Concours de Elegance

Today I drove to Reno, Nevada to enter one of my cars in Porsche Club of America's annual Concours de Elegance. The Sierra Nevada Region hosts the car competition at the Rancho San Rafael Region Park each summer. I entered my 2001 986 triple black Boxster in the full concours category and won my class. I also won a very cool Porsche car cleaning kit in a lockable metal case in a raffle. Probably a $250 item at the dealership. So, not a bad day for sure!

Porsche Bike S to Cisco Grove

I rode my second longest distance and longest high elevation distance to date on my Porsche Bike S this morning. The temperature reached near 90 degrees at the end of the ride that started in Glenshire and turned around at Cisco Grove campground deep in the Sierra. This out and back ride counted as two "summits" worth of riding toward my 2017 Death Ride training. Another beautiful California Sierra day, as the photos show. I burned over 2,800 calories. I earned a pint of Munich beer.

My latest story on the Porsche Club of America website

Take a look here!

Early morning 24 miles on the Porsche Bike S

Another 24 mile Donner Lake ride on my 1998 Porsche Bike S. Great ride and beautiful weather.

Amazing Porsche engine art!

Sunday I drove my Cayenne S to my friend Phil Gallagher's house to see his latest painted portraits of Porsche engines. Phil has painted nearly 30 large format paintings at his studio north of Lake Tahoe. These paintings are very colorful and a unique technique Phil pioneered. He is as big a Porsche nut as I am. A group of PCAer made the trek together. We drove Porsches, ate pizza and looked a portraits. What a great day. Take a look at Phil's art at: http://www.philgallagherart.net/porsche.html

Porsche Bike S Glenshire "Lazy Eight"

This morning I rode a cold and relaxed "lazy eight" road ride on my 1998 Porsche S. I took off early this morning and felt the Truckee chill heading down Glenshire Drive toward downtown Truckee. The main road travels over the Truckee River before heading downtown. Once in Truckee I cruised through downtown and headed back on the Legacy Trail. This time I crossed the road close to home and did an additional loop on Dorchester road. The out and back through Truckee and the last loop on Dorchester left like I rode a sloppy figure eight. I averaged 15.5 miles per hour. I enjoyed this course so much I think I'll ride again and try to improve my time.

Porsche Bike S Tour de Truckee

In honor of the Tour de France, I rode my 1998 Porsche Bike S all over Truckee today. I'll call this ride the Tour de Truckee. I covered each and every housing development and major site along the way. Started from my home in Glenshire, rode the Legacy Trail paved path to downtown Truckee, went under the freeway into the Pioneer commercial area, stayed on the paved path to Old Greenwood and up to Prosser Lakeview Estates. I crossed 89 at Alder Creek and preceded the steep uphill to the top of Tahoe Donner. That was a gnarly ascent and led to a bombing downhill from Tahoe Donner down Northwoods Blvd. At the bottom of the hill I went right and looped around Donner Lake - dodging cars and people the entire way. I forgot it was Saturday! From Donner Lake I rode straight through Truckee and back on the Legacy Trail home. 45 miles and covered every inch of Truckee. Speed was slow due to hills, people, cars and tired legs. I'll try this again sometime soon for a better speed.

Crazy bikes ...

... in downtown Truckee tonight!

Another Porsche Bike S Stampede

I am used to riding in the morning. In Truckee and Tahoe that means cold. Today I went for an afternoon ride on my 1998 Porsche Bike S. It was warmer and windier than I guessed it would be. So, I was off under 80 degree sunny and windy skies riding toward Boca and Stampede Reservoir. 25 miles in the windy heat and I am spent! My speed doesn't look very good because I had to stop and help corral a couple escaping horses!

Absolutely gorgeous!

Sights I see on my travels...

Porsche Bike S around Donner Lake again

Another 24 mile early morning ride out around Donner Lake and back. A little head, and tail, wind this morning. The wind kept people at home, the Legacy Trail and road around the lake were all mine. I did find this perfect rock for a photo of my 1998 Bike S. I didn't ride a blistering pace this morning, but the 14.6 mph average wasn't too shabby considering all the hills and wind.

Porsche Bike S Truckee Tahoe Triangle ride

Another 50-miler on my Porsche Bike S this morning! I rode from Glenshire to North Lake Tahoe and back through Truckee, again. Second time in seven days. Perfect ride weather. Sunny, cool and no wind. I had to meander a bit to get the full 50 miles. Averaged 13 miles per hour - a little faster than last week's ride. Burned 2,603 calories too.

I stopped at a boat ramp to take a photo of my 1998 Porsche Bike S with one of the wooden boats that frequent Lake Tahoe. Very neat boats, but the guys working there were more interested in my bike. One guy asked, "is that a Porsche mountain bike!?!"

I've had a good July riding this bike and am now comfortable riding up to 50 miles. In August I'll start to push the miles to the 60-70 range with the 72 mile Lake Tahoe ride coming up in September.

Easy Thursday morning ride

I took yesterday off from riding after my Tuesday personal best ride on the Legacy Trail. Today I rode a slow and easy 12.76 miles over to downtown Truckee and back. Tomorrow I'm planning to ride around Donner Lake and back again and a 50 mile over to Tahoe on Sunday. I am feeling a 2017 Death Ride attempt is in the cards!

Porsche Bike S conquers Truckee "Nordschleife"

The Nurburgring Nordschleife is a race track in Germany known for its abundance of sharp crests, tight corners and narrow fast-moving straights. I have dubbed the Truckee Legacy Trail my "Nordschleife" for the same reasons.

I didn't sleep well last night and didn't feel like riding this morning. When I woke up and looked at the weather app on my phone, the temperature wasn't even 40 degrees ...  that didn't help.

I'm not sure how or why, maybe just muscle memory, I got up and put on my cold weather cycling gear. Next thing I know I'm bombing down my hill toward the Legacy Trail at full speed.

I started to realize the cold weather kept me pedaling fast to stay warm. The temperature also seem to keep other walkers with dogs off the trail. It was a clear and sunny morning with little wind. Perfect for riding fast. I was carrying a lot of speed and my legs felt good.

At some point around mile 2 or 3, I thought I could make a run at a personal best time on my standard short-course 12 mile ride on the Truckee Legacy Trail.

That kicked in the motivation and I flew along the Truckee River trail. I did see, and had to slow down for, a couple people on the trail. But not many. I also had to whistle at a deer to get him to move off the trail.

The Truckee Legacy Trail is a paved path. A very smooth and well maintained trail. It is narrow with undulating hills, fast high-speed sections and tight very slow corners. One down hill section is particularly difficult due to about eight bumps that you can catch air over, or thrown off your bike, if you go too fast.

Exactly like the Nurburgring Nordschleife. I enjoy this little trail immensely. It's short for a serious bike ride. But challenging and extremely fun to ride fast on.

Pushing hard for each of the 12 miles, I ended up achieving a new personal best for this out-and-back portion of the trail I repeatedly ride. 44 minutes and 52 seconds at an average speed of 16.2 mile per hour. My last fastest was 15.3 mile per hour average. Not bad considering some of the steep up hill sections and hard-braking corners.

Now I feel totally awake and ready for the day. Next time I don't feel like riding, or getting out of bed, I'll just remember this bike ride. 

Porsche Bike S Death Ride training

This morning I rode my 1998 Porsche Bike S 46.75 miles from Glenshire to Tahoe and back. I headed to hwy 267 over Brockway Summit (7179 foot elevation) down to Kings Beach, then along Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City and back to Truckee north on hwy 89. Once to Truckee I rode back home on my favorite Legacy Trail. Riding over Brockway Summit was a good test as I begin my 2017 Death Ride training. I still have a Century ride scheduled in October, but that's now just part of my 2017 Death Ride attempt. Today's miles felt good. My legs are getting used to the Tahoe mountains.

My latest story on the Porsche Club of America website

Here is a link to my latest story on the PCA National website!

Porsche Bike S parade

Me and my 1998 Porsche Bike S unofficially led the Truckee Fourth of July parade. I headed out this morning for an early ride through downtown Truckee on my way to attempt Donner Summit again. I noticed people as early as 7:30am grabbing up the sidewalk curbs in anticipation of the upcoming parade. Through Truckee and along Donner Lake people were getting into the spirit of the national holiday. After I reached the summit bridge I turned around and headed back to find myself riding through Truckee just as they closed the road. I and a few others on bicycles were able to ride through, without cars, just prior to the parade. What a perfect way to spend the Fourth of July.

A good cleaning

The rear gears were so dirty on my 1998 Porsche Bike S that I just had to clean them. So I cracked a German beer and enjoyed the monthly chore. The results speak for themselves.

Porsche Bike S over Donner Summit

This morning I got an early start to beat the Fourth of July crowds and rode a 40 mile out-and-back over Donner Summit in Truckee. Donner Summit is famous among cyclists due to the steep and challenging Old Highway 40 that leads over the pass. There were many other cyclists on the road and I even followed new Porsche Cayenne on the decent back from Donner Summit. I took it easy this morning. Next time I will push it and see how I do.