Escape on Ebbetts!

The California Wildfire's are really a mess. Here in Reno, we are even feeling their pain, with smokey skies. Lately, some days I wake up and it looks like we are in the LA smog, especially if the wind is coming from the West. My beloved golden state is on fire, and is more the "crispy-charbroiled" state of late!

But actually, my state these days is Nevada. Hot, dry Nevada. And Mike and I were both in need of a different kind of pain. The kind only felt when pedaling over 9,000' mountain passes on our beloved 2 wheels. With our Belgian Bike supplier in town, we thought we would treat him to some of the nicest bicycle riding in the West! So we borrowed our bosses bike and headed over to a friend's house and the four of us headed to Markleeville, in hopes of clearer skies and a day of pain and suffering. In other words, Heaven on a bike!

When we arrived, the skies were already bluer, and while it was HOT...it was dry. Our Belgian supplier opted out of the day of pain, and decided to chill out in town instead. But we could not be kept from our rides, so we bid him farewell (even though I felt a bit guilty leaving him...I forgot what these passes might look like to lowlander!) and headed out on rides. Before everyone starts thinking I am a bad host, this is an American guy, living in Belgium, and it was his idea to go on this ride...and we had driven an hour. Markleeville is a quaint little town, and there are worse places to be stuck on a sunny Saturday.

Oh my gosh it felt good to be pedaling by myself in the altitude, pain inducing climbs of Alpine County. All the Death Rider's were out training for the upcoming "ride of pain" and so I had company. I ended up riding up with some guys who were customer's of my old digs, Palo Alto Bicycles. I should have known with all the fancy bike gear and clothing! But mostly this was the first chance I have had for "my time". I was a little disappointed to have no snap in my legs and I even had to use my "23" whereas usually I can climb these passes in my 19 or 21. But I didn't care.

Ebbetts is my favorite pass lately. As it twisted above 7,000' the air cooled (and I had a darn headwind the whole way up!), and soon I was seeing patches of snow on the side of the road. The top felt like it came too soon, but I had no time to ride more (since I had a visitor). The real treat was there was a guy on top with COLD water and rice crispy snacks at the top. He asked if I needed refills and boy did I! After a brief chat and lots of gratitude, I headed down. Rode back with my newfound friends and ran into Mike just outside of town. The smokey days have really bummed us out---so we were happy for an escape from bad air! I also had a headwind back to the car. The wind had shifted and the valley was filling with smoke again. Sigh.

Happy Sunday!

Spectacular!!!

Notice all the exclamation points! We spent a couple of weeks in Spring conditions here in NW Nevada but it feels like we went right from Winter to Summer. Can you say 90's? We've also been busy traveling to fun places to ride these last few weekends---and while this was no exception---we stayed close to home and headed to Markleeville to ride the passes.

Oh gosh was it fabulous. It was already warm when we left around 8am. I love it (for riding) though. Blue skies, warm weather and not really any wind. Not sure where everyone was--but they were not in here. I expected "Death Ride" training riders, fisherman/campers and motorcycles. The motorcycles were there---but not in droves. And there were a few other cyclists, but mostly local folks. It really was fabulous!

Mike headed out one way and I headed out another. Ebbetts is one of my all-time favorite passes to ride. I like Monitor too, but the first 3 miles are just grinder-steep. As I was pedaling I caught up to this gal and rode with her a ways---she was just enjoying the day and decided to ride up to the top of Ebbetts (8700+'). Did I mention she was in her 60's? Inspiring. I was feeling good (although a little tired from the week) so I wished her a safe ride and got out of the saddle and hammered on.

The Alpine Lake at the top is still frozen with snow on it. It was over 90-degrees just a few thousand feet below. I headed over the other side of Ebbetts (all down hill) and then headed back up and prepared for the glorious descent . Takes my breath away really. The decent even had a chill in the air until about 8000' feet or so---then the air was warm. I saw my "new" friend (Anne) pedaling uphill almost to the top! She was still smiling---even on the steep sections!

Passed the first gate I ran into these guys who were from Durango and rode with them a ways. It's this time of year when the folks you meet around here are locals---or used to altitude---so they don't have breathing problems even if they don't look like they're in the greatest shape. (i.e these guys from Durango)

I rode into town and picked up the car and then drove to meet Mike at the Monitor pass turn-off. I couldn't find the "stash of water and snacks he hid in the bushes and so I wanted to catch him before he rode into town. When he rolled in, we loaded up our bikes and as we were re-hydrating, Anne rode passed on her way back home. I hope I am still riding these passes as gracefully as she when I am in my 60's!



My Campagnolo Bike really rules. My Seven feels like a new animal on the road---making all my latest adventures seem easy!


Happy Saturday!

Just like summer!

I've been in somewhat of a non-writing mood lately. Very strange. Even though nothing is really "wrong", it just hasn't felt right either and since I can't really discuss what's up, it is hard for me to discuss "anything". So---lots of silence from me. Nothing to worry about. I have my health, my family and their health and my "just turned 40" husband. But anytime you start a conversation that way, you keep waiting for the "and yet..." part.

But I am not accustomed to feeling down in the dumps. So I haven't written. I also don't stay this way for long since it doesn't come natural for me. So all is well, but this is why I haven't been writing.

Mike and I and a friend headed to Markleeville on Saturday. 74 degrees, no wind and. In other words it was perfect. Ebbetts is still closed to cars (at the first gate even), but this was the first weekend that Monitor was open and plowed! 10-12 foot cuts in the snow, but ridable in shorts and short sleeved jerseys! When I saw how much snow there was on Monitor, I headed over to climb car-free Ebbetts---thinking that there would even be more snow, and knowing that I only had so many miles in my legs and I didn't want to miss Ebbetts because I was out of gas. Mike and Jeff headed over to the other side of Monitor and rode both ways. Studs!.

When I passed the first gate of the Ebbetts climb---there was NO snow really. More on Monitor oddly enough. I love this climb. Mike likes Monitor better, but for me the twisty turns and 11,000 foot mountain peaks surrounding the climb are so spectacular. Even if the road was a sandbox, riding up with no cars is such a treat! I passed the 7,000' foot gate and there were some 4' cuts in the snow drifts, but nothing like Monitor.

Another 800' feet or so though and the road just stopped. Unplowed and no way up. I will have to go back in a couple of weeks to get to the top.

And with the way the snow is melting, I imagine Ebbetts will be open next weekend.

Today was about 80 degrees and I went out again on the local roads for about 4.5 hours. Gotta get in shape to ride up the passes.

So---it has been awhile, but I wish you all a happy Sunday. Happy for the sunshine and expect some changes for these Taylor's in the not so distant future.