SEBF organized ride poll........

[msheron]

Pick the dates folks.............I am game for either weekend so I will not cast a vote.......if you are game for either just pick one that you like best.

[msheron]

So far 17 interested and some bringing friends..........I have maybe a handful as well so this may turn into one nice ride. Also did everyone see the Sat. dinner plans and is that okay? The Sunday ride will be in north Buncombe County into Madison County and while the Inn is a great choice for those doing the Sat. ride some may want to stay in Asheville.

Just let me know..............or you can do what you want. Those wanting to do a group dinner and are okay with the Japanese Steakhouse voice your opinion as well.

Link to the Pisgah Inn at milepost 408.6 on the BRP:
http://www.pisgahinn.com/

Link to the Inn at Biltmore Estate for those with discerning taste of luxury:
http://www.biltmore.com/discover/getaways2007.html?CMP=KNC-Google&HBX_PK=biltmore+estate+inn&HBX_OU=50&ef_id=1387:3:c3427454d13f37796864ec1f49752a64_466594606:qwzKC9B6B3YAABySN@4AAAAQ:20070118230807

Link to Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville:
http://www.ashevillecp.com/

Link to Comfort Suites at Biltmore Square mall:
http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=NC139

[BikeWNC]

I chose the 19-20 simply to avoid the holiday weekend on the 26-27. However, I plan to only ride on Sat. and can do either weekend. So you may disregard my vote if you like.

[msheron]

Who also plans to do both days? Just wondering.

[wolfpack]

if i can get spousal approval, i hope to be there. i chose the 19/20 dates.

[Velo Vol]

I vote for the weekend with the best weather.

[CycleMagic]

I don't really have a preference. I can't commit until I get the weekend work schedule done, so I'll just keep tabs on the final and come if I can. I will most likely do just one of the days.

[cycleaddict]

I'm up for the saturday ride and whatever weekend you pick sounds fine with me. I do have to check my work schedule though- when the date gets closer I will know for sure. I will be moving from night shift to days and am not really sure what my schedule will look like.

[cooperwx]

I'm planning on just doing the Sunday ride. Again, thanks for organizing!

-Jason

[jamiewilson3]

I will hopefully be able to make the Saturday May 19 ride. If not, thanks for putting together. Should do this with some regularity if it goes well!

[DieselDan]

I can't make either, as the 19th/20th is the weekend of my daughter's 2nd birthday, and Memorial Day weekend is too busy at work (hospitality related industry). Thanks for organizing an event. Maybe we could have a ride in the fall on coast?

[msheron]

Alrighty..............obviously not everyone has voted but so far it is the 19/20th of May. So if you have not voted but are on the mailing list for updates of this ride cast your vote.

If not and you don't like the weekend picked you are to blame for not voting.

The poll will close on 2-1-07 folks.

[CycleMagic]

alright, grumpy buddy (teasing!)....I've voted

[mollusk]

I'm not going to vote because it is highly unlikely that I could attend. and I don't want to skew the vote. The only weekend that I would have a chance in "heck" to attend would be the second one because it allows extra travel time (Memorial Day 3-day weekend). That one is a remote possibility.

[msheron]

alright, grumpy buddy (teasing!)....I've voted

Not enough coffee when I wrote that.......:D

[CycleMagic]

I thought so....! :-)

[cwodave]

I'm willing to drive from Winston Salem if somebody would like to car pool.

Dave

[bigskymacadam]

ends up i'll be out of town both weekends

[msheron]

Just keeping the thread highlighted and visible! Let's get some folks in the SE for this ride folks. We need a convoy on this effort. Don't sit at home picking your nose looking at your bike and wishing you had gone!

That was kinda graphic.....sorry! But let's get some more folks committing and those on the fence........jump the hell off on the ride side and not the sit at home and be bored side.

[CycleMagic]

:rolleyes: missing that coffee again, msheron?:D

[msheron]

:rolleyes: missing that coffee again, msheron?:D

How'd you guess?:o

I need java........!:D

[CycleMagic]

hee hee...

get that man some coffee before heads start to roll!

[roadrider]

Count me in. Email sent.

[msheron]

hee hee...

get that man some coffee before heads start to roll!


Head rolling.....please, must have coffe........:roflmao: :roflmao:

[roadrider]

I hope this really works out. It sounnds like a great weekend. Thanks for starting it up.

[msheron]

No problem. I have just been so pleased with this site and meeting people that are into cycling that I wanted to get people together for a ride in the beautiful mountains of NC. I hope evryone gets to come and most importantly gets to ride both days.

[garysol1]

If anyone is planning on attending from the Memphis area or plans on driving through the Memphis area, PM me if you want to share the driving. I can haul 4 to 5 bikes safely.

[msheron]

Let's keep it going........had a few more folks sign on. We need a army for this ride. Let's show everyone the SEBF is the best at turning out. We'll call it the "1st Annual SEBF Group Ride"

Man I sound like a cheerleader...........sorry. Too much coffee!

[CycleMagic]

Let's keep it going........had a few more folks sign on. We need a army for this ride. Let's show everyone the SEBF is the best at turning out. We'll call it the "1st Annual SEBF Group Ride"

Man I sound like a cheerleader...........sorry. Too much coffee!
I like the too-much-coffee-msheron....much more cheerful and peppy than the not-enough-coffee-msheron! :D

[msheron]

I like the too-much-coffee-msheron....much more cheerful and peppy than the not-enough-coffee-msheron! :D

Ahhh Java..........I like java. Especially with Pumpkin Spice creamer!:D

[roadrider]

Msheron can you give us a total to date of people?

[msheron]

I hope this really works out. It sounnds like a great weekend. Thanks for starting it up.

17 voters here and 18 contacts added to my group e-mailer. That does not count those who want to bring friends and I will probably have some I ride with as well locally. So if we take a conservative approach to those numbers which I always divide in half.........9 (includes me). Then add a few extras.....that people say they will bring then I am guessing 14-16 folks.

Would love to have about 20 myself but that would be a good number to show.

[ModoVincere]

Man...this sucks...I can't do either weekend. First weekend in the poll is wife's b'day, second weekend is wedding aniversary. Wife would not be happy if I went on a weekend bike ride for either weekend :(

[msheron]

Man...this sucks...I can't do either weekend. First weekend in the poll is wife's b'day, second weekend is wedding aniversary. Wife would not be happy if I went on a weekend bike ride for either weekend :(

Well that sucks...........:) Hopefully this will go over well and interest in doing another ride for the SEBF members in the future. You can always come to the NC mountains to ride.......no excuse needed. Bring the wife.......does she ride?

[BikeWNC]

Man...this sucks...I can't do either weekend. First weekend in the poll is wife's b'day, second weekend is wedding aniversary. Wife would not be happy if I went on a weekend bike ride for either weekend :(

I knew one guy in your same situation. He brought his wife to Asheville, set her up with a spa appointment for the day while he did a ride, then had a nice romantic dinner that evening. Seemed to work out for both. A weekend at the Grove Park Inn or the Richmond Hill Inn would be some serious coin but if that doesn't matter too much then she might enjoy the trip and you would get to ride one day.

[msheron]

Or go to the Inn at Biltmore on the estate and let her wine taste and be pampered for the day and you can go to Savoy's for dinner and all will be well.

[cooperwx]

Agreed. A trip to AVL would be a wonderful birthday gift for her. She probably wouldn't have a problem with you disappearing for a few hours one afternoon...everybody wins!!

[BikeWNC]

So is the date set for 5/19-20? Let's put an order in for some nice weather that weekend.

[msheron]

So is the date set for 5/19-20? Let's put an order in for some nice weather that weekend.

Poll is closed and the winner is May 19th-20th of a score of 16-1...........I am hoping for good weather of course.

I will post all the particulars once BikeWNC and I get the details for posting for both days. I know some are coming for one day and then there are a few doing two days or I believe so.

The first day is roughly a 50+ miler I believe and the second day will be a comfort ride of around 30-35 miles.

Stay tuned for future post. Also, if you have posted here that you are interested in this ride weekend and have yet to e-mail me direct so I can do a group mailing with all the hotels and accomodations for you then do so to: msheron@charter.net

See you guys here in Western, NC in May.

Also............who is interested in the Saturday dinner at Ichiban's Japaneese Steakhouse? Let me know that as well. Or if you guys and gals had rather just do your own thing let me know.

Okay...........time for some coffee and relax for the weekend.

[BikeWNC]

I'll be out of town next week most likely without web access. I may carry my computer but there is nothing really pressing for this ride so no real need. Anyway, the basics for the Sat. ride are posted in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=249333). We should aim for a start time of 10am which would mean meet and greet at 9:30. We'll know more about the weather as the day approaches but in general expect a variety of mountain conditions, cool to warm, dry to wet are possible anytime. I'll probably do a recon ride, or several, before our ride so I will be aware of any road conditions of note. I don't expect any problems unless we have another flood (Ivan and Francis took out all the bridges a couple of years ago, all fixed now). If anyone has specific questions I would be glad to try to answer them. Bring a camera. That's it for now.

[msheron]

Sounds like a winner so far^.............so get those legs in shape and come to the mountains which I call, "God's Country."

[msheron]

Any new folks here that want to join in you can. Just e-mail me direct to request being put on the group mailer for info.

msheron@charter.net

Please read all post here as they give info. to date.

[msheron]

Before the weekend scheduled rides BikeWNC and myself will have descriptions posted for the rides and what to expect. I actually can post a map of the Sunday ride and let everyone know the route and what to expect. Stay tuned to this thread as we get closer.

[msheron]

This is the profile I promised to you guys to view...........the total miles were 28.65. I plan to add another 5 or so to the ride to give us around 33-35 miles for the day.

Highest grade a little over 26%........avg. grade for the day was 4.7%

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.ranges=grade&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=1867390&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=1000&xy.height=450

Maybe it will show here without the link (link is bigger and easier to read).......

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.ranges=grade&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=1867390&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227

[garysol1]

Highest grade a little over 26%........


Momma....Momma......:eek:

[msheron]

Momma....Momma......:eek:

But it comes and goes along the cross over of the mountain from Hill St. back to the by-pass. That is just the highest peak of elevation reading. I think it would avg. maybe 13% or so give or take. Really it is not too bad.

[garysol1]

I think it would avg. maybe 13% or so give or take. Really it is not too bad.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: LoL. Count me in. I will bring the rope.

[msheron]

Forgot to explain the Sunday ride...................it will have a turn around at the Hill St. start for those who wish not to do the climb. I will explain that on the ride day and show where to go back to to wait for the people who elect to go over Hill St. to meet back up for the distance back to the vehicles.

The Hill St. extension adds maybe 5 miles or so total.

[wolfpack]

OMG!! average 13%!!!! let's just have a tow rope attached to your bike and mine so that you can pull me over that monster.....

hey, just save me a cold beer at the top cuz i'm gonna need it....................

[msheron]

Cold beer is welcomed! Really it is not so bad. The readings on my GPS came and went. It just recorded a max. of 26% at one moment in time and fluctuated from 12% to the low 20's........it sounds much worse than it is. Trust me.......I am no climber and I live in the mountains and ride nothing but climbs. I am slow but steady. When pulling 195 lbs. you just learn to cope. I wish I were at my ideal weight of 185 lbs. and that is my goal this year to get to.

My problem is my body is so dense from lifting weights all my life since 7th grade and I don't have as much fat to lose but rather lose percentage wise more muscle when I diet. Not so good but to get the weight down I have to train and diet harder.

But enough of my fat ***** blues. I hope everyone will can do the Sunday ride because for the most part like 90% is mainly flat and goes along the French Broad River with the mountain to one side. It is beautiful. And on Sunday there are no trash trucks along that road flying by like the other 6 days of the week.

Will post more updates as we get closer.