Official Weezer's & Whiners Roll Call (May 19/20)

[wolfpack]

Ok folks,

We really need to get a head count of who's gonna be attending this event. If you just want to email (khgulledge AT gmail DOT com)or PM me whether you're participating in one or both days, I would appreciate it. I will update this list as I receive responses.

So far, this is who I've got based on responses in the other W&W thread:

Saturday Attendee's:
wolfpack = karen -- not attending due to recent knee injury :(
velo vol = brian
bikeWNC = andy
msheron = mike (per most recent email, he will NOT be on Saturday's ride)
rm -fr = jim
substructure = Todd
vegavixen = anonymous :p
garysol1=gary -- questionable now...

Sunday's Attendee's:
wolfpack = karen -- not attending due to recent knee injury :(
cooperwx = jason
msheron = mike
vegavixen = anonymous :p

[wolfpack]

bump

[substructure]

Saturday
substructure = Todd

<edit>
Belmont, NC

[Velo Vol]

I'm curious where everyone is coming from. Perhaps you can indicate that (if it's not obvious).

I live in Knoxville, TN, approximately 100 miles away from the rides.

[cooperwx]

I live in South Asheville, not far from the entrance to Biltmore Estate. You guys are coming to ME :)

[VegaVixen]

In that case: Everyone into cooperwx's hot tub Satiddy night! :D

[cooperwx]

:beer:

No hot tub on the property, but I have a decent size bathtub!! :eek:

[VegaVixen]

:roflmao:

Heh. That'll do. :eek: :D

[wolfpack]

bump....again

[Velo Vol]

So is VegaVixen maintaining anonymity as to her name or to her identity?

Will she be riding in a disguise?

No offense, cooperwx, but I don't plan on sharing a bathtub with you.

[cooperwx]

Totally cool, Brian. It was a weak offer, anyways. It's really not even that big...

Hey, I know some of you have to be staying at a fancy hotel with an indoor pool and hot tub. Any invites from yous guys?

[wolfpack]

So is VegaVixen maintaining anonymity as to her name or to her identity?

Will she be riding in a disguise?

No offense, cooperwx, but I don't plan on sharing a bathtub with you.

she wishes to keep her name anonymous on the public boards.

[BikeWNC]

Only 3 weeks from tomorrow! Are you getting your miles in?

[Velo Vol]

Ask me after next weekend.

[wolfpack]

bump

[VegaVixen]

Hey, I remember that dance! :eek: :o

[BikeWNC]

I thought we had more people interested in this ride. So far only seven have signed up for Sat. Are there more out there on the fence trying to decide or waiting to see what the weather will be?

[mollusk]

I thought we had more people interested in this ride. So far only seven have signed up for Sat. Are there more out there on the fence trying to decide or waiting to see what the weather will be?

I wish I could do this ride, but I'm pretty far away. I did the hard part last November and it is very nice and not too difficult. (Thanks once again Bike WNC for the suggested ride!) 39x25 was sufficient to drag myself up the climb, but I have to admit that much of it was at a cadence that I wasn't used to. The last bit is more than 4% to 6%, probably more like 8% to 10%. When you see the parking area on the right side near the top it gets hard, especially since you have been going up for what seems like forever, but you are really close to the top. Suffer through that last bit and you are home free. Once you get on the BRP it is pretty easy.

[Velo Vol]

Take the weekend off and come on up, mollusk. It's much prettier now than it was in November.

[VegaVixen]

Yeah, come on up mollusk! You know you wanna! :D

I need you to show this flatlander how to climb in the mountains! :)

[mollusk]

Yeah, come on up mollusk! You know you wanna! :D

I need you to show this flatlander how to climb in the mountains! :)

Social obligations make it impossible, but you are correct. I would rather go on this ride.

BTW, I am a flatlander. That ride last November was my only mountain ride ever.

[Velo Vol]

I don't know why a ride like this isn't a bigger draw.

SoCal forum gets a bunch of riders together to go cruise through their wildfire-ravaged lunarscape.

Here we have one of the most scenic areas in America, but have a hard time getting many riders out. Alas. :rolleyes:

[BikeWNC]

Well, in SoCal there are how many people to draw from? 33 million in Ca. and probably at leat half of those in SoCal. But I think it is more than that. My experience with westerners is that they just go, participate in life, and don't worry about what if?. Of course there are all types everywhere, it seems to me that in the West people are generally more outdoors oriented.

Sometimes I just want to yell, GET OUT OF YOUR CAR PEOPLE AND LIVE LIFE!

A little physical exertion is a good thing but most people avoid it like the plague.

[rm -rf]

I thought we had more people interested in this ride. So far only seven have signed up for Sat. Are there more out there on the fence trying to decide or waiting to see what the weather will be?

Hmmm. Could it be the routeslip grade chart? Naaa...

But seriously, the climb just needs pacing, and it's doable. Your ride report sounds great. I love routes that follow streams.

The climb up Hwy 215, well everybody seems to want to know about that hill. Really, it is not too bad. There are 3 steeper sections to get over, the longest a half mile. It was a very peaceful ride up there today. Mostly just me and the river. I hope it's like that in two weeks. I think the main challenge for those not used to the mountains will be the total length of the climb. While the grade isn't bad, except as noted, there may be the need to take a few breaks for those not used to the sustained effort. Not a big deal. We can stop if need be and look at the river or the waterfalls.

[Velo Vol]

Sometimes I just want to yell, GET OUT OF YOUR CAR PEOPLE AND LIVE LIFE!I never thought about that while sitting in the traffic at Cades Cove. :rolleyes:

With respect to the BF ride, obviously the distance people have to travel is a factor (compared to SoCal). But beyond that it seems that for whatever reason, there's not a lot of southeastern cyclists on this forum. Tennessee-related posts hardly draw any response. Even the 3S3MC, which will have over 2,400 participants, has only drawn feedback from a handful of users here. It's kind of odd.

[VegaVixen]

I'm gonna drop a linkies to these threads on the CLT area riders thread. It's conceivable that some of those guys never even looked here, and might be interested....

[mtnbiker66]

Wow, you're heading to one of the best mtnbike areas in the US and you guys are gonna ride the road............ that's just sad.

[CycleMagic]

how's about we ride with you next time, mtnbiker66? OR...you can ride on the blacktop with us?

[mtnbiker66]

how's about we ride with you next time, mtnbiker66? OR...you can ride on the blacktop with us?

Just had a crew in to ride a couple of weeks ago.
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=289701
I had a road bike for a little while. I hated it.Fighting for space with cars is not a good time to me. I can be on some sweet trails in 5 min. out my door so I'm lucky. Plus I like to leave the ground from time to time as well. I might come and meet you guys when you get together so I can put faces with names.

[BikeWNC]

Just had a crew in to ride a couple of weeks ago.
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=289701
I had a road bike for a little while. I hated it.Fighting for space with cars is not a good time to me. I can be on some sweet trails in 5 min. out my door so I'm lucky. Plus I like to leave the ground from time to time as well. I might come and meet you guys when you get together so I can put faces with names.

Usually when I leave the ground on my mtb, it is unintentional and sometimes involves stitches.

[Velo Vol]

Just had a crew in to ride a couple of weeks ago.
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=289701
Looking at those pictures, I think I'd rather take my chances on the ground going against the cars. ;)

[wolfpack]

let's do the bump dance again :)

[BikeWNC]

I know a couple of local riders that may come along for the Sat. ride, But it will likely be a last minute thing with them. I also have a friend coming up from Charlotte for the Fletcher Flyer Century on Sunday. I'll see if she wants to ride with us Sat.

[Velo Vol]

I didn't know we had ever danced the first time.

[VegaVixen]

Anyone I might possibly know, maybe from TT, BikeWNC? <curious Vega look>

[Velo Vol]

Who wouldn't want to do a 50 mile mountain ride the day before a century? ;)

[wolfpack]

I didn't know we had ever danced the first time.

Hey, I remember that dance! :eek: :o

maybe you're just too young to remember :D

[BikeWNC]

Anyone I might possibly know, maybe from TT, BikeWNC? <curious Vega look>
I don't think she has done the TT in Charlotte, but I may be wrong. Just got an email from her and she can't make it Sat. Something about having a triathlon that day. At least she will be a little tired for the century on Sunday too.

[BikeWNC]

For those wanting to follow the weather in the next week here are a few sites I use.

Purchase Knob webcam (http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm) - located at 5000' gives the temp at that elevation.

Shining Rock webcam (http://www.highcountrywebcams.com/webcameras_ShiningRock.htm) - view of Cold Mountain taken from the section of the BRP we will ride.

NWS for Waynesville (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Waynesville&state=NC&site=GSP) - local weather forecast for the valley

10 day Forecast (http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPage/LoadPage.aspx?seg=LocalWeather&loc=usncct27286&product=Forecast&prodgrp=Forecasts&prodnav=none) - The forecast 10 days out is just a guess, but it is useful to follow the trend.

Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=waynesville%2C+nc) - weather site that has many local observations

[Velo Vol]

It's interesting scrolling through the photo archives of the park web cams to see the seasonal changes.

You can't beat the weather we've had the last four days: 80ish, with clear enough skies to get a nice view of the mountains. [They're often obscured by clouds/haze/pollution.]

I'd like to make an order of that for next weekend.

[cooperwx]

Reagrding the roll call: Liz is officially out (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4393885&postcount=95) for the Sunday ride. We're down to four :(

[CycleMagic]

oh, crumb....you guys are making me feel guilty. a little. I'll be there next time....OR...you can come down for the Murray's Mill ride in June!!!! how about that?

[BikeWNC]

I just want to suggest a few items to bring along for the ride Sat. Since the Pisgah Inn is at 5000', the weather may be a bit cooler to start than some are used to. Also, when we get back to the BRP up at 5600' any cloudiness can make it feel pretty cool. While the weather of the day will dictate what we need to wear, I would recommend having knee warmers, arm warmers, base layer and hat available. Sometimes, full finger gloves are nice too.

I know everyone in the group is a seasoned rider but be aware that the weather can change quickly up high. Having a vest and or light jacket may help too as will the usual sunscreen and sunglasses. Sorry if I'm being obvious but I've been caught out when the weather changed more than a few times and having the right gear makes the difference.

[wolfpack]

hey guys,

last week before the ride! don't we have any others interested in doing this ride???????????

msheron will not be on the ride for Saturday....something has come up.

[BikeWNC]

I've not had a lot of luck getting some of the local riders to join us. With the Fletcher Flyer Century on Sunday it's been like herding cats. I'm still holding out for one woman that may yet come along.

Sorry to hear about msheron. It was his idea to do the ride from the start.:(

One more heads up for the weather next weekend. The NWS says it should be sunny with highs in the valley in the low 70s, lows in the valley Sat. morning in the upper 30s. Now it could be colder up at 5000' or warmer depending on how the air mass sets up. Either way let's plan on a cool start to warm up later in the day. However, it will not be very warm at any time on the BRP. I would think we may see temps in the upper 50s to low 60s for the max up there. BTW, that is perfect for me. :)

[Velo Vol]

However, it will not be very warm at any time on the BRP. I would think we may see temps in the upper 50s to low 60s for the max up there. BTW, that is perfect for me. :)
:(

That might not be too bad for climbing. But if I stop and it's breezy, I'm going to get cold. <shivering>

I usually ride solo anyway, so regardless this will be a big group for me. ;) Assuming everyone doesn't drop me. :rolleyes:

[wolfpack]

updated list

[CycleMagic]

sorry to hear about your knee, Karen. I hope it gets better soon!