Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

July 2, 2003

At the end of last summer I fell in love with mountain biking in the Lake Tahoe area. The summertime weather, views and riding can't be beat. Every day is perfect. I had pretty much mastered the Rim Trail but my knees went out for about two months in the fall. I've been patiently awaiting the melting of the snow for quite some time. Sometimes we build up things in our minds and then we are disappointed. However, it was even better than I remembered. The Rim Trail is certainly challenging but very rewarding. There are some good drop offs, great downhill's, and very challenging uphills. I consider myself mostly a XC'er and aerobic enthusiast and there is plenty to satisfy me. And after all the hard work the Flume Trail is a nice relaxing reward. Neil was hiking all week in the region so I brought his bike up and we did my 34 miler: Rim Trail from Mt. Rose to Marlette Lake (up the switchbacks), up and then back down the Flume Trail to Spooner Lake. 

The weather was spectacular, dry, perhaps 68 degrees (20 C), and clear blue skies. There were, however, some pretty strong wind gusts on the ridge tops but almost none on the exposed Flume Trail. Since it was a weekday we had most of the trails to ourselves, even the heavily touristy Flume Trail. I did pretty well, clearing virtually every drop off and I had no spills. Even the mostly hike-a-bike up the switchbacks didn't seem quite as difficult as I remembered. But it was still a killer. The ride down the other side, however, makes it well worthwhile. Neil is in pretty good shape, he has excellent technical skills and he pulled me along fairly quickly. He cleared some amazing uphill rock climbs. He is also very good at keeping close so we got some great video footage. We were flying down the Rim Trail near Hobart Road trying to get some good video footage. I was getting tired and we hit a level area so I said stop. Just as we stopped we looked up and a good sized bear was coming at us, on the trail, from around a corner. If we had not stopped we would have hit him in just a few seconds! It would have been a cool video if we survived. 

The Hobart Road descent was fast and sandy as usual. It took me a while to trust myself with the advice of someone I met on the Rim Trail last summer. Get way back on the bike, stay off the brakes, and let the front wheel float through the sand. It works but it is really scary when you are going really fast. As we neared the Flume Trail I thought we got lost because the road ended in Marlette Lake! After a few seconds I realized that the water was just way up over the road. There was no way for me to hike around it so we just splashed on through. It was kind of fun and we went quite a bit faster through it on the return (it's on the end of the Flume Trail video). The Flume Trail was as spectacular as ever and we attacked it rather aggressively to get some good video footage. However, it was quite sandy in spots and after a too close call with the edge of the cliff I became much less cocky. 

We still got some amazing footage, perhaps the best I've ever gotten. Removing the lens cover on the lipstick cam not only ended the fogging problem forever, but it has also really brought out the colors and also eliminated a slight hazy look I can now see in my earlier movies. After about 30 miles we reached the fire road back to Spooner Lake and we felt it a bit in our legs. However, the half mile climb went a lot faster than I remembered. After that we really flew down the last four miles, going much faster than I've ever gone before. Again, the brain rear shock performed magnificently. Not a hint of a sore lower back like I used to get. I can't wait to go back as soon as the knees have rested a bit. Here is the route map. Here is the official State Park Map (does not include the upper Rim Trial).

On a little pre-ride at New Melones (GH) a few days ago I broke my chain, which broke my rear derailleur, and damaged my chainstay. My LBS, World of Wheels, and Specialized got on it right away and I picked up the repaired bike on the way out of town. In the process I got the newest XTR rear derailleur, which shifts the opposite of my old one. It didn't take long to get used to it but on the few rare occasions when I had to react, rather than think, I shifted into the wrong gear. 

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