Bike Diva

My husband and I have been involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program for the past 4 years. On June 7 we will be doing our forth century ride with the Palm Beach cycle team at America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride. That is a 100 bicycle ride, which travels around Lake Tahoe. We will be staying at Harvey's Casino Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada from June 4 through 8.

Elevation Challenge
Coming from Florida, our team is just a bit freaked out over the elevation we will be riding at. The ride ranges from a low of 5,995 feet, to a high of 7,044 feet - that will be quite a shock to us Florida flat-landers. But we have been training in the wind, on draw bridges and at every little hill we could find, since the end of January.

Although the ride begins and ends in Nevada, about 70% of the ride actually takes place in California. Two states for the price of one - sweet! That just gives you some idea of how large Lake Tahoe actually is.

Air Bus?
Getting out to Tahoe is going to be a bit like taking a Greyhound Bus. We are flying out there,  but after looking at our itinerary, I think it would be faster to take a bus.

• 1:35 PM - leave Ft. Lauderdale airport to Minneapolis
• 4:55 PM - leave Minneapolis to Salt Lake City
• 9:10 PM - leave Salt Lake City to Reno
• 9:39 PM - arrive Reno airport

Time Zone Differences
Florida is on EST, eastern standard time, and Nevada is on PST, pacific standard time. So although we get into Reno at 9:35 PM, that's PST, which is actually equal to 12:35 AM EST. UGH! That's going to be a long day. After we arrive in Reno, we still have to disembark the plane, find our luggage, get our rental cars and then drive approximately 1 hour to our hotel before we get to check-in and SLEEP!

ABOVE: Yes, this is part of the AMBBR route, near Emerald Bay

Weather Report
I was just checking to see what the weather is like in the Tahoe area this week. Highs from 68 to 73, lows from 42 to 46. BRRRRR!!!! It's been mid to high 80's and high humidity for the past few weeks in Florida. We've been telling everyone to pack lots of layers. Arm warmers, leg warmers, wind jacket, long sleeve jerseys. We can peel off layers throughout the day as needed, and drop them off at the various rest stops along the way.

I remember starting a Florida century ride a few years ago, at the the end of October. It was 47 degrees at the start line - froze my butt off! Probably will still be a bit of snow on top of the mountains when we're out there. I found pictures from previous years AMBBR - everyone was wearing long sleeved jersey's, arm warmers and/or wind breakers. Better to be prepared with warm clothing, than start the ride looking like an ice cube.

Screaming Diva?
I'm looking forward to the bike ride. Switchbacks are towards the beginning of the ride, to get us through a really steep section. I'll be the one screaming as we fly down the hills. The fastest I've ever gone on my road bike, was 40 MPH when we were doing a training ride in Clermont, FL (AKA the Florida Alps) 2 years ago. I was screaming then too.

I hope I can stop screaming/freaking out long enough to actually enjoy the ride. We are going to take our time and enjoy the scenery. Hope my husband or I remember to pack the camera. This is a bike ride, not a race. Team in Training teams from all over the country will be at the ride. Of the 3,000 riders, approximately 1,800 will be from various Team in Training chapters - AWESOME! Team in Training cyclists will be doing the ride in honor of those who are struggling with a blood cancer or those who have lost their lives to a blood cancer.

GO TEAM!

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva