Fifty Plus (50+) - Assault on Mt Mitchell-Brutally Hot!!

You can see many of the reports in the SE forum here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=427928

Kudos to fellow 50+ers PAlt, BikeWNC and yours truly for just completing the event!!

This was probably the hottest AOMM in 33 years and it really took it's toll on a lot of riders.

My brother and I enjoyed supper with PAlt and Mrs PAlt the night before. Just a super couple. PAlt had been doing a lot of preparation for this one and it really showed as he had a great ride-especially for the first time and under such difficult conditions.

Last year was my best time ever and was around 6hr 30min+. This year my total time was 7hr 20+ mins. Last year I only stopped twice for about 4 mins. This year I had 5 stops for 30 mins-the longest being the 13 min stop for the paving. One of the stops wasn't planned-the whole peloton was held up for 13 mins by my watch waiting on a paving contractor to let us by. Needless to say folks were really getting testy standing on the hot pavement out in the sun even after a few minutes.

I fought cramps from about 35 miles to the end. One time I stood up out of the saddle and both legs locked up on me in a straightened position. OUCH!!! I tried every cramp remedy I knew to try and nothing worked so just pushed through it.

Remind me to do a little more training before trying something like that again!!!

The stats:
102.55 miles
10,600-11,100 ft of climbing
34.5 miles or 34 percent of the ride is uphill-with most of it the last 20 miles
Calories burned-software showed 9000+-sounds a little high but it was up there!
Peak Temperature 98.6 degrees
Average Temperature 88 degrees
Relative Humidity 60-70%



http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/jppe/AOMM2008.jpg

My sister who was "super sag woman!!" and me at the finish-now I could work up a smile.......

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/jppe/Assault%20on%20Mt%20Mitchell%202008/AOMM2008003JudyandJoe.jpg

Don't know if you can see them but we were coated with tiny bugs flying around the last mile and sticking to our sweaty skin. They didn't taste too bad though.......

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/jppe/Assault%20on%20Mt%20Mitchell%202008/AOMM2008bugs.jpg

Well done!

Weather has been brutal around here the last several days. Hopefully the weather will break tomorrow.

Mad props--or whatever it is the kids say these day--to jppe. I was cheering you on from the air conditioned comfort of my office.

jppe, I can't believe how well you did given the conditions. The heat just sapped whatever power I had and I was in survival mode for much of the ride after Marion. When I think about it, I just never ride in temps higher than the low 80s. It was quite a shock to my system but one I have experienced before when forced to ride in the heat. I had hoped it wouldn't play out that way again but it was a sufferfest for me. I guess I'm just not cut out for the heat (never have liked it). Anyway, great job!

Very interesting. Thanks for the report, link and pictures. Perhaps I should get going and try this.

My ride today was a study in contrast. I did 50 miles as fast as I can on lime stone trails. There were 5 bikers in the 50 miles. Different strokes.......

:cheers::cheers::cheers:
I could do that in the opposite direction!

jppe had it right, BRUTALLY HOT!!! Was grateful to survive, let alone finish. jppe & brother jppe were great company Sunday evening, and the Mrs was great about tolerating "shop talk" during dinner. Specifics for me were 7:35 total time, 6:22 ride time (not including the unscheduled construction break nor rest stops). I hit the rest stops from Marion to the top HARD, lots of water, both inside & outside, as well as orange slices, watermelon (GREAT IDEA), etc. Unfortunate note was a friend who'd traveled with his wife along with us who probably should have stopped in Marion, got sick, managed to actually finish, and now is still hospitalized from complications due to the heat, etc. We expect him to recover, but had several anxious moments Monday eve. Lesson for us all is to PAY ATTENTION when the body says enough. Pride goeth before the fall...

I don't know how you guys do those times in that heat. My body just shuts down and has every time I have tried to ride when it is hot. I guess everyone is different. Most every summer I dream of lying in a snow field when it gets hot but the Nantahala River is a good substitute. When my wife retires we are seriously going to spend summers where it doesn't ever get above 75F.

Congratulations to everyone!

I got a nose bleed just looking at the elevation graph:twitchy: