Weathermen still moving things around for Sat morning but regardless of which you believe it’s gonna be cold which means a late start and route flexibility even if it’s a yawner. Roll from Mike’s Hole in the Wall (Chilhowee Street lot) @ 9:30. Familiar route north with a few twists and a climb up Mountain Road where decisions must be made. For those with less time head down Montlake for 40+ miles and back around noon. Others descend Hotwater and wind back for 54 miles and 3200 feet. (Check the map because we will not go all the way to the store since the less time on top the better – we’ll fill up at the store in Soddy where Sam I Am went “bowling for bikes” a few years ago.) Easy to get this one over a metric by either climbing the front of Signal as we come back through (descending W) or doing a loop at the Bend before or after.
Sat. 10/23 – ChattaJack
Meet on the Walnut Street Bridge at 8:30 (park wherever) to watch the start of those crazies paddling 31 miles for the ChattaJack SUP race. After that we’ll take the Holiday Route (thru to hood to Missionary Ridge, Hogan, McFarland, etc.) to the Battlefield and then add some of Fly’s roads. 52 miles and just under 3,000 ft of climbing.
Sat 11/13
Weathermen still moving things around for Sat morning but regardless of which you believe it’s gonna be cold which means a late start and route flexibility even if it’s a yawner. Roll from Mike’s Hole in the Wall (Chilhowee Street lot) @ 9:30. Familiar route north with a few twists and a climb up Mountain Road where decisions must be made. For those with less time head down Montlake for 40+ miles and back around noon. Others descend Hotwater and wind back for 54 miles and 3200 feet. (Check the map because we will not go all the way to the store since the less time on top the better – we’ll fill up at the store in Soddy where Sam I Am went “bowling for bikes” a few years ago.) Easy to get this one over a metric by either climbing the front of Signal as we come back through (descending W) or doing a loop at the Bend before or after.
Sat. 9/18
The Man in Black is leading this weekend. Roll at 8:00 from Falling Water with TB up to Graysville where we’ll have a short store stop and then loop back via Providence (ouch), Poole, May, McCallie Ferry and back to Back Valley. About 53 miles and 2,700 vertical feet. Hopefully it won’t rain.
Sat 9/18
UPDATE: HARD TO PREDICT THIS ONE SINCE SHOWERS POPPING UP SO QUICKLY. LET’S SAY OFFICAL RIDE CANCELLED BUT MAY BE FOLKS THERE ANYWAYS. MAY BE A DRIER WINDOW LATER THIS MORNING AND IF THAT HOLDS I’LL POST AN ALTERNATE LATER.
We’ll give the St Elmo ants a week to dig out of the new mulch as Bubba heads north this week. Roll at 8:00 from Falling Water for a trip up Brayton Mtn. (I hate that climb but Bones and Persecutor love it and threatened to hurt me even worse on Saturdays if I take it out of the rotation.) Lots of familiar roads but we’ll mix it up a bit to keep things interesting. Around 70 miles and 4000 feet. Shave it to 50 by jumping on in Soddy – check the map because we’ll be rocketing down the main road.
Sat. 9/11
With the tease of Fall in the air the Elites will head to the woods Saturday. Roll from the St Elmo Food City at 8:30 (so we don’t cause confusion with TB). We’ll warmup down the Virginia Ave trail before heading up Guild Trail Rd, past Ruby Falls and out the Upper Truck Trail. Turn around come back and then climb the rest of the mountain past Craven’s House. From there head back down to Refection Riding and do the Lower Truck trail. Back via Old Wauhatchie Pike to Food City. Probably a little more than 30 miles. Upper Truck is doable on a gravel bike, just a little rough at places.
Sat 9/11
Another nice day Saturday and you know what that means: TB goes long! Roll from the St Elmo Food City aka Steady’s Ant Farm @ 8:00, River Front Pky, up Suck, Valley View, Jasper/South Pitt, over Ladd, and 299 back. Hard to find a better route than the one last week but this one is up there on the Best of Bubba list. 70 miles, 4000 feet. Easy for the strongmen to add more by heading up Scenic at the end to Sanders and down Ochs.
Sat. 9/4 & Mon. 9/6
Roll from Soddy Ball Fields @ 8:30 Sat for a Bubba Elite favorite – Leggett, Ogden, Cranmore. (We’ve been saving this one for cooler weather and we’ll have it Saturday!) We’ll fill bottles at the church on top and have a store stop in Graysville. Okay, I know this looks strangely like TB’s ride for Saturday because it is. When they blow by I’m sure some will try to latch on, just know at some point I’ll come along and sweep you up. This ride will have us spread all over the mountain, so just find your group and have fun. Also know that you might be able to play Uber and give folks a ride home when done.
Monday is the Holiday Ride + BeezleBub’s Birthday Bash so we’ll roll from his compound (1546 Burnt Mill Rd Flintstone GA 30725) @ 9:00. Usual holiday route (40+/- miles) with birthday natties and BBQ at the end. (Thanks Sweetie!)
Sat 9/4 – Mon 9/6
Roll from Falling Water @ 8:00 Sat for a Bubba favorite – Leggett, Ogden, Cranmore. (We’ve been saving this one for cooler weather and we’ll have it Saturday!) It’s a bit longer than usual at 75 miles, but it’s easy to shave it to 55 by jumping on in Soddy or turning around at the top of Leggett if you want less. We’ll fill bottles at the church on top and have a store stop in Graysville.
Monday is the Holiday Ride + BeezleBub’s Birthday Bash so we’ll roll from his compound (1546 Burnt Mill Rd Flintstone GA 30725) @ 9:00. Usual holiday route (40+/- miles) with birthday natties and BBQ at the end. (Thanks Sweetie!)
Sat. 8/28
Dog days of summer are still on us so the Elites will again stay of the climbs and limit our vertical mileage to the “rollers” of Soddy Daisy, yes it will include Cap Elsea (but from the easy direction) Roll from Falling Water at 8:30, head north through normal terrain. When we get to Soddy Ball Fields will take Osage, Clift Mill, Lee Pike, May Rd, Daugherty Ferry, etc. and continue north up and over Cap Elsea. Back by Old McDonald’s Farm, Back Valley, etc. For those that really need a climb you can do Hotwater as we come back by, otherwise stick to the map. 55 miles and 3,200 feet of rollers.