Author: Jay Young

Alright Bubbas,

 

Saturday Team Bubba ride will be a version of the 3 state, that we haven’t done in a while.  I don’t have the file on Ride with GPS, but here’s the file from Strava. A metric and about 4.5k vert.

 

https://www.strava.com/routes/2747159910501899944

 

Maybe the man in black can find it in his ride with gps archives.  Anyway, roll at 8:30am from food city in st elmo

 

Non-tapering Bubbas will get a chance to get on top with the warm weather as we ride Signal and Mowbry via an old favorite: Henson Gap.   Roll at 8:30 from the old Pizza Hut across from Merv’s (Old Kmart/Aldi center – oil folks whined about us parking in the center itself).   SPIN up the W (we’ll divide into groups of 2 or 3 so as not to make motorists angry), Marshall Creek gorge, off the back of Signal (ouch), up Henson, across Mowbry by the 10 longest miles (double ouch), down Montlake, and back.  Simmer down fellers, this is a hard route and you’ll have plenty of chances to show Saturday ain’t for cornbread eatin once we get up Henson.  (Please remember that TB rides are intended to be hard GROUP rides, not races.)   A metric and 5000 feet but it’ll seem like much more.

Weatherman not cooperating again this Sat so Bubba will have a little more time to regain consciousness with a delayed takeoff.   Roll from Mike’s @ 1:00 for a trip north on a somewhat standard makeup route with a few twists to get a climb and hopefully avoid heavy traffic.   60 miles, 4000 feet, with lots of options to shorten the route to accommodate schedules.   Weatherman says we’ll have the wind at our backs both ways as wind direction changes early afternoon but I’ll believe that when I see it.

Roll from Mikes Hole in the Wall (Chilhowee lot) @ 9:00 Saturday for the annual climb up the Beast (Roberts Mill).   Weatherman keeps moving things around so be on the lookout for updates on the website beabubba.com. Traditionally this one has been all about making (or trying to make) it up the Beast and then heading to the closest bar to toast those who survived.   Always a bit unusual when New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday so what Bubba needs is options!

Beast option is 37 miles, 3100 feet. Shave it by dropping down the W road if you need less.  Lots of ways to add on up top for those with more time.

Beast Lite option (for those with injuries or general physical or mental weakness) travels with the Beast option but peels off on Mtn Creek Rd and climbs the W.   (If traffic is bad we may climb the front of Signal instead.)    Once on top head along the brow/Sawyer until we meet the Beasts and then turn and jump on that route.

BEAST:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38267092

BEAST LITE:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38267117

Option 1: The Fly will be leading a ride Friday 12/24 rolling from Ridgeland High School at 9:30. Plan on about 50 miles that will head down towards the Cove. Merry Christmas to all. Combined ride so don’t be naughty, be nice.

Option 2:  For the elves out there who think short is beautiful, roll at 9:30 from the little white Methodist church on Signal (across from Xtreme sports) at 9:30.   Corral, Marshall Creek Gorge, Forest Park climb, and then we’ll decide whether to drop down W and climb the front or find other stuff to climb such as Shoal Creek.   Never too far from the cars so jump off anytime.   Count on 2.5-3 hours and say 2500-3000 feet.

Merry Christmas to Bubbas everywhere!

Option 1: The Fly will be leading a ride Friday 12/24 rolling from Ridgeland High School at 9:30. Plan on about 50 miles that will head down towards the Cove. Merry Christmas to all. Combined ride so don’t be naughty, be nice.

Option 2:  For the elves out there who think short is beautiful, roll at 9:30 from the little white Methodist church on Signal (across from Xtreme sports) at 9:30.   Corral, Marshall Creek Gorge, Forest Park climb, and then we’ll decide whether to drop down W and climb the front or find other stuff to climb such as Shoal Creek.   Never too far from the cars so jump off anytime.   Count on 2.5-3 hours and say 2500-3000 feet.

Merry Christmas to Bubbas everywhere!

Weathermen still moving things around for Sat morning but regardless of which you believe it’s gonna be cold which means a late start and route flexibility even if it’s a yawner.   Roll from Mike’s Hole in the Wall (Chilhowee Street lot) @ 9:30.    Familiar route north with a few twists and a climb up Mountain Road where decisions must be made.  For those with less time head down Montlake for 40+ miles and back around noon.   Others descend Hotwater and wind back for 54 miles and 3200 feet.   (Check the map because we will not go all the way to the store since the less time on top the better – we’ll fill up at the store in Soddy where Sam I Am went “bowling for bikes” a few years ago.)   Easy to get this one over a metric by either climbing the front of Signal as we come back through (descending W) or doing a loop at the Bend before or after.

UPDATE:  HARD TO PREDICT THIS ONE SINCE SHOWERS POPPING UP SO QUICKLY.    LET’S SAY OFFICAL RIDE CANCELLED BUT MAY BE FOLKS THERE ANYWAYS.  MAY BE A DRIER WINDOW LATER THIS MORNING AND IF THAT HOLDS I’LL POST AN ALTERNATE LATER.

 

We’ll give the St Elmo ants a week to dig out of the new mulch as Bubba heads north this week.   Roll at 8:00 from Falling Water for a trip up Brayton Mtn.   (I hate that climb but Bones and Persecutor love it and threatened to hurt me even worse on Saturdays if I take it out of the rotation.)    Lots of familiar roads but we’ll mix it up a bit to keep things interesting.   Around 70 miles and 4000 feet.   Shave it to 50 by jumping on in Soddy – check the map because we’ll be rocketing down the main road.

Another nice day Saturday and you know what that means: TB goes long!   Roll from the St Elmo Food City aka Steady’s Ant Farm @ 8:00, River Front Pky, up Suck, Valley View, Jasper/South Pitt, over Ladd, and 299 back. Hard to find a better route than the one last week but this one is up there on the Best of Bubba list.   70 miles, 4000 feet.   Easy for the strongmen to add more by heading up Scenic at the end to Sanders and down Ochs.