Means to Ascend follows Maxx Chance and Johnny Egan as they strap touring skis to their gravel bikes and attempt to summit Mount Blackmore on a 100% human-powered mission.
Blackmore is a peak whose northside can be viewed from just about anywhere in the city limits of Bozeman and is a classic ski descent for backcountry enthusiasts in the region and beyond. During the mud season in April to May, the canyon road that leads to the trailhead is closed to motor vehicles. So, the only way to access the area is by bike.
The Gravel Bikes
Sage Titanium Barlow
A study in refined ruggedness—this is one bike to rule them all. Named for the road that brought pioneers over the Cascade Mountains on the final leg of the Oregon Trail, the Sage Titanium Barlow is built for epic adventures. It draws on the aggressive geometry and precise handling of our award-winning Skyline road bike, while also maintaining the comfort and toughness of an off-road machine. Some might label this design “adventure rider,” “gravel racer,” or “endurance road,” but Sage Titanium’s versatile frame transcends those conventional categories. No, the Barlow relishes the rigors of the dirt while begging for the speed of the road. It loads up for a tour and can handle the long haul. It does not compromise, and it flashes with the class of titanium. It does it all.
Sage Titanium Storm King
This is not another gravel bike. The Sage Titanium Storm King is a catalyst to new adventures. It’s a drop-bar beast designed to fuel your exploration, taking you deeper while getting increasingly more remote with every pedal stroke. The Storm King is not only designed for the bike packer who tackles multi-day adventures like the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, but also for the gravel racer who looks to conquer events like the Dirty Kanza 200 or Grinduro. Storm King is a rock-gobbling animal with geometry to keep the rider more comfortable on technical terrain.