Got up early this morning - about 4.30 am and left and rode not too far to Ovando - via a good climb and downhill! There were three other guys there - one who is doing the ITT (so left a little earlier than the race) and two from Crested Butte. I was feeling pretty good so I carried on to Lincoln where I ate again and phoned through about my faulty SPOT unit. Not only have the batteries died completely twice (they are supposed to last 7 - 14 days!) but it had also been placing me in some weird places!! From there it was one hell of a climb - really steep. In Helena I found a bike shop. My pedals had been really sticking so I replaced them along with a worn chain. It was good to have a bit of a breather in Helena and I was even thinking I might make it to Basin at a decent hour this evening - before 10 - and was quite excited about the prospect!! But ........... the trail was OK for a while but then we just seemed to climb and climb until it was so steep it would have been great to ski down. Took ages - hiking for a couple of hours to go a couple of miles!! It was freezing at the top and so i put all my clothes on. But at least I was rewarded with an awesome downhill - even in the dark!! Took us out on the main road with only 5 miles to Basin where there was a bar!! The lady there was great and phoned through to a B & B just down the road where they had sandwiches waiting for me when I arrived!! Thats where I am now!!
Did I mention I saw a black bear and a grizzly???
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