Tahoe_Fixed

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has ridden around Lake Tahoe on a fixed gear? If so what gearing did you use? Where did you start? If you were doing it again would you start in the same place?

Thanks,

jimwebber

I like your idea! I haven't gone all the way around fixed. I've only done the full circle (74 miles or so) on a geared road bike with a compact double in front and an 11-25 cassette in rear. I kept wishing for a lower gear during the climbs around Emerald Bay.

I did ride about 30 miles fixed starting from South Lake by Heavenly heading counterclockwise on 46/18 gearing. I'm thinking 44/18 might work if I try to ride the whole thing fixed. Good luck!

caloso

I have gone around the lake many times on a geared bike. A fixed ride would really be a challenge. I have always gone clockwise in order to be on the lakeside of the road. I would think that the toughest parts will be near Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm. And the long slog from Sand Harbor to Spooner.

44x18 is around 65g.i. Might be doable. Wow. It would be epic. Good luck!

Onfixiate

Looks interesting--only did part of the loop years ago on a geared bike. Thin air! Here's a strava profile of the full loop; one could pick a different starting point obviously. Log in and you can set units to miles and feet climbed...

https://www.strava.com/segments/1778129

rafiki530

as someone living here, and who rides portions of the bike path in north Tahoe regularly yes it is possible. However there are sections which are very steep so you will probably walk in a couple areas, also you will go very fast in others.

That being said there are great rides around here, the trail along the Truckee river from tahoe city is great and you can go into Olympic valley, the trail is pretty mellow not the smoothest unless you ride on the road, which honesty if you do ride on the road in the summer you deserve to be hit and you just might. 89 is no joke especially with cars parked on the side of the road.

Tahoe_Fixed

Thanks for the replay. Yesterday I just went for it. Completed the ride in 6 hours 10 minutes. I ended up going with 48/20. South Lake to South Lake. Spooner at the end of the day was a hard one.

caloso

Wow. Well done!

Leukybear 

That's one area I'd definitely bring gears to

Darth Lefty 

Good job. I can't imagine.

caloso

I've ridden my SSCX in Burton Creek SP (above Tahoe City) many times:

The Republic of Offthebackistan

But to do the whole lake is seriously epic.

Onfixiate

That's awesome!

Tahoe_Fixed

@caloso WOW! I really like that setup for trails. I have wanted to do a 29er fixed setup like that.

rabbitsf

I'm going for it too. I ride a 46 x 18 around San Francisco using honed route selection skills, and am far from a fit, piston calfed fixie dude...not like the MASHSF Boys by any means. . Anyway, my questions are: how hard did you train? how fit were you? and how was the 48x20 up Spooner? I was thinking I would just keep the 46x18...what do you think? Thanks...

richietables 

Good grief! Great job!!