By Michael Howell

State Representative Ed Greef of Florence is a believer in the old adage about economic development: “build it and they will come.” He attended the latest meeting of the Hamilton City Council to urge them to get ready because the Bitterroot Trail, a bike and walking path from Missoula to Hamilton, will be completed in a couple of months and he is sure that, once the last stretch from Missoula to Lolo is complete, the bikers are going to arrive in droves.

“What’s coming at you,” said Greef, “is the impact of a whole lot of cyclists.” He said cycling activity will certainly pick up immediately when the trail is completed but by mid-summer, he said, “Watch out.”

Greef told the Council about an event planned for this summer that could bring thousands of cyclists to the valley. He was referring to the newly formed Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance’s plans for an Inaugural Celebration of the Bitterroot Trail this summer coinciding with the 40th anniversary celebration of Adventure Cycling which is sponsoring a Montana Bicycle Celebration.

Plans for the statewide celebration were announced recently at a press conference held at Traveler’s Rest near Lolo. Press conference speakers included Rep. Greef, Missoula County Commissioner Cola Rowley, Bitterroot Trail advocates Roger DiBrito and Jean Belangie-Nye, and Eva Dunn-Froebig, events and outreach coordinator at Adventure Cycling Association.

The Missoula to Lolo Trail, a key section of the Bitterroot Trail from Missoula to Hamilton, is scheduled to be complete before the Montana Bicycle Celebration, July 15-17. This 8-mile section of trail is a missing connection to the existing Bitterroot Trail that runs from Lolo to Hamilton.

“The Missoula to Lolo Trail is the final piece of the Bitterroot Trail,” says County Commissioner Stacy Rye. “It completes more than 50 miles of a connected trail system, from Missoula through the Bitterroot Valley and represents the magnitude to which Montanans of all abilities value their trails and the recreation they provide. Trails play a vital role in our communities, for our collective benefit and are beloved by the residents of Western Montana. We are thrilled with the trail completion and look forward to welcoming thousands of people to the formal ribbon cutting later in July.”

The Montana Bicycle Celebration was conceived by Adventure Cycling Association because the Missoula-based national non-profit organization is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its founding event, Bikecentennial, a 4,250-mile bike ride across the United States in 1976. Adventure Cycling has invited members and supporters from throughout the United States and the world to the Montana Bicycle Celebration to celebrate the 40th Anniversary and to bicycle the new Bitterroot Trail. The Montana Bicycle Celebration prompted partners to form the Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance, create a Bitterroot Trail logo and website, BitterrootTrail.com, designed by Windfall, Inc., and make the Montana Bicycle Celebration an annual event for bicyclists of all ages.

“The Bitterroot Trail invites families and friends to recreate together, explore the valley, learn its history and meet the friendly people and merchants that call this place home,” said trail advocate Roger DiBrito.

The Montana Bicycle Celebration will take place in Missoula and in communities throughout the Bitterroot Valley. Friday, July 15 will include a reception at the UC Ballroom at the University of Montana from 4:30 to 7 p.m. hosted by Adventure Cycling Association to celebrate its 40th anniversary and to honor Bikecentennial co-founders Greg and June Siple, and Dan and Lys Burden. Activities on Saturday, July 16, will start with a breakfast at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds, and will feature free supported bike rides on the Bitterroot Trail with a variety of distances and an optional shuttle from Missoula, for a small fee, to different locations on the Bitterroot Trail. The ride is designed to get cyclists to Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo by 12 p.m. to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Missoula to Lolo Trail, with featured guests Governor Steve Bullock, Senator Jon Tester, and local mayors and county commissioners. Dignitaries will stop in Stevensville for a ceremony to recognize Stevensville resident Gretchen Spiess, one of the bicyclists who completed the coast-to-coast Bikecentennial ride in 1976. Cyclists will then be directed to the Montana Bicycle Celebration Expo at Silver Park in Missoula from 2 to 5 p.m., where one lucky participant will win a Raleigh Bicycle. The Stevensville Main Street Association will also host an afternoon celebration downtown featuring live music, beer, food and family-friendly activities. Adventure Cycling will continue its 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Missoula with a dinner featuring acclaimed bike travel influencers Erick Cedeño, Lael Wilcox, Nicholas Carman, Willie Weir, and Russ Roca and Laura Crawford from The Path Less Pedaled. Major events on Sunday, July 17 will include Sunday Streets Missoula and BIKEapalooza, a community bike ride, to round out the celebratory weekend.

Visit adventurecycling.org/MTBikeCelebration for a full schedule of events. Partners of the Montana Bicycle Celebration include Adventure Cycling Association, the Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance, Bike Walk Bitterroot, Bike Walk Alliance for Missoula, Destination Missoula, Missoula Parks and Recreation, Missoula County Parks, Trails and Open Lands Program, Missoula in Motion, Stevensville Main Street Association, and Travelers’ Rest State Park.

Greef said that he was working as an advocate for the Trail. He said the economic benefits from the influx of cyclists into the community will be a big one.

Mathew Rohrbach of Bike and Walk Bitterroot agreed. He referred to a study done by the University of Montana Business School about the economic benefits of cycling.

“The economic impacts are far larger than I thought before I saw the study,” said Rohrbach. He said touring cyclists spend almost as much in one day on craft beer than they do on food.

“Hamilton will be a popular destination, not only this summer, but from here on out,” said Rohrbach.

The Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance is seeking donations to support and improve the Bitterroot Trail, such as benches, rest areas, cultural, habitat and mileage signage. In addition, the Alliance will assist in maintenance of the Bitterroot Trail. Donations can be made at any TrailWest Bank or by mailing to 4765 Carolin Lane, Florence MT 59833.