[andystow]

My wife and I took the train out to Glacier National Park (USA) and took bicycles so that we wouldn’t have to rent a car. While here, I decided to ride my Brompton up Going to the Sun Road from West Glacier to Logan Pass. It’s an absolutely beautiful ride marred only by all the car traffic.

I’ve done more elevation gain in a day before, nearly double on some days of my LEJoG, but this was easily the hardest ride I’ve ever done. The vast majority of the elevation gain, 3000 feet from 3600 ft to 6600 ft, is in just the last ten miles. That’s 915 meters.

I was very happy for the 40T front chainring I recently fitted to my 6 speed Brompton. I used my lowest gear a lot, and just tried to keep my heart rate below 150.

The descent was fun, but I got stuck behind some cars and only averaged about 25 MPH.

Topic

[andystow]

Here’s my video of the

Here’s my video of the descent. Not exactly riveting content, but it is an absolutely beautiful road!

I’ll probably make a sped up version and add some music or something.

[chrisonabike]

On a Brompton too. Should be
On a Brompton too. Should be tariffs on all wheels under 30″ !

(Though that might lead to Spinal Tap-style unit mayhem when written by Trump with his marker pen.)

[Hirsute]

“My wife and I took the train
“My wife and I took the train out to Glacier National Park (USA) and took bicycles so that we wouldn’t have to rent a car.”
That sounds very unamerican and grounds for deportation!

[andystow]

Here’s the slightly better
Here’s the slightly better photo off my real camera.

[wtjs]

It’s not my photo! I stole it
It’s not my photo! I stole it from the internet. I haven’t been to Glacier, but I did do the High Sierra Route from Yosemite to King’s Canyon – illegally of course. It’s impossible, or was, to get these backcountry permits without an aeon of notice. I had to pirate Grand Canyon, Mt Rainier (failed) and Mt St Helens as well

[andystow]

I didn’t go all the way to
I didn’t go all the way to the lake because I was already cutting it close on time.

Your photo is beautiful. It looks like it was a little hazier the day I went.

[andystow]

My wife rented an e-bike with
My wife rented an e-bike with 700C wheels, and most of the bike stands in West Glacier and Apgar Village were really hard to use with either of our bikes.

This was one of the best, at the intersection of a bike trail and a walking/equestrian trail.

[mdavidford]

chrisonabike wrote:

chrisonabike wrote:

individual bike-sized Sheffield stands (with cross-bar) would be the gold standard.

That is an individual bike stand. It’s America – everything has to be bigger. 

[chrisonabike]

Now that’s what I call cycle
Now that’s what I call cycle parking – up a mountain!

Still… individual bike-sized Sheffield stands (with cross-bar) would be the gold standard.

Although that one does look like it would slow the bear down slightly!

[wtjs]

Bearhat Mountain looks scenic

Bearhat Mountain looks scenic from the Overlook, but an arduous steep pile of stones for climbing! Didn’t get up to Montana except travelling through, but went to Yosemite, Arches, Yellowstone, Tetons etc

[wtjs]

Great stuff!

Great stuff!

[andystow]

There are rules for Going to
There are rules for Going to the Sun Road. Eastbound cyclists have to be off the west side by noon. Westbound cyclists have to be off the west side from 3-6 PM. I managed to make both cut-offs despite doing a one hour hike at the top to Hidden Lake Overlook.

My legs were not happy with that hike.

[andystow]

A shock to the system.
A shock to the system.

[andystow]

Strava. I don’t have a power
Strava. I don’t have a power meter, so that’s just its guestimate.

[andystow]

At the top, with plenty of
At the top, with plenty of parking!

[Author]

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