There is the usual broken pavement the first couple of miles on the descent of 276 otherwise the road is in good shape.You do have a number of bad roads there in Western North Carolina. Given your gas prices, one would think there should be plenty of DOT money to go around.

Your assignment, as host, is to see that this section gets repaved before the ride. ;)

You do have a number of bad roads there in Western North Carolina. Given your gas prices, one would think there should be plenty of DOT money to go around.

Your assignment, as host, is to see that this section gets repaved before the ride. ;)

I'm not the host, WP is. Hey, doesn't she work for NC DOT? Hmmm...

FYI

I'll be out of town from the 8th to late on the 15th. Any questions should be directed to Wolfpack during that time. I'm going riding out in Colorado for a week. :D

I'm not the host, WP is. Hey, doesn't she work for NC DOT? Hmmm...

hey! how'd i become the sole host here?? you're not getting out of the co-hosting job that easy buddy:)

Well there we go. wolfpack, I'm requesting that 276 be repaved before my arrival. Get to it!

Well there we go. wolfpack, I'm requesting that 276 be repaved before my arrival. Get to it!

i don't do paving. my work is strictly with water. i'll forward your request to the appropriate people. :p

Updated List of Attendee's as of 05/02/08:

Rider: Saturday Ride, Sunday Ride
wolfpack:Yes, Yes attending both days
BikeWNC: Yes, Yes attending both days
jschen: Yes, Yes attending both days
rnhood: Yes, Yes attending both days
roadrider: Yes, Yes attending both days
cnickgo: Yes, Yes waiting on verification
Porter20: No, Yes waiting on verification
Derby: Yes, Yes will not be attending either day
Velo Vol: Yes, No attending Saturday if weather is nice
soarallover: Yes, Yes attending both days
rm -rf: Yes, Yes attending both days

Gearing contest :)

Anyone else gunna be riding a 39/23?

BTW... I'm too lazy to go back to the PM, but I won't know about my attendance now until this Thursday. I have a job interview/orientation then, which will dictate my schedule for the summer.

39/23!! :eek: go for it! i'm gonna be sportin' a low gear of 34/28 :)

I did the rides Thursday in a 39/27 without a problem. But then I'm not 21yo old either. :rolleyes: The only issue I can see for Nick is that he would have to pedal a low cadence to hang with us lower geared folks. That could get tiring over 50 miles.

I'm a bit used to the low cadence by now, it probably puts me out of the saddle more than the average person likes, but I don't mind. I need to work on that power deal anyways, and I don't get to slack.

the truth is I would go to at least a 25, but thats not going to happen before this ride.:rolleyes:

I'm a bit used to the low cadence by now, it probably puts me out of the saddle more than the average person likes, but I don't mind.

Same here. My bike is 39 x 25 and I as I recall I didn't use the lowest gear (or two) last year. So you should be fine if that's what you are used to doing.

can' twait! ;beer:

can' twait! ;beer:

:lol:

only 12 more days!

I'm a bit used to the low cadence by now, it probably puts me out of the saddle more than the average person likes, but I don't mind. I need to work on that power deal anyways, and I don't get to slack.

the truth is I would go to at least a 25, but thats not going to happen before this ride.:rolleyes:

From last year, I have a few photos of my bike computer while riding the big climb. It shows 8.0 mph, then later 7.0, then 6.5, then 5.0 mph. And that was while pushing my heart rate pretty high. I have a 34-26 low gear.

Using Mike Sherman's gear calculator (http://home.earthlink.net/~mike.sherman/shift.html):


Gear.....8 mph.....6 mph
------------------------------
39-23...60 rpm....45 rpm
39-25...65........49
34-26...78........58
34-27...81........61


So a 39-23 will be a pretty low cadence. But Velo Vol was riding those cadences last year.

I'd rather spin up the climb. What I should have is a 30-29 :eek:. Then I could go 90 rpm at only 7.3 mph.

----------------
Most of the big climb is about a 5% grade. Anyone can do it if they keep a steady effort going. And last year, we stopped a few times, too.

My, I guess jschen is the early front-runner for the "who traveled the farthest to attend this event?" award.

So... do I win this award? :D

heh. most likely:)

still waiting on confirmation from Porter20 and cnickgo (will know thursday or friday).

So... do I win this award? :DWe can't say yet. We could have a late entry from a participant outside of North America. Those Australians are all over this forum.

We can't say yet. We could have a late entry from a participant outside of North America. Those Australians are all over this forum.

And whatever you do, don't tell Botto. I think he's still in the Country. :p

So... do I win this award? :D

Hey Jason! How long will you be in NC this time around?

Hi CycleMagic!

Friday morning (breakfast in CLT) to Monday morning (fly out first thing).

wow, that is a fast trip, Jason!

It's on the way to NYC for my sister's graduation.

What kind of graduation is it? College?

Updated List of Attendee's as of 05/02/08:

Rider: Saturday Ride, Sunday Ride
wolfpack:Yes, Yes attending both days
BikeWNC: Yes, Yes attending both days
jschen: Yes, Yes attending both days
rnhood: Yes, Yes attending both days
roadrider: Yes, Yes attending both days
cnickgo: Yes, Yes waiting on verification
Porter20: No, Yes waiting on verification
Derby: Yes, Yes will not be attending either day
Velo Vol: Yes, No attending Saturday if weather is nice
soarallover: Yes, Yes attending both days
rm -rf: Yes, Yes attending both days

I was kind of in the cnickgo situation where I am waiting on some big information regarding my next couple weeks; but it looks like all that has taking care of it's self so I am 95% sure that I am in for the ride. Also, a 50% chance I will be in for the Friday ride too!

What kind of graduation is it? College?

Dental school. It's a long ways to go to watch her wear a funny hat, but I can't miss a sister's graduation if it's a terminal degree.

Also, a 50% chance I will be in for the Friday ride too!

Cool! Hope you can make it.

I was kind of in the cnickgo situation where I am waiting on some big information regarding my next couple weeks; but it looks like all that has taking care of it's self so I am 95% sure that I am in for the ride. Also, a 50% chance I will be in for the Friday ride too!

ok...just let me know when you know for sure and i'll update/finalize the list. looks like i'm gonna be the only girl riding that weekend. sweet. :D

OK. Since I may not get the chance to check in or update this thread while I'm out in Colorado, I have a few suggestions for those doing this ride.

Weather. It's the mountains. It's May. That means expect anything. It can be sunny and warm or cold and rainy. Most likely it will be something in between. So come prepared with layers, warmers, jackets, long fingered gloves, just whatever you think you might need. It's better to bring too much and not need it. Last year we started the ride at 35 degrees. It's 5000' in elevation so it gets cool at night. Bring a jacket to wear in the evening.

Food. The Pisgah Inn has a good restaurant and will be open for breakfast and dinner. Chances are we will not be back to the Inn before lunch stops serving. So come prepared to eat on the ride. We will pass a couple stores early in the ride Sat. but after that there are none to be had. Water will be available on the climb up NC 215. Sunday's ride is all on the BRP and there is no store but there will be water near the turnaround point. In general, at least bring some food for the rides and some snacks for the Inn. There is a small store on the Pisgah Inn grounds that has sodas and snacks. Come with gas in your car!

Beer. I think the Pisgah Inn sells beer, but I'm not sure. I intend to bring my own for after the ride. Enough said.

Things to do besides ride. There are hiking trails close to the Inn if you want to explore. There are also trails at the start of the Sunday ride. Fishing is good on the Big East Fork and Davidson Rivers but you will need a NC license.

If I have forgotten anything or you have a question just ask. I'll try to login while on my trip.

OK. Since I may not get the chance to check in or update this thread while I'm out in Colorado, I have a few suggestions for those doing this ride.

Weather. It's the mountains. It's May. That means expect anything. It can be sunny and warm or cold and rainy. Most likely it will be something in between. So come prepared with layers, warmers, jackets, long fingered gloves, just whatever you think you might need. It's better to bring too much and not need it. Last year we started the ride at 35 degrees. It's 5000' in elevation so it gets cool at night. Bring a jacket to wear in the evening.



Think about foot covers for cold/rainy weather as well. A guy got frostbite on some toes a couple weeks ago because of a group ride turned into a freezing ice fest. I have had some miserable feet and yet been comfortable in short sleeves. Soccer/tube socks cut to specs work in a pinch!

Good idea Nick. I usually have toe warmers with me whenever I ride up on the BRP.

so, Nick, are you in for both days? maybe Friday too??

damn...i'm bringing my cold weather gear. i get cold a lot easier now.:rolleyes: i'd just hate to have to drive SAG for you guys:D.

OK. Since I may not get the chance to check in or update this thread while I'm out in Colorado, I have a few suggestions for those doing this ride.

Weather. It's the mountains. It's May. That means expect anything. It can be sunny and warm or cold and rainy. Most likely it will be something in between. So come prepared with layers, warmers, jackets, long fingered gloves, just whatever you think you might need. It's better to bring too much and not need it. Last year we started the ride at 35 degrees. It's 5000' in elevation so it gets cool at night. Bring a jacket to wear in the evening.

Food. The Pisgah Inn has a good restaurant and will be open for breakfast and dinner. Chances are we will not be back to the Inn before lunch stops serving. So come prepared to eat on the ride. We will pass a couple stores early in the ride Sat. but after that there are none to be had. Water will be available on the climb up NC 215. Sunday's ride is all on the BRP and there is no store but there will be water near the turnaround point. In general, at least bring some food for the rides and some snacks for the Inn. There is a small store on the Pisgah Inn grounds that has sodas and snacks. Come with gas in your car!



Last year, it was very cold on the long downhill at the start of the ride. But then, in the valley and on the climb, it was sunny and in the 60s. So be ready to shed layers, too!

That food and water stash at the top of the climb was a real help last year. If anybody is driving past the intersection of Rt 215 and the BRP on the way to the ride, they could drop off a few gallons of water and some snacks in a sturdy plastic storage box. If there's no volunteers, I'll drive over there from the Pisgah Inn and stash it there. BikeWNC knows which overlook that is on the BRP.

Now I'll be checking the forecast every day. That's a good way to go crazy, since it's all rough estimates until 24 hours ahead.

BikeWNC, if the forecast for Waynesville NC, at the 2700 foot level, is 50 low and 70 high, can we guess what the temperatures will be at 5000 feet?

Waynesville:

Intellicast 10 day forecast. (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Weather.aspx?chart=Precipitation#chart)

NOAA's hourly weather graph (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Waynesville&state=NC&site=GSP&textField1=35.4845&textField2=-82.9975&e=0&FcstType=graphical). This shows the temperature, wind speed, cloud cover, and precipitation by the hour. It's pretty inaccurate until less than 24 hours out. (Ignore the "Greenville-Spartanburg" heading, that's where the NOAA regional office is located.)

The forecast at 5000' and how it compares to Waynesville at 2700' depends on cloud cover and any system that might come through. Sometimes it is warmer at high elevation than in the valley. There is really no way to know until a day or two before and even then can vary widely in the mountains.

so, Nick, are you in for both days? maybe Friday too??

damn...i'm bringing my cold weather gear. i get cold a lot easier now.:rolleyes: i'd just hate to have to drive SAG for you guys:D.

I'm rushing home for my job interview tomorrow. I should know after that.

okie-dokie

I don't want to even look at my cold weather gear again.

Good luck with your interview.

Hey Karen - I'm toying with the idea of jumping in on this last minute.

Jon

That would be great Jon!! You won't find any rooms available at the Pisgah Inn unless you can stay with Tim. Most likely you could stay somewhere in Asheville for the weekend.

Hope you get to join us!

Tim's wife is coming with him so he already has a roomie!

Are there route files somewhere?

i just made a route for the saturday ride. hold on a minute and i'll send it too you. so what if his wife is coming along??? they have 2 double beds in the room don't they?

You have two double beds in your room too, right ?

i've already got a roomie.

saturday's route (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=7817)

Me too.

haha. ok, then.

What about Neil ?

oooohh that's true.

Well Neil, it looks like your hotel expenses may be reduced by half.

The motels in Waynesville or Canton NC might still have rooms available. It's 24 miles from Waynesville to the Pisgah Inn. That's probably at least a 40 minute drive up the mountain.