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As the nights get a little cooler, precious moisture fills the air and settles into the moon dust — and more importantly, our trails become ideal for knobby adventures on our fabled single-track, much of which is largely unknown and coveted.
If you've been starving yourself of riding mountain bikes this summer, spending the majority of your time on pavement huddled in tight packs of type-A's watching your training numbers and the like, mix it up by dusting off your mountain bike and hang on for single-track bliss in your own back yard.
Recently, I road the Emigrant on my single speed, ditched the heart-rate monitor and was instantly reminded why I call Truckee home. The close proximity to endless epic riding exists in every neighboring community, and with little effort you can link trail after trail for an all-out, top-of-your-lungs WAHOO!
The fall season in Tahoe is the most sought-after time to hit the dirt if you've saved enough gas in the tank from all the wonderful summer activity that life in the area affords us. Join me on the trails among the whistling chickadees, soaring hawks and mountain bikers. Fall trail riding should not be missed.
Tear out the top-five checklist below and take advantage of the calm times by rolling out of your garage on a different type of adventure — one you will hold close to your heart as the snow begins to fall:
1. Ditch the car and ride from your garage. There are single-track routes from almost every neighborhood in Truckee. With a little tire -track spotting and adventurous sense, you can find amazing trails. Get out there and create your own “Homerun” right from your garage. Or, if you have your routes dialed in, share one with your neighbors.
2. Work on your skills: Find a nice lawn (the middle school will work) and pedal over it wearing normal shoes. Ride on the lawn and learn how to pop a wheelie or perfect your wheelie prowess. This will dramatically improve your balance, and bike-handling awareness. Also, it will make that pesky little log-crossing that much easier and enjoyable.
3. Ride your bike to the office or job site once per week. OK, most of us have done this. But if not, do it, and organize your co-workers to meet you along the way. Call it “Thank God It's Bike Fridays” (TGIBF). Wear your Aloha shirts and don't forget your helmet. Helmets saved me and my teammates' lives this year, for real.
4. Don't miss our last fun, epic group ride of the year. Details are available at Cyclepaths Bike Shop or on the team bulletin outside of Wild Cherries Coffee House.
5. Ride high above town either on Hole in the Ground trail, Mt. Rose to Marlette Lake, Donner Rim Trail above TD or the Bob Watson Loop. Wildflowers are still blooming up high, and you can see a plethora of wildlife in the distance: bears, hawks and much more.
Follow my single track adventures or share your with me at twitter.com/chappawitz. I hope to see you on the trails; hopefully not on the road.
— Team rider Matt Chappell is the author of this week's Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing column. Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing is a Truckee-based cycling team focused on racing and local bike advocacy. For more information, results and upcoming events, visit www.cwcracing.org.
If you've been starving yourself of riding mountain bikes this summer, spending the majority of your time on pavement huddled in tight packs of type-A's watching your training numbers and the like, mix it up by dusting off your mountain bike and hang on for single-track bliss in your own back yard.
Recently, I road the Emigrant on my single speed, ditched the heart-rate monitor and was instantly reminded why I call Truckee home. The close proximity to endless epic riding exists in every neighboring community, and with little effort you can link trail after trail for an all-out, top-of-your-lungs WAHOO!
The fall season in Tahoe is the most sought-after time to hit the dirt if you've saved enough gas in the tank from all the wonderful summer activity that life in the area affords us. Join me on the trails among the whistling chickadees, soaring hawks and mountain bikers. Fall trail riding should not be missed.
Tear out the top-five checklist below and take advantage of the calm times by rolling out of your garage on a different type of adventure — one you will hold close to your heart as the snow begins to fall:
1. Ditch the car and ride from your garage. There are single-track routes from almost every neighborhood in Truckee. With a little tire -track spotting and adventurous sense, you can find amazing trails. Get out there and create your own “Homerun” right from your garage. Or, if you have your routes dialed in, share one with your neighbors.
2. Work on your skills: Find a nice lawn (the middle school will work) and pedal over it wearing normal shoes. Ride on the lawn and learn how to pop a wheelie or perfect your wheelie prowess. This will dramatically improve your balance, and bike-handling awareness. Also, it will make that pesky little log-crossing that much easier and enjoyable.
3. Ride your bike to the office or job site once per week. OK, most of us have done this. But if not, do it, and organize your co-workers to meet you along the way. Call it “Thank God It's Bike Fridays” (TGIBF). Wear your Aloha shirts and don't forget your helmet. Helmets saved me and my teammates' lives this year, for real.
4. Don't miss our last fun, epic group ride of the year. Details are available at Cyclepaths Bike Shop or on the team bulletin outside of Wild Cherries Coffee House.
5. Ride high above town either on Hole in the Ground trail, Mt. Rose to Marlette Lake, Donner Rim Trail above TD or the Bob Watson Loop. Wildflowers are still blooming up high, and you can see a plethora of wildlife in the distance: bears, hawks and much more.
Follow my single track adventures or share your with me at twitter.com/chappawitz. I hope to see you on the trails; hopefully not on the road.
— Team rider Matt Chappell is the author of this week's Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing column. Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing is a Truckee-based cycling team focused on racing and local bike advocacy. For more information, results and upcoming events, visit www.cwcracing.org.
