• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Las Vegas Photographers | Taylored Photo Memories

las vegas photographers & vegas wedding photographers

  • About
  • Personal Brand Photography
  • Weddings
    • Weddings
    • Intimate Weddings
    • Boudoir / Beauty Sessions
  • Portraits
    • Engagement Sessions
    • Family
    • South Dakota Seniors
    • Boudoir / Beauty Sessions
  • Resources
    • 44 Best Las Vegas Photo Shoot Locations
    • Planning Your Vegas Wedding
      • Wedding Planning Checklist
      • How to Get a Marriage License in Las Vegas
      • Top 15 Mistakes Made When Getting Married in Vegas from Las Vegas Wedding Photographers
      • 10 Wedding Secrets
      • How to Plan Your Las Vegas Wedding in 30 Days
    • What to Wear
    • Photo Albums
    • How To: Pixieset Guide
    • Blog
    • Kind Words
    • Preferred Vendors
  • Get Started
You are here: Home / My Adventures / Get on your bike. Ride it across Nevada.

Get on your bike. Ride it across Nevada.

October 4, 2015 by McKenzi Taylor

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comRiding on Hwy 50.

I just got back from “One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada” a couple days ago and I wanted to share some of my experiences.

First, the ride was 400+ miles and 5 days of consecutive riding through the great state of Nevada. The route was pretty much exclusively along Highway 50 (also known as the “Loneliest Highway”). I had never done a multi-day bike ride, and I actually don’t even know if I rode my bike two days in a row prior to this adventure… so I can say I was pretty nervous about hopping on and riding an average of 70-80 miles a day in the middle of nowhere (literally). But, when I get something in my head, I usually just do it… so after a friend suggested the ride I was all in.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comMy roomie, Virginia showing me the route.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comThe “starting line” for the Tour. 

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comAll the riders and Team Bike the West.

The riding was great, but I think more important was the experience that I had and the lessons I learned along the way. I learned how powerful my body is. I think we all forget to give ourselves credit, we are amazing beings and I honestly can’t believe that I wasn’t dying after the 2nd day on the tour, but after 2 days or so it just seemed natural to get back on the bike and continue on. I can’t recall even being that sore. It’s a reminder to me to continuing trying, even when it hurts.

 

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comNevada Sunrise.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comNice Water Stop near Sand Mountain.

Another thing I was inspired by was the people. While, I didn’t get to know many of them super well, I couldn’t help but be amazed by all these people that were willing to gather in Tahoe on a Sunday to ride across the sparse state of Nevada. Most of the people were retired and several of them were repeat riders (which says boatloads about the Bike the West Team  that promotes and supports the event). Even with that, I couldn’t help but notice the age of the riders. Most of them were much older than I and it gave me so much inspiration. One man was 80 years old, for instance. We celebrated his birthday on the road and I can only hope that I have that much energy and motivation when I’m older.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.com

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comMark, Erik, Me at the Middlegate Water Stop.

While most people tend to think the desert is a rather boring landscape, I couldn’t help but be in awe every day with the landscape of Nevada. The small towns that we stopped in along the way also provided us with ample amusement as we would pull into our stop, shower and usually venture around until we found a bar and chatted with the “local folklore” as Erik says.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comFamous “Shoe Tree”

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comNevada Landscape

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comNevada Landscape

I am trying to think about what I thought about for at least 6 hours a day as my legs went round and round and round… And I can’t recall anything revolutionary. The best part of the ride for me was being present every single day, doing the task at hand — riding my bike. It was a nice break from the “stress” or the so called stress that we make. We were pretty remote and most of the stops had limited wifi connectivity and cell service, so there was nothing to worry about (for me anyway). I couldn’t control very much and just had to let things be.

One thing that I will miss most about the week, which I also heard one of the rider’s, Lois Ann say was the predictability of each day. Each day, we all knew exactly what we were in store for. It was easy. Get on your bike. Ride it across Nevada. What a refreshing thing… to just be told what to do.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comErik, Virginia, Me outside Austin, NV
Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comThe Climb to get out of Austin.

I really want to thank the support team from Bike the West and the Bike Tech Calvin. Each day you prepped us with plenty of food, stories and smiles. You hauled my oversized and heavy bags to each stop. You even carried my now famed “butt’r” to lunch stops.

My roommate Virginia told me plenty of hilarious stories and we could relate about butt butter. I’m glad I got to hang with the Jersey lady living in Cheyenne, WY. She always had something to say and was totally along for the ride. Mark, the mine guy from Colorado pushed and pulled me patiently along the deserted highway and told us many stories of the mines and landscape along the way.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comHighway 50. The Loneliest Highway

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comPerfect weather for us on the ride.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.comRiding Pal, Erik.

Especially want to thank my riding pals, Erik and Maria. These two are the reason I even knew about the ride. These two are really the reason, I even ride at all, actually. While, Maria wasn’t able to make it on this ride, she was there in spirit as a jalapeno that I toted along and thought of her all along the way. Erik, pulled me, push me, encouraged me, laughed with me and drank with me. It was nice being a “wing girl” and i wouldn’t have been as speedy or successful if I hadn’t had a partner. I give him a lot of shit, but I hope he knows how much I appreciate his support!

Finally, thanks to Matthew… For one, he never even questioned why I wanted to do the ride in the first place. 🙂 Then, he drove to Baker, NV after the last day of the ride to pick me up, turn around and drive me back home the same day because I had a wedding to shoot the following day. It’s nice to know I have such a great support team.

With that said, I have a full heart of experiences and amazing people in my life. Thanks, Universe.

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.com

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.com

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.com

Oatbran 2015 | www.TayloredPhotoMemories.com

One of the most beautiful scenes. The last day on the road.

IMG_6487

IMG_6606

We made it!

 

 

Filed Under: My Adventures Tagged With: bike the west, oatbran

About McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor has established herself as a top Las Vegas personal branding photographer. Her 15 years of experience has made her a sought after professional and has earned her accolades from far and wide, including in the New York Times. Since 2017 she has launched a handful of successful photography based brands under her MTaylor Inc brand umbrella including Cactus Collective Weddings, Electric Sugar Elopements and Taylored Photo Memories. She has given back by serving on the board of the Wedding International Professionals Association. McKenzi’s approachable personality and enthusiasm for providing clients with impactful brand images makes her an excellent speaker, podcast guest or convention panelist.

Footer

Taylored Photo Memories: Wedding, elopement, and portrait photography in Las Vegas and Black Hills, South Dakota

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

[email protected]
702-518-8108

Copyright © 2023 | Privacy Policy | Website by Snoack Studios