The Truckee to Reno route starts at a busy Truckee intersection, Donner Pass Road and Highway 267.  After crossing railroad tracks and the Truckee River you will bike past the Truckee-Tahoe Airport.  Note the exposed, open geography of the airport, which facilitates wintertime radiational cooling.  Since official temperatures are measured here at the airport, it is not unusual for Truckee's low temperatures to be remarkably low (sometimes coldest in the nation). 

After an initial mild descent into this flat basin, you will start a climb which takes you past the entrance to the Northstar development.  The climb generally is even except for one steeper section, which occurs shortly before the Brockway summit; on the return journey, descending this segment can be very fast (control your speed!).  Descending to King's Beach is moderate and nice.  

You will arrive at the Rest Stop #1 shortly after turning left onto Highway 28 (N Lake Blvd).  Carry enough food from here to take you all the way to Reno.  After passing the California/Nevada border you will encounter a downhill segment which, because it is somewhat narrow and lacks a shoulder, is somewhat hazardous; fortunately, as it is downhill, you should get past it quickly. 

Turn left onto Route 431 to begin the climb to the Mt Rose summit.  For years I have regarded this as one of my favorite climbs in the region:  it is pretty, the climb is very steady and never excessively steep, and the road boasts a wide shoulder and good pavement (welcome to Nevada!).

Be sure to stop and enjoy the spectacular view at the Lake Tahoe overlook (photo above).

You will see a cluster of transmission towers as you approach the summit.  Before long you will arrive at the top (photo right).

The Mt Rose summit is a good spot to rest and munch on some of your packed-in food (Rest Stop #2). 

A clear day may afford spectacular views of southern Reno (photo left).  The descent has multiple twists and turns, and the road surface - while not bad - isn't as good as on the Lake Tahoe side. 

The trip down is fast, although it levels out as you approach Hwy 395.  

Enjoy Rest Stop #3 in south Reno.  The ride ends on South Virginia Street, which provides a straight shot north into Reno's entertainment and commercial district.

As you start the trip back from Reno to Truckee, admire the imposing eastern view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains (photo right), which you previously have descended.

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On the return climb admire the "Altitude Is Everything" sign - especially meaningful to bicyclists!