RACE DAY PORTAL

2024 ITINERARY

FRIDAY 5/31/24

5PM - 7PM

Check-in/packet pick up at the church (entrance on bottom floor on side of building) in Ovando


SATURDAY 6/1/24 - RACE DAY!

7:30AM - 10AM
Check-in/packet pick up at the church (entrance on bottom floor on side of building) in Ovando.


8:50AM

Mandatory 80 mile course racer pre-race talk at Start Line (north side of hwy 200)


9AM AM
~80ish mile race start
(tentative, time to be determined closer to race date)


9:50 AM

Mandatory 45 mile course racer pre-race talk at Start Line (north side of hwy 200)


10 AM

(tentative, time to be determined closer to race date)
45ish mile race start


Beer Garden opens at The Stray Bullet (not included in registration*)


~12:30 PM ISH

First 45 milers finish


~1 PM ISH

First 80 milers finish


~12:45 PM ISH

Post-race food served


~3:30 PM ISH

Podiums


~IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PODIUMS
Raffle (**must be present to win. If you win and are still out on course, we will hold your winnings for you at the finish!)

*Post-race: The Dusty Bandita will provide racers post-race food and 21+ get 1 drink ticket. We encourage you to check out The Stray Bullet, Blackfoot Commercial Co. and Trixi’s Saloon for any other food, ice cream or drink items. Anything purchased at The Stray Bullet beer garden is self-pay.

COURSES

45 MILES

45-ish miles with
~3000’ of climbing (subject to change)
Yellow part of map is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Do not pre-ride this part of the course, it is only open to racers on race day.

45 MILE AID STATIONS

  • mile 20 (80/45 mile split)

  • mile 25 (top of climb)

80 MILES

80-ish mile with
~5400’ of climbing (subject to change)
Yellow part of map is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Do not pre-ride this part of the course, it is only open to racers on race day.

80 MILE AID STATIONS

  • 20 (80 mile/45 mile split)

  • 29 (water only; bathrooms; just off course in Seeley TH parking lot)

  • 45 (top of climb)

  • 56 (water only; bathrooms; just off course in Seeley TH parking lot)

  • 64

NO LITTERING!

NO LITTERING!

Keep your trash in your pockets or the bins provided—no littering! Toss your gels, bar wrappers, and other nutrition packaging in the designated boxes, and we’ll send them to Terracycle for recycling. Let’s keep the trails (and the planet) clean!

RESULTS

Powered by Competitive Timing!

photos

Credit the photographer listed for ANY photo used in social media or other posts/write ups

FAQ’s

  • Road are fairly smooth dirt/gravel. Coming down Rice Ridge (80 milers) and Shanley (45 milers) there will likely be many trees down, so keep your head up. Lots of branches, pot holes, and water run off from snow melt.

    No single track. 

    We recommend a gravel or cross bike with tires no less than 38cm. File tread center and side knobbies, or low profile knobbies would work well.

    Hard tail mountain bikes would be fine, but we’d recommend smaller, less aggressive tires.

    PSI is pretty personal, but here’s a link for more tire pressure info.

  • Cold, hot, sunny, cloudy, windy, rainy, snowy, muddy, dry. Prepare for all of the above for Spring in Montana.

    Temps can vary. Averages are a high of 60-70 and low of 30-45. But it could also be a high of 90 degrees and low of 25. Check the weather beforehand and come prepared for all of it.

  • Please read our policies.

  • Please read our policies below

  • Most people do not run into bears, but it happens! And the outcomes can be much better when you’re aware and prepared. Head over to the BEAR AWARE page to find out more.

POLICIES

  • RACE REGISTRATION

    Deferral Policy

    No deferrals allowed

    Refund Policy

    No Refunds unless the race is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as wildfire, flooding, severe snow storms, or other severe weather. If this occurs, racers will have the option to defer their spot to the next year’s race, or receive a 50% refund. 

    Pregnancy Policy
    We understand that pregnancy can affect people differently— if you are pregnant and experiencing symptoms that would make racing feel unhealthy or uncomfortable, please reach out to the Race Director for a deferral to the next year, refund + $10 transfer fee for a transfer of your spot, or 50% refund.

    Transfer Policy 

    Racers can transfer their spot to another on their own through their registration website with runsignup at a cost of $10. This must be done by May 30, 2025. No exceptions.

    COVID-19 

    We take participants and the community’s health and safety seriously, and will continue to monitor CDC and the health department’s guidelines to lead us in how we decide to conduct our race in a time of a global pandemic. 

    Downgrading/Upgrading

    If you’re downgrading, there are no refunds. If you’re upgrading, you will need to pay the difference. You have until May 30, 2025 11pm to do so through your RunSignUp sign in page.

  • NO LITTERING. Put garbage in your pocket, bag, or in a garbage bin. If you are found blatantly littering, you will be disqualified from the race and asked to leave the premises. 

    Follow the rules of the road - All roads are OPEN to car, truck, 4-wheeler traffic. 

    • Stay to the right at all times. 

    • Stay to the right of the yellow line (or invisible yellow line on gravel) at all times. 

    • Stop at all stop signs and red lights  (FOOT DOWN) or when a traffic cop or volunteer tells you stop. 

    • Yield to animals. Always. 

    • When you hear a car coming, pull as far right as you can

    Highly advise carrying bear spray on you during the race - in your pocket or bear spray holster. Do not attach to your bike frame as this can cause it to explode.

  • PARKING

    ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING in downtown Ovando.

    ALL bike race vehicles (racers, spectators, etc), are REQUIRED to park in the designated parking area. No Exceptions. This is a courtesy for the town of Ovando who have graciously allowed us to take over their town for the day - they require the downtown area to remain open and easily accessible for normal town and tourist traffic so their business can continue to thrive.

    Please be courteous to all volunteers. Smile, wave and say HI to volunteers, local traffic, and anyone you encounter. 

THE
LAST BEST BANDITA
CHALLENGE

The Last Best Bandita is a challenge to race both The Dusty Bandita and The Last Best Ride (both MT gravel races started by women!). You must sign up for each race separately (TLBR), and must race similar distances for each event (ie. 45-ish mile in The Dusty Bandita and the “short course” in The Last Best Ride); you cannot mix distances (ie. 45-ish in The Dusty Bandita and the “long course” in The Last Best Ride). 

The challenge will combine your times from both events - Anyone who enters and finishes both events will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. In addition, we will celebrate The Last Best Bandita challenge with a podium for both the shorter and longer distances, more prizes included!

The raffle drawing and podiums will be finalized at The Last Best Ride in Whitefish, MT! 

Race Dates: 

THE DUSTY BANDITA: 6/7/2025


THE LAST BEST RIDE: 7/27/2025