Cycling Nevada: The Pictures

415 miles.

40 hours and 15 minutes of riding time spread over 8 days.

Max elevation 7723.

Until I nail down a narrative (if I nail down a narrative), here is a smattering of photos.

I rode my bicycle across Nevada in the heat of August and it was great.

The night before leaving, the bike is packed and ready to roll.

Day 1: Neither my helmet or sunglasses are on straight, but I'm ready to roll. The goal is to leave from the front door and ride across the state of Nevada to the small town of Baker which lies at the foot to Great Basin National Park.

Night 1: Spent alongside Highway 50 at Dayton State Park ($12 for the night).

Day 2: Taking a bit of a rest on the porch of a closed up gun shop on the outskirts of Fallon.

Day 3: This poorly placed rumble strip pushed me out into the road.

Day 3: Approaching Middlegate my bike computer read 113F. It was hot. I was sweaty.

Day 3: While waiting for the heat to abate, we stopped at Middlegate to drink a few beers, eat a f-i-n-e burger, and play a few games of pool.

Day 3: From the Middlegate bottle collection.

Day 3: After leaving Middlegate, we opted to take 1000+ extra feet of climbing and rode down 722, which is the old Highway 50.

Day 4: Breakfast of Champions

Day 4: Still on 722, this was an abandoned building on the other side of Carroll Summit.

Day 4: Heading towards Austin, this shot faces the west side of the Toiyabe range.

Day 4: In Austin, stopped here for pizza ('twas okay).

Day 5: I'm grumpy about something but I can't remember what.

Day 5: Great Basin skies.

Day 5: One of the few roadside memorials we passed.

Day 5: Lonely, lonely sagebrush.

Day 6: Ken refixes a flat tire on Pancake Summit.

Night 6: Very close to the road, but a great place to sleep.

Day 7: Coffee break!

Day 7: Ken tries to find a puncture in one of his tubes.

Day 7: Wide open Nevada.

Night 7: Our last night out was spent on Connors Summit.

Day 8: Heading towards Baker.

Day 8: Arrival!

Day 8: So veeeerrrrry happy to be out of my bike shorts.

Cycling Mash

Tomorrow I start bicycling across Nevada. My goal is to get myself from the front door of my house out to the top of Wheeler Peak (I'll at least get the bike as far as Baker, whether or not I ride the additional way up to the start of the Wheeler trail depends on how I feel once I get out there).

Am I ready?

Kinda.

This weekend, Skeena was dropped off with friends up in Medford, Oregon; one car was taken out and left in Baker, Nevada; and 15 gallons of water have been placed in strategic locations along the cycling route. Right now I'm trying to figure out what clothes to bring with me and where I want to place all of the super reflective stickers I bought earlier today at REI.  To be honest, I'm a bit nervous about traffic (specifically semis, motorhomes, and rented campers), and I know I haven't spent nearly enough time figuring out how to ride a fully loaded bike. I'm ready to give it my best shot, though.

Here goes.....