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Now open: Tahoe Trail Buffet |
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Written by By Seth Lightcap
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008 |
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 Gotta love the year around Tahoe adventure feast. When the snow begins to rot on the vine the first sprouts of singletrack shoot through the soil. Playing and training around the Tahoe area is like changing courses at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Just grab a different utensil and belly back up to the table for another heaping helping of fun.
After three weeks of balmy sunshine, mouthwatering mountain bike trails are definitely the “fresh catch “ on the local menu. Though a decent snowpack still has many favorite rides flash-frozen, there are a few low-elevation gems that are cleaned and gutted, ripe to ride.
To tease your two-wheel palate, here’s the lowdown on four routes already prime for pedaling. Lube those chains and slip into your chamois hungry cyclists. A dirty dinner of tacky trails is now on special. Feast now before the trail salad is all Iceberg and duff!
Emigrant Trail
The Emigrant Trail is a local favorite known for its smooth, rolling singletrack. A great choice for novices and intermediates, this out-and-back trail meanders through hills and meadows north of Truckee.
The trailhead for the Emigrant Trail is located on Hwy 89 just past the Prosser Creek bridge on the right. Leaving the parking lot, the Emigrant Trail parallels Prosser Creek before crossing a dirt road and heading Northeast towards Stampede Reservoir. Follow signs and tire tracks as the trail crosses several fire roads on it’s ten mile journey out to the reservoir. Retrace your tracks to get back to the car.
Sawtooth Ridge Trail
The Sawtooth Ridge Trail is a nine mile lollipop loop perched on the ridge overlooking the Truckee River between Truckee and Squaw Valley. Gorgeous views and ripping singletrack await Sawtooth riders as the wandering trail hugs the edge of the ridge before snaking East into the forest.
To reach the Sawtooth’s Truckee trailhead, turn right off Brockway Rd onto Ponderosa Dr, then right on Silver Fir Dr, then left on Thelin Dr. Just after turning onto Thelin Dr look for a Forest Service road on the right – “06” road. The marked trail starts .2 miles up the “06” road on the right.
Burton Creek State Park
Burton Creek State Park looms above Tahoe City and is home to a vast network of trails. Adored by XC skiers in the winter, the park offers year round fun as the gradual slopes hide wicked summer singletrack. Most lower elevation trails are melted out providing trail access just a pedal away from anywhere in Tahoe City.
To enter the trail system turn North off of Hwy 28 onto Fairway Dr in Tahoe City. Follow Fairway Dr for a quarter-mile and park at the Fairway Community Center. Climb up the 16N71 fire road to Antone meadows where you’ll find several looping trails. Make a note to remember where you came from as the braided trails are typically unmarked.
 Flume Trail
Hands down the most legendary bike trail in the Tahoe Basin, the Flume Trail in Incline Village, Nev. is a must-ride every year. The trail earns it’s coveted reputation because of unmatched views of Lake Tahoe and the challenging but realistic riding skills it demands. Cycling the Flume early season is a great way to avoid the summer crowds as lingering snow forces you to take an alternative (and more strenuous) approach.
To access, park on Hwy 28 by the old Ponderosa Ranch and begin climbing up the gated road behind the ranch - Tunnel Creek Road. Drop it into the granny as you’ll climb about 1200 ft in 2.8 miles to reach the Flume trail junction. Hang a right on the Flume and cruise for another 4.5 miles up to Marlette Lake. Turn tail and bomb back to return home. Due to cycling restrictions, the Flume trail is open to bicycles only on even days of the year.
Whether you have the need to speed, huck off objects or practice mountain biking techniques, you can have get your fix starting Memorial Day Weekend at Northstar.
For more information, visit www.NorthstaratTahoe.com.
Here are some upcoming mountain biking events at Northstar:
Downhill Mountain Bike Races
Starts June 15
Northstar Resort’s downhill terrain offers the perfect venue for this tooth rattling, downhill challenge. Registration is $30 and will be held from 8 to 9:45 a.m. in the Village at Northstar the morning of the event. Events start on Sunday, June 15. Racer lift tickets are $30 (must have proof of registration). Lifts open to competitors at 9 a.m., the first race begins at 11 a.m. Format will be a one-run race. USA Cycling license is not required but helmets are.
There are more than 20 divisions for men, women and juniors, beginner through open class. Top three in each division receive awards. Cash prize to men’s and women’s open classes and a Northstar Resort mountain bike season pass will be raffled off at each event. Raffle and awards are scheduled for one hour after final racer.
Race dates
• Sunday, June 15
• Sunday, July 20
• Sunday, August 10
• Sunday, September 14
• Sunday, October 5 - 2nd Annual Live Wire Classic
Cross-Country Bike Races (XC)
July 10-August 21
Try your luck in this fun, recreational mountain bike race for all ages and abilities every Thursday from July 10 through August 21 at Northstar. Courses are suitable for beginners through experts. Awards are given out at the conclusion of the series based on cumulative points. A generous raffle is held each week. Helmets are required.
The race fee $15 per racer or $70 for the seven race series. Registration will take place from 5 to 5:45 p.m. with the race time at 6 p.m. sharp.
Mountain Biking Tips
Being well prepared and getting the fundamentals down can make your ride that much sweeter. Here are 16 tips shared by the Northstar Mountain Bike Race Team.
1. Always check air pressure in fork shock and frame shock, which should be set up for riders weight.
2. Look ahead while riding the trail, don’t stare down right in front of you.
3. Speed can be your friend, while riding technical areas of the trail let your momentum carry you over obstacles.
4. Fit of the bike is important for efficiency. Make sure your seat tube is adjusted correctly so you don’t blow out your knees. Having the right extension will make pedaling easier.
5. Steep climbs. When getting to a technical climb position your body weight forward sitting on the nose of your seat. This positions the weight forward without spinning out your rear wheel.
6. Descending steep hills. When approaching steep hill to descend prepare by keeping your weight as far back off the saddle as possible.
7. In Tahoe the dirt can get dusty and loose in the corners. Keep a low tire pressure and check into nice knobby wide tires
8. What are your different heart rate zones and how do they prepare you for racing bikes. You have 4 zones: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Zone 1 – 2 are endurance (base building and ability to transport oxygen. Zone 3 is threshold (preparing the body to delay lactic threshold which slows you down) Zone 4 is the race zone. Training in this zone develops strength and speed.
9. What is the best time to eat before a race. 3 hours you want to have eaten so the body has properly digested the fuel and it’s ready to burn come start line time.
10. Make sure you do an ample warm up before a hard ride or race. Warm up 15-20 minutes followed by a 5-10 minute stretch of the calves, hamstrings, quads, neck, shoulders, and lower back.
11. What gear should you carry when out riding your bike? Keep a mini pump, tube, energy bar and multi-tool with a chain tool.
12. Purchase clip-less pedals. Clip-less pedals will increase power and help you get over obstacles. When you first purchase them, set at the lowest setting and ride around in an open parking lot.
13. What to consider before purchasing a bike? There many bike option models to consider. These days you have your cruzer bike, downhill bike, road bike, free ride bike, cross county bike, etc. Determine how much your going to be riding and what terrain of trails or road.
14. Don’t over train, allow time to recover nutritionally and rest wise.
15. Pick the right shoes. Bicycling shoes are all different. Go to a shop verses buying on line. They all have different toe boxes and heal boxes with different sizing. If your looking for power and efficiency pick a show that have a full carbon sole and fits snug.
16. What’s the best upgrade for your bike that shows the biggest difference? A new wheel-set. It’s amazing what a new higher end wheel-set can do. It can make the bike feel totally different in a more responsive way.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 May 2008 )
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