Old 395 thru Washoe Valley

It’s been nice for me to get more miles on the road bike, because I can get more exercise in without getting beat up on the mountain. It’s also a thrill to eat up the miles at such a rapid rate, and see more of the countryside. Personally, I like to scare myself at a lower rate of speed on the mountain bike, but it is fun to watch your buddies bomb the hills. Scott R hit 51 miles per hour coming down Combs Canyon back into Carson City!

Los Tres Amigos

Viewing wildlife is not confined to the off-road trails either. We spotted this young coyote up near Bower’s Mansion that was asking to have its picture taken.

Little Coyote

I foresee more of our lunchtime gang getting road bikes in the near future. We’re all hardcore mountain bikers, but the road bike provides a nice alternative and prevents the trails from becoming monotonenous.

ShareThis

North Canyon Rest Stop

We left Spooner Lake in the early afternoon, and made our way up North Canyon. The temperature was warm, but not so hot that we were sweating buckets. Lots of butterflies were flying around the green meadows, and gave our minds something to concentrate on rather than the steep climb. It was a good time for conversation too, since we would be more spread out later in the ride.

Jesse on the Flume Trail

We didn’t stop at Marlette Lake, but rode along the shore on the way to the Flume Trail. Brian was talking about North Canyon still, and wondering where all the switchbacks were. He’d get them soon enough. The water was still high at the dam, and we had to ride through a little water to get over to the flume.

Sandie and Lauren on the Flume Trail

We rode out the flume, pausing often to look around the lake and take pictures. “Wow” was heard often along this stretch of trail. We even encountered the typical couple that was in way over there head. The lady was pushing her bike, and when we said hello to the guy, he got real nasty. It’s doubtful their relationship lasted after they turned in their rental bikes. Our group was in high spirits though, and pedaled on to Tunnel Creek.

Lauren and Brian on the Tahoe Rim Trail in search of oxygen

Before ascending the short, steep hill to the Tahoe Rim Trail, energy bars and gels were consumed. The road up Tunnel Creek is steep, but it subsides just when you think you’re about done. We caught our breath at the Tahoe Rim Trail intersection, and then pressed on to find the rest of the gang.

Brian summiting Marlette Peak

The Tahoe Rim Trail took us by “Twin Lakes”. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen water in these lakes except for snow. I bet they’re only lakes for a few weeks, if not only a few days. There are definitely signs of standing water, but it must drain really quickly.

Lauren and Morgan on the Tahoe Rim Trail

We continued climbing the many switchbacks on the Tahoe Rim Trail on our way to Marlette Peak. The high elevation was getting to some of our sea level friends, and I even heard someone utter the dreaded words, “death march”. Thankfully there were plenty of rest stops at the end of the switch backs, and we got spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and giant granite boulders.

Marlette Lake

When we got above tree line, the gang seemed to spring to life and charged up the final climb to Marlette Peak. Marlette Peak offers one of the best views of Lake Tahoe, with Marlette Lake visible in the foreground, and Lake Tahoe as the backdrop. You can even see the three peaks of Jobs, Jobs Sister, and Freel, towering above the Carson Valley to the South. I always wish I could spend the entire day at this spot, and just stare off into the distance, taking it all in. The burritos back at Brian’s condo weren’t going to eat themselves though, so we got on with the descent.

Group pose before the descent back to Spooner Lake

The Tahoe Rim Trail coming off Marlette Peak is a blast, and was the funnest descent of the day. There were some great photo opportunities when we rode through fields of mule’s ears, but there was no stopping at this point. We twisted and turned all the way down to the road, and then descended through a beautiful aspen grove along Marlette Lake. We finished off the last big climb out of Marlette, and then rode down 4 miles of double track to get back to Spooner. Some even commented that the downhill was too long! I think we were tired. A few of us headed back to Brian’s condo for New Belgium brews and Rene’s burritos. We ate and drank heartily, and great conversation was flowing. It turned out to be a great day for everyone to get to know each better, and we’re all looking forward to the next big ride.

ShareThis

I posted the pics from the Tahoe Rim Trail/Flume Trail ride from today at NowhereNevada.com.  Go look at them and imagine how your head feels at 8000 feet above sea level.

ShareThis

It has been decided that we’ll be meeting for the Flume and Tahoe Rim Trail Ride at noon(ish) on Saturday (6/27) at Spooner Lake State Park near Flume Trail Bikes (remember they have rentals…). This gives our California friends time to make the drive.

Hope to see you there!

ShareThis

Bicycle Valet at the Farmers Market

Ride down to the Farmers Market for fresh, local produce, and mingle with your fellow citizens. It makes a nice destination for an easy Saturday morning ride. In addition to the Farmers Market, Downtown Carson City and local businesses have organized plenty of other activities along Curry Street as well. Exploring the area on bicycle is the best way to check everything out without the hassle of trying to park your car.

Ride your bike to the Farmers Market

Although we have the valet covered, Muscle Powered is still seeking volunteers to help. We need people to double up, so the primary valet has time for a break. Only 1 or 2 hours on a Saturday is what we need! If you’re interested, send me an email (see the contact tab above).

ShareThis

I have a basic toolkit for shorter rides, rides that are short enough that walking or scooting the bike home isn’t that big of deal if you have a problem you can’t fix. I carry the tools that will fix the most likely repairs, but leave the extra stuff home to save room and weight. These items include a spare tube, tire levers, a multi-tool, a pump, and material to temporarily fix a torn tire sidewall.

Trailside Repair Kit

For longer rides, where walking home or ruining the ride is not an option, I add a few more items.  A patch kit, chain tool (if your multi tool doesn’t already have one), spare clipless pedal cleat bolts, and a Leatherman style tool that includes pliers and a knife.  Singlespeeders may want to include spare chain links…you can make a multi-geared chain shorter, but can’t on a single speed.

I prefer to carry my tools in a waist pack, since I frequently switch bikes and don’t like the rattling of tools going down bumpy trails; however, under the seat bags work pretty well too if you have enough room in them. Be prepared, and don’t assume your buddies will have everything you need!

Anything I’m missing? What do you carry in your repair kit?

ShareThis

Riding in Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland, CA - September 08

The plan is to ride up North Canyon to Marlette Lake, ride out the Flume Trail to Tunnel Creek, and then hop on the Tahoe Rim Trail to get back to Marlette Lake. A trail map can be found on the Flume Trail website HERE.

View from the Flume Trail

In attendance will be Ryan (aka Smudgemo) from Berkeley, CA, Brian from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Lauren and Morgan from Oakland, CA. We all met through each other’s cycling blogs a few years ago. Come ride with us, and enjoy the trails at Lake Tahoe!

Lunch Stop on Marlette Peak, Tahoe Rim Trail

ShareThis

Jason Lilje and teammate Jimmy prepping for the Tour de Nez

I met up with Jason and Jimmy from Las Vegas at Comma Coffee on Thursday morning. They were out for an easy spin in preparation for the evening race in Truckee, CA. Las Vegas is at 2,000 feet elevation, Truckee is at 5,817 feet. I hope the boys brought their oxygen tanks! They are also excited to race with the big names on Sunday in Nevada City, CA. Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, and Chris Horner will all participate in the 49th Annual Nevada City Bicycle Classic on June 21! Jason and I grew up in Carson City together, so it was good to see him again.

Tom and his new Giant Trance from Bike Habitat

Tom, one of the riders in the lunch crew, just picked up a new bike from Bike Habitat. His new Giant Trance was originally a demo bike. Tom took it out a few weeks ago, and really fell in love with it. Many bike shops these days have a demo program. It’s a great opportunity to see how different bikes perform on the trails you ride before you lay down your cash. It’s hard to tell much from riding a hi-tech mountain bike around a parking lot. Tom tried out a couple bikes before deciding on the Trance.

Tom on the Four Day Trail in Ash Canyon

The Bike Smith took the front page of the Nevada Appeal on Thursday. Like Rob Smith says in the article, Carson City has a big base of cyclists, enough to support three bike shops. It’s also good to hear that the three shops are doing good when so many other businesses are failing.

Bike Smith in the Nevada Appeal

Another quote I liked from the paper,

More people are commuting around town and saving on gas,” Smith said. “When times are tough, people still want to recreate, and biking is fairly inexpensive, so they can keep their sanity by riding their bikes.

I would have to agree. Whether you’re going to work, running errands, or heading out to play on the nearby trails, Carson City’s small size makes it easy to get where you’re going by bike. Carson City definitely has the potential to become a great bike city or even a bicycle vacation destination.

Read the Bike Smith’s full article online HERE at the NV Appeal.

ShareThis

Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe, a book put together by Ellen Drewes, “showcases nearly 200 images and two centuries of the lake and its surroundings, along with the people, places, and events that have shaped its unique history.”

Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe

Whether you’re up exploring the trails at Lake Tahoe or just driving around the lake, it’s hard not to catch glimpses of Lake Tahoe’s past. In fact, many of the trails we enjoy at Lake Tahoe are there from the previous industries of logging and mining in the area, including the famous Marlette Lake Flume Trail. Other points of interest are not so obvious, an old casino or even just a clearing in the woods. Each site is rich with history with an interesting story to be told.

A page from the book, Below Mount Tallac - Early 1900’s

Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe takes you on a journey into the lake’s past, covering the pioneer days, its logging role in the mining years of the Comstock, and finally its rise into a resort and adventure destination.

The photographs are in four chapters

• Early Days and Pioneer Ways (1860-1900)
• From Silver Lodes to Golden Lodges (1901-1920)
• A National Playground for All (1921-1940)
• Claim to Fame (1941-1980)

The most recent photos in the book have been changed to black and white. This gives the book smooth continuity with no abrupt changes between the chapters. Each picture has a descriptive caption, but most of the text is at the beginning of the chapters. This makes Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe a good coffee table book, or one that you’ll want to go back to often as you explore Lake Tahoe. I have a small collection of local historical books, and this book will make a nice addition.

Below Mount Tallac, Modern Day

The roads around Lake Tahoe have always been there in my lifetime, so it was interesting to see the pictures of the old steamships taking people around the lake. In the early days, steamers were the only way to get around the lake easily. Trains, wagons, and horses were how you got to the lake.

Much later came the cars and highways, and when decent snow removal equipment came along, the lake became a national winter destination as well. In fact, the 1960 Olympic Winter Games were held at Squaw Valley on Lake Tahoe’s north side, and Walt Disney himself even opened the Sugar Bowl ski resort.

One particular picture that caught my eye was of the White Hill ski area at Spooner Summit. The ski area is long gone, but the clearing is still there. I think I even remember seeing some of the lift equipment up there when I was a kid.

Spencer’s Cabin near Spooner Summit - Modern Day

Modern day Lake Tahoe is famous for its casinos, and Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe has plenty of history in this area. Frank Sinatra owned the famous Cal Neva Lodge, and the place attracted the rich and famous including the Rat Pack, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedy family. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed at Lake Tahoe, including the Godfather Part 2 and the TV series Bonanza. Hundreds of famous entertainers have performed at Lake Tahoe as well, such as Count Basie and Glen Miller.

A good place to check out historical sites on bicycle is on Tahoe’s southwest shore. The Tallac House and Baldwin Beach are just a short ride on bike paths north of Camp Richardson. The walk to Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay is another great family hike.

From the book, Cave Rock / Rita Hayworth

Like I mentioned earlier, Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe will make a nice addition to my collection of local history. I’ve learned a lot by reading it, and it has helped fill in the gaps that the other books have left out. If you are interested in Lake Tahoe and its history, I recommend this book. It would also make a nice gift for someone.

Lake Tahoe as seen from the Flume Trail

Check your local book store for Historic Photos of Lake Tahoe, get it directly from Turner Publishing, or find it online at other resources like Amazon.com

If you’re not familiar with Lake Tahoe, but are interested in historic photos of your area, there’s a good chance Turner Publishing has a book for you. Check out the whole collection of Historic Photos HERE.

ShareThis

Group mountain bike ride Thursday, June 18. Join us for an evening of pain, suffering, and maybe a few tears, on the Ash Canyon trails. The ride leaves from The Bike Smith at 6 p.m.

ShareThis