Fallon Naval Air Station: a tour of Tahoe...and climbing the wall.

Cycling is a sport that has been overshadowed by athletic headliners. The stamina to assault the 2,000 plus miles of the Tour De France is developed individually, quietly, and in remote sanctuaries. The Sierra Nevada Moutains are a focal point for this nation's successors to Greg LeMond. Residents of the Fallon Naval Air Station have the opportunity to ride and train with the same cycling organizations that produced America's greatest cyclists.

Located west of Fallon is the alpine lake and glacier carved valleys of Lake Tahoe, which provides riders with the ideal terrain to train and compete with the best in Europe. The experience of mountain riding surpasses any other demanding environment. Limited by seven mountain passes, the lake is secluded and only accessible through these passes. Ranging in length from 7 to 26 miles, these ascents have the capability of devastating any flat land speedster. The decents have dramatic 1,000-foot drops in elevation and create speeds in excess of 45 miles per hour. This is the attraction of Tahoe.

Riding members of the NAS Fallon military community have set their sites on the goal of challenging all seven alpine passes of Tahoe. In preparation for the toughest of rides, the riders practiced on Route 347, a local Reno riding staple. More commonly known as Geiger Grade, this 7.5 mile ascent at a 7% road grade, is enroute to Virginia City, some 30 miles away. The next challenge was Spooner Pass enroute to State Line, CA. This seemingly easy ride of 27 miles took six riders from Fallon up 10 miles to Spooner Summit at 7,146 feet and down to lake level.

Best Ride Yet

With summer vacationers jamming the roads in and out of the Tahoe Basin, the riders of NASF had to postpone their efforts till fall. Not wishing to lose their momentum, they joined in with the Procrastinating Peddlers of Reno for one of their rides. This was to take these Fallon athletes to the summit of Ebberrs pass at 8,700 feet and back to their starting point at Woodfords, CA, a 50-mile trip with more than 3,000 feet of climbing elevation. This was the best ride yet.

The love for a sport that started a continent away has not diminished with the responsibility of family or career. The Tahoe Lake area can let you imagine the true feelings of the "Tour," a race that is a world away from Fallon.

... and Climbing the Wall

Aunique dimension to cardiovascular and strength training now is enhancing the lives of service members at the Fallon Naval Air Station. The Brewer's Ledge climbing wall is an innovation on the cutting edge of technology. The treadwall, as it is better known, allows individuals to challenge themselves on a revolving rock climbing wall.

Although similar in design to treadmills, the treadwall has a vertical climbing surface with various rock structures to grasp. Unlike static walls with their limitations and drawbacks, the treadwall allows climbers to practice skills that otherwise would require equipment and assistance.

The 30-foot rotating surface encourages participants to strive and challenge themselves with every new panel. Greater strength, flexibility, and endurance are only a few of the benefits of using this equipment. Imagination is a key to having fun on the treadwall. Wall climbers have the ability to adjust the dimensions of their practice to simulate real environmental challenges. Speed, pitch, and duration all are controlled by the individual. Climbers can design a program to meet and exceed future climbs. Limitations end with the climber's imagination.

Achievable Adventure

In conjunction with Brewer's Ledge and the Naval Air Station Fitness Center, a cooperative program to demonstrate and enlighten service members to the healthy attributes developed through rock climbing has been established. The "Climb the Summit" program is an established distance criteria of 29,028 feet, the height of Mt. Everest. This achievable adventure is being pursued by nearly 40 people.

The treadwall allows service members a chance to practice and experience the freedom of rock climbing. With little free time to travel, base personnel can use the treadwall as a resource to develop skills necessary for a challenging outdoor activity. The "Wall" might be inside a gym, fitness center, or carrier hangar, but the heart and soul of a climber shows through on every ascent.