Category: Team Bubba

Roll from Mike’s at 9:30 and head north AGAIN.  I know, I know, some of the same roads but we’ll reverse direction and add some twists so it isn’t exactly like last week’s route.  (Wind out of the NE and really blustery so fingers crossed hugging Signal and Mowbry will block some of it – the route is similar to the “Wind Barrier” route we’ve done in the past on windy days.)  Up Montlake, down Hotwater, and then north a bit to tie into Armstrong where we’ll finally have the wind at our backs.   Lots of ways to short this one if the wind is too bad or I start thinking about that bacon sandwich I’m gonna get at Mikes.  A metric and 4200 feet as mapped.

 

We’ll stick with the plan of rolling as early as we hit 40 degrees.  Roll from Mike’s at 11:00 for basically the summer Tuesday night loop. (Okay, okay, it won’t be 40 yet but the sun will be out and it’ll get to 40 soon after we roll.)   Tough to be creative this time of day with the traffic particularly on the climbs so it’s familiar roads with a few twists as we head north for a climb up Hotwater.   Down Montlake and back for 52 miles, 3500 feet.   (Those needing the magic number can add the loop up top (Mowbry Pike/Henson loop) or perhaps a loop at the bend to get there.)  We’ll keep it moving since some will need to get back with one quick stop after the Montlake descent.  Should be back by 2:30 or so.

Roll at 10:00 from Steady’s Campground (St Elmo Food City) for a trip to the Cove and optional climb up Daughtery.  (Low winds which is always key for this one.)   Full route with the climb 71 miles and 4200 feet, but if you skip the climb it should put it right at a metric.   For those wanting the climb but not the extra miles a good place to jump on would be the DolGen where we cross 193.

 

Roll at 10:00 from Falling Water for a trip across some old favorites.   While the planet warms Bubba will stay hot on the rollers of Armstrong, Lee (Bubba will be downright toasty when he gets to the house with the big fence………..), and Stormer, before making it back with a climb up Hotwater near the end.   (Should be 45 or so on top by the time we climb and we’ll be back to the cars soon after the descent.)    As mapped there’s a 10 mile loop on top that those with less time may cut off or we can cut if it’s too cold up top (we can add back the 10 once we get off the mtn if need be).  As mapped a metric and 4000 feet.

We don’t hit 40 until Sat afternoon so Roll from Mikes @ 1:00.   Creek Rd (remember it’s neutral as we pass the chalk outlines of Mighty Mike, Lowrider, and Steady Eddy), up 136, straight across and down to regroup at the store at the bottom in order to squeeze a few degrees instead of stopping on top.   Marble Top back.   58 miles, 3700 feet.

 

The vote was to kick The Beast down the road until Sat, so tomorrow (Monday) Roll from Mikes at 9:00 for a repeat of the Winter Warmer route we did a few weeks ago but this time we’ll try to take the correct turns.    57 miles, no climb. We’ll keep it moving with one quick stop in Soddy and hopes of being back by around 12:30.   Lots of ways to short it, and we’ll be passing lots of climbs for those who need to add one.

Roll @ 1:00 Sunday from Steady’s Campground (St Elmo Food City) for the makeup loop south we planned for a few weeks ago until the drizzle kept us flat.  (Yep Sting, the one Scruffy bailed on.  There are no more superheroes.)    Up Elder, down Raccoon (don’t go to the top), Cummings, down the stairs, Murphy, and then back to 299 with the Nature Center kicker.   Easy to short it by staying on 299 instead of going Murphy, and easy to add on by turning right on Slygo at the bottom of Sand and winding around to Creek.  Good jumping on places for those wanting a later start are old BiLo in Tiftonia and Raccoon Pump Station.  As mapped 47 miles, 3500 feet – although relatively short, Bubba will get lots of exercise on this route.

The weatherman is being naughty again since Saturday looks like a washout.   Once we figure out what’s open Sunday we’ll post an afternoon makeup ride for then. We’ll discuss post-Sunday ride the annual climb up The Beast now scheduled for Monday morning.   (We’ll stick with the long-standing Bubba rule of not posting over Sunday morning church, and there will be too much traffic Sunday afternoon to make our annual attempt.)

CHECK BACK SATURDAY NIGHT FOR UPDATES ABOUT SUNDAY AND MONDAY RIDES

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.