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05-09-07, 06:32 PM
I've been talked into doing a pretty brutal 100 mile training ride this Friday in the NC mountains. We're doing a route that is the same one that is used for a tough century that usually 700-800 people sign up for and is extremely well supported. It has some long climbs, and also has some really steep climbs that are longer than normal. The grand daddy of climbs comes in about 65 miles and is 3 miles long and averages close to 15%, topping out around 20%.
There will be about 8 of us and we're doing it unsupported which really concerns me. I know of a few stores along the route but not sure they're at the right intervals. Plus there will not be any really good bailouts where you can take shortcuts back to the car if things aren't going well.
I know all the other riders and they are a notch or two better riders than I am but what the heck........it's billed as a training ride. Folks are wanting to get in some additional climbing in preparation for Mitchell. I told them they were crazy to do this route as it is probably the second hardest route behind Mitchell in these parts but here I am joining in with them. Surprisingly I've only ridden 40 miles the last two weeks because of being sick and other obligations. I suspect they'll be waiting on this old feller at the top of a lot of the climbs!!
I did go ahead and put my XTR 11-34 cassette on the 5900 so while I might be slow at least I think I can keep it moving forward.
I'm going to hurt so bad!!!
There will be about 8 of us and we're doing it unsupported which really concerns me. I know of a few stores along the route but not sure they're at the right intervals. Plus there will not be any really good bailouts where you can take shortcuts back to the car if things aren't going well.
I know all the other riders and they are a notch or two better riders than I am but what the heck........it's billed as a training ride. Folks are wanting to get in some additional climbing in preparation for Mitchell. I told them they were crazy to do this route as it is probably the second hardest route behind Mitchell in these parts but here I am joining in with them. Surprisingly I've only ridden 40 miles the last two weeks because of being sick and other obligations. I suspect they'll be waiting on this old feller at the top of a lot of the climbs!!
I did go ahead and put my XTR 11-34 cassette on the 5900 so while I might be slow at least I think I can keep it moving forward.
I'm going to hurt so bad!!!