Touring - America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride? - Tahoe

Has anyone done Lake Tahoe's "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride". This year it is slated for June 6, 2004. I'm curious on the 8 mile ascent (Emerald Bay?). Any idea the grade of ascent and the descent. Are they switch backs, straights, combos'. Any info will be helpful.

THANKS!

I'm a little late in responding here, but just joined the forums. If you're still around, here's an overview (posted in response to a couple of inquiries, so forgive the duplication).

I've done it a couple of times. Real nice event, well organized, well attended (plenty of Team in Training folks), well supported, mechanics and food at every rest stop.

The first big ascent is at Emerald Bay, starts at Mile 11 with a series of switchbacks. I'm from the swamps and terrible at judging grades, but this ascent is the most intense of the ride, will make you glad you have (or wish you had) a triple crank. This ascent is for a couple miles or so, about 400' vertical, then you descend about 150 feet. This will fool you into thinking that the climbing is over but you have to immediately regain that 150' before you get to the true descent, about Mile 17.

(Last year I had some butthead cut in front of me on this descent and took my front wheel out from under me at 35 mph, so be careful. Road rash and a separated shoulder aren't fun.)

If you're doing the full 100 miles, you go 72 miles around the lake plus a fourteen-mile out-and-back to Truckee. A good portion of this is along a bike path that parallels the Truckee River. You're forced into a single file, so unless you beat the crowds to this point (Mile 33) going is slow. The bike path has speed bumps, narrow bridges, and automobile barriers to make things interesting.

IMHO, the harder of the major climbs begins at Sand Harbor (Mile 80), and ascends 800+ feet to Spooner Junction. This is the eight-mile ascent to which you're referring. The climb is at a much saner grade than the switchbacks, but it's more challenging because it occurs so late in the ride and it's almost nonstop climbing for the eight miles. Once you get to Spooner, you have a wild ride down where you can top 50mph if you have the cajones to stay off the brakes.

A lot of veterans would have you believe it's all downhill from Spooner, but if you look at the elevation chart you'll see a couple of 100' hills toward the end. After 95 miles, those hills will seem like the French Alps.

If you make the ride, look us up, I'll be with the Team In Training chapter from Louisiana.

Related questions:

I was thinking of ending a solo tour at Truckee, catching an eastbound Amtrak from there.

1. I had planned to ride west on US50 to Route 89, where I'd head for Truckee. Is US50 bike-legal between Carson City and Route 89?

2. Are there bike shops in Truckee that would crate and ship my bike? Or would I be better off riding over to Reno and catching the train there?

Hello,

Do you think this is do-able just going solo, with no support?
are there enough places to stop for provisions on the way?
I will be in California in May cannot do the organized tour in
June but would still like to do this ride.
Thank you.




I'm a little late in responding here, but just joined the forums. If you're still around, here's an overview (posted in response to a couple of inquiries, so forgive the duplication).

I've done it a couple of times. Real nice event, well organized, well attended (plenty of Team in Training folks), well supported, mechanics and food at every rest stop.

The first big ascent is at Emerald Bay, starts at Mile 11 with a series of switchbacks. I'm from the swamps and terrible at judging grades, but this ascent is the most intense of the ride, will make you glad you have (or wish you had) a triple crank. This ascent is for a couple miles or so, about 400' vertical, then you descend about 150 feet. This will fool you into thinking that the climbing is over but you have to immediately regain that 150' before you get to the true descent, about Mile 17.

(Last year I had some butthead cut in front of me on this descent and took my front wheel out from under me at 35 mph, so be careful. Road rash and a separated shoulder aren't fun.)

If you're doing the full 100 miles, you go 72 miles around the lake plus a fourteen-mile out-and-back to Truckee. A good portion of this is along a bike path that parallels the Truckee River. You're forced into a single file, so unless you beat the crowds to this point (Mile 33) going is slow. The bike path has speed bumps, narrow bridges, and automobile barriers to make things interesting.

IMHO, the harder of the major climbs begins at Sand Harbor (Mile 80), and ascends 800+ feet to Spooner Junction. This is the eight-mile ascent to which you're referring. The climb is at a much saner grade than the switchbacks, but it's more challenging because it occurs so late in the ride and it's almost nonstop climbing for the eight miles. Once you get to Spooner, you have a wild ride down where you can top 50mph if you have the cajones to stay off the brakes.

A lot of veterans would have you believe it's all downhill from Spooner, but if you look at the elevation chart you'll see a couple of 100' hills toward the end. After 95 miles, those hills will seem like the French Alps.

If you make the ride, look us up, I'll be with the Team In Training chapter from Louisiana.