Last year my wife and I completed our first 100 mile ride around like Tahoe, it’s called America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride…except last year due to the weather it was anything but. We came back to do it again and this time it truly earned it’s name…what a beautiful ride (although this time we only did the 72 mile ride).
We were up with a few of our friends and all headed out at 6:30am from our house in the Tahoe Keys to join the ride, there were already lots of people ahead of us as we joined highway 89 heading to Emerald Bay and the first climb. It was already light and the sky was blue and the temperature was quite pleasant.
The first climb up the zig zag road to Emerald Bay went without a hitch, from there it was downhill and onto to a few rollers and a mostly flat ride to Tahoe City. For those doing the 100 mile ride there’s the out-and-back to Truckee…we all decided just to enjoy the day and left the crowds behind as we continued around the lake for the 72 mile ride.
From Tahoe City it’s mostly easy climbs to the half way mark at Kings Beach and a rest stop with music, sandwiches and a sandy beach. I was really enjoying the ride and feeling strong as we headed out to Incline Village and then the 9 mile climb up to Spooner’s Summit at 7,000 feet.
From Spooner’s it’s a long, windy downhill and then all that’s left are rolling hills, through Cave Rock and into South Lake Tahoe and the finish…although our finish was another 5 miles or so away at our house in the Tahoe Keys. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a ride as much as this, it was breathtaking at times to be pushing hard on the bike while taking in the scenery as it flashes by…truly magical!
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