Chattanooga, TN
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…………………….
Elite’s will roll with TB @ 9:00 from the Cove (or you can start at John Carroll’s place a little later to avoid the Daughtery climb). At the top we’ll take a left and do a gravel ride per the attached map (31 miles, 3,200 ft). Depending on how we feel at mile 17 we might cancel the section that heads north which will shorten the route by about 6 miles.
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.
Elites (and all other sane riders) will roll at 8:30 am EDT from Powell’s Crossroads for Fredonia eLITE. 55 miles. That should put us in Dunlap a little ahead of TB and back to Powell’s Crossroads in time to drive by the sufferers and offer a ride on their way back to River Drifters.
Option 2 will be 50 mile ride in Sequatchie Valley. Roll at 8:30 am EDT from Powell’s Crossroads, We’ll ride the Fredonia eLite route to Fredonia climb but then peal off and head north for a while. See map. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41317992
Option 1 – Roll with TB from Mike’s a 9am and at the top of 136 turn right and return dropping off the mountain at Nick-a-Jack and return via the Fish Hook and swing by Bub’s house. 55 miles. To shave off another 10 miles pick up TB when they come by the St. Elmo Food City but don’t blink or you’ll miss them. map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41265840
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.
Option 4 roll at 9 from downtown YMCA for the 40 mile Snapper Gravel special to Camp Jordan and back. (map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41021069)
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.
Elites will have 2 options Saturday. Option 1 is to chase TB (see Boss’s post) but turn left on Captain’s Rd as you’re headed to the cove. Options 2 is to roll from downtown YMCA at 9:30 for a gravel ride on Guild, Upper Truck (to state line), back up the mountain and then down to Reflection Riding to do Lower Truck. 36 miles.