Duke of Kent

Well, dudes/ladies, let's hear 'em.

Normally, I would be racing the 4 races that make up the Memorial Day Weekend Bike Races along the Mississippi in Iowa and Illinois. However, as they've cancelled the long RR this year due to construction, and I was late in signing up for the Snake, where your starting position is incredibly important. So, no racing for me.

I've decided I'm taking a road trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, staying at a friend's place along the way, and camping out for two nights. The money I'd pay for gas, food, hotels and entry fees will easily get me to TN/NC in terms of gas, food, and a new sleeping bag. With any luck, I'll get in 4-5hrs a day of epic rides. This will quite literally be my first time setting foot above 1500ft-MSL.

Discuss.

Edit: I will be going for a big, huge, massive PR in my 20min wattage whilst climbing. Simply because I want to see what I'm truly capable of, and how far I have to go.

brett_beddow

I'm going water skiing. I sure hope that I can bring my bike. I am headed up to northern Michigan.

CastIron

Ride. A lot. But not the local stage race.

umd

Annual club ride around the county. Back-to-back centuries. On the first day we try to stay together but that last 40 miles to the motel tend to turn into a free-for all. Last October we did it and there were 20+mph headwinds for that 40 mile stretch and half the (mostly strong) riders ended up getting SAGged in. The second day is a big climb, regroup at the top, then 12 mile -5000 foot descent. The highlight of the trip.

umd

What is MSL?

Duke of Kent

Mean Sea Level. 1500ft-MSL would be...1500ft above sea level. Haha.

I've driven a car through the mountains of the eastern US, but I've never actually set foot/bicycle wheel at any sort of elevation. I've also never done more than a 6min climb.

Thus I am eager to see what kind of w/kg I'm running at, on a climb.

Coyote2

Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park is a cool place --- great scenery and camping. If I recall correctly, there is just one road right through the park which connects NC to TN on opposite ends. On that road, you will either be going up or going down - not much flat terrain. That's "if I recall correctly," as I lived in the Carolinas almost two decade ago.

umd

Its hard for me to comprehend such a concept.

Nickel

I'd like to do one long road ride and hit the dirt to start my training for mtb endurance racing in August.

tnor

I'm going to be doing the Duluth classic stage race, should be fun!

GuitarWizard

I'm on call for yet another holiday. Yay me.

BigSean

Memorial day crit, 2 races.

Duke of Kent

At school, I could go for a 100mi ride with less than 200ft of elevation gain, according to Routeslip and MapMyRide.

TheKillerPenguin

I'll be riding with the man responsible for designing and running the Tour of the Battenkill. Justin Lindine and I are giving him input for his latest monstrosity. We'll be riding a tentative race course for the p/1/2 field in the Tour of the Catskills. 100+ miles. Insane amounts of climbing. Dirt roads. Should be fun.

Youngin

Whoooo! Hey, I know you!

umd

The flattest ride of any length I could think of would be from here to Malibu along the coast, which would probably come to about 1000 feet.

jmechy

I finally got the weekend free, and signed up for the ride tonight. I can't wait, the county ride is incredible.

BlessedHellride

I'll be there. I was there last year and it was great fun. It looks like it is set up even better this year.

ElJamoquio

Recommended: Mt. Mitchell and Clingman's Dome. You could go up Clingman's from the TN side, descend down the NC side, and return for a pretty kick ass ride. I went up Mitchell from the west, but if I did it again I'd do it from the east.

Beech was fun just for the (mild) history, but way too short.

Skip Grandfather.

Didn't do Roan.

king-tony

There is an Omnium in Knoxville, why not just race that?

substructure

Saturday if all goes as planned:
Start at friend's house.
Get dropped on the way to the ride.
Dropped on the ride.
Dropped or lost on the way back to friend's house.
Total miles: 120-130
Total Time: All Fing Day
Pain: Totally
Fun: Somewhat Totally

ElJamoquio

I'd rather ride the mountains, personally.

waterrockets 

I need to get a little further on cutting down the three oaks in our back yard that got Oak Wilt. There's an 18" trunk calling my name (only one bough left on that tree).

One of my brother-in-laws is doing his first triathlon, so I'll go cheer him through the transitions.

I'll try to get in some 1m intervals on Monday, but I hope to be completely thrashed going into the weekend, and in need of recovery. Today will be a 67-mile day with a training race in the middle.

botto 

when is memorial day?

cat4ever

I always knew MSL as Meters above Sea Level.