ELITE Saturday 3/27/21

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 Lion. Climbs Nick-a-Jack but descends into Trenton, New England, Slygo and back Wauhatchie Pike 50 miles. Map included.

Sat. 3/14

Roll from Mikes (Chilhowee lot) @ 8:30.  Chase TB and then make a decision at Murphy Hollow. Can add miles at the end if desired.

Sat 3/14

 

Weatherman can’t make up his mind so we’ll pretend everything is fine.     Roll from Mikes (Chilhowee lot) @ 8:30.     Toe, Creek, Morganville Ridge, up Sand and across, down the good side, Ladd and 299 back.   (Temps on top supposed to be the same as off the mtn so we’ll take advantage and get some time up top.)    It’s a metric and 4200 feet.   Easy to short it by going Murphy Hollow instead of climbing.    Map is from Unum but WE ARE ROLLING FROM MIKES NOT UNUM.

 Bubba is keeping an eye on publications by national bicycle associations for guidance about Covid 19.    If the modeling is correct, there’s a good chance we suspend TB rides for a week or two beginning next week as it spreads through our community.   Certainly none of us want to wreck the respiratory/cardio systems we work so hard to develop.   More importantly we don’t want to spread it to elderly parents and elderly folks we sit on the pew with, or medically fragile folks we work or otherwise come in contact with, and we need to do what we can to flatten the curve on health care demands.     (Look, Rudy enters the high risk age category in 2 weeks!)     Perhaps the best thing we can do is stay fit but we can do that in smaller groups.   Heck, may even be time to break out the mtn bikes – Unit says he “socially distances” from me on the mtn bike by always staying a mile or two in front.     We’ll keep you posted about that.   FOR NOW, DO NOT SHOW UP FOR A RIDE IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL.    

 

Sat. 3/7 David Meek Memorial Ride

Elites will roll from Suck Creek Cycle at 9am but our route will be the Suck/Back of Signal Route. We’ll cruise the Brow before descending the front of Signal Mtn. W Road currently is not safe for cyclists. 55 miles and 4,700 ft.

2020 David Meek Memorial KOM Ride Saturday, March 7

 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……………..

 

Sunday 3/1

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.

Sat 2/22

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.)   

 

Sat. 2/29 Sun. 3/1

Extra day this year to ride, but weather ain’t cooperating. We’ll join TB Saturday for a Riverview Hills ride for anyone wanting to brave the cold. Roll from Mike’s Hole in the Wall at 9:30. Sunday should be nicer so plan on a makeup ride rolling from Mike’s at 1:30pm. Route TBD.

Sat 2/15

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.

Sat. 2/15

Couple of options in the morning to combat the cold. One don’t ride, two roll from Mike’s Hole in the Wall at 10:30 and decide between the following:

  • Riverview Hills
  • Elite’s Cold Weather route (see map) that’s 54 miles but has multiple places to short if your Raynaud’s kicks in
  • TB route that heads south thru Chattanooga Valley, up 136 and back via Creek Rd. (see map)

Lunch/beer after ride at Mike’s