Category: Team Bubba

After a couple of lost years, the fall colors are back and there’s no prettier ride than from Mountain Cove Farm through Little River Canyon then back via DeSoto State Park (with a Roadside Viewing of JUNKASAURUS REX!) It’s gonna be chilly and to allow extra driving time, let’s roll from the Manor House just past the Cove Store @ 9am. 994 Dougherty Gap Rd. Chickamauga, GA 30707. Wristbands to getcha in Sweetie’s Bluegrass Festival will be given out by BeelezeBub (along with a few of his Beers…. begrudgingly). It’s worth the price of admission!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

 

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.

 

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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.”)

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!