Galberras

My first post on BikeForums. I will go ahead and apologize now for the naive questions. Also, I'm hoping this is the right place for this.

My brother and I are registered for our first Death Ride this year. I am wondering what the thoughts are on camping versus getting a room and driving. I'm leaning toward camping but I am worried about finding a (legal) spot to camp. I really don't want officer friendly kicking me off the side of the road in the middle of the night.

Are there a lot of camping locations? Is it less of a headache to get a room and drive in the morning? We are hoping to get an early start so I imagine camping might be the better option.

Sorry for the OCD question. It is time for me to start getting nervous about this whole thing.

Thanks.

scrubbo

Hey, my brother and I are doing it for the first time this year, too! WOO! We're staying in South Lake Tahoe, but that's partly because our wives and kids are coming along and hanging out there by the pool while we kill ourselves on the hill. Supposedly there is a LOT of camping available, though, so that's a good option. Getting up at 3 to drive 40 minutes to start the ride vs. sleeping in a tent right there is a hard call. I personally would go for the room because I don't want to risk the 'waking up aching' I sometimes get when camping and having a crappy non-level rocky tent pitching location. Since it's 'off season' for Tahoe, there's lots of stuff for reasonable rates. Also, there are hotels much closer, but I don't know if they're sold out by now. I suspect they are. That being said, sleeping in a tent at the start is CERTAINLY part of the experience people I know who went talked about. If I go again sans kids/wife, I could be persuaded to camp it.

ericm979

Organized campgrounds will be resrved already. You can camp by the side of the road, or motel.

The cops don't seem to mind camping by the side of the road. Just make sure you are off the road and don't park in areas marked no parking. (obvious I know, but people do it).
You're not going to get much sleep though, between late arriving campers and traffic on the road. There is a spagetti feed the night before (tolerable quality, veg options) and a breakfast the morning of (better quality, also veg options), starting at 4am.

If you pick a motel in So Lake Tahoe that is quiet, you'll get better rest. It's about a 35 minute drive from there to Turtle Rock Park. Pick a motel that is off the main drag, or you'll be awakened by drunks returning from the casinos at 2am.

If you start early you need lights.

gpelpel

I rode the DR twice and had no problem finding a quiet campground with hot showers, no reservation needed and only a couple of miles from Turtle Rock.

A couple hundred yards before Turtle Rock there's Airport Road on your left (coming from Tahoe). Drive for a couple of miles, past the airport, until you reach the BLM Indian Creek campground. There's no advanced reservation, first come-first served, and only $20 a night including hot showers.

If there's no available spot when you arrive, ask people at trailer sites. All sites have a tent patch and are quite large so you will surely find somebody willing to share. While most riders are camping around Turtle Rock along the road that stays busy all night long, this campground is a gem, it's very quiet and the hot shower is luxury after the ride.

https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carso...ian_creek.html

As I started very early I didn't have any trouble finding a parking place close to Turtle Rock entrance before the ride.

MetinUz

The first time I rode the DR I stayed in South Lake Tahoe for two nights. The next time I slept in my car at the parking lot, and had no problem getting sleep. There was a trailer with hot showers in the Turtle Rock parking lot for after the ride. Depends on how well you sleep, and whether you feel up to driving back after the ride.

c0lnago

I know a few folks that have done the campgrounds the night before and said it can stay loud longer than they preferred. Basically if you want to get to bed early and get a good night of rest it could go either way. I've always just stayed in South LT. The drive is 30-40mins and there's certainly minimal traffic at 4AM. Anyone driving is going the same place you are.

Galberras

Thanks for the good information... many pros and cons to each, it appears. I guess I am more concerned about the adequacy of latrines if I park off the road

So, with the parking situation by Turtle Rock, is it easy to stop off between climbs 4 and 5? I'm wondering if it is possible to stop and shed arm warmers, etc. That reminds me, are arm warmers sufficient for a 5 or 5:30 start? Should I plan on a jacket or wind vest as well?

@gpelpel - Thanks for the tip. I think you (or someone else) mentioned that spot in another thread around here. I may just check that out.

@scrubbo - We'll see you there! We will be the two skinny guys in spandex

gpelpel

Both times I rode the DR I was parked along the road a few dozen yards north of Turtle Rock. It was my base and lunch stop as I opted to skip the official lunch location at the bottom of climb 4.
Temperature vary from a year to another; one year it was a bit frisky when I left at around 4:45, the next was balmy. I always started with a vest and arm warmers. Be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms if you plan to finish late. My first ride was quite eventful with a hail storm during the 5th climb. I had left warmers and jacket in the car on my way past Turtle Rock. We spent 45 minutes stuck like sardines under the Picket Junction rest stop canopy. My savior was a trash bag I was able to pick up at the stop. I punched a hole for the head and one for each arm. The hail came back after I resumed the climb, I was cold and the hail peppering arms and face was no fun, yet it made completing the ride so much more satisfying.

ericm979

If you are camping on the side of the road you can walk to TRP and use the porta-potties there. If you camp or motel elsewhere and drive to the start you can walk to TRP or ride there and use the porta-potties. The cops seem to tolerate people on bikes without lights riding slowly from up the road where cars park, to TRP, from about 5:00 on. Just don't try to start the actual ride without lights.

I've always stopped at my car at TRP between 4 and 5, if only for a bottle. Sometimes I have a cooler packed with food too and of course a pump and tube in case I used my tube already. I leave a rain jacket handy in the car so I can grab it if I think I'll need it. I've seen riders get into their car and run the AC to cool off but that only works if your car will cool itself off fast... and you still have to get out and finish the ride.

The organizers no longer provide a clothing drop. I usually start (at 5:30) with vest and arm warmers, but I have little body fat and it's cold on the descent from TRP to Markleeville. Yes, that will be a noticable climb on the way back, bwhah hah hah. Please be careful on that descent! It'll be dark (or nearly dark if you start at 5:30) and many riders are keyed up. I have seen some ugly crashes there.

The other place to be careful is on the climb up Ebbets. If you need to stop, please do not pull off the road to your left. There will be faster riders descending on that side, and if you're tired you may not look up the road far enough. I've had a couple close calls from people doing that. And of course if you're one of the riders who are descending Ebbets while most people are climbing it, take it easy and look out for riders pulling out in front of you or even laying their bike across the road.

Monitor and Ebbets are closed to traffic but there's always a few campers who camp up on Ebbets on friday night and feel that they have to drive out through the ride. So you may encounter a few cars.

Ok, enough safety lecture. If you see a scary skinny old guy in white Suffolk/Sunpower kit, that's me.

Galberras

I appreciate the input. I will take all the unsolicited advice I can get. I will admit, I am a bit nervous about the sheer number of bikes and individuals trying to "win" the ride on the downhills. I'm hoping to just sit up and enjoy the scenery on the descents.

gpelpel

If you start early around 5am or before the descent on the backside of Monitor Pass is awesome and it's easy to break the 50mph bar. The front side will be fun too but you will have people on the other side of the road, it's a wide road though. All the other descents are trickier because of the road being narrow and crowded with bikes (Ebbets Pass) or because of car traffic (Carson Pass).

Be very careful climbing and descending the front side of Ebbetts Pass. I have seen crashes there both years I rode it. The problem is climbers 3 abreast taking the whole climbing lane and high speed descenders that find themselves out of room to pass slower descenders in their lane. Some riders are absolutely dump and irresponsible descending this dangerous section.

c0lnago

Also be careful climbing/descending Carson/pass 5...traffic is open there and the road is crappy imo. I've seen a few guys eat it on the descent. Also...be really careful at the start. We usually start around 4:30/5 AM and there's a good 45/60mins of pitch black. Take the first few miles careful and watch for riders on your right/left/etc. I've had guys quietly sneak up on my rear and hang there without saying anything and no headlamps....stupid. Two years ago we were about a mile from Turtle Rock...literally 5mins into Death Ride and came upon a guy that crashed and had EMT's with him. Folks are anxious to go and half asleep...toss in the darkness and well, be careful.

scrubbo

Those headlamps add grams, man! Grams you'll have to pedal over the passes! I'm pretty sure nobody will tail me in the dark because I get complaints that my taillight is too bright in the daytime.

1242Vintage

I'm planning to camp again on the side of the road either north of the entrance to TRP or down at Woodfords. No wife and kids coming so just lock up the bike on the rack, spread the pad and sleeping bag out in the back of the Suburban and all set for the night. Highway patrol and sheriff were up and down the road during the night but didn't bother anyone as long as they were off the pavement.

Last year I brought lots of goodies in the cooler for lunch and sat in the shade in a camp chair and enjoyed a nice lunch break at the car. Worked out nice. Also had a few tools, tire, tubes, pump, and a wind jacket in the car in case the weather turned wet.

I was a rookie last year and was nervous. Had a great time and since I started pedaling at 4a.m. with my trusty commuter headlight shining the way easily made the cut off times. Lots of fun and nothing to be nervous about. The benefit of the early start is the awesome sunrise when you hit the top of Monitor.

Blossom

How much light is needed at 5 am? I've got no problems with a little headlamp, but I'm a little loath to break out the full commuting light rig.

scrubbo

I think if you've got the head lamp and a blinky on the back, you'll be fine. The DR website says you need to meet DOT standards, which means lights or reflectors visible from all 4 sides. Unless you're leaving at 2 am, you'll have a swarm of other lighted bikes to ride with, I bet. There will be people with the full on commuter rigs (like me!) and you can latch on and go.

gpelpel

You will be fine with a regular headlamp. The road is in good condition and very predictable (no sharp turn...) when you will be in the dark. Plus you won't be alone.
The important element is to be 'street legal' in the eyes on CHP and the organizers.