Horses, Bikes & Good Times: Tour de Nez & Rodeo Roll in Reno
Tomorrow is my favorite summer day in Reno. The Tour de Nez and the Reno Rodeo create a foundation for Reno’s best kick-off-the-summer party. Reno, incidently, is one of the most party-oriented cities I’ve come to learn. And all of Reno’s parties seem to all kick-off this weekend and don’t stop until late October.
The Reno Rodeo Parade is on Saturday June 16 morning at 10:00am. A massive gaggle of cyclists get to ride in it this year in honor of the Tour de Nez. I’m riding in it with Logan and Cody. If you want to participate, show up at 7th & Virginia at 9:15am. RenoBikeProject and Tour de Nez have partnered for this event.
Like Black Velvet & Mountain Dew, this creates a very interesting and compelling mixture: Horses and Bikes. The Rodeo celebrates the western heritage of our State and the culture of the wild wild west. 150 years a go you rode your horse in to Virginia City and hitched it up in front of the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Today, you ride your bike downtown and hitch it up to the Imperial Lounge, Se7en, Tap Room, Silver Peak, Green Room, etc. The concept is really the same. Ride in to town, head to the bars/saloons/restaurants/coffee shops and hang out with your friends, family and business/social community. While we don’t ride around with six-shooters slung around our waists (often), cell phones seem to be the OK weapon for the current social clime.
The Tour de Nez is simply Reno’s largest and best locals party for cycling nuts…and everyone from out of town is invited!
After having attended pretty much every single Tour de Nez, here’s some tips:
Participate! This just isn’t just about the Lycra loving. In fact, I think that’s a minority now. There’s a lot to participate in: Ride in the Rodeo parade. Do the Century. Swap your bike for a new-old one. Watch the fixies rip the Alleycat. Jump on your single speed, klunker or townie and ride the Clunker Classic. Get your kids in the Kids race. My oldest son Logan is seven and this will be his 5th time racing! Both kids are excited and stoked.
Last year when we were home in Crested Butte visiting family and friends, I was wearing a Tour de Nez t-shirt and some dude from Georgia walked up and said, “Hey, I’ve been to the Tour de Nez! I love it. What a cool event and party.” It’s a nationally recognized event among cyclists everywhere.
Technorati tags: reno, nevada, bike, biking, cyclist, cycling, bicycle, tourdenez, party, kids, race, renobikeproject, rodeo
Comments
By David LaPlante on June 15th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I forgot to mention that the after party is at the Imperial Lounge this year. There’s still schedules and things referencing Holland Project and the Pinchflat Prom, however, all that canceled due to the issues at Holland.