Journal    |   About the Ride   |  My Letter  |   Donate!

When I've got a bit more time, I will pull together more details about the ride but for now, some links will have to do:

BikeTheWest.com is the 'official site' and has some good info to start.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Association has last years press release from the event.

Links will open in a new window

I am somewhat surprised at how little I have found online. I expected to find lots of photo journals. I will keep looking online and I will be sure to create one after my ride.

I was surprised to discover that the loop around the lake is actually only 72 miles. They add a little sidetrip out to 'historic' Truckee and back to make the complete 100 mile trip.

A 100 mile ride, referred to as a 'century' is a common cycling goal, often equated with running a marathon. I've actually ridden the distance many times in the past, a few time within 'official' events but mostly just on my own, (including once on a mountain bike fully loaded with camping gear). I am not too concerned about preparing for the distance, I know what level of conditioning my body needs to be in to go the distance (no, I'm not there yet). I am also not too worried about the climbs. There are two considerable climbs in the Tahoe ride, but I've done much steeper and longer climbs back in the Blue Ridge Mts outside C'ville. What I am concerned about is the altitude. The average elevation for the ride is around 6200 ft. above sea level. The air is thinner, there is less oxygen. Not a big concern for walking around the casinos, but potentially a challenge for aerobic activities like a 100 mile ride and I will have little time to acclimate as I will arrive at the altitude less than 24 hrs before the start of the ride. It's not a huge concern but it warrants being just that much more in condition for the ride.