Cross-Country Route 40 Bike Trip - Day 3 (Rainbow Lodge to Fernley)
There are two routings for the Day 3 biking. This is the safer but longer of the two. Rather than use I-80 between Truckee and Reno, it uses an older alignment back of the Lincoln Highway. The journey continues its climb up the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, cresting at Donner Pass. At 7,088 feet, it is the highest point along Route 40 util reaching the Rocky Mountains. Afterwards, you will descend into the basins of Nevada. Most of the original alignment of Route 40 in Nevada is long gone and as a result you will need to travel on portions of I-80 in several places: west of Reno (for about 1.5 miles) and just about the entire distance between Sparks and Fernley (about 26 miles). If you follow this itinerary, you do so at your own risk. Failure to exercise good judgment can result in traffic violation citations, injury and even death. If in doubt, please consult with state and local law enforcement agencies.by fbrusca