World-class cycling hits downtown Reno today (Friday), when the Tour de Nez expo opens at 3:30 p.m. All afternoon and evening, downtown will play host to racing, entertainment, food and fun so come check it out. The Tour de Nez returns to the high Sierra Saturday when racing comes to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.

Friday schedule:

• 330 P.M. Expo. Open to Public
• 345 P.M. Masters Speed Training
• 400 P.M. MASTERS RACE APPROX. 50 MIN. OF RACING
• 450 P.M. 15 min. break before KIDS. MASTERS AWARDS TO TAKE PLACE AT PODIUMS
• 505 P.M. KIDS RACE APPROX. 20 MIN. OF RACING
• 525 P.M. CLUNKER RACE APPROX. 20 MIN. OF RACING
• 545 P.M. 10 min. break before MASTERS
• 545 P.M. Women Speed Training
• 555 P.M. WOMEN RACE APPROX. 50 MIN. OF RACING
• 645 P.M. 15 min. break before MESSENGER. WOMENS AWARDS TO TAKE PLACE AT PODIUMS
• 700 P.M. MESSENGER RACE APPROX. 20 MIN. OF RACING
• 720 P.M. 10 min. break before Hand Cycles
• 700 P.M. Expo. Closed to Public
• 700 P.M. Hand Cycles Speed Training
• 730 P.M. Hand Cycles 35 MIN. OF RACING
• 805 P.M. 10 min. break before MENS PRO. HAND CYCLE AWARDS TO TAKE PLACE AT PODIUMS
• 805 P.M. Mens Speed Training
• 815 P.M. MENS PRO RACE APPROX. 60 MIN. OF RACING
• 915 P.M. Race Over
• 920 P.M. AWARDS PRO MEN
• 935 p.m. MOVIE NIGHT

*Photos from Thursday evening racing in Truckee

Terrible’s Sands Regency Casino Hotel is bringing extreme rock crawling to downtown Reno. The W.E. Rock Western US Rock Crawling Nationals will take place as part of Reno Rocks 4×4.com over Father’s Day weekend.

Two additional events scheduled for Reno Rocks 4×4.com will give amateur drivers the unique opportunity to test their skills on the manmade W.E. Rock course, the Surplus City Jeep Parts High Sierra Rock Crawling Championship and Northern Nevada 4×4 Club Challenge Crawl.

Other Reno Rocks 4×4.com highlights include a Wheelers for the Wounded Tour Stop, 4×4 Show & Shine and 4×4 Rough & Tough competitions, the Surplus City Jeep Parts Teeter Totter and Ramp Travel Index (RTI), a People’s Choice Team Tire Climb, Beauty and the 4×4 Beast Contest, New 4×4 Showcase, Military and Public Safety 4×4 Vehicle Displays, a Manufacturers Midway, a Friday night pool party with men’s and women’s swimsuit competitions, and free live music in the casino Friday and Saturday nights. For more information on any of the events taking place at Reno Rocks 4×4.com, visit www.RenoRocks4×4.com and follow the Forum links.

Spectator season passes for Reno Rocks are now available at www.sandsrenoevents.com. Participant registration packages are also available.

Reno Tahoe is gearing up for the Northstar-at-Tahoe Tour de Nez June 17-21, when one of the West’s premier cycling events comes to the Sierra Nevada with events in Reno, Truckee and North Lake Tahoe.

This is bicycle racing at its finest – some of the best athletes in the sport working with and against each other in a race that is part endurance, part speed and part strategy, all against the backdrop of perfect summer weather and the Sierra Nevada range. But it’s not all about the racing: The Tour brings with it a festival atmosphere buzzing with the energy of fitness freaks and partiers - and everyone and everything in between.

So pack up the bike, make your way to Reno Tahoe and enjoy Nevada’s great outdoors.

From Fernando Leal, a Reno developer and supporter of the Tour de Nez:

As developer for The MONTAGE in downtown Reno, I understand the importance of a vital urban core. Cities thrive when there is a downtown from which civic pride and participation can grow and flourish; a core where resident and tourist participation is encouraged through active lifestyles in recreation, the arts, restaurants, entertainment and events.

The Tour de Nez combines two of my great passions – downtown Reno and cycling. A five-day cycling festival that includes recreational rides, world-class racing, cycling movies, parties and more … what’s not to love? I am honored that Montage Marketing Corporation is a proud sponsor of the Tour de Nez. The sponsorship is our way of demonstrating our appreciation and support to the event organizers for hosting a world-class event that we Renoites can be proud of.

Special events like the Tour de Nez and Artown bring thousands of visitors to our area who stay in our hotels, dine at our great local restaurants, and help with a downtown culture we are all working hard to create. These events also leave visitors with a great impression of Reno so they serve as good public relations ambassadors for our city.  The Tour de Nez has been instrumental over the last 15 years in providing a sense of community for Reno residents. Reno residents benefit from a variety of wonderful events that provide great entertainment options nearly every weekend. These events have a huge impact on improving the quality of life in our great city. The least we can do as citizens is to support these wonderful amenities in order to ensure their long-term viability.

Race schedule:

June 17

• Meet and greet with pro racers at Amendment 21
• Screening of “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”

June 18

• Downtown Truckee criterium for professional men and women, masters and handcycles
• Downtown Truckee races for clunkers, messengers and kids
• Music and feast after races in downtown Truckee

June 19

• Morning group ride with athletes
• Downtown Reno Circuit Race for professional men and women, masters and handcycles
• Downtown Truckee races for clunkers, messengers and kids
• Reno Film Festival bicycle film “Breaking Away,” at Wingfield Park Amphitheater

June 20

• Morning group ride with athletes
• Village circuit race at the Village at Northstar at Tahoe for Pro men, women and masters, juniors and handcycles
• Village races for clunkers, kids and messengers
• Expo, music, demos, food, festival, and party, all in the Village at Northstar

June 21

• LUX, The great Tour de Nez Century ride along the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe

It’s loud. It’s fast. It’s competitive. And the cars are junkers.

24 Hours of LeMons is coming to Reno-Fernley Raceway this weekend (May 23-24), offering not-so-serious racing with not-so-serious cars in a not-so-serious LeMans-style format.

The race, part of a national series, challenges teams to get the most out of their old beaters and have some fun along the way. Although there is prize money at stake, the biggest bragging rights might come for the team(s) that get their cars chosen for crushing (incidentally, this is also a fan favorite). Check out this video of what to expect at the 24 Hours of Lemons and get out here.



There might be better ways to spend a Memorial Day weekend, but not many.

EVENT

Saturday, May 23

• 8 a.m.: Gates Open
• 10 a.m.: Drivers’ Meeting (Mandatory)
• 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: Race Session I

Sunday, 24 May ‘09

• 9:30 a.m.: Drivers’ Meeting (Mandatory)
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Race Session II
• Noon: People’s Curse
• 3 p.m.: Checkered Flag
• 3:30 p.m.: Awards Ceremony
• 7 p.m.: Gates Close

DIRECTIONS

Reno-Fernley Raceway is located in Fernley NV about 30 miles east of Reno.

From Reno: Take Interstate 80 East 30 miles to Fernley Exit 46. Turn right at the off-ramp and follow the road to 95A (at the stop light) and take a right. The track will be 5 miles down on the right.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported today that the Tour de Nez cycling event, taking place in Reno-Tahoe June 17-20, will incorporate the Hand Cycling National Criterium Championship into the event schedule. An excerpt:

A field of up to 50 participants will ride for the men’s and women’s U.S. Championships. In addition to the hunt for the national title, the hand cyclists will also compete in a three-day Omnium of their own, with criterium races in downtown Truckee and through the Village-at-Northstar Resort.

“The Tour de Nez, a celebration of the bicycle and bike culture, is extremely excited to have the National Hand Cycling Criterium Championship for 2009,” event promoter Tim Healion said. “Hand cycling embodies the spirit of the Tour de Nez, and we are delighted to be hosting the National Championships. We look forward as well to the three-day Omnium competition as well, as we welcome hand cycling back into the fold for 2009.”

For more information on the Tour de Nez, visit the event Web site.

Amateur and professional kayakers filed into Reno-Tahoe this week for the 2009 Reno River Festival. We caught up with them at the Truckee River Whitewater Park practicing and socializing in advance of the weekend activities. Check out these photos from Thursday:

It’s a right of spring in the Sierra Nevada: The snow starts melting and the kayakers come out to play at the Truckee River Whitewater Park. The park, a manmade playground featuring rapids and pools, sits right at the entrance to downtown Reno, Nev., and it’s the host site of the annual Reno River Festival, taking place this weekend (May 8-10). One of the premier kayaking competitions in the country, the festival  offers a great time for visitors to Reno-Tahoe with live music, vendors and events all weekend long.

From humble beginnings

What began as a way to showcase and attract attention to the park for whitewater enthusiasts has grown with a multitude of events – some connected, some not so connected to kayaking. Last year 40,000 athletes and spectators made their way to the river’s edge for great weather and a great time under the spring sunshine.

The festival has followed the trajectory of the popularity of whitewater kayaking. In the U.S., there are few parks designed specifically for whitewater kayakers and only Reno’s is central to a metropolitan core.

Something old, something new

In addition to professional and amateur freestyle and boatercross kayaking events, the Reno River Festival features the Run Amuck fun run, where the goal may be the best costume, not necessarily the best finishing time. For a more spiritual experience, try yoga in the park or take in a fly-fishing casting demonstration. Each day’s party atmosphere is highlighted by live music in the park, craft beers and retail vendors. Dress code? Shorts and sandals.

More on the way

The wave of popularity in whitewater kayaking continues to grow and the Truckee River may become its epicenter in the West. Downriver, at Rock Park in Reno’s sister city of Sparks, a second iteration is under construction and ready to open this summer. The park’s kayaking features complement those of the Reno park, with improved riverbank landscaping, shade structures, and play structures, parking and better access for people with disabilities.

Reno River Festival

• What: Kayaking, live music, food and drink
• When: May 8-10
• Where: Downtown Reno at the Truckee River
• More: RenoRiverFestival.com

In the Sierra Nevada it’s known as the “shoulder season,” the period between ski season and summer. The kids are still in school and the crowds are thin. But spring is the time to get to Reno-Tahoe for a visit. Check out these spring highlights:

1 - Down by the River

A trickle turns to a roar as Tahoe snowmelt feeds the Truckee River in downtown Reno. The Riverwalk area is prime for lazy walks, shopping and a streamside drink under the sun. Read More

2 - Catch a Homer

A new ballpark has risen on the banks of the Truckee River. The Reno Aces, a Triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, offer exciting professional baseball action in the heart of the city. Read More

3 - Get Teed Off

Reno-Tahoe might be golf’s best-kept secret in the West. Here 50 courses from high-mountain to high-desert challenge players with variety at a great value. Read More

4 - Try Lady Luck

The gaming action is always hopping in Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe. Dozens of properties offer a unique experience on the casino floor. And who knows? You could get lucky. Read More

5 - Shop Till You Drop

Power shoppers have a new destination in Sparks. The Legends at Sparks Marina destination center is opening shops in phases, and it’s home to Scheels, the World’s Largest All Sports Star at nearly 300,000 square feet. Read More

6 - Cast a Lure

Cast a fly for big brown and rainbow trout, catch a cutthroat at Pyramid Lake, or hit the mackinaw in Lake Tahoe. Spring fishing is a right of passage for any Sierra Nevada adventurer. Read More

7 - Wine and Dine

A nice cab … perhaps a pinot or a chardonnay. Several downtown Reno establishments – including the West Street Wine Bar, Jungle Vino and the Siena Hotel Spa Casino – cater to wine-lovers pallets, while a fine-dining experience waits just around the corner. Read More

8 - Exit Stage Left

There’s always a show to see in Reno-Tahoe. The newest offering, Celtic Legends playing at the Eldorado Hotel Casino from May 15-July 26, offers Irish music and breathtaking dance on center stage. Read More

9 - Lake Tahoe

When the ski lifts stop turning, Lake Tahoe is all about beaches, sun and getting out on the water. Experience “Big Blue,” just a 45-minute drive from downtown Reno and Sparks. Read More

10 - Arts and Culture

Reno-Tahoe is the cultural hub of Northern Nevada, boasting 31 museums. The Nevada Museum of Art is an architectural delight housing local works and traveling exhibits. Or find your niche, with great offerings from the National Automobile Museum to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Read More

Terrible’s Sands Regency Casino Hotel is bringing extreme rock crawling to downtown Reno. The W.E. Rock Western US Rock Crawling Nationals will take place as part of Reno Rocks 4×4.com over Father’s Day weekend.

Two additional events scheduled for Reno Rocks 4×4.com will give amateur drivers the unique opportunity to test their skills on the manmade W.E. Rock course, the Surplus City Jeep Parts High Sierra Rock Crawling Championship and Northern Nevada 4×4 Club Challenge Crawl.

Other Reno Rocks 4×4.com highlights include a Wheelers for the Wounded Tour Stop, 4×4 Show & Shine and 4×4 Rough & Tough competitions, the Surplus City Jeep Parts Teeter Totter and Ramp Travel Index (RTI), a People’s Choice Team Tire Climb, Beauty and the 4×4 Beast Contest, New 4×4 Showcase, Military and Public Safety 4×4 Vehicle Displays, a Manufacturers Midway, a Friday night pool party with men’s and women’s swimsuit competitions, and free live music in the casino Friday and Saturday nights. For more information on any of the events taking place at Reno Rocks 4×4.com, visit www.RenoRocks4×4.com and follow the Forum links.

Spectator season passes for Reno Rocks are now available at www.sandsrenoevents.com. Participant registration packages are also available.

Special discounted room rates for Reno Rocks 4×4.com at the Sands Regency are $35 Sunday through Thursday, $60 Friday or Saturday (group code “ROCKS 09”) plus tax. For reservations or event ticket information, call the Sands Regency at 1-866 FUN STAY or e-mail renorocks@terriblescasinos.com.

Reno-Tahoe is a family-friendly getaway, offering tons of fun for kids and adults alike. Add some of these Top 10 attractions to your travel itinerary:

1. Catch a ballgame: Downtown Reno is home to a new ballpark and the Reno Aces, a Triple A team. The boys of summer are playing in Reno-Tahoe.
2. Hit the slopes: Reno-Tahoe offers the largest concentration of ski and board resorts in North America — 18 within an hour drive of Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
3. Shop till you drop: The shopping is great in Reno-Tahoe, including the new Legends at Sparks Marina in Sparks, Nev., which boasts more than 70 stores and restaurants, including Scheel’s, the World’s Largest All Sports Store at almost 300,000 square feet.
4. A river runs through it: The Truckee River winds through downtown Reno and downtown Sparks, offering great opportunities for recreation and relaxation during the warm months. Whitewater enthusiasts can paddle to their heart’s content in the two whitewater parks.
5. Nevada-style casino action: In Reno-Tahoe the action goes 24-7, with deluxe, modern resort casinos that offer fun gaming action without the Vegas crowds.
6. The Jewel of the Sierra: Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport and downtown Reno — a great day trip whether it is summer or winter.
7. The Comstock Lode: Step back to Wild West times in Virginia City. The preserved epicenter of the Comstock Lode features classic buildings, old saloons and a cast of characters that is always entertaining.
8. V&T Railroad: Ride the rails of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Carson City, Nevada’s capitol. Working steam engines hearken back to the golden age of rail travel.
9. Wine and dine: Reno-Tahoe is known for adventure and Nevada-style gaming, but hundreds of restaurants serving everything from casual to five-star fare also make it a great destination for culinary enthusiasts.
10. Culture connection: Reno-Tahoe is home to 31 museums, including the Nevada Museum of Art, the National Automobile Museum and the Nevada State Museum – live Nevada’s rich culture.