Grinding Gravel in Seeley Lake's First Mountain Bike Race

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake was the destination for the capstone race in the Western Montana Trail Series produced by the Bicycle Racing Alliance of Montana (BRAM) Saturday, July 16. This was the first official mountain bike race in Seeley Lake offering 55-mile, 35-mile and 22-mile loop routes attracting more than 60 racers.

Race Director Ben Horan said BRAM has put on the Missoula XC, a high level, Olympic qualifying race in Missoula, for the past six years. This was the first year that they branched out and "offered the kind of racing more people like to do [since the Missoula XC is very specific and highly technical]," said Horan.

They rolled out the Western Montana Trail Series this year and made Seeley Lake the fifth stop. For the first year of the series, BRAM wanted to cater to the riders that they knew and those that they could provide a good time too. They picked places Missoulians liked and areas within an hour's drive including Missoula, Lolo, Phillipsburg, Seeley Lake and Ninemile.

"We are just travelling around the state, trying to find cool towns with cool trails and kind of have a party," said Horan.

Horan said they worked with local riders and the U.S. Forest Service to lay out the route. The route was mostly roads and about 15 miles of single-track.

"We really wanted this route to be the most approachable technically," said Horan. "So that people who do want to try a bike race but are new to riding or intimidated by the challenging terrain have a way to do it."

Horan said the races in Seeley Lake were longer than others in the series.

"Honestly this makes it more approachable," said Horan. "Some shorter races you have to ride really hard for an hour or two. This one you are more out for a ride and hit your stride and see the scenery."

Steve Sevilla, on Missoula's Hellgate Cyclery/Kent Bros team, participated in the Fat Tire Ride in March and wanted to see what the ground looked like without snow. He enjoyed seeing huckleberry pickers, animals and thought the route was well marked and the support was awesome. He finished second in the Men Masters ages 40-49 55-mile race with a time of 3:31:55

Sevilla's teammate Ingrid Lovitt placed third in the Cat 1 Women 55-mile race with a time of 3:45:10. She said the race was more than she expected with incredible views of the Swan Divide and great local volunteers at the three aid stations. She has appreciated the series because it has highlighted many areas to ride.

"There are lots of opportunities to get lost out there," said Lovitt. "That's why it is a great thing to do a race. It shows you the way."

Lovitt is excited to return to Seeley Lake with other cycling friends that didn't participate in the race.

While Horan was happy with the turn out for a first year event, he hopes the event will continue to grow.

"We partnered with the Bob Marshall Music Festival because it's cool," said Horan. "We are hoping that people will come for the race and stay for the music or come for the music and decide to jump the race and really offer the opportunity for people to make a weekend out of it."

BRAM would like to make the race an annual event in Seeley Lake. While the intent would be to continue offering the race along with the Bob Marshall Music Festival that has not yet been determined for next year.

"It was a good gravel grinder," said Evan Zamore on Missoula's Open Road team.