Southeast - What Were Your Best Rides of 2008...

Since the year is only a few hours from being over as I type this; let's take a moment to look back and send a shout out to our Best Rides of 2008.

I have narrowed my list down to the 3 that were most noteworthy: [in chronological order]

#1.) Assault on the Carolinas [March]

About the ride:This was supposed to be a scenic ride through the rolling hills of North and South Carolina. My wife and I and a couple friends of ours drove in from Knoxville to participate. Unfortunatley the morning of the ride it started raining and things only got worse from there- lots of rain, thunder and lightning, high winds, and ultimately hail. They sugested that some of the riders turn back due to the hail and so my wife and I did not complete the entire route.
Why it was great: Even though it was wet and cold and generally miserable, everyone still seemed to be having a great time. I hate that the weather was not more cooperative but even the worst weather imaginable wasn't enough to stop people from enjoying the ride. I'm hoping to participate again this year and hope for more favorable weather.

#2.) 4th of July Freedom Thighs Ride [July]

About the ride: This was a rather informal "critical mass" style ride with no official sponsors or registration to particiapte. About 100 people gathered at a local art gallery and decorated their bikes and bodies with a patriotic theme. We used Billy the Boombox (our several-hundred watt bike trailer stereo system) to blast patriotic music as we paraded all around the city.
Why it was great: It was awesome to see so many different people from all backgrounds riding all kinds of bikes getting together to just enjoy having fun on bicycles. Too often we as cyclists take riding bikes too seriously; this ride was an afirmation of my belief that the primary reason anyone should ride a bike is to have fun!

#3.) Smokey Mountain Wheelmen Fall Century [October]

About this ride: This ride passed through the foothills and farmland of east Tennessee. There were 3 length options for the ride and my friend and I selected the shortest [26 miles] since it was his first "organised" ride and I wanted to ride my fixed gear bike. The route was well thought out and well marked and I believe everyone had an enjoyable ride.
Why it was great: I don't mean to diminish the hard work done by the SMW in putting together this ride because obviously they had put a lot of effort into it and it showed; but the weather was what secured this ride a place in the top 3. You could not have asked for more perfect weather than what we had on the day of the ride. A cool morning start that warmed quickly with a blue sky and just enough clouds to avoid getting sunburned. I don't know who sold their soul to the devil to make this happen but they certainly got their money's worth. This ride is also one I'm hoping to ride again in 2009.

Simple!

On the two days following Thanksgiving, I made the 120 mile loop around Lake Okeechobee, on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and surface roads, on my Catrike Trail. It was a great ride!

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Excellent Tom. I so want to do that, but wish they would surface the whole trail around the lake.

hands down, mine was the MS150 I did "Bike to Jack and Back"

Almost all rides are good.

Probably the most adventuresome was the Three-State Three-Mountain Challenge. It was wet the first hour or so (start time delayed due to a thunderstorm), I consequently got cold. Then, the sun was out in time for extra heat when I scaled Burkhaulter Gap.

My 3 epic rides of the year were:

1. Harpoon Brewery B2B (June)

About this ride - this is a 150 mile ride from Boston, MA to Windsor, VT (from one Harpoon Brewery in Boston to the other brewery in Windson, VT).

Why it was epic - It had to do with several things. First being from the Northeast, I had several family members who came to Boston for a small vacation. We took in a Red Sox Game, toured the city some; had a couple nights on the town & then of course the bike ride. After the ride, we spend some time in NH & of course had big old lobsters. Next, the mileage. I had never ridden farther than 105 miles in one sitting. Also, they started you in waves based on your speeds (16 mph, 17, 18, etc.) So basically you were immediately placed with pacelines of people that you knew could carry your speed; which sometimes is tough to find in just random centuries. However, mostly was the scenary. You ride out of historic Boston, over cobble stone roads, through little suburbs where people were just hanging out having coffee & cheering, up some hills, through covered bridges, into 3 states, just beautiful mountain scenerary (now you know why it is called the green mountains; it was great. And finally, a heck of a finishing party with free beer.

2. Brasstown Baldbuster Century - Helen, GA

A 100 mile century that rides the hard stage of the tour de Georgia including rides up Hogpen Gap, Jacks Gap & the final 3 miles up the monster known as Brasstown Bald.

Why it was epic - it was a well supported ride with great Sag stops & a beautiful route. I expected the early part to be a little boring (the climbs were at the end); but the it was great, low traffic, rolling hills & good roads. The climbs were much more difficult than I expected & the climb up Brasstown was just brutal. To look down & see 2.5 mph on your speedometer knowing your heart is pumping 180+ is amazing. Once I finished & I finally got the feeling back in my legs; I possessed an amazing sense of accomplishment & gained a level of confidence that is hard to explain. No other rides really intimidated me after I knew I accomplished that.

3. Mt Mitchell.

About this ride - you ride from Spartanburg, SC to the top of Mt. Mitchell somewhere in NC.

What made this epic - First of all, if you ride a bike in the Southeast, you have heard about this ride. Living 20 miles from the start, it's a popular question - "you riding mitchell this year?". So the first part was seeing all the hype. Second the start - there are well over 1000 riders who start (probably closer to 2000 or 2500). Seeing that much of a mass start is really cool. Plus you are never alone & have an easy time finding a pace line all the way to Marion, NC. But once the hills start, then it bust up all those pacelines. You just spend the next 2 1/2 hrs+ just trying to convince yourself you can make it. You are passing people & getting passed by people and just spinning a ton but making little headway. The bad of the ride: once you got to the base of mitchel, they had a small bug infestation. Swarms & swarms of insects that you would hit your skin & just die; so every 100 yards; you wipe them off your face, arms, etc. And of course the heat, it was every bit of 90+ degrees that day & we saw several people requiring medical attention due to heat exhaustion. I am glad to say I have finally done it & now have an answer to that question this year. And I guess I have to figure out if I am going to attempt it again.

My goal for this year, I would really like to do the 3 mountain 3 state ride (as it looks really awesome), but I haven't seen any information about it this year (date). I heard someone died at it last year, so maybe they have elected not to do it this year. The other one is Blood Sweat Gears which I think is at the end of June.

My goal for this year, I would really like to do the 3 mountain 3 state ride (as it looks really awesome), but I haven't seen any information about it this year (date). I heard someone died at it last year, so maybe they have elected not to do it this year.

http://www.chattbike.com/events/3_state/3stchlng.htm

This is still the 2008 page, but the front page says the event is May 2, 2009 ("Registration will be open soon").

There's been a couple bad wrecks two of the last three years, but I didn't hear anything about anyone dying.

http://www.chattbike.com/events/3_state/3stchlng.htm

This is still the 2008 page, but the front page says the event is May 2, 2009 ("Registration will be open soon").

There's been a couple bad wrecks two of the last three years, but I didn't hear anything about anyone dying.

I hope that I was wrong. I thought I remembered reading somewhere (it may have been on here) about some young lady from Florida (Miami Area maybe) who came to the ride with her bike club & crashed on one of the descents. She was in the hospital for a little while before passing. I may have confused it with another ride.

I think that was somewhere in Georgia (not on this ride).

I think that was somewhere in Georgia (not on this ride).

Now that you mention it; you might be right. Could have been Six Gap in October.

There was a female fatality on Six Gap-coming down the backside of Hogpen- and a bad crash on 3S3M, but not a fatality that I'm aware of. If you did Mitchell you should really like 3S3M. The climbing is much more spread out. Just hope for dry weather this year....

My best of ride of the year: four day, three night camping trip in the Smokies. Started from home in Knoxville, first night at Smokemont -- descent from Newfound Gap in the dark (tested the lighting system-- wahoo!). Second night in Cataloochee, third night at Elkmont, then back home.

Spectacular scenery, long climbs, hairy descents. The high point was Cataloochee, where there is a real feeling of isolation, including a bunch of gravel road to get in and out.

One of my best rides was with Irvin, my ridin' buddy, on his first ride after his 80th birthday. Irvin is a careful, stable and strong rider. Here he is on a bridge over the Tugaloo River. He is a happy man when he is on a bike. Irvin is a great bicycle recycler and fixes up bikes for people who can't afford them, especially children.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/sedges/Irvin_Farmer_bike.jpg

My most epic ride of 2008? Myself and three other like minded lunatics rode the Santa Fe Century course right in the middle of tropical storm Fay. Winds with gusts in the 40s, rain, flying sand, and cold made for a fun day. And I bonked 3 miles from the finish.

My most exhausting but rewarding ride of 2008? Either 6-gap or the swampman century. Both were pretty quick.

The most fun? Probably the Dickinson State Park circuit race. I came in dead last, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.

And for the most part, any ride where I can come home with a smile on my face and a body jacked full of endorphins is what I'd consider a good ride.

[QUOTE=Velo Vol;8119592]Almost all rides are good.

I agree almost all rides are good. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. BRAG - (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) this was my first time. 389 miles across Georgia. It was nice to ride every day and concentrate on nothing but riding. Each day was a new road and adventure. Went with some local riders that had been before and a life long friend of mine from California flew over. Met many more friends from all over all with a common interest. My best day was riding in a pace line with NARC (North Atlanta Riding Club). Food never tasted so good and I slept like a baby each night and part of the afternoon. It was the hottest week of the year. I was drained at the end but felt like I had accomplished something. Have signed up for this year.

2. Spaghetti 100 sponsored by Capital City Cycling Club, Tallahassee Florida. This is a great fall ride century that rolls through some beautiful North Florida Plantation land. Well supported not too hot this time of the year. Some good hills toward the finish, not mountains but big hills.

3. Harris County Georgia - Callaway Gardens - My family met up there and I had a few days to take in some long rides out in the country. Was beautiful and hilly. There is a Wheels of Fire ride up there in March.

4. I do remember one ride getting stuck out in a summer down pour and I mean flood 20 miles from home. We just kept riding. We were already wet. Sun came back out and we dried out.

There were many more miles of memories.

The fatality was indeed on the 2008 Six Gap Century. Here’s the text of an email on the subject:


Dear Six Gap Family,

We received the sad news on Monday evening that Daniella Izquierdo, the injured Six Gap cyclist, has passed away. Below is a statement taken from the Everglades Bicycle Club website, to which Daniella belonged.

Daniella was also a member of Team Sindacato, whose website has photos of her.

There will be a service on Saturday, October 11th at 4:30pm in Miami Beach. We do not have the exact address of the church yet.


Sincerely,
Stefani Logsdon



-----------------------------


Daniella had some kind of setback Sunday afternoon that required them to put her on life support. They performed extensive tests today and determined that she has no brain activity. I'm sure many of you are asking why and how, especially after finding out thru the MRI exam on Saturday that she did have activity at that time. Maybe we'll never know the answers to that but be happy to know that she will live on in others. The family has decided to donate all her organs so that others may have a chance to continue to live.

It is said that everything that happens, happens for a reason although we often do not understand what it might be at the time. As we mourn the loss of our dear Daniella, we certainly ask, "Why?" She was an extraordinary individual - full of life; always with a smile, and ready to take on a challenge no matter how difficult. When we talked about going to Six Gap, the thought of doing the Three entered her head for a fleeting moment - it was the Six she really wanted to do. She was ready for it - mentally and physically. And although she fell while doing the Gaps, this last challenge Daniella took on did not conquer her - she climbed the steepest and most difficult of all the mountains and rejoiced at her accomplishment. She was truly happy. It is not wonder that she was called home to our Father - He too wanted her with Him. Daniella is a hero in my eyes - few people can touch so many lives and leave such a legacy of love behind. We are honored to have shared with her so much and to have been with her during her last adventure. Will our lives ever be the same? I think not - they will be better because we knew her and because we will carry a bit of her in all we do. Daniella, we will miss you with all our hearts and look forward to reuniting with you again. May God bless you and keep you in His loving arms.

I guess my most epic rides of 2008 were the Six Gap and Brasstown Bald centuries but, although it wasn’t a single ride, the mountain biking I’ve done since getting a GPS unit ranks as the best of 2008. Having GPS is a game-changer, totally transforming off-road cycling since I’m no longer limited by having to worry about how to navigate back to the start. It’s also fun to look at an aerial view of my course log on Google Earth afterwards.

Summer solo century from Vancouver, WA to Tumwater, WA. I'd made two prior attempts that ended in riding to the nearest Amtrak station to jump on the Cascades up to Seattle, but the third time was a charm and I made it all the way to the Oly transit bus stop near the Olympia Regional Airport! 7.25 hours overall, approx 6.25 hours in the saddle.

Threw my bike on the bus to Downtown Oly and caught the bus to Tacoma from there. Once I got there I had a 3 mile bike jaunt that just about took me out. I wound up walking up a couple mild inclines...

EDIT: Doh, I gotta stop using the spy feature. I keep posting Northwest action in the Southeast forum. Sorry 'bout that.

Summer solo century from Vancouver, WA to Tumwater, WA. I'd made two prior attempts that ended in riding to the nearest Amtrak station to jump on the Cascades up to Seattle, but the third time was a charm and I made it all the way to the Oly transit bus stop near the Olympia Regional Airport! 7.25 hours overall, approx 6.25 hours in the saddle.

Threw my bike on the bus to Downtown Oly and caught the bus to Tacoma from there. Once I got there I had a 3 mile bike jaunt that just about took me out. I wound up walking up a couple mild inclines...

EDIT: Doh, I gotta stop using the spy feature. I keep posting Northwest action in the Southeast forum. Sorry 'bout that.

Hey if you are excited; then those of us in the south are excited for you! The ride sounds awesome!

FYI, 3-State, 3-Mountain Challenge registration is now open (http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1678075&assetId=7847bb2b-98d7-4210-95a1-2d64b0b50280).

It's a popular ride with nice support (though they did run out of post-ride pizza last year :rolleyes:).