With this in mind Team Cannondale (Erik and I) left the house in Tahoe City at 10:30am. It was a chilly 45 degrees, but the sun was out. We headed counter-clockwise around the lake, heading down the west shore first. The first 10 or so miles clicked by quickly, and we were able to shed some layers of clothing.
Somewhere along the west shore we hit a one lane construction area where we had to stop at a flag-man with about 7 other cars. When it was our turn to go we fell in behind the line of cars and proceeded to draft them at around 30 mph. Somehow I didn't notice the line of cars slowing rather quickly. Erik did, and slowed down nicely. I however continued at full speed into a stopped line of cars. About 10ft. before the last car I locked up the brakes, entered a full skid, and plowed into the back of a SUV, my face smearing across the back window. My bike and I fell to the ground, and I just started laughing! Amazingly I was fine. The driver and passenger jumped out with a deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces, and were happy to see I was allright. Their bumper wasn't allright, but they didn't notice in the frantic moments before they drove off! Woo.
After putting my chain back on the bike we resumed the ride. Around Mile 15 we began a 20 minute climb up to the cliff's overlooking Emerald Bay, and some stunning views.
The rest of the ride was relatively uneventful. South Lake Tahoe sucked, as the bike paths were spartan, and the traffic plentiful.
We endured another 30 minute climb, and then mostly rolling hills as we completed the circuitous route back to Tahoe City. All in all, 72 spectacular miles.
Erik beat me up the last hill before our driveway, claiming victory on the ride. He's headed to CU-Boulder at the end of the summer, so he jokes that CU trumps Cal, but I ran inside and grabbed my running shoes to bang out a 15 minute transition run, while he hit the couch. Advantage Cal!
1 comment:
dude, that route looks pimp!
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