First off road trip, GDMBR

I’ve done many bike tours, but this summer did my first off road trip. My daughter (23) and I (58) biked from Banff in Alberta to Missoula Montana on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

The Rocky Mountains are beautiful. And it’s nice to be on trails and gravel roads without cars. It was nice to spend 10 days with my daughter.

We are both physically fit, and I’d consider my daughter super fit, but biking in the mountains at altitude (6000 feet in Banff) on gravel, in 90-100 degree weather was brutal. We had a hard time drinking enough water and electrolyte supplements to keep up with losses. I planned to bike another 600 miles to Wyoming, but it was just too hot.

I love my 1990s bikes and the BOB trailer, but next time I’m getting a new bike. Maybe a Salsa Cutthroat.

I got 10 flats due to tube pinch under bad rim tape, until I could retape the rims. And I destroyed a rear derailleur pulley. (I actually carried a spare!)