Spring Biking in the Parks

We are very fortunate to live about an hour from Grand Teton National Park and just under 2 hours, from West Yellowstone. We are right in the heart of the greater Teton/Yellowstone region. Spring is our favorite time to visit the National Parks because for a few weeks the roads are plowed and public vehicle traffic is not permitted. Bikes are permitted during this time and we love taking advantage of the vehicle free roads on our Fargos, with April in tow in her Burley.

We visited Teton National Park the first weekend of April this year. The temps were low, but we were three of maybe a dozen people in the park, on bikes. It was worth going out in the cold weather, to have the park almost to ourselves. The roads are plowed from the Taggert Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge. There is also access to the Inner loop which goes along Jenny Lake through the park.

When we took our spring ride through Teton National Park, this year we parked at the Taggert Lake trailhead and biked 14 miles out to where the road barricade is, by Signal Mountain Lodge. The wind blew snow across the road frequently, as we gradually climbed and descended through the park. After we reached Signal Mountain Lodge we turned around. On our way back to Taggert Lake we turned into the Inner Loop. The Inner Loop led us along Jenny Lake and then back out to the main park road.

We swapped our plus tire set on April's Burley for her street tires, for this ride. Bryon and I rode our Salsa Fargo's to increase efficiency on the pavement, as well. We rode just over 30 miles in about 3 hours on our ride through Teton National Park. It truly is awesome to be able to take in the beauty of the the Tetons and Mount Moran and the frozen Jenny Lake before the roads are open to cars.

Yellowstone is the other park, nearby that offers Spring Biking. Over the summer months, over 700,000 people visit Yellowstone each month. During the spring, as the park begins to thaw, the roads are only open to bicycles, hikers, and the vehicles of vendors and National Park personal. We prefer to visit the park during this time of year.

We drove to West Yellowstone from Victor, on Friday, and checked into our lodging at the Grey Wolf Lodge. We unloaded our gear and hit the road into the park just after noon. Flurries fluttered in the sky and the wind seemed to be blowing in more than one direction.

The first 14 miles or the ride took us out to the Madison Junction. Along the way we passed, a herd of bison, geese, and ducks. We stopped to photograph bison wading through the Madison River.

At the Madison Junction we headed left towards Norris Hot Springs, which was an additional 14 miles from the Junction. Norris was our turn around point. We climbed along the Gibbon Falls overlook, saw a canine pair eating a kill, and also several more bison on the ride to Norris.

 

At Norris there was still plenty of snow, so we were unable to go out on the boardwalk. We did stop and have lunch in the parking lot.

We headed back to West Yellowstone, after our late lunch. Back in West Yellowstone we soaked in the hotel's hot tub, swam with April, and then enjoyed some pizza from Wild West Pizza.

We went for a shorter ride out to the Madison river and back the next morning. We felt very fortunate to see bison on this short ride, as well.

It is truly awesome to experience both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks by bike. Yellowstone roads are closed to cars until April 20th and Grand Teton keeps the Inner Loop to Signal Mountain closed until April 30th. We highly recommend spring biking in the parks!  

For more information on biking in parks check out the following website:  https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/spring-fall-bicycling.htm

Seasons are shifting...September Gravel Grinders

After an awesome summer of traveling and biking, we finally got to September. With September came the time for me to return to work, as a teacher, and summer's end. We finished off our summer with Rebecca's Private Idaho Small Fry and began our fall with JayP's 60 mile Gravel Pursuit. 

Rebecca's Private Idaho was a huge event in comparison to the Dead Swede 40, that we completed back in June. The race took place in Sun Valley and had just over 800 participants between the Big Potato and Small Fry. 

Bryon pulled April in the Burley behind his Salsa Mukluk and I rode my Salsa Fargo. The first 12 or so miles of the route climbed. We found that even though we had started at the very back of the pack we were able to pass people during the long climb. 

The aid stations were well stocked with Red Bull and GU products and the overall event was fantastic. We finished in just under 5 hours with a time of 4:55:29. April did well in the burley as always and was all smiles when we stopped at aid stations and at the finish. 

JayP's Gravel Pursuit

To wrap up September we completed JayP's 60 mile Gravel Pursuit. Last year when this event took place I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and drove up the day of the event to see Bryon finish. This year I was participating! The Gravel Pursuit is based in Island Park, ID at the Pond's Lodge. We camped at the Buffalo Campground in the Alaskan the night before the event. 

We chose to ride our Salsa Mukluks for the Gravel Pursuit. We had gone up to Island Park a few times before the actual event to ride segments of the course and found that fat tires were necessary, for towing the burley on the course. Bryon towed April the first 42 miles and I towed her the last 21 miles. The weather turned about 6 hours into our almost 8 hour ride. We were prepared for the rain and cold though. I had put a fleece bunting bag in April's Burley, so she stayed plenty warm. We had brought rain gear to ride in for Bryon and myself. 

The route was challenging, but we completed the course. Our summer riding and training had paid off. I was thrilled to cross the finish and head into the nearby Pond's Lodge, for salads and pizza.

I am sure we will return to the Gravel Pursuit next year. It really is a wonderful local event, that Jay and Tracy put on.

We are thankful for all the support we have received from Derrick & Liz Nobman and the entire staff at Fitzgerald's Bicycles in Victor, ID, to help us with all of our bicycle needs. We are proud to be shop ambassadors. Our September was pretty spectacular and I can't wait for our upcoming fall and winter adventures!

Bryon, Becky, Bikes, and a Baby!!

    We have decided to share some of our adventures, experiences, successes, and not so successful moments, in our journey to be active, fit and healthy parents. We hope to inspire, motivate and educate other new parents and families to get out and go!!  We also look forward to being educated and inspired, along the way. We will be sharing some of our rides, bikepacking, camping, and travel experiences. Maybe even a little racing and few events along the way. We will also be doing some product reviews, of our set up, and what we find works for camping and traveling by bicycle with a small child. This will definitely be a learning experience for all with one experienced cyclist, one new cyclist, and a little girl, whose everyday is a new experience...

  Our home is located in Teton Valley Idaho, Victor to be exact. We feel extremely lucky to live in  such a beautiful area. With living on the fringe of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, there is an endless amount of terrain to be explored, not limited to, the other incredible mountain ranges that surround us. 

Bryon

   Bicycles have been my love and passion for practically my entire life. BMX racing dominated almost 25 years, with only a few breaks here and there. Somewhere along the way I also fell in love with mountain biking, especially the climbing and suffering part of it. In the past few years I have discovered bikepacking, and the absolute joy of bike rides that literally last for days! 

 My hope is to share this passion and love for cycling and the outdoors with my amazing partner Becky and our beautiful daughter April. 

Becky

Bicycling is fairly new to me. This past winter I got my first fat bike and recently got my gravel bike. Although, cycling is a new hobby, I have enjoyed staying fit through running and hiking in the past.

I am excited to experience bikepacking with our wonderful little family, for the first time this summer. I hope to complete my first gravel race this year, as well. 

April

April is our 5 1/2 month old daughter. She was born in October. April travels by burley. She loves taking in new views, while mom and dad bike or run with her in tow. 

   A huge Thank you to Fitzgerald's Bicycles Teton Valley, and owners Derrick and Liz Nobman! I'm extremely honored to have been chosen to be a Fitzgerald's ambassador and help share the stoke.
We love our Salsa Mukluks & Fargos and April absolutely loves her Burley trailer!!  #fitzymbtstoke #salsacycles #burleydesign