Every September, TAMBA’s Rose to Toads ride serves up 62 miles of Tahoe’s most iconic singletrack, over 8,000 feet of climbing, and a finish that feels a little like crossing the line into another dimension. This year, we have a special course that’s even more challenging, and have been sharing tips on prep from past riders.
TAMBA Board member Alex Robinson sat down with South Lake local Carissa Bisnar —three-time finisher (with number four coming up this year)—to talk about what Rose to Toads means to her and how she prepares physically and mentally. From first attempt just one year into mountain biking, to how she trains now, and the mental tricks and fueling strategies that get her through.
“I Never Planned to Finish”
How did you first hear about Rose to Toads and what made you decide to take it on the first time? And when was that?
Carissa’s first Rose to Toads was in 2019.
“I got my first mountain bike in fall 2018, so I’d only been riding about a year. I was not this person who, like, in a year, became an expert mountain biker. I signed up to support TAMBA and ride with friends. I had zero plans to finish—my plan was to bail when I felt like it.”
“I remember making it to Spooner and being like, ‘this is great because it’s mostly down!’, and I had never done most of the sections on this route.”
“That section killed me. I hadn’t ridden anything that technical. I had to stop and walk so much. Kingsbury was where I planned to quit.”
A snack and a few conversations changed her mind.
“My mood elevated, so I told myself, I’ll just do one more section. Then that happened eight more times. At no point did I think about the finish—I just kept thinking about the next saddle, the next bowl. Honestly, I think that’s the only reason I made it.”
So, what keeps you coming back each year?
“I think what I’m about to say is pretty common… After that ride, I swore I’d never do it again, and now this year will be my fourth year. People’s brains work in different ways, but I definitely am someone where I forget the bad times and remember the good times. There’s two things,
- You know, like, I know, it’s gonna be painful. You can’t train the pain out of a ride this big—once you accept that, the goal isn’t to avoid pain, it’s to get through it and finish.
- The sense of accomplishment at the end? It changes what you think you can do in every part of life because it’s so insanely hard.”
Training: Mind First, Legs Third
How far in advance do you start training for Rose to toads? What does your training look like?
“This will be the first year I am intentionally training for Rose to Toads, and I started last weekend.”
Though you’re riding a lot already, how does it shift from regular Carissa riding to “okay, I have this big ride I need to train for?”
“My regular riding usually consists of rides between 6- 15 miles with friends. They are social rides, they’re fun rides, and we’re still hitting, 1-2k feet of climbing, 3 to 4 days a week. Every once in a while, I’ll do a big ride on the weekend if somebody’s into it.
Now it’s:
- 5 days per week on the bike,
- A big weekend ride (30–50 miles, 3–5.5k climbing),
- Two Zone 2 rides (“the talk test”), one Zone 3, one recovery spin.
Any ‘aha’ moments in your prep that you wish you would have known before your first attempt?
“Most people think training your body is the most important thing. I think it’s third. Number one is your mind. Number two is food. If you can’t fuel right, you can’t finish—no matter how strong your legs are.”
She even trains her mind by riding climbs she hates:
“High Meadow sucks, so I climb it three days a week. It’s about getting used to sitting in the pain. I literally say to myself, I like doing hard things or I feel strong and happy. You can’t avoid the pain—so get better at doing things you hate.”
Fueling: Trial, Error, and Chocolate Pretzels
Carissa learned she’s the opposite of most riders:
“Most people bonk when they don’t eat enough. I bonk when I eat. All the blood goes to my stomach and my legs lose all their power.”
Her first two Rose to Toads were disasters because of nutrition. She tried “healthy” bars, then homemade rice balls and potatoes (“even worse”), until a nutritionist friend helped her figure it out:
- High carb, low protein, low fat (“protein and fat are harder to digest”),
- Tiny amounts every 15–20 minutes (timer set on her watch),
- Go-to foods: dark chocolate–covered pretzels, chocolate wafers, energy chews, electrolytes in water.
“I’ll eat three pretzels, two chews, half a wafer. Very little, but my carb intake ends up the same as everyone else’s. It’s sad—potatoes sound way better—but wafers digest easier for me than real food.”
Pacing: The Talk Test and Trail Talking
How do you manage your pacing so you don’t burn out too soon?
Carissa starts early—around 5 a.m.—to avoid the shuttle rush. She learned a key pacing lesson from a rider she met her first year:
“He told me he’d never finished because he goes too hard at the beginning. That stuck with me.”
She stays in Zone 2 early on (“if you can hold a conversation, you’re there”) and uses her nickname, “Trail Talker,” to keep herself in check.
“Friends joke—ask me a question and I’ll talk the whole climb. It keeps me from going too hard.”
Riding alone? She switches to music. She also practices nasal breathing:
“You have to slow down to breathe through your nose, but if you can do it, you can maintain that pace for ten hours.”
Dealing with the Hard Parts
Monument Pass. That’s always the crux. Getting up through Heavenly, getting up the stairs. It’s hot, what are you thinking at that point in time?
“I don’t waste energy trying to ride every technical section. If I’m burning matches to get over a boulder, it’s not worth it. I’ll push the bike for 30 seconds and keep moving. Just don’t stop moving.”
You ride with people, you ride solo, how do you keep morale up during some of those stretches when you’re riding alone?
“Music…it’s funny, I think more than I realize. I think I’m quite a mantra person, when I’m struggling or something feels really hard on the bike, like on these rides, I will repeat something to myself along the lines of, “how beautiful is Tahoe?” Or, “how lucky am I to be attempting this?” I think getting really present with your surroundings. It’s such a beautiful ride. So getting really present with your surroundings, listen to the birds, feel the air or the sun on your skin. Or if you have people to chat with, definitely do that.”
Favorite Moments
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Best section: TRT: Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek Road.
“You’re weaving between desert views on one side and endless Sierra peaks on the other. If you start early, the sunrise over the East is unreal. You’re literally straddling two worlds.”
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Best part overall: the people.
“It’s such a special camaraderie. Everyone’s suffering together, leapfrogging, swapping stories, laughing about how wrecked your stomach is. It’s shared trauma in the best way.”
Advice for First-Timers
What is the thing that first timers might underestimate about Rose to Toads?
- “Dial your food – know exactly what works for you, and practice it.
- Take the pressure off – go as far as you can and have fun. You don’t have to finish this year.
- One section at a time – don’t think about the end until you’re there.”
Tips for Women
Any tips specifically for the women tackling this challenge for the first time?
“I think it’s gotten a lot better, but I do think traditionally, anytime a woman signs up for something like this, there is this mentality, “you gotta train, and you can’t do it if you’re not gonna make it.” And there’s this stigma that you have to be at a certain level to even try. That is my biggest tip. No, you don’t. You can just ride to Kingsbury. You don’t have to keep up with anyone—go at your own pace. Learn your body, listen to it, and ride the way you want to.”
Looking Ahead
Next on her bucket list? A multi-day bikepacking trip—probably Patagonia.
“I’ve got back issues, so I’ve learned to carry everything on the bike instead of a backpack. I’m already used to a weighted bike, so Patagonia won’t be that crazy.”
Carissa’s Parting Thought:
“Rose to Toads doesn’t have to look like the hardest, most miserable grind of your life. I laugh, I talk with friends, I’m willing to bail if I feel like crap. Make it the day you want. And remember—you’re lucky just to be out there.”
We enjoyed sitting down with Carissa to hear her story. She’s got a great attitude and outlooks towards TAMBA’s Rose to Toads ride, and life in general. Carissa encourages anyone who wants it to sign-up, and challenge themselves to this awesome ride. If you’re interested in listening to the full “bootleg podcast” interview, where we get into a lot more detail, share some laughs and colorful language, you can listen here.
