wolfpack
10-01-07, 08:53 AM
As promised, my ride report for the 3 day Southeast BF Mountain Ride. I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible, no need for some long winded post.
Friday – Polara and I met BikeWNC and rm –rf for a short ride up to Western Carolina University. Nice little ride along the river with a few hills that weren’t too hard, but just sorta long. Afterwards, all 4 of us went to Lulu’s for supper. There’s a brief report on pg10 of the SEBF thread.
Saturday – Met everyone at the Overlook just past Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel. Got a brief safety meeting from BikeWNC for those who haven’t ridden on the Parkway before about traffic and decending. Headed out shortly after 10am and immediately started to climb. It was pretty much climbing the whole time up to Richland Balsam. I didn’t think I would ever get up there, my right hamstring kept feeling like it was getting tight and I think I needed about 2 more gears! BikeWNC fulfilled his blueberry obligation – I did get a handfull on the way up to Richland Balsam and oh boy! They were delicious.
From Richland Balsam, we rode down to Devil’s Courthouse overlook and a then turned around and went back to the next overlook to have a brief rest and wait on those who went on towards Graveyard Fields. Very nice views from this overlook. When we started back towards Richland Balsam, I immediately got a cramp in my right quad and tried to ride on through it. I did manage to get it to feel a little better but decided to catch a ride with the SAG, which was being driven by Tappets GF, Elizabeth. We also picked up cnickgo and the two of us hitched a ride back to Richland Balsam. Guess we cut out about 4mi total riding, as I had 30.5mi of riding on the Garmin. From there, I had to finish the ride because, well, it’s all pretty much downhill and I absolutely love the downhill sections:D. I hit 46.8mph coming back down (or on some decent)!
Afterwards, everyone was hungry and thirsty, so Tappets, Elizabeth, Polara, 3mta3, CycleMagic, FormulaUgh, WheresWaldo, rnhood, BikeWNC, and myself went to Nick & Nate’s in Sylva for a late lunch. Food, beer, and company were great. After lunch, those who needed to head on home did so and the rest of us went back to our hotel to shower and nap before meeting at 553 W. Main for dinner. BikeWNC, 3mta3, Polara, rnhood, and myself were the only ones left from the Saturday ride group….Conversation seemed to revolve around tubes of some sort and some other audio equipment, and then eventually bikes. The food was great at this place and I just chilled listening to the guys talk guy talk:rolleyes:. I don’t talk much when I’m really tired, so I was fairly quite this evening. We finished up dinner & talked about where we were to meet the next morning. rnhood decided not to participate in Sunday’s ride, 3mta3 headed back to Durham, Polara and I went back to the motel and slept for about 9.5hrs!
Sunday – Polara and I met BikeWNC and one of the local guys he rides with, Guy (and older gentleman in his mid 60’s I think), along with Tappets and Elizabeth. We rode the Burningtown loop, which consisted of some climbing, and, in all honesty, they weren’t too hard, but my legs said otherwise at times. There were some nice flat stretches where we really picked the pace up and it was like riding back in the Clayton area:). It was a great morning for a ride! A bit chilly for me - my toes, fingers, and knees got really cold, but by the end of the ride, I was toasty. BikeWNC, Polara, and myslef went to Subway for lunch, then we headed home…..
The rest of ya can add your thoughts and comments about this weekend’s ride if you want to. I’m now looking forward to May ’08 when we hopefully do a Spring ride. I know I’ll be up there before that tho – I’m hooked on the mountains!
Friday – Polara and I met BikeWNC and rm –rf for a short ride up to Western Carolina University. Nice little ride along the river with a few hills that weren’t too hard, but just sorta long. Afterwards, all 4 of us went to Lulu’s for supper. There’s a brief report on pg10 of the SEBF thread.
Saturday – Met everyone at the Overlook just past Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel. Got a brief safety meeting from BikeWNC for those who haven’t ridden on the Parkway before about traffic and decending. Headed out shortly after 10am and immediately started to climb. It was pretty much climbing the whole time up to Richland Balsam. I didn’t think I would ever get up there, my right hamstring kept feeling like it was getting tight and I think I needed about 2 more gears! BikeWNC fulfilled his blueberry obligation – I did get a handfull on the way up to Richland Balsam and oh boy! They were delicious.
From Richland Balsam, we rode down to Devil’s Courthouse overlook and a then turned around and went back to the next overlook to have a brief rest and wait on those who went on towards Graveyard Fields. Very nice views from this overlook. When we started back towards Richland Balsam, I immediately got a cramp in my right quad and tried to ride on through it. I did manage to get it to feel a little better but decided to catch a ride with the SAG, which was being driven by Tappets GF, Elizabeth. We also picked up cnickgo and the two of us hitched a ride back to Richland Balsam. Guess we cut out about 4mi total riding, as I had 30.5mi of riding on the Garmin. From there, I had to finish the ride because, well, it’s all pretty much downhill and I absolutely love the downhill sections:D. I hit 46.8mph coming back down (or on some decent)!
Afterwards, everyone was hungry and thirsty, so Tappets, Elizabeth, Polara, 3mta3, CycleMagic, FormulaUgh, WheresWaldo, rnhood, BikeWNC, and myself went to Nick & Nate’s in Sylva for a late lunch. Food, beer, and company were great. After lunch, those who needed to head on home did so and the rest of us went back to our hotel to shower and nap before meeting at 553 W. Main for dinner. BikeWNC, 3mta3, Polara, rnhood, and myself were the only ones left from the Saturday ride group….Conversation seemed to revolve around tubes of some sort and some other audio equipment, and then eventually bikes. The food was great at this place and I just chilled listening to the guys talk guy talk:rolleyes:. I don’t talk much when I’m really tired, so I was fairly quite this evening. We finished up dinner & talked about where we were to meet the next morning. rnhood decided not to participate in Sunday’s ride, 3mta3 headed back to Durham, Polara and I went back to the motel and slept for about 9.5hrs!
Sunday – Polara and I met BikeWNC and one of the local guys he rides with, Guy (and older gentleman in his mid 60’s I think), along with Tappets and Elizabeth. We rode the Burningtown loop, which consisted of some climbing, and, in all honesty, they weren’t too hard, but my legs said otherwise at times. There were some nice flat stretches where we really picked the pace up and it was like riding back in the Clayton area:). It was a great morning for a ride! A bit chilly for me - my toes, fingers, and knees got really cold, but by the end of the ride, I was toasty. BikeWNC, Polara, and myslef went to Subway for lunch, then we headed home…..
The rest of ya can add your thoughts and comments about this weekend’s ride if you want to. I’m now looking forward to May ’08 when we hopefully do a Spring ride. I know I’ll be up there before that tho – I’m hooked on the mountains!