Cyclemania takes over the streets of South Lake Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

There appeared to be more shapes and sizes of bicycles than of people in the parade down Highway 50 this afternoon.

Thursday afternoon’s parade from the Y in South Lake Tahoe to MontBleu in Stateline was for the average rider. It’s one of the many events leading up to Sunday’s start of the Amgen Tour de California that takes off from the state line area.

At the start of the parade at 4:15pm May 12 someone was overheard saying, “This is going to be the slowest trip ever to Stateline.”

South Shore residents parade through town May 12 on their bicycles. Photos/Kathryn Reed

A couple hundred bicyclists were taking up the right lane of the highway under police and fire escort. Slow Rollers Bicycle Club of Lake Tahoe put on the parade.

People were in costumes, horns being honked, kids being pulled and tricycles pedaled.

Friday night is the black-tie optional gala for the professional ride. As of Thursday afternoon, 408 guests were expected. This is about the same number Sacramento had for its gala last year. Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Executive Director Carol Chaplin said they were prepared to accommodate 600 if need be.

At the LTVA meeting Thursday afternoon it was announced the California Highway Patrol will be arriving a day early because of weather concerns with the start of the multi-day event on May 15.

“The road being wet is not an issue. The problem is accumulation of inches (of snow) and that has not been in any forecasts,” Chaplin told the LTVA board in regards to Sunday.

On Sunday all lanes of the roads the professionals are on will be closed.

“These guys ride where they want. Wind direction has a lot do with where they are on the road,” Chaplin said.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)