While some of us Bubba’s will be suffering in Boone, NC at the annual Blood Sweat & Gears the rest of you can suffer on this oldie but goodie. Roll from Falling Water Elementary at 8:30 and head north to climb Retro Hughes and descend Leggett and back to Falling Water. Smoke will be the ride leader so be nice. 58.8 miles and 3,100 ft. Strongmen can throw another climb up Hotwater if desired.
Sat. 6/15
Elites will roll from BubOne’s house at 8:30 this Saturday for BubOne’s Bluegrass Appreciation Ride Elite style. From Bub’s house we’ll head over the toe and out Creek Rd. where we’ll climb 136. At the top be ready for something new as we will turn left on Sunset Dr. and sneak into Cloudland Canyon State Park from a rarely used back entrance. Bub has assured me it’s all legit. From there we’ll do part of Humping Dog, to Lulu Lake Rd, and down Nick-a-Jack on the nice new pavement. 52 miles. Bring your swimming trunks and favorite beverages for post ride swim in Bub and Sweetie’s cement pond. Bub’s address is 1546 Burnt Mill Rd, Flintstone, GA.
Sat. 8/17
Roll at 8:00 from the Aldi on Signal Mtn Rd (yes, old timers, the old Kmart). We’ll head north for a climb up Retro, HON (ouch!), the 10 longest miles across Mowbry, down Montlake and back. REGROUP AT THE SWITCHBACK TO THE LEFT WHERE IT FLATTENS OUT ON TOP SO WE CAN ROLL THE 10 MILES ACROSS THE RETRO ROLLERS TOGETHER – TAKES FOREVER IF WE’RE SPREAD OUT. 70 miles, 4200 feet. (Stop fussing, it’s the easiest I could make it with a climb up Retro from the KMart.) If you don’t want that much pain, jump on in falling water which shaves it to a more manageable 50 miles. Rolling the dice that the water is still on at the store on Retro, otherwise we’ll be in trouble with the first water stop not being until we finish the longest 10. Safe bet may be to carry 3 bottles. Post-ride refueling at Merv’s.
Sat 6/1
Bubba’s on vacation in Brevard. So if you’re not there you’re on your own this weekend.
Sat. 5/25
Elites will try to beat the heat with an 8:00 am roll out from the Battlefield visitors center. The Man in Black aka Cash aka Steve Blankenship is putting together a 55 miler with no climbs.
Monday will be the standard Holiday Ride rolling from Unum at 9:00 am see website for route, roughly 40 miles.
Sat. 5/18
Elites will be leading out TB Saturday for the Steady’s Stupid Saturday ride. Roll from the St. Elmo Food City at 8am. Course is over the Toe, out 299 (yes, regroup after the hill at the truck stop), over Ladd to South Pitt, and then up Jasper Highlands. Be sure to go to the gate and look for party favors. Back down, through Jasper, 299 back, with post-ride recovery at Zorro’s place unless we are too busy burning down Steady’s house. A metric and 4100 feet.
Shorter option is to start from Tiftonia (okay it only cuts off 6 miles). Be on Wauhatchie Pike by 8:15 or you might miss the train when it goes by.
5/25 and 5/27
Team Bubba heads to a more remote area this week in hopes of avoiding contact with civilized people. Roll Saturday from Falling Water at 8:30 for a trip up our old friend, Brayton Mtn. It’s a metric and only 3500 feet but it’ll feel like much much more. Post ride refueling at Merv’s. (Yes 3, we know.)
Roll Monday @ 9:00 from Unum for Holiday Ride. See map in rides list section of website.
Saturday 5/4
Boxcar BubbaGrass Ride 2019! – Shortcut
TB and Elites will roll from Mountain Cove Farms at 9am where Bub 1 will lead us on some rarely traveled roads for a metric plus. We’ll climb Daugherty Gap right out of the shoot so if you want to start early and wait at the top no one will think badly about you. After the ride stick around for some great bluegrass, beer (BYOB), and grub. While there is a chance of rain Saturday this ride will roll regardless so make your own decision on whether to ride or not (kind of like a Gran Fondo that will remain nameless).
Park @ the MANOR HOUSE (just past the Cove Store)
Same route as TB but a 10 mile shortcut if needed.
5/18 STEADY IS STUPID
TB rolls from the St Elmo Food City (park at the side please) @ 8:30. Over the Toe, out 299 (yes, regroup after the hill at the truck stop), over Ladd to South Pitt, and then up Jasper Highlands. (I’ve never been up it and wished I hadn’t looked at the course profile.) Back down, through Jasper, 299 back, with post-ride recovery at Zorro’s place unless we are too busy burning down Steady’s house. A metric and 4100 feet.
Sat. 4/27
Update – Fly will be leading a ride rolling at 8:30 from St Elmo Food City
The good news is that the weather Saturday looks good. The bad news is that most of Elite management is out. For that reason the official Elite ride is the Cleveland Circuit Ride. You can get details at this link http://www.clevelandumc.com/missions/cleveland-circuit-ride/.
For those that can’t make this ride, put your heads together and come up with something better and feel sorry for me as I’m cooped up all morning in a training meeting…