Southwest - Can you recommend a 15 - 20 mile route in Reno/Sparks or Carson City area?

I visit those areas at least once a month and have always stayed at hotels with a good fitness facility. Next time though, I thought I'd bring my road bike so I was hoping someone can recommend a safe, dog free route for me. I'll drive and park my car to begin riding if the start location isn't too far away from either St Mary's Hosp in Reno, Renown South Meadows Med Ctr or Carson Tahoe Regional in Carson City. I usually pick hotels close to those places because they are customers of mine.

Thanks.

Go to the Nevada bicycle website and you will find links to bike clubs in the Reno/Sparks area - www.bicyclenevada.com/links.html. I'm sure someone at one of the clubs can give you information on bike routes in the area.

You`re talking paved routes, aren`t you? Here`s one of those clubs:
http://www.pedalers.org/
For some reason, I can never copy the URL from an individual page on their website, but click on "Route Slips" and you`ll get a page of directions for all their regular rides, most with maps. I prefer any riding in the Southwest area (Lakeside, Huffaker and Plumas are all very nice riding) and the Verdi route (route slip and map on the link to get you started, you can wing it and come up with your own variation when you know the route). Unfortunately, I live way up north, so I don`t end up following my own recomendations very often. Maybe that`s why I enjoy them so much when I do ride down there.

If you meant dirt, let me know and I`ll give you some info along those lines.

thanks guys, I'll be bringing my bike on my next Reno trip.

Good. Fat or skinny tires? Drop me a line if you`re interrested in riding on a Mon through Wed. I`m usually open those days.

Skinny tires only. I'll PM you next time I'm heading for Reno.

Check in with local cyclists. One of the most popular routes would be the Verdi lap which is a decent training ride but nothing special to look at. Riding south down Lakeside, over Windy Hill, and through the rancho area, and up to Thomas Creek & Mt Rose Hwy is a great ride and maybe you'll even spot the one yak out there. Hooray! Cyclists tend to hangout at Bibo Coffee Company at 680 Mt Rose St or at Walden's Coffeehouse on McCarren and Mayberry. Both of those coffee shops are less than 5 miles tops away from the medical centers around town so you would have no problem just hopping on the bike and going.

Thanks pfe. Will hang out at Bibo sometime.

I ride the Verdi loop out of convenience, since I am very near there. There are no stoplights, just a couple of stop signs to deal with. Starting from where i am, Keystone/2nd street, it's 26 miles. Sometimes I head south and up and over Windy hill and all that. Orrrr we head up Virginia street and ride in the north valleys.

Head out east on US 50.. That's the direction out towards the " cat ' houses.

US 50 doesn`t go through Reno.

US 50 goes a little to the south, as I recall. Wide shoulders, its worth the extra miles.