Rubicon trail...

[jmkimmel]

Has anybody ridden around tahoe, especially the rubicon trail? I have a friend who tried it last summer and said he couldn't "because his trials skills aren't that good" - he's heading back, and I'm gonna go with him. Anyway, just wondering whether its worth bringing my BT up to tahoe area.

PS
His dad's willing to shuttle us so we can ride down the thing without having to climb back up.

[Matt]

Yeah, the terrain on the rubicon is great. There are a LOT of rocks there.

[Nikolai]

If you have time, go ride with moto guys at Donner Ski Ranch.
Pretty much anywhere around Lake Tahoe there are awesome and huge rocks to ride on.

The Rubicon is 22 miles long.

[jmkimmel]

So if I'm gonna try and ride the length on a trials bike, I ought to allow a couple days, eh? Or do you think it's more fitted for a 5" bike (with a few days of rock play around tahoe before and after)?

[onto1wheel]

rubicon, eh?
well, I thought I was gonna die the one and only time I rode it (last year). I was suffering from heat exhaustion, and didn't know why I was puking. (we ran out of water, in August).
But then again, I was on a 400 lb street bike (my KLR 650 dualsport).
like Nikolia said, It's about 22 miles long, and it isn't all down hill. Which ever way you go, you'll do some climbing.
Lot's of good stuff to ride a trials bike on. You wouldn't have to ride the whole trail (but you could). 5" of travel would be way better for the whole trail.
Do a little googling and you'll find tons of pictures of the trail (I didn't get many good pic's).
doug
and hell yes, you'll want to bring the BT to tahoe.
I camped up there for 2 weeks last month. rode every day.

[jmkimmel]

Thanks doug - after looking around, I think I'll be riding my trailbike for the trip, temporarily borrowing some better brakes for the trip (6" avids). I'll definitely bring my BT, though. Any trialsin spots you suggest?

[Nikolai]

Donner Ski Ranch is a moto-trials park in the summer.
If you go and you manage to ride with some good moto guys, it will be the sort of thing that you talk about for the next year or so.

You should make a stop at the Donner Memorial which is in between Truckee and the moto park. A tribute to cannibalism.

[onto1wheel]

At the loon lake area there's plenty of rocks to ride, including these nice big blocks lining the road over the dam. I was wishing I had my zebdi up there.
Also, Donner memorial has rocks everywhere (especially through the camp site, where i was. watch for rangers).
If you stop by donner ski ranch, it's doubtful you'll see any moto, as not too many guys practice there anymore (the mototrial club has its own property not too far from there). Unless you go on 9/26, when there's a local event going on that wknd.
wherever you go up in there, you'll find something good to ride
doug

[onto1wheel]

oh, i guess the attachment thing DID work!
When (if!) you get to this bridge on the rubicon trail, you're in for a hell o' good nasty long climb out, either direction.
d