I’m heading to Lake Tahoe/Incline Village area for 10 days. Anyone know of any great rides? How about fast group rides?
Thanks.
Get a mountain bike and do the Flume Trail ride. It is epic.
I did that a couple of weeks ago, it was awesome!
One of the best rides in America; one loop around Lake Tahoe!
If done really early in the morning so as not to be plowed down by tourists driving along. I was too chicken to attempt with the lack of shoulder and blind corners along the route.
There are tons of them. One of the best being the 71-mile ride around the lake, so long as you go early in the morning. Has a decent amount of climbing and is very scenic.
You can also do the North Shore “triangle” ride, which is about 45 miles or so from Incline. Head toward Kings Beach, go over 267 to Truckee, hand a left on River Road, hang another left on Hwy 89 towards Tahoe City. When you hit the “Y” in Tahoe City stay straight towards Kings Beach/Incline. Nice ride with one climb over 267.
If you really want a serious grinder, ride over Mt. Rose down to Highway 395 in Reno. Must be 5-6,000 feet of climing in about 45 miles.
It’s not really that bad. I did it 2x over the July 4th holiday, which is the worst weekend of the summer to do it. You just have to leave by 6 AM or so to avoid it getting hairy. Also, ride it clockwise so that people see you when gawking at the lake.
Lastly, good pitstop on the South end is at Camp Richardson. From there you climb up Emerald Bay and there’s no market for a good ways.
Thanks for all the great ideas. Have no problem riding on busy roads. When you ride in LA it’s a must.
That’s the same week I was there. I think you’re right, going early is key. My problem was that once I got on a mtn bike I wanted to spend the rest of the week on it. My tri bike sat in the condo all sad and lonely while I was out on the nobby tires. We did the Plume Trail and part of the Rim Trail. We also did the Angora Lakes climb. I’m definitely addicted to the mtn biking now.
BTW, there’s a group ride out of Truckee some nights but not really worth the hassle going way over there.
What dates will you be up in Tahoe? I have a meeting in Reno on Aug 15. My wife just informed me that the in-laws are coming that week so I might spend the night and ride the lake early on the 16th.
I’ll be there the 11th thru the 20th.
If you really want a serious grinder, ride over Mt. Rose down to Highway 395 in Reno. Must be 5-6,000 feet of climing in about 45 miles.
I lived on Mt. Rose hwy, in Galena. There is no friggin way I would ride that road.
Personally, I would run every day. Find different trailheads on the Rim Trail and just have at it.
I used to live in Incline and I totally agree. Ride up Mt Rose Hwy to the Meadow – about a 30 minute hard climb with nice shoulders the whole way. But don’t even think about doing the other side, there’s way too much traffic and way too little shoulder.
If you have a Mtb and want a real altitude workout and a spectacular ride, seek out the Old Mt Rose Hwy (or what’s left of it) and take it from the top of Incline up to the meadow. From the east side of the Meadow, take the FS road to Radio/Microware station on Relay Peak. That’s 4000 feet of climbing, but starting at 6000 feet.
-jens
Do the “LeMond loop” (he grew up here in Reno). Head over Mt Rose into Reno, up Geiger Grade to Virginia City, down the truck route, around Carson and up Spooner Summit to the lake, take a right and head back to Incline.
There is the “East Valley Crit” on the Wednesday night you are around but it is in Carson City.
If here again for 4th of July weekend, there is the Mt Rose Race of Truth. A time trial that starts at the Galena gas station and finishes at the Mt Rose summit. There are some good climbers that come out of the woodwork for that one.
Yes the Mt Rose climb is nice. Do it earlier in the year and you can watch Levi climb it 
And then don’t walk for the next two days… That must be a brutal ride.
I’ll be there too from the 14th through the 19th.
With so many yahoos in rented motorhomes I would never ride the lake road in summer. I’ve seen too many accidents over the years 20+ that I have been vacationing in the basin.
I’m depressed that the MTB park at Norhstar is closed this year, it was on my list of things to do that week. I’m thinking of doing Mr. toads or the Flume trail instead.
http://www.tahoecam.com/toads.html
http://www.tahoesbest.com/Biking/eagle.htm
http://www.sbmbc.com/lakeTahoe.php
Also taking a day day to raft on the Truckee river.
See if you are interested in any of these events too. I wish I were up on the 12th because the New Monsoon concert at squaw will be a blast, those guys ROCK, and what an awesome place. Right in the bowm at the base of Squaw. If you can make the copncert, you won’t be disappointed. Also the Brews, Jazz and Funk fest on the 19th would be a good event. It benefits the Tahoe Truckee Humane society.
http://www.squaw.com/summer/html/eventssummer.html
And then there’s another Jam band, Galactic playing in truckee on the 19th. I’d love to see Melvin Seals on the 10th but I won’t be there yet. So much good music, so little time!!!
http://www.tahoetruckeenews.com/html/events.html
Have a great trip.
Karma
Thanks for the great tips. Will try and check 'em out.