Author: Jay Young

We’ll stay south again this week and let our neighbors up north cool a bit longer although I’m not sure Bubba’s absence makes their hearts grow fonder.  Roll from the St Elmo Food City @ 8:00.  Toe, 299, Ladd, up Sand (good road), across the top, and down Slygo.  Regroup at all the normal places INCLUDING AT THE TOP OF THE BIG HILL AFTER THE TRUCK STOP, AT THE END OF 299, AFTER LADD BEFORE THE CLIMB, AT THE STORE ON THE LEFT AT THE TOP (REFUELING), AND AFTER THE DESCENT.   CAREFUL DESCENDING BECAUSE THOSE SWITCHBACKS MAY HAVE GRAVEL IN THEM AFTER ALL THE RAIN THIS WEEK.  A metric and 3800 feet.  Add the nature center loop or climb to Sanders for more up.

Lots of folks out this Sat (Dalton race, etc.) so we’ll field a group of rag tag Bubbas and hit an old favorite:  136 from Mable side (haven’t done it in a while and it’s shady).   We’ll then try to shave a few degrees by staying on top and head back on Scenic to Covenant (ouch!).    Roll from Mike’s Hole at 8:00 – don’t blame me fuss at Fly!  (Actually a good call because temps brutal Sat.)    Usual regrouping places INCLUDING after the climb at the beginning of Scenic.   A metric and 4200 feet but it’ll feel like much more as we’ll hit Dry Valley on the way out.  Lots of ways to short it and if the temps are too bad we may take one.  Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40272620

Bubba hits the “old” 3-state metric this week.   Roll from Mike’s Hole @ 8:30.   (Please remember to use the Chilhowie St lot.)   We’ll get the climb out of the way early while it’s cooler with a trip up Suck, then East Valley and 299.   Plan to top bottles quickly as we regroup at the store after the Suck descent and again at the Bait Store.  It’s a metric and 3500 feet.  Those wanting less may cut the corner to the Bait Store (I believe that shaves 5-8 miles), and those wanting more may add the Nature Center climb to Scenic Hwy and even more by climbing Lookout to Sanders.   Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38635604

Sunday makeup ride rolls from Mike’s Hole at 1:30.   North for a climb up Mtn Rd.   Nothing sexy, just trying to get some up in.   (Sorta like Bubba’s wife said when she introduced him to her folks, “He ain’t much but he’s something.”)   Most folks rode today so count on a steady tempo BUT NOT A RACE.   45 miles.  3000 feet.   Lots of ways to short it or add on.   Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40134954

RIDE CANCELED.  DAD-BURN WEATHERMAN.

 

Roll Sat @ 8:30 from St Elmo Food City.    Head south and get the climb out of the way early with everyone’s not so favorite – Nickajack.    Left on Hinkle at the top (PLEASE REGROUP AT THE TOP OF THE BIG HILL!), Humping Dog backwards (that doesn’t sound right), then down 136 and Marble back.   58 miles, 4000 feet, with those needing a metric finding Mighty Mike Miles at the end while the rest of us fight off the flies at Steady’s campground.   Here’s the map:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38120455

 Roll Monday @ 9:00 from the BeezleBub Chicken Ranch (1546 Burnt Mill Rd. Flintstone GA 30725) for the Holiday Ride.    Folks north of town can jump on in St Elmo or on River Street to save some drive time.   Normal holiday route, 42 miles, 2600 feet.   REMEMBER THIS IS A HOLIDAY RIDE WITH THE GOAL BEING TO GET FOLKS OUT WHO MAY NOT RIDE WITH US OFTEN.   IF YOU ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR STRAVA NUMBERS THAN THE FOLKS IN THE GROUP FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.    Sweetie and BeelzeBub are cooking up some lunch for Bubba so stick around post-ride.   (He told me all the stuff they’re fixin but I lost focus as soon as he said there’d be bacon.)   Here’s the map BUT REMEMBER THE MAIN GROUP STARTS FROM BUB’S NOT ST ELMO:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36208471

Roll from Falling Water at 8:30.   (It’s really not that far and worth it to ride some of Bubba’s favorites!)   Head north for a climb up Retro, descend everyone’s favorite Leggett, jump on the Stormer roller coaster, then meander our way back on a few less familiar roads.   61 miles, 3900 feet.   Do laps in the parking lot with Mighty Mike to make it a solid metric because he’s sick that way.

TB rolls from the Bub One! Chicken Ranch (1546 Burnt Mill Rd. Flintstone GA 30725) at 8:30 for the Bub One! Invitational.  65 miles and 3800’ with several opportunities to shortcut along the way.

Stick around post-ride to eat some big ole pork butts smoked by Slick and Cowboy!   Lunch and Bubba’s favorite beverages FREE but remember this is a fundraiser to help Bub One! since he’s out of work because of the crash so eat/donate/drink/and donate some more!   (Bring larger bills because if we load Bub up with $1s I fear he’ll just blow ’em at the “club” instead of continuing to buy razor blades!)

A generous anonymous donor has made an offer to match any donations for Bub One dollar for dollar that are given between 5pm today and midnight tomorrow up to $1,650. So anything thrown in the pot at Bub’s house will count or you can Venmo donations to Jungle Jim (Jim Shea) at @James-Shea-15

 

TB rolls from the Bub One! Chicken Ranch (1546 Burnt Mill Rd. Flintstone GA 30725) at 8:30 for the Bub One! Invitational.  65 miles and 3800’ with several opportunities to shortcut along the way.

Stick around post-ride to eat some big ole pork butts smoked by Slick and Cowboy!   Remember this is a fundraiser to help Bub One! since he is out of work because of the crash so eat/donate/drink/and donate some more!

Check back for the final map coming soon.

 

 

TB rolls from the Bub One! Chicken Ranch (Burnt Mill Road) at 8:30 for the Bub One! Invitational.  65 miles and 3800’ with several opportunities to shortcut along the way.

Stick around post-ride to eat some big ole pork butts smoked by Slick and Cowboy!   Remember this is a fundraiser to help Bub One! since he is out of work because of the crash so eat/donate/drink/and donate some more!

Check back for the final map coming soon.