The Tahoe Sierra Century is a local Tahoe fund-raiser with all proceeds benefiting the Music Programs at North Tahoe Middle and High Schools. It’s very well organized, with parent and student volunteers working together throughout the event from check-in, to rest stops, to performing music at the after-ride festivities. It was cool being cheered on by middle and high school students as we crested some of the longer climbs!

Speaking of cool, it was a little chilly at the start of the ride. Most riders wore layers - leggings, arm warmers, jackets or vests and glove liners or long finger gloves. Every rest stop had bags so that extra gear could be dropped off. It was returned to the finish and was easy to find.

I shed my jacket, glove liners, leg and arm warmers at the first aid station - and felt comfortable the rest of the day. The weather couldn’t have been better. Sunny, with a breeze that always seemed to be a head wind - ever notice that? I rode for a while with a local rider who told me the wind always picks up in the afternoon. It did, and turns at the front of the pacelines were short and sweet. I heard that the weather last year was terrible. That’s fall in the Sierras!

There were almost 600 riders.

The start/finish was at the Village at Squaw Valley.

Riding the bike path along the Truckee river.

One cold, one warm?

The rest stop before the climb to Brockway Summit.

A tie-dye welcome sign...

A mix-your-own snack option.

Climbing Donner Pass Road.

Still climbing Donner Pass Road.

Yep, still climbing.

Getting near the top...

Next to the road near the Cisco Grove turn-around point.

Descending Donner Pass Road!

Oh, yeah? The camera decided to do this as I was cruising down Donner Pass at 42 mph.

Dinner music.

The elevations looked like this… about 7500 ft. of gain (and descent!).

Tahoe-Sierra Elevations

My total time this time out was a little long - I hung out at the rest stops longer than usual, visiting. I wasn’t able to ride much during the week before the ride, but felt pretty good.

- Frank Pedrick

Photos are Copyright 2008 Frank Pedrick

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