Uncategorized
Mountain biking on Lone Mountain
Published
12 years agoon
Posted By
AdminBy Renae Counter Explorebigsky.com Editorial Assistant
BIG SKY – Alongside my long love for skiing, I believe I may be able to find a place for mountain biking.
For my first time ever riding the trails, I went with a group of friends to the lift-accessed trails on Lone Mountain. Pedaling across dirt and rock with fields of green was a much different mountain experience than skiing through fields of snow, but it was a great way to enjoy this hot Montana summer.
Though I lost the training wheels some time ago, my proficiency on a bike isn’t the highest. My personal bike, a little, bright red Gary Fisher, has seen more pavement than dirt. And as for downhill, rocky trails—those are been way out of my bike’s league. So, when I arrived at Different Spokes Bike Shop and was equipped with a 40-pound, full suspension Norco Bomber, I was intimidated. The sheer weight of it, and the fact that the tires were as thick as my arm, reinforced that I was in for an adventure.
Armored in knee, shin and elbow pads, gloves and a full-face helmet that made me feel like Darth Vader, I was prepared to take on the mountain.
Makenzie Brosious, of Different Spokes Bike Shop, accompanied me. Brosious has been an avid mountain biker for almost two years, and also has experience racing triathlon and road bikes, so I was reassured by her knowledge and ability.
We began on the road just right from the top of the Swift Current chairlift. With plenty of room and minimal lose rocks, it was a good starting point to get use to the beast of a bike. I was able to play around with the full suspension, bouncing the bike and plowing over large rocks rather than swerving around them.
With the basics in hand, it was time to take on the trails. Pulling up to a patch of trees, we were greeted by a blue sign marking Cairns Way. Mountain biking trail systems are rated the same way as ski trails, so I knew I was in for an intermediate route.
“Just remember to keep your knees bent and elbows wide,” Brosious said before directing her bike in the trail and disappearing in the trees.
Knees bent, hands forward—that’s a lot like skiing, I thought while slowly inching my front wheel toward the trailhead.
Once I got going, I found it was a game of staying balanced, knowing how to turn and keeping the bike underneath me in control. As the morning progressed, I realized how much it resembled skiing, minus the snow: Your shoulders do the turning while you look at where you want to go; shifting your weight is a must to stay on your center of gravity; and a relaxed upper body is ideal.
Weaving through close-knit trees, I kept my hands close to the brakes. I stayed focused, directing my attention to my balance.
Exiting the first patch of trees, I found Brosious waiting on the road. Below us was Montana wilderness at its finest— colorful wildflowers stippled a green field, back-dropped by the Gallatin Range and our famous blue bird sky.
After a quick recap, Brosious led the way to the next entrance.
Unlike the first trail, which was mostly grass and dirt, this one was covered in loose rocks. Tight switchbacks slowed me to a crawl, as I tired to ride the berms (the walls of dirt surrounding the trail), as Brosious had suggested. The second trail was much more difficult, a black diamond in my opinion, but I left with only one minor incident involving the bike, a tree and me.
Because Big Sky Resort offers lift-served mountain biking trails ranging from beginner to advanced, it’s a great place to learn to ride or test your skills. Both mountain and cross country bikes, as well as full protection gear, can be rented from Different Spokes Bike Shop, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The chairlift runs from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting. There are also cross country trails for those who enjoy the burn of an uphill ride.
It only took a morning of mountain biking for me to get hooked. I’ve already begun planning when the next adventure will be, as well as scoping the internet for bike deals. The forecast for this summer is a stellar one, and I’m excited to get out and enjoy it.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716