Category: Team Bubba

 Roll from Suck Creek Cycle @ 9:00.    (Let’s not take all of Moose’s parking and if the lot begins to fill there’s plenty of street parking on Bell and in the Mike’s overflow lot on Chilhowee.)    It’ll be a cold start but things will warm up quickly with a climb up Suck, then down East Valley (crossing 127), up Henson Gap, across the top of Mowbry, down Montlake and back.    “Official” route 68 miles and 5000 feet (see map).    Easy to shave it to the 50 mile range by climbing the back of Signal instead of going to Henson Gap.    Lots of additional climbing options for strong men including Hotwater, Mtn Rd, Signal, and yes David’s favorite – Robert’s Mill.   (Big E will be here and promises to lead a group up Robert’s Mill at the end even if he has to push!)    

 Those who are still upright will  tip their glasses to David post-ride at Mike’s.  

 So off we go again to remember David the way he would have liked to be remembered: on a bike suffering.   And hey, if it happens to be a Privateer Bike, all the better……………..

 

TB will enjoy the warm weather Sunday!  Roll from Mikes ( Chilhowee St Parking Lot) at 1:30.   Toe, Creek Rd, up 136 and over.  57 miles, 3600 feet.   We’ll keep this one moving with one brief stop on top to refuel.

TB will take advantage of the inverted temps tomorrow and spend some time on top.    Roll from Mike’s at 9:30 – use Chilhowee Street lot please.    It’ll be cold but warmer on top so we’ll head up quickly with a SPIN up the W, Marshall Creek Gorge, off the back, left onto East Valley, and up the back of Suck.    Only like 57 miles but 5100 feet.     (003, you can add a loop at the Bend to get a metric so you won’t feel poorly about yourself.)   

 

Roll from Mike’s Hole at 10:30.    Remember to use the Chilhowee street lot.     Decisions must be made in the parking lot.    If it’s a slower warm up than expected, we’ll do the north chatt hills.   If it does begin to warm by then, the choices will be some version of the one posted for TB last week – Dry Valley rollers to stay warm, up 136 and over, Creek Rd.  (map below) — or if it’s too cold for a descent a BeezleBub route down south but without the climb.

Roll from Signal Rd Aldi @ 1:30.   Head north via regular route with a few twists to foot washing church, down to Dallas Hollow, Armstrong, climb Hotwater and back.   I know, I know, lots of the same old stuff but we need a makeup route with lots of ways to jump on and off and a lower traffic climb since we’ll be going up mid-afternoon.   Jump on in falling water around 2:05.   Full route 54 miles and 3800 feet.  Those with more time will add a climb up the front of Signal to get it to a metric and 4500+.  We’ll keep this one moving with one stop after we descend montlake.

Makeup ride Sunday will be posted later today.

Weatherman keeps changing his mind so here’s what we’re throwing out BUT CHECK BACK IN THE MORNING FOR CHANGES.   ROLL FROM MIKES’ HOLE IN THE WALL AT 10:00 – REMEMBER TO PARK IN THE LOT ON CHILHOWEE STREET.   We’ll try to stay warm early on the Dry Valley rollers, climb 136 but minimize our time on top by dropping down the other side right away and coming back on the Creek Rd rollers.     All this is contingent on the temps (and rain of course) and BeezleBub is working on alternatives.   (I told him to work in a place where most of us can get to the cars at mile 60 instead of doing the full 150 mile route I expect he has in mind.)   The map is of the posted route (ignore the Unum start – we’ll be starting at Mike’s).

Roll from Signal Rd Aldi at 8:30 for 70+ or jump on in Falling Water around 9:05 for 50+.    We’ll climb Retro, HON, 10 longest miles across Mowbry, and descend Montlake.  Post- ride refueling at Mervs.

I knew I shouldn’t have shaken Willie’s hand at the Chimney Ride because I think I caught Renee fingers from him!    (For newer Bubbas it’s actually Raynaud fingers but, well, we re-named it more appropriately.)      For Bubbas who still have good blood flow in their extremities, the Elite ride tomorrow is a good option if you promise to behave.    For those of us with Renee, roll Sat from Mike’s Hole at 10 for the dreaded Riverview Hills for as long as our toes and fingers last – somewhat boring but we’ll get plenty of exercise and stay as warm as possible on a sub-40 day.  

 Makeup ride rolls Sunday @ 2 from Mikes.    Toe, Elder climb, climb out of Raccoon, then Cummings and 299.     Depending on how fast we go we may have time for a trip up Lookout to Sanders at the end.    Without Sanders it’s 50 miles, 3100 feet, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, 50 DEGREES!