Tahoetic and I used to do a ride called "The Punisher", The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) from Heavenly Ski area down Saxon Creek, aka Mr. Toads Wild Ride, a famous downhill. It's called The Punisher because it has a lot of hike-a-bike and goes above 9,000 ft. twice, and eventually over 9,800 ft. Freel Pass. However, I've never been much of a downhiller and now that I have several foreign objects in my body I try to avoid falling as much as possible. So I have avoided this ride the past few years. Other hardcore riders created a "Super Punisher", adding another 18 miles by starting from Spooner Summit. Tahoetic suggested a variation of the latter I'm calling "The Super Punisher Lite", Spooner Summit to Kingsbury - the new section of the TRT to Heavenly - over Freel Pass - then down Armstrong - The Connector and Corral instead of Toads.
The ride starts at 7,100 ft. Spooner Summit and immediately climbs to 8,800 ft. in the first five miles. I used to die on this part but last week I discovered I'm in pretty good shape now and the climb was almost enjoyable. Once you reach the top the next seven miles of the Kingsbury Trail may be the finest trail I've ever ridden. Since we took a lot of photos last week we barely stopped and I got some really good flow going, despite it being pretty technical for my skill level. The Super Punisher used to take pavement from Kingsbury to Heavenly Ski Area. But there is a brand new section of the TRT, and we took that. Apparently we missed a turn at about four miles and we ended up pushing our bikes up a massive hill under the Boulder Ski area. That eventually rejoined the TRT and we took that to Freel Pass. There are massive hike - a - bike sections on the way to Freel Pass and pushing the bike up them was pretty tough on the knees. However, I was again pleasantly surprised that I had the aerobic capacity to ride up virtually any climb, right up to Freel Pass, as long as it is was not too technical.
From Freel Pass there is over 3,600 ft. of downhill. However, except for the last 4 - 5 miles, the trail is often quite narrow, with steep drop-offs, and pretty technical for me. Tahoetic can go downhill perhaps four times faster than me, but he stuck with me. The Connector and Corral Trails are a downhiller's delight. However, it was already twilight so I didn't go very fast. At just over 12 hours this is the longest ride I've ever done. Not long ago I would have been dead, but I felt great, and I feel like I could do it again today! Perhaps we can't call it The Punisher anymore. Below are a few photos, more on my biking site.
Classic TRT
He drinks this water
Freel Pass
The ride starts at 7,100 ft. Spooner Summit and immediately climbs to 8,800 ft. in the first five miles. I used to die on this part but last week I discovered I'm in pretty good shape now and the climb was almost enjoyable. Once you reach the top the next seven miles of the Kingsbury Trail may be the finest trail I've ever ridden. Since we took a lot of photos last week we barely stopped and I got some really good flow going, despite it being pretty technical for my skill level. The Super Punisher used to take pavement from Kingsbury to Heavenly Ski Area. But there is a brand new section of the TRT, and we took that. Apparently we missed a turn at about four miles and we ended up pushing our bikes up a massive hill under the Boulder Ski area. That eventually rejoined the TRT and we took that to Freel Pass. There are massive hike - a - bike sections on the way to Freel Pass and pushing the bike up them was pretty tough on the knees. However, I was again pleasantly surprised that I had the aerobic capacity to ride up virtually any climb, right up to Freel Pass, as long as it is was not too technical.
From Freel Pass there is over 3,600 ft. of downhill. However, except for the last 4 - 5 miles, the trail is often quite narrow, with steep drop-offs, and pretty technical for me. Tahoetic can go downhill perhaps four times faster than me, but he stuck with me. The Connector and Corral Trails are a downhiller's delight. However, it was already twilight so I didn't go very fast. At just over 12 hours this is the longest ride I've ever done. Not long ago I would have been dead, but I felt great, and I feel like I could do it again today! Perhaps we can't call it The Punisher anymore. Below are a few photos, more on my biking site.
Classic TRT
He drinks this water
Freel Pass