Cold morning and a holiday weekend means a later start and a shorter ride. Roll from the downtown YMCA at 11am. We’ll head over the toe and out Browns Ferry Rd to Black Creek where we’ll climb Rudy’s Mtn. Not sure how far up we can go, but I have us turning around at mile 18.4. Head back towards town and climb some of Scenic Hwy to Sanders, down and out to Flintstone and back Burnt Mill Rd. 40 miles and 3,483 feet.
Elites Saturday 3/27/21
Weather update. Not much change so ride at your own risk. I’m sure some hard cores will show up at 8:30
Dark Sky’s not being helpful. Right now showing light rain on and off most of the morning.
For those willing to brave it, here’s a shortened version of TB’s ride rolling at 8:30 from St. Elmo Food City. Climbs Nick-a-Jack but descends into Trenton, New England, Slygo and back Wauhatchie Pike 50 miles. Map included.
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.
TUESDAY NIGHT ETIQUETTE AND BEING GOOD CITIZENS
BUBBAS, some reminders to help us be good citizens during the Tuesday night ride:
- We’ll move the start time back as we gain daylight in an effort to avoid climbing Hotwater during rush hour. You’ll remember we switched the route to Hotwater a few years ago to give them more time and to avoid the more heavily traveled Mtn Rd.
- Let’s be extra sensitive about never riding more than 2 abreast and doing what we can to help cars pass the groups. When climbing or descending, let’s stay single file and as far to the right as possible. There have been complaints about folks holding up traffic while descending as well – I understand some of you can go as fast as the traffic but just keep in mind the motorist’s perspective and move over and even slow down at many of the places they may pass (such as just after the switchback to the left near the top) and let ’em by. If folks do get stuck behind you on the descent wave a thanks when you get to the bottom and they pass, it’s common curtesy. Along those lines, we should never pass cars going down or tailgate cars whether they are going slow on their own or because they are caught behind a cyclist – doing either of those is just bad form.
- Keep your hands on your bars even when you have more than good reason to show one finger. Shake your head if you need to and leave it at that even if you get buzzed, cursed, etc. I’ve seen hundreds of encounters between a cyclist and motorist yet not one when the motorist was convinced he/she was in the wrong so there’s really no need to engage them.
test
test
Team Bubba Saturday 3/27
Bubba will stretch his legs again this week with another long one. Roll from the St Elmo Food City @ 8:30. After a short warmup we’ll get right to business with a climb up Nickajack. Left on Hinkle at the top all the way across 136, HOS, and down Daughtery Gap (CAREFUL!). Refuel at the store and then Hog Jowl to West Cove and back. (If the bridge is still impassible we’ll add a few miles by turning right at the end of Hog Jowl to follow it all the way to the highway.) 70 miles and around 4000 feet but it’ll feel like much more. Easy to short it by dropping down 136 and coming back Creek Rd or Marble Top depending on which side you drop down.
AND REMEMBER, IF YOU’VE BEEN EXPOSED STAY HOME UNTIL YOU GET A “NEGATIVE.” ABSOLUTELY NO NOSE BLOWING , SPITTING, OR COUGHING WHILE IN THE PELOTON – DROP OFF THE BACK FOR THAT STUFF (THIS ALSO INCLUDES URINATING BUT HOPEFULLY I DIDN’T NEED TO MENTION THAT). AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU GET THE COVID BY SUCKING THE WHEEL OF AN UNCLEAN BUBBA AND THAT’S ON YOU. REMEMBER THAT WE CAN’T GET IN SOME STORES WITHOUT A MASK SO MAKE SURE YOU CARRY ONE – YOU NEED TO WEAR IT IN STORES WHETHER THEY REQUIRE IT OR NOT BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART BUBBAS ARE GOOD CITIZENS. (I SAID “MOST PART.”)
Cyclists are cool – fact
A recent psychological study conducted by Mindlab found that cyclists have a unique blend of intelligent generosity and the “cool” factor. Now there’s a reason to get on your bike!
Team Bubba Update — 5/7
Team Bubba rides remain paused. Check back in a week or two for hopefully some good news.
For small, unofficial groups that are forming, keep in mind the 9 person limit under the order in effect in Tn through 5/29.
And remember, TB ain’t endorsing group riding so if you get the covid from sucking the wheel of an unclean Bubba that’s on you!
Team Bubba Rides Remain Paused/Bubbawear Ban Lifted
While official Team Bubba rides remain paused, with the lifting of the state and county shelter in place orders the Bubbawear ban is also lifted. A Big Bubba Backslap to those who honored the request not to sport Bubbawear in groups during the lockdown. (Pictures of those who didn’t will be posted on the wall of shame soon.) As I said, Bubba has enough problems with motorists and didn’t need to add violation of pandemic rules to the list.
The lifting of the Bubbawear ban is not an endorsement of group riding by Team Bubba, so if you end up on a ventilator because you sucked the wheel of an unclean Bubba during a pandemic that’s on you.
A word from Boss
As expected, national cycling associations are now issuing guidance about Covid 19. Bubba will abide by that guidance (see link below) and will pause rides for the next week or two. I expect some in the group will post rides and folks will likely show up for “standing” rides, but as a club we need to be proactive and abide by what folks such as USA Cycling recommend. (Bubba has enough problems making friends with motorists and the public in general so we don’t need to be a featured news story about how we spread the virus.)
For those who decide to post rides or show up for standing rides, a good strategy may be to break the group into smaller groups with some spacing between groups and perhaps some riding the course backwards. Some publications recommend keeping smaller groups to the same folks each week to minimize cross-contamination risks since it appears folks may be contagious without having symptoms. Of course, everything I’ve seen encourages us to keep riding, just not in large groups.
Keep in mind that a decision to be completely cavalier about the threat is not only a decision you make for yourself but also one that in essence you make for those you are in contact with such as your parents and other elderly folks.
Bubba will evaluate info as it becomes available. Our hope is that a week from now we learn all this was overblown, rides resume, and my name is changed to “Chicken Little.”
https://www.usacycling.org/article/usa-cycling-statement-on-covid-19