On October 1st, Nevada State Parks in cooperation with the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Backcounrty Patrol, the Reno Wheelmen, and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) hosted a nationwide celebration known as Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, supported by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
The event was held up at Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park near Spooner Lake, and entrance to the park was free for participants. The staging area was near Flume Trail Bikes in the picnic area. A registration tent was set up where the kids checked in and got some bicycle goody bags, and there were a couple skills courses nearby in the trees so the kids could get some practice in before heading out on the trail.
We joined a group led by the Bike Patrol for a lap around Spooner Lake. Boys and girls of all ages took to the trail, a rolling loop that’s just over 2 miles with just the right amount of difficulty for beginners. Along the trail there are a few bridges, boardwalks, and rocks to test technical skills, and short climbs and descents to practice shifting. There were mountain bikes, BMX racing bikes with skinny pizza cutter tires, and even Walmart freestyle BMX bikes with pegs on the axles. It didn’t seem to matter what each kid was riding. They all tried hard and did great.
After the lap around Spooner Lake, we hit the skills course, doing a few laps through the slalom cones in the woods. We were still craving some more riding though, so we rode out to Spencer’s Cabin, an old cattleman’s cabin built in the 1920s. After some rest and play around the cabin, we had some fun downhill back to the parking area.
A big thanks goes out to all the groups that put on this event! I thought it was very worthwhile, and hopefully it introduced a few kids to the joys of mountain biking. The loop around the lake is great, and is interesting enough to do multiple laps. By utilizing the Spooner Lake trail and the road leading up to North Canyon, young mountain bikers can get some good riding in without having to do any extended climbing. The picnic area and other facilities at the parking area make a great family hangout as well.
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event on October 1st
Nevada State Parks in cooperation with the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Backcounrty Patrol, the Reno Wheelmen, and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) will host young riders, ages 6 to 16, for a youth mountain biking event. The ride is part of a nationwide celebration known as Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, supported by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
The event occurs on Saturday, October 1, beginning at 9:30 am at the Spooner Lake entrance of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. Participants must bring a bike and helmet and a parent or guardian to sign the participation form. Parents and friends are welcome and encouraged to ride, too. There is no fee for the event, however there is an entrance fee to access the state park.
There will be safe riding information, bike safety checks, riding tips, and informal skill clinics. Groups of kids with similar skills will then be taken on the beginner trail around Spooner Lake by experienced bike patrol members. Goodie bags will be given to the first 50 kids to show up.
IMBA’s International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebrates the life of Jack Doub, an avid teenage mountain biker from North Carolina who had a true passion for the sport from an early age to the time when he passed away in 2002. Event funding is provided by the Jack Doub Memorial Endowment. Additional support comes from CLIF Kids, the National Park Service and Smartwool.
Additional assistance for the celebration is provided by Trips for Kids, an organization that has been helping disadvantaged kids discover mountain biking since 1988. Trips for Kids chapters nationwide make a difference in kids’ lives by opening their world to mountain biking.
Additional Information
e-mail: info@tahoebikepatrol.org
Kevin Joell: 775-233-5419
Toby Welborn: 775-815-9398
The Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Backcountry Patrol offers a valuable service to all trail users as ambassadors to both the sport of mountain biking and the Tahoe area. The most common assistance provided is answering questions about the park history, trail recommendations, or riding etiquette; but the patrollers are also ready to fix a flat tire, bandage a wound, or assist with an emergency evacuation. The all volunteer patrol is in its tenth year of service. It is an International Mountain Bicycling Association affiliated National Mountain Bike Patrol, and one of the largest chapters in the country.
Back on July 14th, I had the opportunity to guide a cycling photoshoot of Lake Tahoe for German magazine, RoadBike (http://www.roadbike.de/). They were in the area to explore and take photos for a story on Lake Tahoe as a bicycle travel destination. When the Nevada Commission on Tourism presented me with the idea of being the guide for this, I wasn’t sure what to say. Although I do love road bikes, I don’t have the time to ride them as much as I’d like with all the mountain biking I do. I don’t have much in the way of roadie looking clothes, and I don’t shave my legs either. I mulled it over. I’ve led many a friend up into the surrounding mountains, and all have returned alive and mostly undamaged. I like to take photos, I love bicycles, and I’ve lived in the area my whole life, so I figured why not me? I decided to take the job.
The Germans were smaller than I had imagined
I arrived up at the Mont Bleu Hotel Casino at Stateline on what was shaping up to be a fine morning. I was supposed to call upon my arrival, so I got my phone out and punched in that long international number. “I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed to dial this number from this line.” Great! Prompt German efficiency was about to meet lackadaisical Carson City bumpkin. I rode around the parking lot for a bit, hoping I’d catch someone’s eye, but then thankfully my phone rang, and they were just around the corner in front of the casino.
Björn Hänssler takes the higher ground
When I pulled around front, I found writer for the magazine Felix Krakow, and freelance photographer Björn Hänssler waiting patiently for me. Thankfully they were distracted by one of the many large bike sculptures erected for the Lake Tahoe Tour of California stage (that almost happened). As Felix was climbing up onto the giant bike for some silly photos, the nervousness melted away, and I knew it was going to be a fun day. And in addition to me being the guide for the day, I was to appear in almost all of the photos.
Felix Krakow says he’s OK with Emerald Bay
After we made our introductions, I was surprised to hear how well these two Germans spoke English. They spoke better English than many Americans I hear on a daily basis. I think I was expecting to hear thick accents as well, something similar to what you might hear in an Indiana Jones movie. The accents were very subtle though. Someone from Alabama or New England would have been more noticeable. I heard plenty of German throughout the day though, and usually when Björn wanted Felix to know exactly how he wanted the next shot to go. Things just sound more authoritative in German.
Björn gets some photos of the latest Specialized wheels
The east side of the Lake was still mostly in the morning shadows, so we loaded up the van, and headed around the south side of the lake to Emerald Bay. We didn’t ride from place to place, but we did get a fair deal of riding in at each location. We spent a lot of time riding up the climbs and and bombing down the corners around Emerald Bay, each time Björn having us try something different.
I feel that I take some pretty decent photos, but I wouldn’t go as far as to title myself a photographer. Björn was a pro. He had some really good ideas, and was not a bit afraid to get into a good position to shoot, no matter how dangerous it was. “Maybe I could climb that tree…”, he’d say, and many a cliff was scaled to get a good position above the bikes that included panoramic scenes of Lake Tahoe. Sitting on the shoulder as giant RVs skimmed me was far less scary than watching him climb the loose rocky shale to dig his heels in on a precipice above the road. Sometimes I couldn’t even watch.
Mount Rose Summit
After getting great shots at Emerald Bay, we drove north to the area around Kaspian Campground, just south of Tahoe City. The road and bike path come very close to the road here, and in the case of the bike path, just inches. Before hitting the bike path, we spent some time on a private dock. Björn wanted some shots of Felix and I relaxing and taking a break from our grueling trek around the lake, including soaking our tired bare feet in the water. A guy had just got done telling us that the water was 10 degrees cooler than it normally is this time of year due to the extended snow. The water was freezing! Felix and I were just about in tears by the time Björn was done taking all his shots. I have a new respect for models now. It’s not as easy as you may think.
A touching moment
Next we got several shots on the bike path where it brushes the shore of the lake. Björn had Felix and I racing up the path, and each time we were supposed to get closer together and further to the right. I was sure we were going to lock bars and go flying over the rock embankment, but we finally got it right!
It was approaching noon, and it was time to take a break. We were starving, but more importantly, the light wasn’t ideal for photography. This was funny to me, because high noon is when I take most of my cycling pictures. Not by choice really, but it’s when I usually get a break to ride. We drove through Tahoe City, and Felix finally picked Rosie’s Cafe. His bike senses must have been tingling, because inside we found the restaurant decorated with all sorts of old bikes! We had a good lunch, but were actually still at work. Björn wanted to get photos of us enjoying some Sierra NV Pale Ale and eating large portions of American fare.
Sorry folks, park’s closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya.
After lunch, the sun was in the right position again, and the next stop was the Mount Rose Summit for some mountain shots. As we rode back and forth across the summit for photos, I wondered if passersby thought I was heroic for scaling the 8,900 foot high mountain pass on my bicycle. In reality though, I still had a full water bottle, and not a drop of sweat on my brow. Our little secret. We hit a couple more spots for photos on the way down. Björn drove the van, while Felix and I got to descend on our bikes. There was a bit of a headwind, but we still managed speeds close to 40 mph for a fun descent.
Late afternoon shimmering water
The Germans were interested in visiting the Ponderosa Ranch, the movie set from the old TV series Bonanza. This surprised me, because the show officially ended in 1973, and the ranch has been closed as a tourist destination for so long that I almost forgot about it. The show must have really made a world-wide impact! We hiked down to the entrance, but were stopped when we got to the end of the parking lot. Cameras, double rows of fencing, and spiked gates surrounded the mock town. Whatever is left in there, they don’t want you looking at it. We moved on to the Sand Harbor area instead for the next series of photographs. This was the most dangerous spot for photos, since the traffic is fairly fast, and the road is twisty which prevented the motorists from seeing us until the very last second. This area will be a lot nicer when the Stateline to Stateline off-highway bikeway is completed sometime in the future.
Björn and Felix reviewing the Cave Rock photos
We finished off our photoshoot with some pictures at Cave Rock. Thankfully Björn was not insistent that Felix and I ride the tunnels. We instead rode on the south side of the massive rock, using it as a backdrop. We finally loaded the van one last time and returned to the Mont Bleu where we parted ways. The Germans had a long day ahead of them on Friday, first driving to San Francisco, then flying non-stop back to Hamburg.
In the end I think we got some great photos for the magazine that will really show off our beautiful area and encourage international cycling tourism. The article will be in the magazine later this year, or possibly as late as next year. It was also great to meet these two guys, and it’s my hope they come out again soon for some more riding. Maybe even a mountain bike tour of Lake Tahoe!
When: 06.12.11. 12:00 sign-up, 1:00 start. Where: Tudor Pub, 1041 Fremont Ave, South Lake Tahoe (Note: Pub may be under new name and ownership now). MAP HERE. What: Poker Run bicycle cruise. BBQ is included for all participants. Events and prizes galore!
Bikes at the Tudor Pub
From the Slow Rollers Site:
Nothing like sitting your rear end on a chromed-out one-seater Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer barstool you won for a measly raffle ticket (if you get lucky, could be a two-seater). Or skate your way through the opening days of summer with a Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer skateboard you won for a measly raffle ticket. This year we added Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer hats to randomly through into the crowd like guitar picks at a rock concert. You know you want one. As always, your raffle tickets support the Slow Rollers Bikes for Children program. We’ll also give away an SE OM Flyer 26″ Blue BMX bike for the best hand in the annual Slow Rollers Poker Run and probably something more than recognition for the Show & Shine winner. The longest skid contest winner will get nothing. That’s right, nothing. We’re considering bragging rights and a trophy girl, or boy. So, to get a Slow Rollers World Series of Poker bracelet (SRWSOP), you’ll have to skid in on the shiniest bike with the best poker cards in one hand and a fistful of raffle tickets in the other hand. No problem. Just another day on a cruiser.
The Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park Backcountry Patrol organization is re cruiting for new patrol lers to serve in the 2011 season.
The volunteer patrollers offer a valuable service to all trail users as ambassadors to both the sport of mountain biking and the Tahoe area.
Brian Gurd riding the Tahoe Rim Trail above Marlette Lake
Currently in its 10th year of operation, and recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization, the patrol is part of the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s National Mountain Bike Patrol program.
The 20 or so active patrollers are responsible for approximately 2,000 contacts during the summer season. These are usually questions about the park history, trail recommendations or riding etiquette, but the patrollers are also ready to fix a flat tire, bandage a wound or assist with an emergency evacuation.
The patrol operates primarily out of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on the East Shore, including the world famous Flume Trail.
The patrol also partners with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to cover other areas of the Tahoe Rim Trail around the lake.
Training for new patrol lers has been scheduled for orientation on April 30 and field training on June 18.
There will also be First Aid/CPR training available for those that need it.
The organization relies on donations, grants and special events such as the TRT Ultra Marathon and the Great Tahoe Flume Race for funding.
For more information on becoming a patroller or supporting the patrol, please visit www.tahoebikepatrol.org or e-mail info@tahoebikepatrol.org.
If you’ve ever been interested in the effort that goes into constructing the trails that we frequently enjoy, from working with land managers to working in the field, then this trail building class is for you.
The International Mountain Bike Association Trail Care Crew, with assistance from the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, Carson Valley Trails Association, and the USFS, is coming to our area to offer a trail building weekend that is open to the public. This is a great opportunity to learn from the pros:
Subaru/International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Care Crew Coming to South Lake Tahoe, California
Expert team will join TAMBA to teach sustainable trail building
South Lake Tahoe, CA: April 8-10 – The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in South Lake Tahoe, from April 8th through the 10th to talk trails, how to work more effectively with your area land managers, and how to improve the overall economic and social health of our community by creating more riding opportunities. The visit is one of about 70 stops on the 2011 schedule. Everyone is invited to attend the weekend’s events.
The award-winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program includes two full-time, professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading IMBA Trail building Schools, meeting with government officials and land managers and working with IMBA-affiliated groups to improve local mountain biking opportunities. IMBA’s crews have led more than 1,000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997.
With the abundance of spring snow, the crew will spend the first day in the classroom on Friday. In collaboration with the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA), topics will include Land Manager Training, Better Living Though Trails, and Club Care Advocacy. These presentations will teach and advocate the health, economic, and social benefits of trails within our community. Weather permitting, Saturday’s session will culminate in a trip to the Carson Valley to break ground on a new trail that will ultimately connect the Tahoe Rim Trail with the town of Genoa. The crew will spend the morning teaching attendees about the proper techniques of trail building with actual hands-on trail work in the afternoon.
The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program has inspired great volunteer trail work across the U.S. and abroad – a big help to government agencies and land managers who have limited funding for trail construction and upkeep. As a direct result, there are now thousands of new and improved trails in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and several European countries.
The Trail Care Crews teach “sustainable” trail building, which means building lasting trails that require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment and enhances visitor enjoyment.
The Crews travel in new Subaru Outbacks provided by Subaru of America. The company has been IMBA’s leading sponsor since 1997.
All are welcome to join the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders when they come to town. Below is a schedule of events that are open to the public:
Friday, April 8: 12:30 – 5:00 pm; USFS conference room, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe
-TAMBA presentation – “Who we are and what we’ll do”
-Land Manager training.
-Better Living Through Trails
-Club Care presentation (time allowing)
6:00pm -Social event at the Divided Sky in Meyers
Saturday, April 9: 9:00am – 12:00 pm; USFS, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe
-Trail Building classroom session.
1:00 – 4:00 pm – trail construction on the Carson Valley trail outside of Genoa.
Sunday, April 10
-Group mountain bike ride in the Carson Valley. Specifics TBA.
Here is some exciting news I found over onCarsonNOW.org. What a great addition to May’s Bike Month celebration!
Organizers of the the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in North America, announced today the Stage 1 and Stage 2 race routes for Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race as the official Overall Start is Sunday, May 15 and begins at South Lake Tahoe at 6,300 feet, the highest start elevation in the six-year history of the competition. Stage 1 wraps up in North Lake Tahoe at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, with the Stage 2 Start taking place nearby at Squaw Valley USA on Monday, May 16.
Cyclists will begin at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa on the California/Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. The peloton will loop past Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course around Heavenly Village, past the starting line again and onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Highway 50) through the casino corridor then clockwise around the 72-mile perimeter of Lake Tahoe.
Riders will gain 700 feet in elevation as they wind up switchbacks on the West Shore. Upon reaching the top of scenic Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed places in the world and the first of three King of the Mountain finishes, they will descend 500 feet while exceeding speeds of 40 miles per hour until the flats of Homewood, home to Lake Tahoe’s oldest marina. Athletes will cruise along the historic West Shore, making their way to North Lake Tahoe and the heart of downtown Tahoe City and then onto Kings Beach.
Cyclists will leave the California side of the lake and enter Nevada, the first out-of-state course for the Tour, and pass through Incline Village. The group will skirt by spectacular Sand Harbor State Park and the legendary Thunderbird Lodge along the East Shore at lake level before a long and steady 1,000-foot ascent to Spooner Summit at an elevation of 7,150 feet.
Speeds here will increase to 45 miles per hour as they descend back toward the lake and through the tunnel at Cave Rock. Racers will then pass Zephyr Cove Resort, returning to Stateline, Nevada, the scene of the overall start.
After crossing the state line and back into California at South Shore, the peloton returns to Emerald Bay with its remarkable views and the second King of the Mountain finish. Here some riders may gain separation from the pack before their second descent onto the West Shore.
After passing Tahoe City for a second time, there’s a short ascent to Dollar Point before turning left up Brockway Summit (Highway 267) at North Lake Tahoe to 7,000 feet and one last chance for the climbers to dictate the race outcome with the third and final King of the Mountain finish. After cresting the summit, the lead group plunges down a rapid descent into a hard left turn onto Northstar Drive, where both sprinters and climbers will set-up for a high-speed blast to the finish line at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.
The spectator-packed finish line is also home to the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival, which features a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food and entertainment. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will also host a Break Away from Cancer Walk on Sunday, May 15.
Upon completing Stage 1, competitors will have ridden a lap-and-a-half around Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the country, conquering 119 miles and three mountains passes in approximately five hours and a total elevation gain of 5,500 feet.
North Lake Tahoe will host the Stage 2 Start of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California at Squaw Valley USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the following morning, Monday, May 16. The action starts directly under the historic Olympic rings at the center of the Village at Squaw Valley with riders peddling the cobbled corridors before turning onto Squaw Valley Road and then descending to the Olympic Flame entrance and a left-hand turn onto Highway 89.
The peloton will follow the picturesque Truckee River corridor as they make their way on Highway 89 toward Truckee and through the two roundabouts near the Interstate 80 overpass. Riders will then turn left onto historic Donner Pass Road before riding the ramp over Interstate 80 and past Donner Memorial State Park, home to the infamous Donner Party.
The pack will continue along the northern shoreline of Donner Lake as they make their approach to the steeps of Old Highway 40 on their way to Donner Summit and the day’s first King of the Mountain finish. With some of the best views of the approaching riders and Donner Lake far below, this spot is sure to jammed-packed with enthusiastic spectators.
From there, athletes speed pass Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, Donner Ranch Ski Resort and Soda Springs Ski Resort and descend into California’s Gold Country via Highway 20 and the finish line for Stage 2 at the Sacramento State Capitol.
“Lake Tahoe is pulling out all the stops to provide cyclists and spectators with an unforgettable experience,” said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “This is our golden opportunity to make our mark on the cycling community, and businesses and organizations are eager to welcome the thousands of visitors who will be traveling to the lake, many for the first-time ever.”
“Hosting the overall start in South Shore will not only provide economic impact this year and beyond, but it will also further brand Lake Tahoe as a ‘must ride’ biking destination,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
Beginning with the inaugural race in 2006, the Amgen Tour of Californiaquickly became the most successful race in the United States with economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the level of competition. The race also set records in attendance for a single sporting event in California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil, with more than 2 million spectators in previous years.
The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority are spearheading promotional and sponsorship efforts for the Lake Tahoe Stage 1 Start, Stage 1 Finish and Stage 2 Start, and serve on the Amgen Tour of California Lake Tahoe Local Organizing Committee. Stage 1 of the race is presented by Michelob Ultra, and Stage 2 is presented by the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC).
In previous years, the race has drawn some of the world’s most recognizable and respected riders, such as top Tour de France competitors, world champions and Olympic medalists including Lance Armstrong, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Paolo Bettini, Fabian Cancellara, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Mark Cavendish and Andy Schleck.
The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will cover 800 miles and visit 15 Host Cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling.
Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:
Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort
Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA to Sacramento
Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto
Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose
Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside toPaso Robles
Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial
Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy
Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks
For best viewing points, where to catch the riders up close, a complete list of events (including the Tahoe 10-Day Countdown leading up to the race) and lodging accommodations, click to www.TahoeAmgenTourofCalifornia, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For details about the Tour, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
