Come prepared and ready to be self-sufficient. While there are aid stations along the way, conditions can be unpredictable. It's always better to be over-prepared, ensuring you have plenty of options at your fingertips.
COME PREPARED!
REQUIRED ITEMS
REQUIRED ITEMS
BEAR SPRAY
Must be carried on your person, either in a pocket or a designated holster. Do not attach it to your bike, as it can explode. Bear spray is available for purchase at the Blackfoot Angler in Ovando or outdoor stores in Missoula or Seeley.
MAP
Print the course map and keep it in your pocket, and/or download it to your bike computer or cellphone. Keep in mind there is limited to no cell service in the area.
CELLPHONE
Carry a cellphone for safety purposes. Although there is little to no cell service on the course or in Ovando, an SOS feature may be useful in an emergency.
HELMET + FLAT KIT
Bring a helmet and a flat repair kit, including tubes, a patch kit, bike tools, tire wrenches, a spare tubeless stem (if applicable), and a CO2 inflator or bike pump.
RECOMMENDED ITEMS
RECOMMENDED ITEMS
At least 2 water bottles
Electrolytes and snacks (aid stations available, but you can never have too many snacks!)
Gloves, knee/arm warmers
Light jacket/rain protective jacket
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
No dogs. Or cats.
FAQ’s
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Road are fairly smooth dirt/gravel. Coming down Rice Ridge (80 milers) and Shanley (45 milers) there will likely be many trees down, so keep your head up. Lots of branches, pot holes, and water run off from snow melt.
No single track.
We recommend a gravel or cross bike with tires no less than 38cm. File tread center and side knobbies, or low profile knobbies would work well.
Hard tail mountain bikes would be fine, but we’d recommend smaller, less aggressive tires.
PSI is pretty personal, but here’s a link for more tire pressure info.
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Cold, hot, sunny, cloudy, windy, rainy, snowy, muddy, dry. Prepare for all of the above for Spring in Montana.
Temps can vary. Averages are a high of 60-70 and low of 30-45. But it could also be a high of 90 degrees and low of 25. Check the weather beforehand and come prepared for all of it.
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Please read our policies.
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Please read our policies
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Most people do not run into bears, but it happens! And the outcomes can be much better when you’re aware and prepared. Head over to the BEAR AWARE page to find out more.
LODGING
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Camping! There will be camping available in Ovando for the night before and after the race. We will have porta-potties and a hand-wash station, but please pack in your own water and pack out your trash and food waste. Please refer to our Bear Aware page if you plan on camping. This is very much Grizzly Country.
Right at the finishline.
6 rooms with private baths, shared common area with direct TV as well as Wi-Fi. The common area includes a kitchen, living room, and dining area. Also available, a two bedroom suite with a Murphy bed.
They also have a small store (Blackfoot Commercial Company) with a curated selection made from years of heavy bicycle traffic (on Great Divide route). They have everything from protein bars, healthy snacks, candy, fresh fruit, Hot dogs, hard scoop local ice cream,etc., and with beer and wine for celebrating!
For a small fee they offer laundry and shower facilities for those not staying at the Inn.
~5 miles from Ovando
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City Center Motel: City Center is a supporter of cyclists in Montana. We have a block of rooms reserved for the nights of June 6 - 7. Let them know you’re part of the Dusty Bandita when reserving a room.
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Tent camping - available at any open campground in the area. We advise checking a map on the options available and to call the forest service with questions. Some sites are first come first served, and others may be reservation only
food
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The Stray Bullet
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Missoula
The Dram Shop (drink only)
Montgomery Distillery (drink only)
Cambie (Higgins and Sawmill)
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