Category: Team Bubba

Roll @ 8:00 from St Elmo Food City.   Over the toe and then right to work with a climb up Elder/Raccoon.  (Stop whining – Elder is too steep for an old man with metal hips so I hate it too!)  We’ll do the loop up top, then descend Raccoon for the Cummings/Murphy Hollow stretch.   Only 58 miles (don’t panic MM) but 4400 feet and it’ll feel like much more because we all know what’s gonna happen on Cummings and Murphy Hollow.  Regroup at stop signs (that means everyone) and at the bait store at the bottom of the stairs even though it’s closed.  We’ll refuel at the store after Murphy Hollow.  Don’t regroup on Raccoon so that MM and the other sickos can ride down to the stop sign at Cummings then turn and ride backwards to regroup (should get em to the 60 mile mark so they won’ have to do too many laps at Food City). Lots of ways to short the route and you can even short the climb by heading down after Elder.  Those taking a more gentle approach climbing should ride the loop up top clockwise (turn left) until they meet the group.

Roll Sat from Mike’s Hole (Chilhowie lot please) @ 8:00  for some old and some new. (If you like the early start buy me something; if you hate it blame JJ and Fly.)   Head south for the old with a climb up 136 Trenton side.   The new is a bit of an unconventional way of getting there because Bub wants some adventure in his life.   As Slicker says, “If you don’t know where we’re goin stay off the front before you crash us!”   On top we’ll hit the Hinkle/Lula Lake stretch and let’s try to stay together for a least a bit so no one shuts down their kidneys. Should be 20 degrees cooler than the last few weeks so hopefully Steady’s organs are safe.  A metric and 3800 feet but lots of stingers so it’ll feel like more.   Please be careful and courteous going down Ochs at the end.

TB heads north this week giving our neighbors a Bubba cameo as we go.   Roll from Falling Water @ 8:00 (stop whining – it’ll feel like 96 by 12:00, and this was a compromise since The Fly wanted to leave at like 5:30).    North on some favorites with a climb up Leggett and then down Retro.   REGROUP AT ALL THE NORMAL  PLACES INCLUDING STOP SIGNS, TOP OF LEGGETT, STORE ON RETRO, AND AT THE BOTTOM OF RETRO.  Careful going down – although the tarmac is sweet expect gravel with all the rain.   A metric and 3500 feet.

We’ll stay south again this week and let our neighbors up north cool a bit longer although I’m not sure Bubba’s absence makes their hearts grow fonder.  Roll from the St Elmo Food City @ 8:00.  Toe, 299, Ladd, up Sand (good road), across the top, and down Slygo.  Regroup at all the normal places INCLUDING AT THE TOP OF THE BIG HILL AFTER THE TRUCK STOP, AT THE END OF 299, AFTER LADD BEFORE THE CLIMB, AT THE STORE ON THE LEFT AT THE TOP (REFUELING), AND AFTER THE DESCENT.   CAREFUL DESCENDING BECAUSE THOSE SWITCHBACKS MAY HAVE GRAVEL IN THEM AFTER ALL THE RAIN THIS WEEK.  A metric and 3800 feet.  Add the nature center loop or climb to Sanders for more up.

Lots of folks out this Sat (Dalton race, etc.) so we’ll field a group of rag tag Bubbas and hit an old favorite:  136 from Mable side (haven’t done it in a while and it’s shady).   We’ll then try to shave a few degrees by staying on top and head back on Scenic to Covenant (ouch!).    Roll from Mike’s Hole at 8:00 – don’t blame me fuss at Fly!  (Actually a good call because temps brutal Sat.)    Usual regrouping places INCLUDING after the climb at the beginning of Scenic.   A metric and 4200 feet but it’ll feel like much more as we’ll hit Dry Valley on the way out.  Lots of ways to short it and if the temps are too bad we may take one.  Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40272620

Bubba hits the “old” 3-state metric this week.   Roll from Mike’s Hole @ 8:30.   (Please remember to use the Chilhowie St lot.)   We’ll get the climb out of the way early while it’s cooler with a trip up Suck, then East Valley and 299.   Plan to top bottles quickly as we regroup at the store after the Suck descent and again at the Bait Store.  It’s a metric and 3500 feet.  Those wanting less may cut the corner to the Bait Store (I believe that shaves 5-8 miles), and those wanting more may add the Nature Center climb to Scenic Hwy and even more by climbing Lookout to Sanders.   Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38635604

Sunday makeup ride rolls from Mike’s Hole at 1:30.   North for a climb up Mtn Rd.   Nothing sexy, just trying to get some up in.   (Sorta like Bubba’s wife said when she introduced him to her folks, “He ain’t much but he’s something.”)   Most folks rode today so count on a steady tempo BUT NOT A RACE.   45 miles.  3000 feet.   Lots of ways to short it or add on.   Here’s the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40134954

RIDE CANCELED.  DAD-BURN WEATHERMAN.

 

Roll Sat @ 8:30 from St Elmo Food City.    Head south and get the climb out of the way early with everyone’s not so favorite – Nickajack.    Left on Hinkle at the top (PLEASE REGROUP AT THE TOP OF THE BIG HILL!), Humping Dog backwards (that doesn’t sound right), then down 136 and Marble back.   58 miles, 4000 feet, with those needing a metric finding Mighty Mike Miles at the end while the rest of us fight off the flies at Steady’s campground.   Here’s the map:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38120455

 Roll Monday @ 9:00 from the BeezleBub Chicken Ranch (1546 Burnt Mill Rd. Flintstone GA 30725) for the Holiday Ride.    Folks north of town can jump on in St Elmo or on River Street to save some drive time.   Normal holiday route, 42 miles, 2600 feet.   REMEMBER THIS IS A HOLIDAY RIDE WITH THE GOAL BEING TO GET FOLKS OUT WHO MAY NOT RIDE WITH US OFTEN.   IF YOU ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR STRAVA NUMBERS THAN THE FOLKS IN THE GROUP FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.    Sweetie and BeelzeBub are cooking up some lunch for Bubba so stick around post-ride.   (He told me all the stuff they’re fixin but I lost focus as soon as he said there’d be bacon.)   Here’s the map BUT REMEMBER THE MAIN GROUP STARTS FROM BUB’S NOT ST ELMO:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36208471

Roll from Falling Water at 8:30.   (It’s really not that far and worth it to ride some of Bubba’s favorites!)   Head north for a climb up Retro, descend everyone’s favorite Leggett, jump on the Stormer roller coaster, then meander our way back on a few less familiar roads.   61 miles, 3900 feet.   Do laps in the parking lot with Mighty Mike to make it a solid metric because he’s sick that way.