteen (18).

ARTICLE VI CLUB FUNDS

Section 6.1 Sources of Funds. The Club may accept donations, gifts and other forms of contributions. In addition to dues, the Club may raise funds by conducting activities consistent with the purpose of the Club.

Section 6.2 Treasurer’s Authority. The treasurer may make expenditures on behalf of the Club in the regular course of business. The treasurer may not exceed amounts budgeted and approved by the Club without Board approval. The Board, by majority vote, may suspend the treasurer’s spending authority for such time as the Board deems appropriate.

Section 6.3 Double Divide Director’s Authority. The Double Divide director may make total expenditures on behalf of the Club for the purpose of the Double Divide event, in the regular course of business, not to exceed amounts budgeted and approved by the Board. The Board, by majority vote, may suspend the Double Divide director’s spending authority for such time as the Board deems appropriate.

Section 6.4 Century Ride Director’s Authority. The Century Ride director may make total expenditures on behalf of the Club for the purpose of the Century Ride event, in the regular course of business, not to exceed amounts budgeted and approved by the Board. The Board, by majority vote, may suspend the Century Ride director’s spending authority for such time as the Board deems appropriate.

Section 6.5 Review of Expenditures. The bank statement for the Helena Bicycle Club, maintained by the treasurer, will be reviewed monthly by the president and/or the vice president. A financial report for the previous year will be presented at a Club meeting by March 1^st of each year.

ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS

Section 7.1 Amendment of Articles of Incorporation. The articles of incorporation may be amended upon a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the membership at each of two (2) successive meetings. The Board of Directors or members may seek to have the articles of incorporation amended, including adding or repealing sections. Following a simple majority vote of either the Board of Directors or the membership to propose an amendment of the articles, notice of the proposed amendment and the meeting date(s) at which the vote will be taken must be mailed to the membership at least ten (10) days before each such meeting. The notice must either contain the text of the proposed amendment or summary of the proposed amendment.

Section 7.2 Amendment of Bylaws. The bylaws may be amended at any time, upon a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the directors, if the amendment does not relate to the number or selection process for the directors or officers, or the method of amending the articles of incorporation or the bylaws.

Section 7.3 Approval of Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors or members may seek to have a bylaw amendment made by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership. Notice of the proposed amendment and the meeting date at which the vote will be taken must be mailed to the membership at least ten (10) days before such meeting. The notice must either contain the text of the proposed amendment or a summary of the proposed amendment. A simple majority of the members present and voting is sufficient for approval of an amendment.

Section 7.4 Members’ Rights. The membership may seek to have the bylaws amended, including repeal or reinstatement of any bylaw amended by the Board of Directors. Following a simple majority vote to propose an amendment of the bylaws, notice of the proposed amendment and the meeting date at which the vote will be taken must be mailed to the membership at least ten (10) days before such meeting. The notice must either contain the text of the proposed amendment or a summary of the proposed amendment. A simple majority of the members present and voting is sufficient for approval of an amendment.

ADOPTED this 27^th day of March 2007.

By: _______________________________

Rick Bush

President, Helena Bicycle Club, Inc.

ATTEST:

By: _______________________________

Doug Brown

Treasurer, Helena Bicycle Club, Inc.

July 20th Club Meeting--Tour de France Party

2010-07-08T15:34:00.005-06:00

The HBC's July meeting will be Tuesday, July 20th at The Quarry Sports Bar. (Attached to the Holiday Inn Downtown--just off the Walking Mall and across from the Base Camp) From 6-8 PM we will be in the wine bar area, watching the re-broadcast of the Tour Stage 16. See a description of this stage by clicking HERE. The club will provide appetizers, and members who want to order drinks or dinner choices may do so at their own expense. This meeting is also the last chance to put in your order for the special HBC jerseys. A printed version of the artwork will be on hand and we will also have sample jerseys to check sizing. We hope to see you there!

Order your HBC Club Jerseys Today!

2010-06-23T20:27:00.006-06:00

Artwork and design by Dave Reher. (Above)

The Helena Bicycle Club will be placing an order for special HBC Club Jerseys in July. The jerseys have fully sublimated printing and feature special artwork designed by HBC club member Dave Reher. Cost of the jerseys is $40 each plus $2 shipping/handling. In order to get this price, we must have a minimum order of FIFTY jerseys! If we do not receive payment for 50 jerseys by our July 20th "Tour de France" club meeting, we will not make the order and funds will be returned.

You can order by sending a check for $42 for each jersey ordered along with your name, contact information, and jersey size to:

Helena Bicycle Club

PO Box 4682

Helena, MT 59604

Be sure to notate on the check that the payment is for club jerseys.

Official order forms are available above. Click on the order form to open a new window for printing.

2010-06-15T20:06:00.003-06:00

JUNE MEETING - TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd, 2010

FAMILY FUN and GAMES NIGHT — HOSTED BY HBC

BIG SKY CYCLING & FITNESS -
New location - 801 N. Last Chance Gulch

TIME - 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Bring your spouse, the kids or a friend and enjoy an evening of games such as tire change challenge, newspaper toss, indoor criterium and much more. We will have door prizes drawings for new HBC members and current members. Come check out all the new bicycles and accessories, meet HBC board members and find out what is coming up for summer cycling.

High Divide Jambouree

2010-06-06T19:42:00.001-06:00

HIGH DIVIDE JAMBOREE

Please join members of the Helena Bicycle Club, the Great Divide Cycling Team and other outdoor enthusiasts for a fun weekend of Continental Divide Trail building on June 19-20. We’ll be combining trail work, great food and Father’s Day; the theme of the weekend is “Spandex and Leather Working Together.”

Our High Divide group completed a new loop trail along the Continental Divide last fall but need help with the final touches. Work will include installing a trailhead kiosk, putting up CDT signs, early-season trail maintenance and general finishing work. Other partners include: Mile High and Last Chance Backcountry Horsemen, Montana Wilderness Association, Prickly Pear Land Trust, Highlands Cycling Club, Helena Outdoor Club and Helena Trail Riders.

To register for this event and obtain more information, please go to www.cdtrail.org, click on “2010 Volunteer Projects,” click on “Montana Projects,” then on “High Divide Jamboree.” Please contact Mark Reinsel at reinsel38@msn.com or 459-2776 if you do sign up or if you have questions. We will coordinate our activities before heading up to the work site on Saturday morning, June 19^th.

The Continental Divide Trail Alliance obtained a grant for this work, so they are providing all the supplies and food, along with the Forest Service. Our mountain biking crew (HBC plus Great Divide) will be in charge of one section of the project.

TAWSE Presents "Bike to Work Day"

2010-05-15T19:26:00.003-06:00

TAWSE (Try Another Way, State Employees) presents "Bike to Work" day on Wednesday, May 26th. Please join state employees at the Capitol Rotunda form 11A.M. to 1P.M. for an event in conjunction with the National Bike to Work Day. There will be numerous local vendors along with guest speakers.

Also, at 5PM, ride your bicycle in a group parade to the "Alive at Five" in downtown Helena. The parade starts on the south end of the capitol building and will proceed to the downtown area. Bike racks will be available to secure your bicycle.

For more information on the event, see the TAWSE webpage.

May Meeting--Picnic and Potluck

2010-05-15T19:23:00.002-06:00

Please join the Helena Bicycle Club for our annual Picnic. It will be held Tuesday, May 25th at 6PM at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds. The Club will supply chicken, lemonade, plates, and utensils. Please bring a salad, dessert, or side dish to share. For those interested, we'll take a road ride through the valley afterward. This event is for all members, their families, and folks interested in learning more about the Helena Bicycle Club.

NEW VENUE FOR APRIL 27th MEETING

2010-04-24T09:00:00.002-06:00

There has been a change of venue for the HBC April Meeting. The meeting was to be held at the new Big Sky Cyclery, but that location is not yet ready. Therefore, the HBC April 27th meeting at 7PM will be held at Mountain West Bank, south building. (2021 N. Montana Ave. Corner of Montana and Aspen)

The program will be given by Mark Keeffe, Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator with the Montana Department of Transportation. Julie McKenna will also be reviewing the HBC ride calendar for 2010.

Thursday Night Road Rides Begin April 22

2010-04-20T20:08:00.002-06:00

Thursday evening road rides will start this Thursday 4/22 – weather permitting.

As in the past we will meet at 4 Georgians School at 6:00 pm through May and then at 6:30 pm starting in June.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

2010-04-05T13:01:00.001-06:00

The Base Camp is looking forward to once again hosting the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour in Helena. We cordially invite the Helena Bicycle Club and family members to enjoy an evening filled with exploration, diverse mountain culture and adrenaline fueled action sports.

From mountain biking in British Columbia to speed flying in France, this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour promises something for all generations. The tour returns to the Helena Middle School, Friday May 7, 7:00pm – for its 14th consecutive year in Helena, featuring an outstanding line up of films. Among them are:

“ Mont-Blanc Speed Flying “ received the Award for Best Short Mountain Film. It features six speed riders flying from the upper slopes of Mont Blanc down to Chamonix in one continuous 10-minute shot.

“Take a Seat” Dominic Gill’s mission is to cycle the 32,000 kilometres from the northern coast of Alaska to the southern tip of South America, on a tandem bike, picking up random strangers on the way. A gripping tale of two years and two continents, full of extraordinary characters and incidents.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at The Base Camp
Adults $8.50 / Students $6.50.

Or, at the Helena Middle School prior to the first film.
Adults $10.00 / Students $8.00.

Please see this link for a preview of this years tour films

www.thebasecamp.com/2010/03/helena-banff-mountain-film-festival-friday-may-7/

Non-Motorized Board Seeks Member

2010-03-28T13:05:00.002-06:00

The Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council needs a person to serve a term that will begin upon appointment and expire March 31, 2013. Interested persons should have knowledge, expertise and interest in promoting non-motorized transportation and traffic calming. The general purpose of the council is to advise the city commission and Neighborhood Transportation Program.

From the City of Helena Website:

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

A vacancy, or expiring term, on any board or committee will be announced and public notice will be given of the vacancy. The media will be encouraged to make the vacancy known to the public and all interested citizens will be encouraged to submit applications on or before a specific date. Application forms are available in the office of the City Clerk, Room 323, City-County Administration Building, 316 N. Park Avenue.

At a City Commission meeting the Mayor shall appoint, with the consent of the Commission, all members of board and committees.

In order to allow more citizens to have input on boards and committees, the Commission has set a policy that no individual shall serve on any board or committee more than six consecutive years or two terms, whichever is longer. The Civic Center Board has been exempted from this policy by Commission action taken on January 11, 1988.

Recycle Your Bicycle Event

2010-03-19T21:29:00.000-06:00

The Independent Record and HelenaIR.com announce the 1st Ever Recycle Your Bicycle. This free event is a bicycle and bicycle gear swap that will be held Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Helena Civic Center Ballroom.

Recycle Your Bicycle is a flea-market style event for those who want to buy and sell bicycles and cycling gear that is in good working condition. Sellers may set up their tables from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the day of the event. Sellers will be charged $5 for a table and asked to sign a waiver. Tables are provided by the Civic Center. Friends, families and groups are welcome to share a table. A seller from each group must be present at all times and must take unsold items with them at the end of the day. Cash or checks only. No consignments or donations.

Bike technicians will be on hand to answer questions and evaluate the safety of bicycles. The Helena Police Department will be licensing bicycles for $1 each. Several bicycle and fitness groups will be present to answer questions and provide information to cyclists of all levels. Nonprofit organizations do not have to pay the $5 fee upon approval.

This free event is held in partnership with local bicycle clubs Montana Velo, Helena Dynamos, Girls Thrive! and many more. For more information call 443-6143.

HBC March Meeting

2010-03-17T21:26:00.001-06:00

The March meeting of the Helena Bicycle Club will be held on Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00 P.M. The location is the Mountain West Bank at 2021 N. Montana Avenue. (on the corner of North Montana Ave. and Aspen St.) The meeting will open with a brief business session, as the club membership will be asked to vote on the Board's recommendation that we pledge $5000 to the Centennial Trail project. Laura Erikson from the Friends of the Centennial Trail will be in attendance to give a brief overview of the project and to answer any questions. The main portion of the meeting will be devoted to a report on the White Rim (Utah) mountain bike trip taken by several club members.

Google Maps Now Supports Bicycling

2010-03-10T07:35:00.001-07:00

[Largely from the League of American Bicyclists, via Doug Brown; excerpted]

Google Maps adds a new bicycling feature to their 'get directions' function. I (Bruce) tried it out, and it seems to work very nicely, finding routes I'd use to get to the store and so forth. Apparently Google has teamed up with the rails-to-trails folks, so their trails are included as well. Pretty neat. From the League:

"This new feature includes: step-by-step bicycling directions; bike trails outlined directly on the map; and a new "Bicycling" layer that indicates bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly roads. The directions feature provides step-by-step, bike-specific routing suggestions - similar to the directions provided by our driving, walking, or public transit modes.

Simply enter a start point and destination and select "Bicycling" from the drop-down menu. You will receive a route that is optimized for cycling, taking advantage of bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly streets and avoiding hilly terrain whenever possible.

Visit http://maps.google.com/biking to try out this new feature. Biking directions for Google Maps is currently in Beta."

Biking Lake Baikal

2010-02-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

"What surely ranks among the most unusual and challenging mountain bike rides in the world will be attempted later this month by an international group of adventurers that includes two Eugene residents.

The five-man team hopes to become the first to use human power to circumnavigate Russia’s Lake Baikal in winter — as well as the first to bicycle around the lake’s entire 1,300-mile shoreline.

If the expedition goes as planned, it will take the cyclists 43 days to pedal — and sometimes push — bicycles with studded tires from Irkutsk down the frozen Angara River to Lake Baikal, around the frozen 400-mile-long lake, then back up the river to Irkutsk."

CYCLING 101

2010-02-09T19:29:00.001-07:00

THE QUESTION -
How should I ride over railroad tracks?

Bicycle magazine, March 2010 issue states in part - "approach the rails squarely, at 90 degrees. Gather some momentum, put your hands on the drops, rise out of the saddle with your cranks parallel to the road and coast across". Also make sure your tires have been pumped to the pressure recommended on the sidewall. This prevents pinch flats. They also say you could bunny-hop them - but I'm not sure I would try that over multiple tracks.

BIKE HARD, BUILD HOUSES

2010-02-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

[From Adventure Cycle's Bike Bits, by way of club stalwart Doug Brown]

The Fuller Center for Housing is a faith-driven group based in Americus, Georgia, that works in various ways to provide shelter for people in need across the globe. The Center is currently looking for fifty keen cyclists to join in on parts of a ride (or all of it) next summer from Niagara Falls to New Orleans, in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of both Hurricane Katrina and the establishment of the Fuller Center. Throughout the journey, team members will lay over to build and renovate Fuller Center homes and speak to the media, church groups, and civic organizations about their work. http://www.fullercenter.org/bikeadventure

On a similar note, Philadelphia-based Bike & Build will be running ten cross-country trips next summer on several different routes, with riders raising money for affordable housing groups and projects. Over the past seven years, the organization says it has raised more than $2 million, donated more than 63,500 hours of labor, and involved more than a thousand young adults in spreading the word about the affordable housing crisis in our country.
http://www.bikeandbuild.org/cms/content/view/109/230

Montana High Divide Trails Project

2010-01-25T21:54:00.002-07:00

Montana High Divide Trails

Highlands Cycling Club * Mile-High Back Country Horsemen
Helena Bicycle Club * Wild Divide Chapter - Montana Wilderness Association
Last Chance Back Country Horsemen * Prickly Pear Land Trust
Helena Trail Riders * Great Divide Cycling Team * Helena Outdoor Club
http://www.wildmontana.org/programs/quiettrails.php

Working together yielded big gains in 2009 for quiet trails and wild country along Montana’s rugged Continental Divide -- thanks to a partnership of back country horsemen, mountain bikers, hikers and conservationists known as Montana High Divide Trails.

The freedom to head into our wild mountains for a quiet ride or walk is a big part of what makes southwest Montana so special. With this comes a special responsibility to protect and pass it on.

Where some cultivate conflict, Montana High Divide Trails seeks to resolve differences and emphasize cooperation in the conservation of Montana’s wild public lands and mountain trails.

On the Helena National Forest, Montana High Divide Trails worked closely with area hunters and landowners to strengthen protection of quiet trails and wild country along the Continental Divide through key travel plans now underway on the Lincoln and Helena Ranger Districts. Collaborative efforts opened the door for the Great Divide Cycling Team to score a $ 28,000 trail grant in 2009 to evaluate potential for mountain bike trails on the Lincoln Ranger District.

The 2^nd annual Montana High Divide Trails Jamboree was a huge success in 2009 (see Fall 2009 Wild Montana) Forty volunteers helped the U S Forest Service complete 7.5 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail between Upper Telegraph Creek and Bison Mountain. The new CDT section links to existing trails to create a 14.5 mile loop for quiet recreation adjoining the Electric Peak Recommended Wilderness.

In February 2009 the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest issued a final forest plan adopting five key improvements sought by High Divide Trails to that strengthen protection of quiet trails and wilderness in Flints, Highlands, Whitetail-Haystack and Electric Peak wild lands.

Another collaborative milestone was adding new areas of agreement in 2009, including:

Expanding MacDonald Pass Quiet Trails/ Wildlife Area

Scratchgravel Hills Quiet Trails Area

Sleeping Giant Proposed Wilderness

Success! In the final Butte Resource Area Management Plan, the BLM protected both the Sleeping Giant and Humbug Spires Proposed Wilderness Areas and allocated the Scratchgravel Hills to quiet recreation

In July Senator Tester introduced the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act which would permanently protect seven of the wilderness and recreation areas jointly supported by Montana High Divide Trails:

Lost Creek Protection Area (Flints)

Dolus Lakes Wilderness (Flints)

East Pintler Wilderness Additions (CD)

Humbug Spires Wilderness (CD)

Highlands Crest Wilderness

Thunderbolt Creek Recreation Area (CD)

Electric Peak Wilderness (CD)

The wild country along Montana’s rugged High Divide is linked by the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, designated by Congress in 1978.

When completed this great trail will cover 3100 miles including 900 miles between Yellowstone and the Canadian line.

The revised plan for the CDNST, signed in 2009 makes crystal clear the nature and purposes of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail are to provide “high quality” quiet recreation and to “conserve natural, historic and cultural resources” along the Continental Divide.

http://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/

To find out how you can get involved with Montana High Divide Trails , contact MWA Conservation Director John Gatchell

jgatchell@wildmontana.org

February Meetings, Feb 23

2010-01-21T18:15:00.005-07:00

The HBC board meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.at a to-be announced location.

Draft Agenda:

Bike Friendly Helena
Centennial Trail grant request
New web site
Electronic event registration

The HBC February meeting is Tuesday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m at MOUNTAIN WEST BANK

Bruce Newell will be showing a slide show of his trip on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, Banff to Mexico, July through October, 2009. The February HBC general meeting will be held in the SOUTH BUILDING of the Mountain West Bank, at Aspen and Montana.

2009 BUSINESS SPONSORS

2009-11-23T19:25:00.001-07:00

The 2008 sponsorship drive was a huge success.
The HBC is excited to have these wonderful businesses
joining us in promoting bicycling advocacy for the Helena area.

BIG SKY CYCLERY
MOUNTAIN WEST BANK
PILLAR TO POST
Dr. Michael Hay, OB/GYN
Women’s Health Care Center
SOUND HEALTH IMAGING
CAPITAL SPORTS & WESTERN
APEX ENGINEERING
DR. ANDREW M MALANYY
HELENA OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
VALLEY BANK

2010 One Helena Hundred Scheduled July 17

2009-11-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for the 2010 One Helena Hundred!
The annual celebration of cycling for the Helena Bicycle Club will be Saturday, July 17, 2010 starting from Cascade City Park.

The One Helena Hundred is a 100-mile or 100 kilometer Century Ride along the beautiful Missouri River. This year our route will begin in Cascade MT at Cascade City Park just 1 block off of Main Street.

Riders will travel south to the Wolf Creek, MT, turning around just before dropping into Wolf Creek returning to Cascade for a hardy lunch. This will complete the Metric Century. The Mile Century Riders will continue north from Cascade to Ulm, then east over the Smith River with a turn around back to Cascade. The route is gentle with some small rolling hills. Lunch is provided in Cascade as well as 3 nutritious rest stops.

Helmets are required !
Check in – from 7 am 8 am, at Cascade City Park in Cascade, MT.
Parking – Please try to car pool if possible as parking is scarce
Directions – On I-15 north of Helena and south of Great Falls take the Cascade Exit (Exit 254 from the south or Exit 256 from the north) proceed into town and turn east to Cascade City Park.
Places to stay – If you are coming from out of town there are many places to stay in Helena about a 60-mile drive to Cascade. Or in Great Falls 30-miles to Cascade.
- In Cascade there are a few places stay, check http://www.cascademontana.com/
- There are a few fishing access/camping spots along the Recreation Road both north and south of Wolf Creek.

Pre-registration by July 1st is appreciated – shirt is then guaranteed
Proceeds from our rides are used for bicycle projects in and around Helena !!!

Double Divide Ride Scheduled for June 12-13

2009-11-23T08:56:00.001-07:00

The annual Helena Bicycle Club Double Divide Ride (DDR) is scheduled for June again in 2010. Get an early start on the biking season with the Helena Bicycle Club Double Divide Ride, June 12-13, 2010. We will follow the same great route crossing the Continental Divide twice.

Enjoy two days of cycling 139 miles (83 miles the first day, 56 miles the second) through rolling hills, tranquil valleys and challenging mountain passes. Plus, the DDR is famous for its outstanding food fare – you won’t go hungry!
On day one, cyclists take on their first challenge as they ascend MacDonald Pass – a beautiful stretch offering outstanding vistas. Upon reaching the top, a rest stop with hearty refreshments awaits. The ride to Avon is a fast downhill spin with a break for a huge luncheon at Nevada Lake. The final leg heads towards Lincoln on the highway through the Blackfoot River Valley. In Lincoln, camp inside at the local school or bring a tent to camp outside. Hotels are also available in Lincoln. Both Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast are provided.
Day two, head over Flesher Pass – the second crossing of the Continental Divide. The rest stop at the top is well-deserved. After a quick and curvy descent, riders head towards Helena. A few rollers in the Birdseye area offer another challenge, and then riders can meander to the BBQ at the Broadwater Athletic Club.