By Tim Hauserman
After all the rain last week, spring is forecast to once again be sprung in the mountains, leading many folks to get a hankering to be out on their bike. With the morning temps still nippy and a bit of mud around, now is a perfect time to head to Verdi for a ride. Its only 20 miles east of Truckee, the grass is green, the horses and llamas are out enjoying the sunshine, and the temperature is usually 10-15 degrees warmer bringing it right into the Goldilocks zone.
Ranch outside of Verdi
Start your ride from Crystal Peak Park, just off Business 80, a short distance from Gold Ranch. The park sits next to the Truckee River and there is plenty of parking, picnic tables and restrooms. From here you have several options:
-Head east from Verdi, following the Truckee River to the edge of the Sommersett development. Here you can climb on nicely maintained bike lane through the extensive residential community enjoying views of Reno and the surrounding desert. Turn around wherever you wish and return to the bottom, where a bike path leads you east to 4th Street. Take 4th to Mayberry, then follow Mayberry for a mile, to a left turn into the Edgewater Park development. Cruise through the neighborhood to a bike path, and now follow the bike paths and roads along the Truckee past a series of riverside parks. Before you know it, you are in downtown Reno, at the Reno Whitewater Park.
Bike trail at Dorostkar Park along Mayberry road in Reno.
-Want to add some distance? Before heading east on Business 80 from your starting point, ride South Verdi Drive to Boomtown. Cross over I-80 and circle through the lovely neighborhood to the south, adding an extra half hour of riding.
-Ready to make a day of it? Just after you turn onto Mayberry take a sharp uphill turn onto Plateau, and then wind your way all the way across Reno to the Mt. Rose Highway and back for about a 45 mile trip. Check out the link below for the Reno Area bike map, and be sure to take a copy with you on your ride. The purple line is the ride I just described.
http://www.rtcwashoe.com/bicycling/documents/BIKE_MAP_13_online.pdf
Quick tip: Don’t forget to fill up your tank at Gold Ranch before returning to California. The gas prices are usually at least 60 cents a gallon less then Truckee.
Small side tributary of the Truckee River along the bike trail.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 