Woke up this morning thinking I was going to go on a nice ride and get some nice clear morning shots of the areas around Reno, NV. Instead I woke up to an orangish morning with heavy smoke due to a bunch of fires burning around the area. So instead of heading my normal route into the Sierras I headed due east into the smoke and up Geiger Grade. This is a great climb on the Southeast area of Reno that connects up with Virginia City and Dayton via Highway 341. There is a big fire burning out there right now and another so there was no shortage of smoke. But, this ride is only a 1/2 mile from my house, two very pretty ladies had just started out and said they were going the same way, and I saw a 1/2 dozen other riders heading up also. I figured I didn't want to wimp out so up I went. Unfortunately I passed the ladies in the first 100 yards, but it seemed like every other twig on a bike passed my 180lb frame like I was standing still. Oh well.

Anyway. . .up the mountains. PS: In the colorful splatter shot. . .sad story. . .a clown got run over crossing the road :).

After a commuter passed me with a 100lb messenger bag, I tried to speed up but my mouth tasted like burnt BBQ and I think I breathed in several trees worth of carbon. But heck, if all the riders the LA who post here can do this kind of stuff every day, there's not reason for me to stop! By the way, where the heck up through all this haze is the @#$# top of this mountain :).

And then I found it and got to cruise down into Virginia City. Great little town BEFORE all the tourists come in later in the day. What a mad house later on. But it was just waking up when I got there and was quite nice.

After climbing up above the town to look at the court house I cruised back up to the summit and roared down the other side. Best part about this was no hills all the way back to my doorstep. Barely had to pedal and actually got to pass someone! And then he got in my draft and lazily followed me down. I think he planned it that way.

.... two very pretty ladies had just started out and said they were going the same way, and I saw a 1/2 dozen other riders heading up also. I figured I didn't want to wimp out so up I went. Unfortunately I passed the ladies in the first 100 yards, .....

In situations like that you gotta ask yourself, "What would S2H do?"

Then don't do it.

My Dad's house is actually in this shot, hidden by haze:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94133&stc=1&d=1183916323

He actually called me this afternoon complaining about smoke. Now I know he wasn't kidding! :eek:

I am definitely going to have to bring my bike next time I visit Dad. :thumbsup:

It's a great place to ride Undies. Best time is right after sunrise on the weekends. Almost no traffic. Great riding. Not too bad early on the weekday mornings either. The smoke is getting old and he's right up in it. Yuck.

Famous legs were made there. When Greg Lemond was a teenager living in Washoe City that was a major training route.