It’s not your imagination. I’m not posting much content this summer. There’s many places in Tahoe that are really seeing some crowds this summer, and that is not something I want to encourage. At the popular trailheads and beaches, every day looks like a weekend, and each weekend day looks like the 4th of July holiday. I’ve spent most of my time in some lesser known hideaways, which means I can’t write about them.
But today’s ride took us to the Fibreboard Freeway, named for the Fibreboard Corporation, which originally owned the land for Northstar. It’s not really a freeway, it is just a lightly travelled logging road that is paved, extending 10 miles from Brockway Summit to just above Tahoe City. There’s also a lot of “exits” along the way that provide access to some of the most popular mountain biking trails in North Tahoe: the O6, OTB, Mt Watson, Burton Creek and more. The Fibreboard Freeway is no secret, hence today’s report.
Our ride today was simply an “out and back” ride on the pavement. Still, it’s not necessarily an easy ride. It’s difficult to find a section that you would call flat. It’s pretty much up and down all of the way. We rode out 7.5 miles before turning around, as the thunderheads were looking threatening. In that 15 miles, we climbed over 2000 feet.
Today’s ride was an “exploration ride”. It’s hard to believe that we have never been on this ride before. Quitting my summer job allows me a lot more time to explore! Riding an e-bike means that I don’t have to worry about running into too many steep hills.
For that reason, this ride is perfect for an e-bike. With a reasonable amount of peddle assist (level 2 or 3 out of 5), I found I could keep a reasonable pace without my right knee crying for mercy. I’m sure there’s plenty of road warriors out there that would be just fine on a typical road bike or gravel bike.
Things to keep in mind:
• Most of this ride is in the hot sun, with little shade on the road. Starting our ride around noon on one of the hotter days of summer was not the best decision.
• You are sharing the road with motor vehicles. Today we saw about 10 cars, one motorcycle, one logging truck, one bike and two hikers. There’s plenty of blind corners, so its best to keep your speed reasonable and stay on your side of the road.
• You’ll want to make sure that your brakes are in good condition, as you will be using them a lot. There’s some places where you are going down fairly steep hills for 2 to 3 miles at a time.
• Know your limitations. While the Fibreboard Freeway is fairly tame, some of the trails it gives access to are not for novices. You should study up on those offshoots before taking off for an adventure. There’s also dozens of unmarked trails and roads off of the “Freeway”. It would be easy to get lost. Study a map, or go with someone that knows the area well. If you are on an e-bike, they may not be used on the Tahoe Rim Trail, and are controversial on many single tracks around the Tahoe National Forest.
Just an FYI
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ltbmu/recreation/bicycling/?cid=stelprd3824321
EBIKES IN THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN
Motor Assisted Bicycles: The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has determined that motor assisted bicycles (electric, gas or diesel) are motorized vehicles. Use of motor assisted bicycles is only allowed on motorized trails. Please take a look at the Motor Vehicle Use Map at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/TravelManagement for information on where motorized vehicles are allowed.
Electric bikes or ebikes are evolving with more power, less weight and in more configurations each year. New ebikes are closing the gap between electric bicycle and electric motorcycle. Current regulations restrict ebikes to the motorized trails shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map above.
Those same regulations apply to the entire Tahoe National Forest, not just to the Tahoe Basin. Like I said, controversial…
While no dirt bikes (like a 200cc Honda, etc) are not allowed on the trot, and little picture icons so show, why do you say that ebikes are disallowed? There are no such signs
A lawsuit was filed a coupe of years ago…and settled with the no ebike resolution last fall. That decision is the opposite of most jurisdictions, which are loosening restrictions on class 1 and 2 ebikes. Even studies conducted by the TNF showed that there were no increased impacts from ebikes on trails…strong lobbies in this area from other groups.