This year, the Sierra Cup Mountain Bike Race Series has been hugely successful in drawing lots of riders from around the area to compete in races in Nevada and California. So far, 3 of 7 races have been completed – the Pine Nut Cracker in Gardnerville, NV, the Skyline Cup near Napa, CA and the Peavine Challenge in Reno. The race series entry fees benefit a variety of local bike clubs that devote their time and energy to maintaining the trails in the area, so it’s a worthwhile way to support these organizations and to try out some trails that some of us don’t ride as regularly.
Melissa Jones
Peavine was last weekend, after being rescheduled from the original date due to rain. I went up to take part in the action, and if I had to use two words to sum up the race, it would be these: HOT and UP. The course climbed a lot up Peavine in the hot sun, and it was definitely a day to carry plenty of water. There was a water stop on the course that riders passed twice on the full lap and once on the half lap, but that was not enough, and I emptied a water bottle and most of my Camelbak.
Cortney Bloomer
I was racing the Sport Women 19-39 class, which was supposed to ride one and a half laps. The pro riders rode 2 laps, and the beginners rode 1 lap. After the first full lap, I decided I wasn’t going to be able to finish, it was so tough and I was recovering from being sick. So, I headed back to the Start/Finish area to wait and cheer on the other riders as they finished, and partake of the post-race food. There were burgers and the best watermelon ever. I don’t know if it was really the best watermelon, or if it just tasted so good because only moments earlier I thought I might suffer an untimely death from exposure out on the course! Either way, it was delicious.
Susan McElhany
Because of the hot conditions, my hat goes out to all the riders, including a few fellow Carson City riders, who were able to not only finish the race, but stand on the podium during the awards ceremony: Levi Grabow won the Sport Men 19-29 category, Brian Wallace won the Sport Men 30-39, Melissa Jones took second in Sport Women 19-39, and Susan McElhany was second in Sport Women 40+. Also, Seth Jezek was the third place rider in Junior Men 14 and under. All the riders from Carson City did a great job last weekend, and you can probably see them out riding our local trails. If you see them, ask them about their experience at the race.
I really appreciate that the mountain biking community in our area puts forth so much support for these races. The local bike shops do a great job sponsoring these events, and there is always a nice raffle at the end, so even if it’s not your day to win, place, or show, you still might go home with some nice swag. At the end of the series, a series champion will be named, too.
If you’re a rider who is looking for a way to meet other riders from around the area and push yourself on a challenging course, there are still 4 races left, and you can sign up at Bikereg.com. The remaining races are: Kirkwood Mountain Classic at Kirkwood on July 30, Sky Tavern Classic in Reno on August 14, The Great Tahoe Flume Race on September 10, and the Sawtooth Ridge Challenge on October 2.
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.
Here’s some great news from the Tahoe Bicycle Coalition! (and thank you to others who sent me the info as well)
It is Official! 2011 Amgen Tour of California in Tahoe.
The Amgen Tour of California, America’s number one professional cycling race, is coming to Tahoe to begin the 2011 tour.
The race begins on Sunday, May 15 in South Lake Tahoe and ends May 22 in Thousand Oaks.
Unique to a region and particularly Tahoe is that there will be two race starts and one finish. On the first day of the race, it will begin in South Lake Tahoe and finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe. On the second day, the race will begin from Squaw Valley USA and finish in Sacramento.
Here is the complete race schedule:
Sunday, May 15: South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort
After seeing the Sept. 1 post about the race on BikeCarson.com, I decided it would be fun to head up to Spooner and compete in the Great Tahoe Flume Race. I used to do a good bit of mountain bike racing “back East” in West Virginia where I lived before moving to Carson City a year and a half ago. I haven’t done any racing lately, but this seemed like a good excuse to get out and try a new trail and enjoy the weather, and eat cheeseburgers at the post-race bar-b-que.
Cortney on the Flume
I was a little nervous signing up for the race, because most (ok, all) of the riding I have been doing lately has been at lunch with the Jeff and Company up in Ash Canyon. Great riding, but the farthest I have been is about 12 miles, and the race was 18 miles, thus the concern that I would be able to finish. But, the Lunch Guys assured me that I would be fine, so off I went.
I arrived at Spooner about an hour before the 9:00 race start to get registered and do a little warm-up riding. The registration was done ahead of time online, so it didn’t take long to sign the waiver and get my race shirt. Then, all I had to do was wait for the start, which seemed like forever. I was racing in the Sport Women class, so we started at 9:03 after the Pros, Experts, and Sport Men had already taken off.
The race started with a 4-mile climb up to the saddle above Marlette Lake. Lots of climbing right off the bat! I felt strong on this climb, but that would not last the whole race. Next, the course dropped down around Marlette Lake and onto the famous Flume Trail. People keep telling me the view from the Flume trail is nice, but I wouldn’t know because I didn’t have time to stop and look. There were other riders on my tail, and I was pedaling as fast as I could in the big chain ring. It was probably for the best, because I may have fainted if I had time to look over the edge to Lake Tahoe. Since I was riding in the big chain ring, my legs had little chance to recover before making the next climb up Tunnel Creek Road. This was no good, because I hit a rock and spun my tires during the climb, but I was too tired to correct the bike and I had to get off. I got passed by 2 people. Bummer. But it was for the best, because while I was stopped, I had a snack, which gave me some extra energy for the next climb. At the top of Tunnel Creek was a water stop, but since I had plenty of water in my CamelBak, I just poured a cup of water over my head. Refreshing.
I wish someone would have told me that there was a sandy DOWNHILL of DOOM coming up, because I am not very good at riding in the sand, and my bike was fish-tailing all over the place. This downhill to the Red House Flume was the scariest part of the course. I rode VERY conservatively down this hill because I did not want to wreck.
Podium!
Jeff warned me during our lunch ride on Friday about Sunflower Hill. He told me that it seems that you are at the top, but that it keeps going. He was right. This climb seemed as though it would never end! It was a good opportunity to use my climbing skills though, and I was able to pass 3 people in this section. Hurrah! I was very happy when I got to the top. From there, it was just one more downhill, and then the climb back to the saddle above Marlette Lake. After 2 hrs and 24 minutes, I was finished, and I even got 2nd place in my category.
Since the race finished at the top of the hill, not back at the parking lot, we had an easy 4 mile cruise back down the hill, where hotdogs and cheeseburgers awaited the arrival of hungry racers. I had both. And a brownie. To wrap up the day, there were awards, both for the race and for the overall Nevada Cup series. Then there was a raffle. I think everyone that stuck around won a prize of some sort.
Post race prizes
Overall, my impression of this was that it was a very well-put together event. The course was challenging, but not impossible, and was very well-marked with arrows and streamers all along the route. Also, course marshals were stationed at every intersection to help and give directions if necessary. Thanks to the Reno Wheelmen for organizing it. This race was a fund-raiser for the Bike Patrol, thanks to them as well for keeping the trails safe for users. Hopefully this is the end of a long hiatus for this race. Can’t wait for next year!
Full results can be found on this PDF from the Reno Wheelmen’s site HERE. (Thank you for finding the link, Scott!)
I couldn’t find a name to credit the photography, but I found the photos HERE. (Thanks for the photo tip, Dusty!)
“Some say it was Bigfoot, but the socks say Lester”, says Kary Grabow who submitted this photo. Lester was part of a Carson City team that recently participated in a 24 hour race up at Kirkwood. It was said they all raced on single speed 29ers too. That’s pretty cool.
American Bicycle Association Unveils new iPhone App
August 30, 2010 – Gilbert, Arizona
The American Bicycle Association (ABA) officially unveiled their new iPhone App today. “Over 13,000 downloads of the application occurred during the 90 days of beta testing and the feedback was incredible. With technology advancing at a rapid pace, we want to stay in the forefront,” stated ABA CEO, B.A. Anderson. “For some time we have been delivering moto sheets via our wireless network at National events. Now with the new iPhone App it will be even easier.” This application is an answer to the request of many of our members. With the weekly airing of the television show on Versus, a monthly print publication, and the new iPhone app, the ABA is reaching out to audiences outside of our membership base to make every effort possible to grow the sport of BMX racing,” continued Anderson.
ABA BMX for the iPhone
The iPhone App is available as a free download at the iTunes Store. “I am sure we will be adding even more features to the app to meet the needs of our members,” said Anderson. The new ABA iPhone App includes news releases, schedules, track directory with directions, points, a current rulebook, and a direct link to moto sheets at national events.
I found the app easily on the iTunes store under ABA and gave it a test. It looks like a great app for BMXers, and handy if you’re traveling looking for new tracks.
