Summerlin, Red Rock Canyon have become popular destinations for cyclists

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 | midnight

On weekend mornings, the wide, one-way Red Rock Scenic Loop is a snug ride. Which is what you'd expect at Las Vegas' premier riding recreation destination.

"Every racing team in town is out there," said Jim Little, an avid rider and president of the Las Vegas Valley Bike Club. His group leaves the Summerlin area at about 8 a.m. with young and old, tandems and rucumbents, performance road or trail bikes. Most ride the comfortable canyon road. A few climb the challenging 13-mile Red Rock loop. These are the intense riders. The first five miles are muscle-straining pain. Riders hit "the wall" at about half way, just past the highest point in the loop. Hundreds ascend it.

But not at night. It's just you, your best light and the bats, said cyclist Rocky Heidt.

"It takes on a different perspective when you start when the sun is behind the hills," said Heidt. "The bats are coming out to go hunting. You are watching them dive and go after their bugs."

And the light makes the rocks look surreal, he said. At about mile seven, you're rolling downhill "it's a blast," Heidt said.

Heidt, who owns Southwest Bikes in Centennial Hills, organizes a group weekly for the night ride.

The loop is challenging because of the traffic and the blind turns, especially going downhill, Little said.

Heidt said he believes it's safer at night because bike and car traffic is reduced. And your flashing tail light is easily noticed by other vehicles. He started posting the group ride this month on BikingLasVegas.com. Valley riders may find it easier to connect with other enthusiasts through Lisa Caterbone's Web site. Launched Oct. 1, it runs classifieds, favorite routes and an event calendar. She has about 100 members.

"There's so much stuff that goes on here, but unless you are right on top of it, you don't know," Caterbone said.

The Summerlin area is famous for its bike paths, from the north side to Siena, said Randy McGhie, owner of McGhie's Ski and Bike at South Fort Apache Road. Riders can rent a bike from his store and pedal about six miles to the entrance of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

There are plenty of flat areas for the beginners. McGhie recommends riding along Charleston Boulevard, west of Hualapai Way. Highway 160 is scenic and has a 10-foot-wide bike lane from Charleston Boulevard. McGhie recommends bikers avoid two busy main arteries — Cheyenne Avenue and Rampart Boulevard. He organizes the annual April 25 Tour of Summerlin. This year, 600 riders participated in the 80-mile, 40-mile or 10-mile rides.

Getting a handle on bike basics is essential for those who want to start riding Summerlin streets.

For riders who want speed and high performance, Phil Hawk, owner of Peloton Sports on North Buffalo Drive, recommends a road bike. "These are what used to be called 10-speeds when I was younger. But they go much higher than 10 (gears) now. They are light weight, high performance and high speed. High speed depending on how healthy you are."

Friction is an enemy of a performance cyclist, he said. So you want smaller, high pressure tires with minimum tread for less friction on the road. Road bikes also have curved handle bars, which allows for multiple hand positions as the rider leans into the bike.

Cyclists can choose to ride a mountain or hybrid bike on a challenging road route — such as the Red Rock Loop — but they will find that the tire tread becomes a drag. But that might feel more secure for some people, Hawk said.

Mountain bikes have higher handle bars and wider saddles, which offer a more comfortable ride for those who like to sit up.

Riders need to pick what fits best for what they want to do, Hawk said.

The Red Rock loop is a performance ride, he said. It can be done with a mountain bike, but he encourages riders to try a hybrid or road bike.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].