Author: Jay Young

Thermometer sticks on around 40 tomorrow so roll from Mike’s at 10:00 for Bubba’s Winter Warmer.   Lots of ways to short this one and we’ll pull the plug and head back to Mike’s when our toes get cold.  (Yes, Pump, I’ll probably take my electric blanket in.)   No climb on the route but we pass several as we head north on familiar roads for those who want to peel off.   Linkon’s roads less traveled on the way back to keep our minds off our toes.  57 miles (if our toes last), 3100 feet, and easy to get it to a metric by a lap at the Bend.   BASE PACE unless you want to get screamed at.

The weatherman has cleared Wilbur’s sleigh for takeoff so someone tell Cindy-Lou Who to hide the Christmas tree!    (Her parents better hide the roast beast and their TV too.)  Get there early to share a cup of Jo with Bubba and lie about all you accomplished in 2022.

WILBUR’S CHRISTMAS CHIMNEY RIDE v13.0

(someone turn that # upside down please)

Roll Saturday December 10 at 9:00 from the Rock City StarBucks.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31591376

UPDATE (Sat @ 10:00):   LOOKS LIKE ONE MORE BAND OF RAIN COMING THROUGH SO FINGERS CROSSED THE ROADS ARE DRY BY 1:00.  ROLL AT 1:00.

Roll Sat at 1:00 from the St Elmo Food City aka Steady’s campground.   CHECK THE WEBSITE IN THE MORNING FOR UPDATED TAKEOFF TIME – MAY SLIDE IT TO 12:30 IF RAIN GETS OUT EARLY OR MAY HAVE TO SLIDE IT BACK IF THE RAIN STICKS AROUND.  We’ll pare back the route so folks can get home to decorate the tree.   Head over the toe, up Elder then down Raccoon (don’t go to top), then the Cummings Speedway (regroup at Cummings before the starting flag is dropped and regroup again at the store on the left at the bottom of the stairs).  299 to Murphy and then decisions must be made.   Main route is left on Slygo back to 299 for 46 miles, 3500 feet.   Go right on Slygo and wind around to the Creek Rd/foot of Burkhalter and that should get you in the metric range.  For those with less time I believe staying on 299 instead of making the Murphy turn may shave a few miles.  Post ride we’ll gather at Tailgate to enjoy the festivities on Main so make sure you invite Mrs. BubbaClaus to join us.  (Yes, a Hail Mary to keep Bubba out of the dog house for riding Sat afternoon.)  Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41541578

 

Sunday is the penultimate chicken cross race at BeezleBubb’s (1546 Burnt Mill Rd. Flintstone GA 30725).   (I know, I know, “penultimate” is a big word but my New Year’s resolution is to expand my vocabulary beyond 4-letter words!)   Racin’ starts around 3:30 but heckling starts before then!   Don’t forget to make a contribution to the chicken cross fund – not only does this take lots of Bub’s time but also involves lots of expense particularly when we factor in the cost of the chickens that get run over.

 

Frigid early Saturday so roll from Mike’s Hole @ 10:30 Saturday (hopefully close to 40 by then).   Head north for a climb up Mtn Rd.   Descend Montlake and head back for 45 miles, 3000 feet, and back to Mike’s by around 1:00.    Descend Hotwater, head a bit farther north on Back Valley before making the turn, and it should get you a metric.   Here’s the map with the Montlake descent (don’t be confused since the map is titled “Sunday Makeup” – it’s the Sat ride this time).  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40134954

Sunday On Signal riders will add some adventure this week by working in a gravel segment.  Roll Sunday from Walden Town Hall @ 1:00 (earlier than the usual 2:00 start).    We’ll do a road loop and then hit some sweet single track that ties into the main dirt road going to Edwards Point.   At the Point decisions must be made – if the leaves aren’t bad one option will be turn right to tie into the jeep roads that wind around and come out near the soccer fields.   Other, shorter, option is to ride back up and out the main dirt road.   Count on 1.5 – 3.0 hours depending on whether we do the jeep road option at the Point and how many times I get us lost.

 

So I expect most of you are riding with your imaginary friends on zwift, but if you want to get outside a couple of us are rolling at 1:00 Saturday from Whole Foods for some base miles at the bend.   (We aren’t your friends either but at least the air will be fresh.)

Sunday roll @1:00 from the old Pizza Hut across from Merv’s at the foot of Signal.   Typical Sunday makeup ride.  Here’s the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37902038

 

Well, I had been hoping the forecast would change but it doesn’t look like it will so no post for Saturday.  If the rain moves out early enough I may post laps at the bend for mid-day.   (Okay, okay, so that will just be an excuse to meet at Mike’s for lunch.)   Plan on a makeup ride Sunday @ 1:00 from the old Pizza Hut at the foot of Signal.   I’ll post it Saturday after we see what happens for a bend ride tomorrow.

Now where did I put my shoe covers…………………….

So after suffering through Fredonia Bubba is rewarded with BeelzeBub’s Bubba Bluegrass Bash!   Roll @ 9:00 from the Cove or start at John Carroll’s place a little later to avoid the Daughtery climb.   See BeelzeBub for a wristband to get into the Bluegrass Festival post-ride – significant others always enjoy the post-ride festivities so get a band for them too!  See the ridewgps post for more info:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38979012

Weather looks awesome and the leaves should be spectacular again at lower elevations.   A Big Bubba thanks to BeelzeBub and Sweetie for doing this again!

Fredonia!

Roll at 8:00 from boat ramp across from River Drifters on Suck Creek Rd.  80 miles, 8000 feet.  Bailout turns left on East Valley and climbs the back of Suck.

A bit chilly again this Saturday so as we voted in the parking lot last week we’ll delay takeoff while the planet warms.   (Pump, I promise it wasn’t just me whining even if I have been under an electric blanket all week.)   Roll from Mike’s Hole at 9:00.   Dry Valley, Marble, 136, and Scenic.  (Someone let me know if the intersection of Happy Valley and Battlefield is still closed – – if so we’ll work around that section.)   Normal regrouping places INCLUDING AFTER THE BIG HILL NEAR THE BEGINNING OF SCENIC (don’t make me scream at you).   It’s a metric and 4200 feet but lots of ways to ease the pain including avoiding Scenic by dropping off 136 and riding Creek Rd.

Roll at 8:00 Saturday from Falling Water for a Bubba favorite – Leggett, Ogden, Cranmore.   Yes it’s early.  Yes it’ll be cold.  But this one is longer than usual and we want to get it in one last time before winter tapering, not to mention it’ll be good training for you know what.  75 miles, 4100 feet.   Easy to shave 20 miles by jumping on at the Soddy ball fields around 8:30, and also easy to shave 20 or more by dropping down Brayton Mtn instead of going across the mtn for the Cranmore loop.