Roll from Mikes @ 11:00 (when we should be close to the magic temp #). South over the toe and wind our way around to Creek Rd and Morganville Ridge. RIGHT ON SLYGO and then the left to get back to the foot of Sand where we’ll climb up to the sweet new tarmac on Murphy Hollow. Murphy to 299, quick stop at the store at the bottom of the stairs, and then the stairs (via BeezleBub’s side road) and back. Lots of ways to short it including: (i) staying on Slygo back to 299 should put it in the 40+/- range (I’m guessing here); and (ii) turning right on 299 after Murphy should put it in the 50+/- range and avoid the stairs and those nasty rollers on Cummings. As mapped 60 miles. 3500 feet.
Sat. 2/11
Option 1 – Roll from Mike’s at 9:30 with TB. King will lead a shortened version that will omit the climb up Mowbray. Probably 45 miles.
Option 2 – Roll from the St. Elmo Food City at 10 for a Guild Trail gravel ride. Probably omit Upper Truck and drop down to Reflection Riding and play down there. 25-30 miles.
Option 3 – Deano says no ride tomorrow.
TB 2/11
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.
Sat. 2/4
Option 1 – Ride with TB. Roll from Mike’s at 11:00 for basically the summer Tuesday night loop. Many places to cut it short if so desired. Map is for the full course.
Option 2 – Gravel Ride with Smoke. Roll at 10 from King’s Slough Boat Ramp at Ocoee. 36 miles and 4,500 of climbing with Smoke and crew. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33337137
Option 3 – 10:30 rollout from the Battlefield with Dean Poi for +/- 3 hours. For full transparency about 2000’ of climbing. Tranquilo pace with the option to solo off the front (King). Possible route https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/144185943
TB 2/4
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.
Sat. 1/28
Option 1: Rudy Gravel Ride. Roll from Gee Creek Campground at 10am. 36 miles and 3,700ft of climbing. Rudy suggests parking at Fork Morrow first which is before you get to Gee Creek. If unavailable proceed to Gee Creek. (see map)
Option 2: Dean Poi ride – Ride 10:30 Saturday from the Battlefield for – 3 hours. Piano piano pace.
TB 1/28
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.
Sat. 1/21
Option 1 – Roll with TB at 10:00 from Falling Water (see TB post). Many ways to short the route, TBD by riders.
Option 2 – Dean Poi led ride. Saturday 10:30 am from the Battlefield. Tranquilo pace for -3 hours. Park in the lot on the northeast corner of the traffic light diagonally across from the visitor’s center.
TB 1/21
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.
TB 1/14
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.