Build the USBRS with Missoulians on Bicycles

May 10, 2016

Missoulians on Bicycles - MOBI has seen the great success of the Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It. campaign and the growth of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) and is sponsoring a $500 match challenge to keep the momentum going. Donate now to have your contribution matched by MOBI!

We recently sat down with MOBI to learn more about the club and what they believe in.

Please tell us about your club and its history.

Missoulians on Bicycles - MOBI is a nonprofit organization established to promote cycling in western Montana. Since 1971, the club has hosted the Tour of the Swan River Valley – TOSRV West and the Western Montana Hill Climb Championships, a time-trial event climbing the four miles up nearby Pattee Canyon.

TOSRV-West is a two-day, epic bicycle tour that starts and ends at the University of Montana in Missoula and follows the Blackfoot, Clearwater, and Swan River Valleys to Bigfork, MT and returns via the Flathead and Mission Valleys to Missoula.

Talk about your club’s mission and how it relates to your decision to support the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

Our mission is simply to promote recreational bicycle riding in western Montana. We lead group rides throughout the spring and summer. We encourage people to join for TOSRV, which occurs in late May or early June every year and we have a variety of rides of different lengths and difficulty and welcome all.

We want to support the U.S. Bicycle Route System because we believe that improved infrastructure, visibility, and enthusiasm for recreational bicycle riding is beneficial not only for the riders, but for the communities riders pass through and society as a whole.

This year TOSRV-West will be June 5–6 and will be celebrating it’s 46th year. Space is still available for this beautiful 226-mile, two-day event. There are numerous cycling events in Missoula and western Montana throughout the summer. We maintain a list of many of these events on our website, Missoulabike.org

In addition to regular rides, we have a presentation during our monthly meetings highlighting an interesting bicycle ride or tour. We solicit presentations from the general public in Missoula and also from touring bicyclists who happen to pass through. We are always inspired by folks who find unique ways to explore the world by bike.

Photos courtesy of Missoulians on Bicycles.

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Join us in building the largest cycling route network in the world!

 

The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a developing national network of signed and numbered bicycle routes that link together cities, suburbs, rural communities, and public lands so that anyone, no matter who or where they are, can get to their destination by bicycle. To date, over 11,000 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes have been officially designated in 25 states, and nearly 4,000 miles have been signed. When complete, the USBRS will encompass more than 50,000 miles and open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional bicycle touring, and commuting by bike.

 

Thank you to Tripsite.com, Visit Bentonville/Bike Bentonville, Destination Irvine, BikeTours.com, Osprey Packs, Exodus Travels, Stan's No Tubes, and all of the generous supporters of the U.S. Bicycle Route System campaign!