Great Lakes - Ride The Sierra Nevada's?

I am kicking around organizing a Ride The Sierra's bike tour. My brother lives in Incline Village (north shore of Lake Tahoe) and we could crash there. So, this could be a pretty low cost, quite convenient, mucho challenging, and darn good fun time. Who might be interested?

Here are a couple of typical routes. Yes, the last one does look a lot like a TdF route. :innocent:

http://www.pbase.com/image/105297589/original.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/image/105297629/original.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/image/105297645/original.jpg

hmmmmmmmmm.

hmmmmmmmmm.

approximate dates for this trip? road trip or fly out there?

Niets ... I'm kind of open both with dates or road tripping it. Flights can normally be had for below $300 and we could split rental car(s). If we get a group, we could road trip it and save even more money. By group I'm thinking like maybe 4. If we did more than that, I think it would be overly intrusive on my brother.

how about a link for some more info on this ride?

i like the idea of a road trip, but this would be even further then CO.

later.

I want to know what mapping software you used to get that hill profile integrated with gmaps!?

map my ride

Me! That second route does indeed look killer.
I've driven straight through from here to Vegas with one other person before, so... it's not terrible to drive it. Who has a vehicle that we could fit a group of people in with their bikes that they want to put 3k miles on?

We could rent a 15 passenger cargo van for about $600 a week, unlimted milage. More than enough room for 4 guys and bikes/gear. :)

my only gripe with flying is shipping my bike. you know i'm no mechanic and i'd hate to have to disassemble my bike and put it all back together...twice.

also, what time frame are you thinking? since i'm in the heating & air conditioning business, taking off for a week in the middle of july won't work...

Here is the biggest problem I see. It is one day to Denver. It's 2 (straight through) to Tahoe. The benefits in Tahoe are world class free lodging (my brother house is prettier than mine [ask Psi]) but we add another full day to travel. The benefit in Tahoe is we can early route to towns to get food and reload (not nearly so remote). If we're willing to fly in ... it's no problem, but if we're going to road it's, it's a little tough.

Sam, I'm willing to take apart your bike for you. :)

2009 RTR or bust. that's what i am saying. later.

I'm in.

The $400-700 you'd save on registration, lodging, and bike shipping charges alone make this option very tempting.

OK, I'll flush this out a little further.

2,000 miles to Tahoe, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it. That's about 28 hours without stops so pretty much a day and a half if we drive straight through.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1z=60010&2c=Incline+Village&2s=NV

Not as bad as I thought. About $1,200 in gas (assuming 10 mpg) plus $600 for a 15 person cargo van.

Assuming 4 people, that's about $500 plus meals. Not to bad. If we left late on Friday night, we could be riding on Sunday, could ride the whole week (probably a rest day off for golf etc.) and then leave on Saturday to return Sunday evening.

I would think later May or early June week? They can still get snow late in Tahoe and it gives us time to get in shape but still convert all the climbing and altitude into pain for the others when we return. :)

JT1 is interested, Jose, Neits? Who else? You couldn't be arm twisted Aham? Psi? CyLowe? Aliens?

If people start to look at it seriously, I can start mapping routes. My brother knows some riders out there and they could help and would probably join us some days.

You guys are killing me here with these threads.

Seriously.

:)

If you can get a plane ticket to Tahoe for anywhere near $300, it's better than driving (currently about $350) ... and normally you can. So if we fly, pick up a cargo van there ... more days in the saddle and more time for drinking wet woody's.

http://www.garwoods.com/

i am busy the second week of june. i am doing this ride, maybe you have heard of it, Ride the Rockies?

seriously, i want to do the rockies. i want to be at 10000 feet and have Cy take my picture.

another thing i plan to do is a long weekend trip to Georgia. stay at some fancy place with the lady and ride those mountains. a place like this (http://www.brasstownvalley.com/) is on my radar.

later.

Aham, I can't get you 10,000 ft elevation, but I can get you a ton of vertical. I am not a huge fan of altitude as it is really going to tire you out more.


Check out some of these rides, especially the Death Ride :)

http://www.deathride.com/index.html

http://www.tahoebike.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=116&Itemid=218

http://www.bikethewest.com/

http://www.northstarattahoe.com/info/calendar/calendarevent.tour_de_nenz.item.asp


Road Biking

With hundreds of miles of paved roads, the area around Lake Tahoe is awesome for Road Cycling. The views and amazing weather don’t hurt either. There are also 10 major climbs in the area, so no matter which end of the lake you’re at you can find a gruling epic road ride close at hand. For decades, pro cyclists like Greg LeMond and Bobby Julich have lived and trained in the mountains around Tahoe.
Several times through the summer you can get in on a large group ride that goes all the way around Lake Tahoe on smooth paved roads. The 72 mile ride around the lake is perhaps the most popular long ride. It has high traffic in areas, and has long strenuous climbs. The popular Death Ride (http://www.deathride.com/) organized by a local bike club is held every July and covers 129 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing. Also, the Tahoe Sierra Century (http://www.tahoesierracentury.com/) runs every September and circumnavigates Lake Tahoe on a supported bike tour. In June you can watch and participate in the Tour de Nez Bike Race in Truckee, Reno and Northstar. There are pro and masters omnimum races, messenger races, and century rides all week. http://tourdenez.com/
But don’t wait for these events. you’ll need to get in shape early. Ride the lake on your own and enjoy a “credit card” tour. With restaurants and bike shops at frequent intervals around the lake, Tahoe is the perfect place for a self supported road bike tour. Also be sure to hit the “Lemond Loop,” the famous route that Greg LeMond used to train for the Tour de France!

Tahoe Road Biking Routes

LeMond Loop

Start in Reno, Carson City or Incline village. The rout takes Geiger Grade (SR 341) to Virginia City, HWY 50 into Carson City and up Spooner Summit, HWY 28 to incline village and Mt. Rose Highway (SR 431) up Mt. Rose Pass and back down into Reno. This ride was Greg LeMond’s regular training ride when he lived in Reno. It is about 70 miles and should take a fit rider 4 to 6 hours. It has some great views and is a spectacular and strenuous ride as it covers three passes and descends 3 to 4 thousand feet each time.
Lake Tahoe Loop

This ride is the route taken by the America’s Mosk Beauticul Bike Ride in June (http://www.bikethewest.com/AMBBR.html). It circumnavigates Lake Tahoe on HWY 50, 89 and 28. From wherever you are on the lake, just hit the street and start pedaling. The route is about 70 Miles and has lots of climbing, but plenty of bail out points, pit-stops and views.
Distance: about 70
Elevation: lots
Death Ride

If you’re really up for an awesome road ride, try the Death Ride in July. http://www.deathride.com/course.html. The ride starts in the Carson Valley below Tahoe, but climbes 3 Sierra Passes; two of them TWICE! Climb Monitor, Ebets,and Carson Passes either in the fully supported Death Ride, or challenge yourself on your own. The ride is 129 miles, with over 15,000 feet of climbing.
Distance: 129
Elevation Gain: 15,000 feet
Tahoe Sierra Century

This epic road ride takes place in September, but the route includes some popular local rides. Start in Truckee, Northstar, Kings Beach, Donner Lake or Tahoe City. It follows HWY 89 from Tahoe City to Truckee, Donner Summit Road out and back to Cicso Grove, Ski Slope Way around Truckee to HWY 89, to HWY 267 past Northstar Resort over Brockway, and Back to Tahoe City past Kings Beach along the shore of Lake Tahoe.
Distance: 100 miles
Elevation gain: 6800 feet
Ride Time: 5 to 8 hours
Lake Tahoe Biking Events

Nevada’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride: June (http://www.bikethewest.com/)
Death Ride: July (http://www.deathride.com/)
Tahoe Sierra Century: september (http://www.tahoesierracentury.com)
Tour De Nez: June (http://tourdenez.com/)
Tour de Tahoe: September (http://www.bikethewest.com/)
Great Lake Tahoe Bike Race: September (http://www.laketahoemarathon.com/Bike.html)

Check out this thread.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=451601&highlight=tahoe

He Aham,

Is 9,624 ft high enough for you. It's only 26% at one point! Check out the pictures.

http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/sonora_pass.htm

Aham, I can't get you 10,000 ft elevation, but I can get you a ton of vertical.

I hate to point out that we did that already in the Dairyland Dare and that's only a few hours away.

You rich guys . . . :rolleyes:

Sorry alien, 10,000 summit elevation, not sure how many feet of climbing. There's a big difference between 4,000 climbing all in on go as opposed to up-down-up-down for a couple hundred feet over and over. Not that I don't like the Dare ... I do.

You don't think you could scrape up enough cash to do it (cause I know you want to)? Besides, you could get sick for a week so you don't burn vacation time (yea right). We'd sure love to have you and it's not really possible to do a trip like this any cheaper.

OK, a little closer look at the costs assuming 4 people.

airfare $350
Van rental $150
Gas $30
Taxi-parking
Ship bike $100 (total for both ways)
Food/Drink $500

Looks like a ballpark of a $1,200 if we fly.

If we drive it's about $1,000.

Van $150
Gas $300
Food/drink $500

Thoughts/comments?

I don't drink as much as you , so my cost would be less :D

JT1:

You obviously haven't tried a wet woody yet. :)

JT1:

You obviously haven't tried a wet woody yet. :)

I definitely want a different bedroom than you.:D

Sorry alien, 10,000 summit elevation, not sure how many feet of climbing. There's a big difference between 4,000 climbing all in on go as opposed to up-down-up-down for a couple hundred feet over and over. Not that I don't like the Dare ... I do.

Agreed. I've been to Colorado a few times. Both mountain bike and road bike. I love the multiple mile / hour climbs (remember - me Alien?). I also, believe it or not, enjoy the lowered oxygen (I think it reminds me of space ;)) I just meant that we have some very challenging climbing in our own back yard. No need to turn it into a pissing contest of who's trip is the best.


You don't think you could scrape up enough cash to do it (cause I know you want to)? Besides, you could get sick for a week so you don't burn vacation time (yea right). We'd sure love to have you and it's not really possible to do a trip like this any cheaper.

Yes, I would love it. Vacation time is not an issue. Although my tower is not as understanding (or willing to get rid of me) as yours. :D

Besides, I may be heading out there for the Leadville 100 (yes, I can whiz too :lol:).