Lake Tahoe cyclists look to break world record today

Today is the day: South Lake Tahoe bicycle group Slow Rollers is asking the community to come out to its second annual Spirit Bike Parade today and an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records by forming the longest single line of bicycles. To beat the record, now held by the city of Davis of 916 bicycles, South Lake Tahoe will have to produce 917 bicycles or more. The event begins at 4 p.m. with a start up at the old Miller's Outpost, South Shore Bikes, 955 Emerald Bay Road. Get there early to register.
"This is something I know we can do because there are so many people who bicycle," said organizer Mark Cutright. "The whole town seems to be behind the idea, so it is now just a matter of everyone showing up."

Ground rules set by Guinness requires that each rider be in motion, in single file and no more than three feet apart. Last year the Slow Rollers first parade, set during the Amgen Tour of California festivities, had more than 500 riders and was not attempting to break any record. Plans have been in the works for months to get this one off the ground and a number of local and regional bicycle groups have been invited to attend.

Each rider must sign in and register as so they may be counted. Each rider will be given a commemorative hang tag and will begin lining up on the street. The route will run up Lake Tahoe Boulevard with a stop at the Visitors Center across from Rojos. That's where the video tape will begin to roll, Cutright explained, so that every rider is counted in an attempt to break the world record. The escorted ride from front to back will then go all the way to MontBleu.The after party will be at Mo's Place.

Pre-registration at is at Sports LTD, South Shore Bikes and Mad About Music. Or if you want to register the day of the parade, meet at South Shore Bikes or at the visitors center. Local officials who have committed to participate are South Lake Tahoe Mayor Claire Fortier, El Dorado County Supervisor Norma Santiago and Douglas For more information go to www.slowrollers.net.

Motherlode Century
Meanwhile, over the hill, festivities are taking shape on the West Slope for the first Motherlode Century Bicycle Ride. Cyclists from far and wide are signing up for the Motherlode Century, being held Sunday May 20. It promises to be the best bicycle ride Northern California has to offer.
Conveniently staged in the foothills of the beautiful and historic Gold Country, the Motherlode offers three ride options: The Gold Dust (31 miles), The Gold Nugget (67 miles) and the Motherlode (100 miles).

All riders will benefit from full SAG support, tasty aid stations, and a delicious post ride dinner on the river. The first event of its kind in the area, the century bike ride benefits the American River Conservancy and Breathe California Sacramento Emigrant Trail charities. The start/finish and host camp is Earthtrek Expeditions in Lotus, Calif. on the South Fork of the American River in the beautiful Coloma Valley.

Spring in this special area can be breathtaking with wildflowers blooming, rivers and streams flowing and 49ers gold history echoing across the hillsides and through the valleys. Not only is this area renowned for recreation, it’s also a center of fine food, wine and beer production. Riders are being encouraged to stay a little longer or come back soon to enjoy a river trip, wine tasting or a visit to the American River Conservancy’s Nature Center,
Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, reconstructed Sutter’s Mill and more.

Find out more at www.motherlodecentury.com or contact Rob Swain at motherlodecentury@live.com or (530) 544-8705.

Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition
Meanwhile, cycling at Lake Tahoe is about to go off the map. Literally. The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition will begin distribution of 50,000 bicycle maps of the Lake Tahoe area in time for summer. The comprehensive map, paid for through a variety of grants and sponsors, will be found throughout at bike shops and visitors centers
the San Francisco Bay area, Northern California, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, and, of course around the lake. The map is inspired to drive visitors to Tahoe by highlighting the number of trails and bicycle-friendly places. The coalition wants the world to know that Lake Tahoe is a world-class bicycle destination, said Ty
Polastri, president of the coalition.
"Part of our mission is promotion and education to increase bicycle tourism," he said. "The idea is to target the audience and create an incentive for bicyclists to stay here."
Getting there is a process but over the past 10 years, bicycling has literally taken off. During summer months, armies of families on bicycles are riding the bike paths and trails. It was only a matter of time when bicycling would be added to the many components of vacationing at Lake Tahoe, Polastri said.
The good news is the stakeholders and public agencies have embraced bicyling and the reality is that it satisifies the triple bottlon line."
For a list of activities go to www.tahoebike.org.