Author: Jay Young

Roll at 8:30 from the St Elmo Food City aka Steady’s Campground.   Mapped route includes the climb up Daughtery (ouch) which puts the ride at 71 miles, 4200 feet.  (A bit longer than usual but we’ll need it as we begin to think about the upcoming ride of which we will not speak.)  Turning at the store and leaving off Daughtery shaves it to a metric, and easy to chop it to like 45 or so by turning on Captains Rd off W Cove and then picking up with Hog Jowl headed home.   Here’s the full map:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40992851

“Official” TB route for this one will be the “80” miler with the Lee Station climb which makes the ride 86 miles and 5500 feet.   IF YOU ARE ON THE CLIMB AND SEE OTHERS HEADING DOWN, YOU SHOULD TURN AND DESCEND IF YOU WANT TO STAY WITH THE GROUP.  There will be a 2-3 minute regrouping period at the bottom after the climb and the group will then roll whether everyone is there or not.  Count on hitting several sags.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41010855

For those using this as training for the ride of which we will not speak, we’ll do the “50” miler with 3 climbs in the following order: Lee Station, Pitts, Henson.  (That’s out of order from the website route but since we do Henson often we’ll save it until last as a throw away if the legs are gone.)  With all 3 climbs it’s 74 miles and 6500 feet.  Similar format to the official TB route (above) on the climbs: 2-3 minute regrouping at bottom after the climbs to cram down a cliff bar and then roll (in other words, if you see folks coming down you should turn and head down if you want to stay with the group).   Count on quickly topping bottles at the sags on top and one longer sag stop (maybe).

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41010845

SPECIAL NOTE: SINCE BOTH ROUTES BYPASS HENSON ON THE WAY OUT AND BOTH CLIMB LEE STATION THE PLAN IS FOR BOTH TO ROLL AT 7:30 CENTRAL, 8:30 EASTERN.

SHANNONDOAH ASKS US TO TAKE IT EASY ON THE DESCENTS PARTICULARLY LEE STATION SINCE THERE IS NO CENTER LINE AND FOLKS MAY BE CLIMBING WHILE WE ARE COMING DOWN.   

Howdy Bubbas.   Some concern that the route to the Cove may have higher than normal traffic since Sunday’s ironman travels much the same route.  So we’ll push the Cove route until 10/8.

THIS SATURDAY (9/24) ROLL FROM MIKE’S AT 8:30 FOR A RIDE WITH BASICALLY THE SAME METRICS.  Head north for a climb up Montlake, down Hotwater, Back Valley to Bakewell, Stormer, Lullwater.   68 miles, 4100 feet, and lots of ways to short it or add on.

FINALLY the weatherman is cooperating and Saturday looks great for the Cleveland Circuit Ride.   Only a short drive for sweet tarmac and to support a great cause – Family Promise – which helps families transition from homelessness.   (And heck, the $40 fee is less than most of us spend at Mike’s post-ride most Saturdays!)    There will be some Bubbas taking the express, but a solid group will do the ride using the typical Saturday format and regrouping at sags (30k and 72k).    100k ride begins @ 8:00.  There is day of registration, but the organizers request folks to sign up online and ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES WEDNESDAY NIGHT SO SIGN UP NOW.   Make sure you sign up for Team Bubba!   Here’s the link:   https://circuitride.org/

 

RAIN DELAY: ROLL AT 9:30

Roll Saturday at 9:30 from Stormy’s house (4915 Bal Harbor Circle, Chattanooga TN 37416) IF you will join the after-ride party,  or 8:30 from the parking lot next to the Highway 58 Zaxby’s (Zaxby’s address is 4815 TN-58, Chattanooga TN 37416).  (Please leave the parking around Stormy’s house for folks who are staying for the after-ride party since they will need easy access to their cars after they break a hip wakeboarding!)  Both groups will roll from the parking lot at 8:30.   A metric and 4000 feet (no climb) with lots of ways to short it.  Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40810338

Yep, Labor Day Ride is cancelled.  Dad-burn weatherman.

Roll at 8:30 from Romeo’s house – 6532 Forest Park Drive, Signal.  Please park on Romeo’s lawn inside the gate if there’s room and it’s dry, and if not on Romeo’s side of the street as close to his drive as you can to keep neighbor complaints down.  (They’ll have enough to complain about when nekked Bubbas start roaming around.)  We’ll go through the Marshall Creek Gorge (Sawyer) then off the back of Signal toward Dunlap.  At the bottom decisions must be made.  Go right on East Valley for a metric and 5200 feet (ouch).   Go left on East Valley for a loop that shaves 10 or so miles for a total of around 52.   Both routes climb the back of Signal and go back through the Gorge.  Tough route with not much flat so it’ll be best if we keep restrictor plates on at least until the climb.      Here’s the full map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40680673

Here’s the 10-mile loop map – remember, turn left at the bottom instead of right like on the full map:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40677808

And for those wanting even more park at Red Bank Elementary  and ride up the W for the start!  Romeo’s house isn’t too far from the top.

WE’LL SWIM IN ROMEO’S CLIFFSIDE POOL AT THE END. (THIS WILL BE THE FIRST BATH SOME BUBBAS HAVE HAD IN MONTHS.)  SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND KIDS WELCOME.  BRING WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DRINK IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE GET FROM NEEDLES HOMEBREW, AND GIVE ME CASH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RIDE IF YOU WANT PIZZA AT THE END – I’LL ORDER WHATEVER AMOUNT OF PIZZA WE HAVE CASH FOR SO NO CASH, NO PIZZA FOR YOU.

 

Roll @ 8:00 from St Elmo Food City.   Over the toe and then right to work with a climb up Elder/Raccoon.  (Stop whining – Elder is too steep for an old man with metal hips so I hate it too!)  We’ll do the loop up top, then descend Raccoon for the Cummings/Murphy Hollow stretch.   Only 58 miles (don’t panic MM) but 4400 feet and it’ll feel like much more because we all know what’s gonna happen on Cummings and Murphy Hollow.  Regroup at stop signs (that means everyone) and at the bait store at the bottom of the stairs even though it’s closed.  We’ll refuel at the store after Murphy Hollow.  Don’t regroup on Raccoon so that MM and the other sickos can ride down to the stop sign at Cummings then turn and ride backwards to regroup (should get em to the 60 mile mark so they won’ have to do too many laps at Food City). Lots of ways to short the route and you can even short the climb by heading down after Elder.  Those taking a more gentle approach climbing should ride the loop up top clockwise (turn left) until they meet the group.

Roll Sat from Mike’s Hole (Chilhowie lot please) @ 8:00  for some old and some new. (If you like the early start buy me something; if you hate it blame JJ and Fly.)   Head south for the old with a climb up 136 Trenton side.   The new is a bit of an unconventional way of getting there because Bub wants some adventure in his life.   As Slicker says, “If you don’t know where we’re goin stay off the front before you crash us!”   On top we’ll hit the Hinkle/Lula Lake stretch and let’s try to stay together for a least a bit so no one shuts down their kidneys. Should be 20 degrees cooler than the last few weeks so hopefully Steady’s organs are safe.  A metric and 3800 feet but lots of stingers so it’ll feel like more.   Please be careful and courteous going down Ochs at the end.

TB heads north this week giving our neighbors a Bubba cameo as we go.   Roll from Falling Water @ 8:00 (stop whining – it’ll feel like 96 by 12:00, and this was a compromise since The Fly wanted to leave at like 5:30).    North on some favorites with a climb up Leggett and then down Retro.   REGROUP AT ALL THE NORMAL  PLACES INCLUDING STOP SIGNS, TOP OF LEGGETT, STORE ON RETRO, AND AT THE BOTTOM OF RETRO.  Careful going down – although the tarmac is sweet expect gravel with all the rain.   A metric and 3500 feet.