FR14 Manhattan s(u) by Bicycle - Velo

FR14 Manhattan s(u)

This is very isolated country. And so, the presence of the old mining town, named Manhattan no less, comes as a surprising sign of human presence on this route to the first time visitor. It may well be the only sign of life you will encounter on the profiled route. The loop ride below connects these endpoints of the profile with a regular Nevada highway with regularly heavy Nevada traffic.

This gravel road has a very bicycle friendly surface. It takes advantage of a low gap in the Toquima Range, north east of Tonopah.

Approaches

From East. Belmont Road climbs gently in a wide sage valley towards the Toquima Range. I saw a total of 2 cars on these 18 miles. During the morning the gentle wind from the south made it seem mildly downhill, even though I was climbing ever so gently. Little did I know I would pay for this pleasant sensation on the way back - with a fierce afternoon front wind.

But it's still morning and the legs feel fresh. The turnoff onto FR14 is signed as going to Manhattan. It looks like a short uniform climb up an alluvial fan, and that's the end. But of course it is not. This side has a perfect surface for a gravel climb. By the time I approach the summit the surroundings change, It feels nice to be surrounded by juniper trees once again. But I have to admit to myself, the views were actually better down in the treeless valley. From the summit a short spur leads up the ant hill to the south. In the distance snowy plateaus seem to be at eye level. The top is well defined and a view opens into Big Smoky Valley. But it is not until much further down, that these mountains on the other side show off their best side.

From West. (described downwards). This side seems to have a few short sandy stretches - but not a problem going downhill. Pavement starts in the old settlement of Manhattan. Like so many old mining towns, an additional new type of miner also moved here, modern residents living in mega trailers or modern frame houses. But here it seems to make a good mix with the old delapidated mining shacks, dry good stores and car wrecks.

On this last part of the paved decent the best views show up: Big Smoky Valley and Mahagony Mountain. On FR14, below Manhattan I saw exactly one vehicle, a delivery vehicle making a run into Manhattan.

Dayride with this point as highest summit:

( < McKinney Tanks Summit | FR26 Powell Canyon s(u) > )

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED

FR14 Manhattan s(u) , Nv376 Ralston Valley - Big Smoky Valley s(u): jct Nv376 - Belmont Rd > Belmont Rd north > FR14 east > Manhattan > Nv377 east > Nv376 south > Nv376 Ralston Valley - Big Smoky Valley s(u) > back to starting point at jct Nv376 - Belmont Rd: 58.4miles with 3060ft of climbing in 6:24hrs (garmin etrex32x 23:5.3)
Notes: most difficult part was the return back south with constant, extremely strong headwinds. Along the way, the return ride into the wind also went over the shallow Nv376 summit, which has great far views of the Mahagony Mtn area.