Gonads and Strife Fall Poker Run

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Jeff Moser

Gonads and Strife Fall 2011 Poker Run

Sunday, October 2, 2011
Great Basin Brewery, Sparks NV
$15 buy-in get you a T-shirt
Proceeds benefit the Gary Setzer Cancer Fund
11:00 am Sign Ups, Ride Starts at Noon!

This is also a fundraiser for Brother Gary Setzer, original Gonads-N-Strife Bicycle Club co-founder, and fellow musician. Please come out for another great cause! We appreciate your help!

This fall we promise even more great raffle prizes and as usual a fantastic fun filled day of cycling! See you there!

Thanks Riding in Reno for sharing the news!

Ride to Star Lake

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Jeff Moser

I recently had the opportunity to ditch work and get up into the high country for some riding and adventure. My friend Ryan was up from the Bay Area, and wanted to ride something up at Tahoe that he hadn’t done yet. I had been wanting to get back up to Star Lake before the summer was over, and so plans were easily agreed upon for a Tahoe Rim Trail ride leaving south from Kingsbury Grade.

Top of the switchbacks, ready for some cruisin’

There’s no warming up when leaving the trailhead at the Heavenly Ski Resort Stagecoach Chairlift. To get to the singletrack, you need to climb up a sandy ski run, or go back up the pavement on the one-way Tramway Dr you drove in on. We chose the pavement option to conserve a little energy, but it was still tough, loaded down with larger packs and plenty of food and water for a few hours in the saddle.

Smudgemo Skipposaurus

The Tahoe Rim Trail site says this section of trail is for experienced riders only. Once on the singletrack, the grade becomes more moderate, but numerous rock challenges await you. In the first five miles, you’ll find yourself getting off the bike a lot to get around a switchback or to get up one of the frequent steps along the climb. You get a break after the first mile of climbing switchbacks, but many more steps must be climbed before reaching Monument Pass. This may be disappointing for the rider looking to get into the groove with some uninterrupted saddle time. But for the mountain biker looking to enjoy a day of outstanding scenery in the back country no matter what your mode of travel, this ride is for you. It’s also good to know that with gravity and momentum on your side, many of the obstacles are quite rideable on the return trip. It’s actually quite a fun downhill for those who like technical riding. Tough it out, and you won’t be disappointed.

High above the Carson Valley

This was Ryan’s 2nd ride on his new Smudgemo Skipposaurus. Never heard of it? That’s because he built the frame himself. Ryan was riding version #2 that day. Version #1 had a coke can shim in the seat tube due to tube thickness problems, and a Krylon paint job. It was a joy to ride, but it had a few errors that made him want to do version #2. Version #2 was powder coated professionally, and turned out to be a pretty decent bike. Ryan said other small details, like cable routing, might be changed if there is to be a Version #3. He said the bike was riding great on the trail that day, and was stoked to be riding on something he created. As for the name, you’ll have to ask him for the back story.

Way better than being at work

As we made our way around the east side of Monument Peak, we could hear heavy equipment working the Heavenly Ski resort area. While our eyes said we were out in the wilderness, our ears made us speculate that there were service roads just out of sight through the trees. When we began our ascent out of Mott Canyon though, these sounds began to fade, and feelings of solitude started to settle in. Just before the final ascent to Monument Pass, the trees thinned, and we had airplane like views of the Carson Valley. The trail is narrow here, and it felt like you could just jump off the edge and fly all the way down to the valley floor. We didn’t attempt this though.

Stairs on the way to Monument Pass

Monument Pass

Crossing Monument Pass is significant in this ride. I was happy to tell Ryan that we’d get to ride our bikes for the next 4 miles without having to get off every 50 yards. He seemed pleased with this. Monument Pass is also geographically significant, since this is where you cross from the east side of the mountains to the west side. Suddenly the pine trees you’re used to seeing along the Rim Trail give way to widely spaced mountain mahogany and very old and large juniper trees. It feels more desolate here, and has a totally different feel than the first half of the trail. The trail gets pretty sandy here in spots, and Ryan commented how squirrely it felt compared to his Bay Area dirt. For local riders accustomed to the summer sand of Ash Canyon, it won’t feel too unnatural though. My bike’s larger 29″ wheels were definitely an advantage in this section.

We still need to ride all the way over there…

With the exception of a few day hikers near the trailhead, we only saw one group of backpackers on the trail all day. We didn’t see any other bikes. There are still areas around the Tahoe that you can enjoy solitude, and this is one of them. Compared to the overcrowded parking lots and beaches below, this area is quite a contrast. You’re actually happy to see another human being periodically, knowing that someone else may be in the vicinity should you need help. The backpackers were eager to get to Star Lake, their destination for the day after 9 miles of hiking. We were too, because it was time for lunch!

Star Lake

West side of Star Lake

Just when you start thinking, “When are we going to get there? We’ve been climbing a long time…”, you arrive at Star Lake. The blue green waters of Star Lake rest at 9,100 ft elevation, and the still snowy 10,823 ft tall peak of Jobs Sister towers above it. You can take all the photos of it you want, but you still can’t capture how big it all feels.

Heading back to Monument Pass

We enjoyed a nice lunch on the lake and talked about bikes. We had a comfortable log to sit on while we gazed out across the lake. There were no mosquitoes. A father and son quietly fished nearby. Hikers off in the distance towards Freel Peak cried out to each other. Ryan shared his tuna fish sandwich with me. The places you can get to on a mountain bike are just as cool as actually riding the bike itself, if not more so.

Fun Boulders on Monument Pass

After a nice rest and lunch, we were eager to get some downhill. Early into the downhill we encountered the backpacking family. “Are we almost at the lake?”, he tiredly asked me. Like a good dad, he was carrying most of the load and letting his kids hike mostly burden free. I felt like a boss giving out a raise and a bonus when I told him, yep, you’re almost there…just around the corner. He couldn’t have been more pleased. We had a fun descent down from the lake, then a short climb back up to Monument Pass.

Mott Canyon Creek

We were back to the rocks. All the boulders and steps that were a pain on the way up were now a play ground. We had a blast rolling and bumping our way back down to Mott Canyon. There’s a nice little creek here, a lot of wild flowers, and a chair lift above your head. Shortly after this there’s a short road climb to gain altitude back up to the TRT. It takes less than a minute to descend, but on the way back, it takes a few minutes to hike. As we were pushing our bikes up the road, a couple of chicken sized birds crossed in front of us. I had never seen a bird like this before in the wild, but the name Sage Grouse popped into my head. They almost looked like quail on steroids. I compared my photos to Internet photos when I got home, and my identification was confirmed. What a cool sighting!

Let’s do it again, but take the lift!

Once we had hiked to the top of the road, we were in for the most fun singletrack of the day. Fast, windy trail through the woods with many fun obstacles. Even the last mile of switchbacks was a lot of fun to come down. It was surprising how much you could ride on the return trip that seemed impossible on the way in. We finished the ride with a short trip down the ski run. 50 yards from the car we had to ride through a mud hole! The bikes were nothing but dusty all day, and now the bikes were muddy right before it was time to load them on the car. Oh well. Can’t expect to stay clean when mountain biking, right? We stopped at the ski lift before loading up for the day, and thought we could probably do that downhill one more time if only we could get the lift working…

Interested in doing this ride? I wrote a pretty good trail guide last year HERE.

Back in 2008, I got to ride in Ryan’s neck of the woods. Read about our Oakland mountain bike ride HERE.

Tahoe Rim Trail to Flume Trail Loop

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Jeff Moser

Not only was summer late getting here this year, but my wife and I found ourselves moving across town just as the season started. Hearing our friends talk about their Lake Tahoe adventures as we spent our weekends in a dirty garage sorting through old junk was getting us down. But finally we were moved, and ready to go play on the trails! It was a celebration. Last weekend Kristy and I headed up to Spooner Summit for a loop on the Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail.

North Canyon

After a leisurely morning of getting the bikes ready, we headed up to Spooner Lake. We were on the trail just after noon, and took our time getting over to North Canyon. Riding up at the Lake is exciting, and sometimes you catch yourself heading out too fast. It’s best to conserve your energy for the climbs that await you though. It was on our initial climb that we had the only “crash” of the day. I was in the middle of the trail, letting Kristy get by me as I rested. As she passed, I swung my body around, hitting her firmly in the shoulder with my backpack. This sent her front wheel up the steep bank, causing her to loose balance and fall over. Oops. “Sorry, sweetie! I’m sure those people up the trail pretending not to look didn’t see a thing!”.

Lush Forest on Hobart Road

When we got to the really steep part at the end of North Canyon, we played mountain bike leap frog. Kristy rode the hill non-stop in the granny gear, and I, being on my single speed, would pass her and then rest. Then she’d pass me again while I was getting my lungs back in my chest. We repeated this sequence all the way up to the saddle above Marlette Lake.

Climbing the very steep Hobart Road

After a nice descent down to Marlette Lake, we just kept riding, heading along the east side of the lake on Hobart Road. The foliage is lush and thick here, and the road was pitted with many mud holes. For a time, it felt like being in New England rather than Nevada. It wasn’t long before we left the deciduous trees though, and climbed up and away from the lake. The road gets really steep here, and I decided that I wasn’t going to get any medals for not putting a foot down. It was time to push my bike. My knees thanked me. This section of trail is under 2 miles, and there are breaks here and there, but I was really looking forward to getting to the top.

Mules Ears on the Tahoe Rim Trail

I’ve done this loop a few times, but always in the clockwise direction. My reasoning was that I didn’t want another big climb immediately following the grueling ascent up North Canyon. After being chastised by a friend though, “You never climb singletrack, and then ride down a road! You did it backwards!”, I decided to toughen up and just get all the climbing done up front.

On top of the world

We had just finished the worst of the steep climb when we ran into friends Dan and Wendy. They were doing the loop clockwise for the first time and remarked that counterclockwise was the way to go. With their insight and the worst behind us, I was excited to get on the Tahoe Rim Trail just ahead.

View of Marlette and Tahoe from the Rim Trail

Not far into the Tahoe Rim Trail section, we came to the TRT Campground. It’s developed quite nice with a few sites, complete with some nice picnic tables, a bathroom, and even a well. If you’re running low on water, and don’t have a filter, this stop may be your best bet.

We have to go over this? Really?

From here, the Tahoe Rim Trail climbs up out of the trees, and gives the rider good views of the valleys to the east. One particular section is full of tall healthy Mules Ears, and the trail looks like it climbs up into the clouds. A group of mountain bikers apologized that they were blocking the trail for photos, but I told them not to worry. I was stopping too!

Hiking the snow bank

The remaining climb up Marlette Peak was very enjoyable with incredible vistas. A variety of wildflowers covered the ground, nearby mountain peaks towered around us, and the trail climbed and twisted its way to the top. As the trail crests the peak, you feel like you’re riding on top of the world. Once back on the west side of the mountain, you get treated to an almost sacred view of Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe together. I always have to stop here and just stare. It’s a wonderful spot to have lunch and rehydrate.

Descending the switchbacks to Tunnel Creek Road

After reluctantly leaving the heavenly views of Marlette Peak, we continued north along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Riding on perfect trails with only a bit of mud here and there in the shadows almost made me forget the trail conditions mentioned on the Flume Trail website. We came around a corner to a massive white wall, and then I remembered the words, “A bit less than 5 minutes of hiking is all it takes to traverse this snow bank.” Wow. How could it be that the ground was completely dry where I was standing, but covered in 10 feet of snow just a few feet away? The trail disappeared underneath the glacier, and a dirty staircase stomped into the snow climbed up and over and out of sight. Kristy said, “Really?”

Twin Lakes

The soles of Kristy’s shoes are pretty worn, and she was having problems getting traction climbing the snow. It took some time to get up onto the bank, but once up top, we found firm snow for walking. The path came perilously close to some deep tree wells, so we took our time. Before long we could see the dirt again. Once we rejoined the trail, it was clear of snow for the rest of the ride.

View of Sand Harbor from the Flume Trail

After finishing up the last little climb, it was time to descend the switchbacks all the way down to Tunnel Creek Road. We had a blast zipping through the trees, rolling over boulders, and trying to find the best line through the obstacles. Kristy thanked me for not making her climb this section. At the bottom we passed Twin Lakes. This may have been the first time I’ve actually seen water in these two seasonal ponds. Usually it’s just a meadow by the time I get up there.

Keep Left

Once at Tunnel Creek road, it was just a short descent down to the Flume Trail. Climbing this steep road is always tough, so it was a real treat to just effortlessly coast down! We got onto the north end of the Flume Trail and began our easiest pedal of the day so far. The smooth, packed, heavily-used Flume Trail gave us a nice break from the technical Tahoe Rim Trail.

Water Crossing at Marlette Dam

When we got to the cliff section, we both remarked that it seemed scarier than normal. Maybe it was just a different feeling having the drop-off on the right hand side. Or maybe a cliff is just a cliff, and this trail gives you a thrill no matter how many times you’ve ridden it. I said I wasn’t going to stop for pictures that much, but the views are so beautiful through here, that it’s almost impossible not to reach for the camera. It was a bit later in the day by now, and we didn’t encounter too much oncoming traffic. We even saw some groups we passed in North Canyon earlier in the day.

Smooth forest road along Marlette Lake

We climbed up to Marlette Lake at the top of the Flume Trail, and rode past the dam. Later in the year it’s possible to ride this section and stay dry, but with the water so high right now, we were going to get wet. Normally I like to keep my drive train and other moving parts dry, but there wasn’t an easy way around the water this day. It was splash, splash, splash as the pedals smacked the water until we were back on the road around Marlette Lake.

Marlette Lake

It was nearing 5PM, and the forest road was peaceful and shady. It was nice and relaxing after the Flume Trail where you constantly have to pay attention. I even rode with no hands for a bit. Storm clouds were brewing to the south, and far away thunder rumbled. It still seemed far in the distance though, so we didn’t feel rushed, only enjoying the beauty of Marlette Lake in the subdued light.

Still some big puddles

The climb back from Marlette Lake to North Canyon is not long, but it always seems like a grinder at the end of a long day. We took our time getting to the saddle, looking forward to the long four mile descent back to the trailhead. The sky was getting darker, and a few raindrops fell here and there. There were still riders coming up the canyon, just starting their ride late in the day with the dark clouds chasing them.

Leaving Marlette Lake

We made it back to the trailhead and checked in with my son. He said he was worried about us, because of all the thunder and rain back home. Apparently most of the weather had missed us. We only had a few drops, and the weather was already starting to clear again. It’s strange to go to the mountains to get out of the weather. We were both exhausted, but had a great time. Plans for the next adventure are already underway!

The complete photo collection of this trip can be found on Flickr HERE.

Maps, trail conditions, and information about bike rentals can be found on The Flume Trail Website.

Bike Habitat’s 2011 Tour of Carson Report

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jeff Moser

Here’s a look back on Bike Habitat‘s 2011 Tour of Carson that was held on May 1st…

Riders signing up bright and early

This was the biggest turnout for this ride in the 4 years that the Bike Habitat has been doing this event. The registration line was quickly growing, and people kept showing up all the way until ride time. About 50 riders started the ride.

Pre-ride preparations

The weather was cool but comfortable, and everyone was enjoying the sunshine. The ride started off a bit different this year, crossing 395 at Topsy instead of the usual Clear Creek Road crossing. This was a nice beginning to the ride. We were quickly away from traffic and onto a twisty road that got us over to Snyder on the back roads.

Jon and Shauna

The stretch along Edmonds and Fairview was a bit narrower feeling this year due to all the Freeway construction. Traffic seemed a bit lighter than normal though, and we made it over to 5th street with no problems.

Carson River Road

Once we got out to Carson River Road, it was time to relax and enjoy the scenery. The fields were greening up, the livestock was out, and we even spotted a couple bald eagles. The river was busy with bird activity, and made a good spot to take a break and get a photo.

Carson River with a nice view of Slide Mountain

Up above the green fields we enjoyed the views of the still snowy Carson Range. Slide Mountain to the north, Snow Valley Peak to the west, Jobs, Freel, and Jobs Sister to the South. You could see for miles in all directions.

Deer Run Road

Once up on Deer Run Road, riders were treated to some of the fastest descents of the ride along the rolling foothill road. I talked to one rider that wished they were a bit longer though…

Wild Horses on Deer Run Road

Wild Horses frequently cross Deer Run Road to get down to the river. We got to see a herd with a few new foals.

We crossed Highway 50, and winded around Arrowhead Drive along the north side of town. It was along this stretch that the views to the south really opened up. This is the industrial section of town, but it’s always pleasant riding on the weekends.

Kings Canyon as seen from Ormsby Blvd

Once across Highway 395, we rode up Combs Canyon a bit to get to the V&T Bike Path, and began our journey back to the south. We rode along the mouths of Vicee Canyon, Ash Canyon, and Kings Canyon, and even saw a few mountain bikers out enjoying the singletrack.

Heading towards the Capitol on King Street

The next leg of the ride was through the historical west side, with a nice view of the state capitol building as we rode down King Street. Once back to the center of town, we made our way over to Curry Street, enjoying the new bicycle lanes that have recently been added there. After about 29 miles, we arrived back at the Bike Habitat for BBQ and other great food, drinks, and socializing.

A big thank you to Bike Habitat for putting on another great event, and thanks to all the riders who donated to Muscle Powered and became members! We appreciate your support!

A few more photos of the ride can be found over on FLICKR.

Ride With The Carson City Board of Supervisors Monday, May 9th 2011

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Jeff Potter

Left to Right: Dave, Bill, Jeff, Jeff, Pegg?, Jenny, Molly, Chas, Mayor Bob, Denis, Steve, Shelly, Karen, and ?

Showing their continued support of Muscle Powered’s efforts to increase livability in Carson City, Mayor Bob Crowell, and Carson City Supervisor’s Karen Abowd, Shelly Aldean and Molly Walt joined members of Muscle Powered on a ride around the west-side of Carson to promote Bike Month and the Carson City Corporate Challenge.

We experienced a wide range of tandems at this event. Bill Story, State Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for NDOT, brought his road tandem (which can be expanded to a triple, quad, and even a quint, depending on how many family members are going for a ride that day) and pedaled Mayor Bob on the loop.

Supervisor Shelly Aldean climbed on the back of my mountain bike tandem for the road ride. I offered to take her offroad on the Flume Trail this summer and she replied with an enthusiastic HELL NO! Actually she said she would like to do that. Maybe we can arrange for a BOS Flume ride in late August.

Supervisor Karen Abowd was the stoker on a comfortable cruiser-ish tandem piloted by Muscle Powered president and Bike Carson administrator Jeff Moser. Karen and Jeff were one of two tandem teams that looked like they could ride all day, the other team being Molly and Dave.

Dave Simpson chauffeured Supervisor Molly Walt around on his recently acquired recumbent tandem (Dave is the man who is responsible for the trails in Centennial Park, and is the person who inspired me to build trails). Molly was very pleasant during the ride but seemed to be preoccupied with the entertainment system which comes with the recumbent’s deluxe package.

Photo by Amy
Also along for the ride was Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman Steve Lasco, Lumos & Associates’ Chas Macquarie, Denis Coyne from Bike Habitat, Jenny Scanland from Nevada State Parks, and Muscle Powered walk leader Donna Inversin.

Judging by their smiles I think everyone had a lot of fun.

All photos by Ashley Dale unless noted otherwise

A big THANK YOU! to Ashley, Jenny, and Amy for braving the poor weather conditions and documenting this ride.

Upcoming Bike Month Events

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Jeff Potter

There are a few events coming up next week to prepare you for Bike to Work Week and the Carson City Corporate Challenge, so mark your calendars!

Our first flier

Monday, May 9
Cruiser Ride With the Carson City Board of Supervisors
Meet at 11:00 a.m. at Telegraph Square (Telegraph St. & Curry St.)

We have four tandems available for the BOS. Mayor Bob and Supervisors Karen Abowd, Shelly Aldean and Molly Walt have placed their lives in our hands and are climbing aboard for a fun ride around downtown Carson City with stops along the way for pics at; Telegraph Square, BAC, Governor’s Mansion, Sunset Park and the Capital Grounds.
Please come out and join us!

Skinny Guy with CC Supervisor Shelly Aldean

Wednesday May 11
Vulnerable Users Procession
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Greater Nevada Credit Union 911 E. Second

The procession is to support AB328 which amends Nevada’s reckless driving statute to include striking a bicyclist or pedestrian as reckless driving, with penalties up to a $2,000 fine and license suspension. While the law would not of course do everything to protect vulnerable users, its intent is to put drivers on notice that they are sharing the road with these users, and that there will be significant penalties for striking them.
Please come out and show your support!

Flat Tire Repair Clinic at The Bike Smith
900 N. Carson St at 6:00 p.m.

First person to name the Three Bees wins a prize

Are you the type of cyclist who loves to ride but has yet to learn the skill of fixing a flat tire? If you would like to learn this valuable and necessary skill you’re in luck. Micky McDowell is teaching a free flat tire repair clinic at The Bike Smith in downtown Carson City. He will demonstrate wheel removal, how to locate the source of the flat, how to repair the flat, and how to reinstall the wheel. All without looking like a grease monkey. If possible, travel to the clinic by bike, and bring a friend.

Bike to Work Week Corporate Challenge May 16 – 20

There is still time to register for this fun event. To register please send your team name, number of employees, and contact info to: corporatechallengecc@gmail.com

The Jeff’s during Bike Party Half Time

Muscle Powered Road Rides to Begin

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jeff Moser

The Muscle Powered Road Rides are back for 2011! The rides will start out easy and gradually pick up speed as the season progresses.

Muscle Powered Road Ride in Washoe Valley

Rides will be canceled if it’s raining or snowing, so be sure to call ride co-leaders Kelly Clark at 315-2719 or Paul Zatarain at 775 513-6335 for more information. We will do our best to update this blog for schedule changes as well.

The first ride will be this weekend on April 9th.

12 noon start time.
Carson Loop, 27 mile loop of Carson City.
Meet at Bike Habitat, next to Best Buy off Topsy Lane in north Douglas County along Highway 395.

Stay tuned for a full ride calendar. Also, see the calendar page, and follow Muscle Powered on Facebook!

Due to insurance requirements, these rides are for Muscle Powered members only.

The annual membership fees are as follows, and are good for the calendar year. If you paid in June or after of 2010, you are still currently a member! Ride leaders can sign you up before the ride.

$10 for Senior/Student
$15 for individual
$20 for family

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Bicycle News, Culture, and Lifestyle in Carson City, Nevada

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