Going to Vegas in the summer for some entertainment? You just might consider taking your bike too. Better yet, take the big bike, armor, and the full face. Yep, people called me crazy, but I hit the jackpot big this past weekend. While my wife was battling against the big names of Tom Schneider (2007 WSOP Player of the Year) and Eric Buckman (4th in 2009 SWOP Main Event) in the World Series of Poker at the 3rd Feature table on Day 2B,
I was headed 40 minutes from town for my own game.
Even with the Strip at a balmy 109°F, I was all in, logging 2,000’ descents in air conditioned comfort over two days. Combine Hurkey Creek & LPQ Tunnels, this place has all I can ask for in the middle of Vegas summer.
Great singletrack
With jumps,
Log rides,
Steep & loose,
And lots of flow.
I even hooked up with the local crew from All Mountain Cyclery for some shuttle runs. With around 30 miles of trail, I was loving life. The locals are working with the Forest Service to establish these as legitimate trails and build even more. Most of canyon is already multi-use trails, so be prepared to encounter hikers and the occasional horses from the equestrian corral at the bottom trailhead. Mt. Charleston acts much like Colorado, so be prepared for flash floods if you do ride and get out of drainages quickly when the skies open up.
After each day, I checked out a brewery. First up, Big Dog’s Draft House.
A full glass wall in the bar allows viewing of the brewing operations.
Wish I could say I came away impressed with their brewed beers, but all were middle of the road. The waitress apologized for not having their best on tap, Red Hydrant Ale. As a consolation, they do have an assortment of great guest beers on tap including several from San Diego and 6 beers from 3 Belgium breweries.
Next up was Tenaya Creek Brewery.
Slightly more upscale than the Draft House and much less cigarette smoke, Tenaya recently discontinued food service so they could expand their brewing operations.
Flights come out on a cool sampler tree. Nearly every beer was good.
I was seriously digging the Belgian WIT,
So I ordered one for the road.
