Southeast - Any BFers going to be at the Mitchell training ride?

This Saturday at 8:00a is the third Mitchell training ride. This ride is 85 miles and goes up to Caesars Head State Park. Just curious if anyone else from here will be up there.

Was going to ride the Pedal Force, but just put a compact on my Moto Immortal Force so will take it instead. Look for a black IF. I will be there with a buddy of mine from Mineral Springs.

It would be nice to know who some of you BFer's are.

I seriously thought about doing this ride but I'm riding the Tour de Cashiers on Sunday and didn't want to over do it this weekend. Last year when the Mitchell ride was in May, I probably would have considered doing both. But now that we have until June the schedule has been pushed back just a bit. I bet it will be a good ride though.

I went to the first one, but I havent been able to get up there since. It is supposed to rain on Saturday, so I am saying no. I hope that it will be OK in the morning, so that I can get some miles in.

I was planning on doing it but will watch the weather and let it be a last minute decision. I'm guessing the rain might get into upstate SC before it gets to the Charlotte area so we might just do a long training ride from the house Saturday. I've already climbed Caesar's Head this year so I can check that one off. If you miss this one be sure and go back for the Marquis de Sade the end of April. Lots of good climbing in that one.

Just to let everyone know, The weather was great for this ride. It was much harder than I had anticipated, glad I put the compact crank on just a few days before. 85 miles, averaged 12.9mph, 7200 ft of climbing, over 10000 calories burned.

Here is the elevation profiles, going up then coming back:
42258 42259
Elevation over time.

42260 42261
Elevation over distance.

Even though it was an out and back loop, a keen eye will notice a difference at the end. I was so tired I bypassed Callahan Mountain Road at the end by continuing on Old Hwy 25 to Dividing Waters then around the back side of Callahan Mountain to Tigerville road.

I made it down there as well and plan to go back down for the MdS this weekend. I climbed Callahan on the way back and wound up with about 7800+ ft of climbing. How did you like that nasty hill right before starting the climb on Caesar's head? I heard many of the locals that knew the route went around that sucker. On the way back I was getting 20+% readings on that section.

If you haven't done the Marquis de Sade, it has a couple steep, long climbs. They aren't as long as Caesars Head but a good bit steeper.