Northern California - Mt. Rose Ride Report

I'm up in Reno visiting my mother so today I finally tackled Mt. Rose which is visible in the distance from where she lives. It's several miles of flatland to get over to where Highway 431 begins so I took it easy on the surface streets. Once the right turn begins on 431 it's awful wind and forced to go in the smaller chain ring for some false flats before the climbing begins. There is little break to this climb, it's just over 16 miles up with a lot of switch backs and grade changes. I spent the bulk of the time in the 34x21 but did spin in the 34x24 past the 8000' elevation sign. The road near the top is getting paved and there is loose gravel everywhere, no shoulder and enough cars to annoy the entire ride up. Fortunately I missed the steam roller which was working on the pavement on the descent side with a lot of cars lined up behind it. I still only have a cell phone camera but it's better than nothing.

Some images from the summit the first time up.
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0042.jpg
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0044.jpg
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0048.jpg
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0050.jpg
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0052.jpg

http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0058.jpg
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0060.jpg
Looking towards Lake Tahoe
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0062.jpg
Bottom of 431 after a blazing 8 mile descent
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0063.jpg
Part of the way up from the Tahoe side. This direction is much easier. The road has plenty of smooth shoulder and the grade is very consistent. I never had to go lower than 34x21 for the 8 miles up.
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0067.jpg
Trusty Fuso Steel ride.
http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/SSPX0073.jpg

The descent on the way back was busy with cars so I couldn't go all out until the lower sections of 431 where it widens up.

150 bpm hr av
176 bpm hr max
3654 kcal
68.4 miles distance
13.4 mph av speed
48.6 mph max speed
69 av cadence
124 max cadence
5:05:47 ride time

http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/mtrose.jpg

Way to go! I live 1 mile from Mt Rose Hwy but just started biking again this year, yeah I need to get over there and see how far I can go.

Ok what was your average MPH to the top, yeah that's what I want to know.

Steve

I've spent many hours in my hang glider flying over Mt Rose then heading various directions on Cross Country flights. I have seen bikers going up and over and the Nevada side is quite the ride.

Kudos and congratulations on your ride. I hope to add this one to my list before to long.

Jeesh you guy's...climbing Mountains all over the world...Hang gliding...
Mama mia...I gotta get out of the house!!!!
Ramon you're gonna wear that bike out...freaking poor bike!

Jeesh you guy's...climbing Mountains all over the world...Hang gliding...
Mama mia...I gotta get out of the house!!!!
Ramon you're gonna wear that bike out...freaking poor bike!

Yes. Steel can't handle it. Please stick to Carbon fiber. ;)

I was in Jersey this weekend. Some fun biking over here. Reports to follow soon. (I'm waiting for Marco to finish up the report for me.)

http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/mtrose.jpg

Ouch, this hurts just looking at it ... ow, ow, my knee ...

http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/mtrose/mtrose.jpg

Hmmm, an 18 mile climb into a headwind?:eek:

At least that sounds like a fun descent! Nice job.

JB

The descent down to Lake Tahoe was soooooo nice. Right up there with Monitor pass. Maybe even better since there were no others jockeying for position. The other descent was quite stressful with strong winds around some of the turns. I also had tailwinds all the way back in Reno allowing me to cruise along at 25-30mph, something I never experience in the Bay Area. The weather was in the mid 60's on the summit so I made do with two water bottles. There is a camp grounds there with a water spigot, very convenient.

Nice! What great roads to ride on. Huge shoulders.

Great report! I've only ever done it from the Lake side, to the top, and back down. One of these days I'll have to ride down into Reno for the full experience.

I'm impressed with you making up from the Reno side. That is one long haul.

I've gone down it once and wasn't too happy with the lack of shoulder for the bikes. I'll stick to the Tahoe side, thanks.

I found this site that indicated the grade was never steeper than 8%
http://www.triathlonplace.com/art_other_reno.php

Mt. Hamilton is a longer climb more or less so I kept that in the back of my mind while going up the Reno side. It took me 19 minutes to get from the BofA/ Raley's stop light up to Callahan where the head wind kicked back in. The next long stretch of false flats reminded me of climbing out of Woodfords for the final pass of the Death Ride. Dull and uninspiring. I did get to see a 3 trailer big rig broken down on the side of the road waiting for help. Those things go on forever. Along the way I passed a few riders on heavy mtn bikes with regular pedals and backpacks/camping gear. They both had the bonk look on their faces and this was in the Galena Creek Park section before the switchbacks. I felt bad for them and did see them later on still on the Reno side while I was descending back. What makes the Reno side challenging are the winds. I found myself cruising along at a good rhythm and after a right turn the wind kicks in and I'm forced two gears lower and watching the mph drop on the cyclometer.