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Beartooth La Femme – a Ride Review

The Beartooth La Femme is a fully supported, women-only cycling event that starts and ends in Red Lodge, Montana. As the name suggests, the route follows the iconic Highway 212—also known as the Beartooth Highway—to the summit of Beartooth Pass, which sits at 10,947 feet above sea level. This stretch of highway is paved and well-maintained, and includes sharp switchbacks and beautiful views of the Beartooth Mountains as it meanders between Montana and Wyoming. It’s a legendary route, and this event offers a rare opportunity to ride it in a supportive, women-centered setting.

Here’s what made the Beartooth La Femme a standout experience for me:

1. This event is limited to just 75 women, which keeps things intimate and, more importantly, safe. Traffic on the Beartooth Highway can be significant—especially on weekends—so the ride is held on a Monday. The route begins in downtown Red Lodge and starts with a wide shoulder, which gradually narrows as the climb progresses and ultimately disappears near the summit. The organizers discouraged personal support vehicles along the route—something I really appreciated. If each rider had a support vehicle following them, it would only increase the traffic on an already busy stretch of road. And because the riders were all women, there were cheerful conversations along the way- until the air got thin.

Me in the beautiful cycling top at the summit

2. The registration fee included a pre-ride dinner of pasta, salad, and dessert at the charming Pollard Hotel. It was a great opportunity to meet and connect with other riders. The dinner also served as a briefing session, with organizers providing detailed information about the next day’s weather, traffic expectations, route conditions, and support options.

3. The registration fee also included a cycling top. I’m not usually fond of jerseys that come with registration fees because they’re often lower qualit than what I would normally purchase. However, the Terry Soleil cycling top is exceptional. It features a beautiful custom print of the Beartooth Mountains, UPF 50 fabric, and three generous rear pockets. It’s now one of my favorite pieces of cycling gear.

4. From pre-ride communication to on-course presence, the support for this event was phenomenal. Aid stations were well-stocked, and the mobile SAG vehicle made multiple passes along the route. It was reassuring to know that if I’d needed help along this 60 mile route, it was never far away. The organizers moved the start time for the ride up by thirty minutes because afternoon thunderstorms were expected, and at 10,947 feet, rain can quickly become snow. Some riders were forced to turn back as the weather moved in.

The Beartooth La Femme is more than just a bike ride—it’s an empowering, well-run, and beautifully scenic challenge designed with women’s safety and camaraderie in mind. If you’re looking for a high-altitude adventure surrounded by supportive energy, this ride absolutely delivers.

The Dead Swede – A Race Review
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The Dead Swede – A Race Review

I’ve driven through Sheridan, Wyoming more times than I can count. I’ve been going back and forth between Billings and Laramie, Cheyenne, or Denver for more than half my life. I always thought that the scenery around Sheridan was so green and beautiful. When it came time to plan the annual cousin’s ride, I was looking for an event somewhere between Denver and Bozeman. I was thrilled to find the Dead Swede right there in Sheridan.

The event offered 100, 60, and 40 mile route options. They even had a 20 mile option for beginners and families… what’s that saying about starting ’em young? We opted for the 40 mile route and registered back in February. Leading up the to event, there were only a handful of emails from the organizers, which I appreciated. Packet pickup was the day before rather than the day off. While that might eliminate some of the race day chaos, it pretty much requires that participants book some form of lodging for one night.

I loved that the event started and finished at Kendrick Park, right there in the heart of town. These lovely creatures were grazing on the hillside overlooking the park as we lined up at the start line. Our wave departed at 8:00 AM. The course headed west on a paved gradual climb for about nine miles. Then the course turned north onto the gravel nestled along the base of the Bighorn Mountains and the biggest climb of the route began.

Shortly after that climb was the first of three very well stocked aid stations. The aid stations were positioned about every 10-12 miles or so. The second aid station offered pickle juice shots, and the third aid station offered bacon and PBR. I skipped the beer but had two slices of bacon. The organizers clearly communicated that cars shouldn’t be on the course providing services to riders – that’s what the aid stations were for. This was for rider safety, and to minimize the dust in the air. I thought this was brilliant and would love for other gravel events to take a similar stance. Of course there was a car here and there, but they didn’t kick up the dust like I have typically experienced when riding on a gravel road. I’m not sure why this was – perhaps it rained the day before, perhaps they use oil on the roads?

After crossing the finish line, racers were greeted by cheering crowds, a band in the amphitheater, and the smell of delicious barbecue. Overall, it was a very well marked course, communications were optimized, and the process from registration to packet pickup to post meal collection was seamless. Registration fees included a very cool Dead Swede t-shirts, sticker, and pint glass. I highly recommend this event!