Bike Reno

In case you haven’t heard, there will be a fundraiser/bike race/sand castle contest/BBQ at Galena Park on Sept 27.  Detail are at www.renogalenafest.com.

With the nice weather yesterday, I decided I needed to get one last ride in and also try out my mountain bike’s new wheels and disc brakes.  White’s Creek seemed like a solid choice; close, familiar, and still a lot of fun.

The air was a little cool, but the sun was warm as I arrived in early afternoon.  The trail had solidified with the recent precipitation, but it wasn’t soggy except for a couple spots near the top.  The air was alive with the smell of pine and earth.  The creek was flowing well, but it was far too cold to dunk my head in.  Pine needles and aspen leaves littered the ground, making the trail seem much less trodden than it is.  The sun was sliding behind the mountain as I hit the Mt Rose Wilderness turnaround.  I finally got a chance to put my new brakes into use and immediately loved their smooth stopping power.  I glided down the canyon dodging rocks and trees.  Even though I was on the brakes a lot, testing them out and breaking them in, the trail ended quickly and I was back on the asphalt.

Even though it was only an hour and forty minutes doorstep to doorstep, it was a memorable ride.  I was in a good mood the rest of the day and am ready for next season.

Aside from a little haze in the air due to the fire in California, it was an ideal day.  The trail is clear of snow and is in decent condition.  There’s a new boulder here and new fallen tree there, but overall, it’s very rideable.  According to the shuttle driver, the Tahoe Rim Trail between Tunnel Creek Rd and Hobart Rd still has snow on it, so that section may not be ready for another couple weeks.