hokie cycler

A great ride and I am spent. That climb kicks me in the teeth.

rccardr 

It is tough, 13 miles straight up with no flat spots to rest.

I finished the 75 in a little over 6 hours, folks who came down for the first time in a somewhat longer time and another friend who did the century in about 7 hours, which is pretty amazing for a first timer.

Robbie, sadly, had a difficult day. Did not see or hear from Seypat today.

Spaghetti Legs 

Hot humid weather out there today (I'm told, inside working all day); makes the up hills a little longer.

I showed up a little late to the Villa last night. Banquet room had a bunch of old non-cyclers, and was ushered to a table in the far corner with some bike riders but I suspect I might have been at the wrong table. Got some blank stares when I mentioned vintage bikes and BF, but had a nice time chatting with some folks from out of town.

RobbieTunes

We were even deeper in there, around the corner.

Despite repeated assurances from La Villa that the banquet room was reserved for us, including two on Saturday afternoon, some other guy kept saying he'd booked the banquet room. While I was told we'd need a minimum of 20 people, and easily had that, the party they put in there had maybe 12. When the guy was told the room had already been booked, he went out into the common area and pitched a hissy fit like a temperamental child.

I was not there to witness that, or perhaps he'd have gotten a spanking. La Villa will be briefed this week, I believe.
It appears the "sponsoring" hotel next year will be different. Those at La Quinta had a pretty good experience, I've heard.

Just another of the myriad of things that went wrong on Saturday.
Sunday began the same way for me, and went downhill from there.

seypat

I was there. As I pulled in, I saw rrcardr's crew ready in front of the red Volkswagen with the matching license plate and Robbie's ride as well. I took out a little behind the main group and was motoring along well. Made that right turn where the routes split and my axle slipped as I started grinding up that hill. It happens to me every year on that hill. I throw down some heavy torque and the skewer slips till the tire rubs on the left chainstay. I then spend the next 10- 15 minutes testing, tightening etc. until I get it tight enough to hold. This time though it got to the point that I thought I was going to snap the skewer handle tightening it. I did not want to damage those beautiful Pelissier Pro hubs so went back to the SAG at the route split to get some help. He couldn't leave his post till ten but could call someone that could take me to a SAG stop where I could wait for a bus back. Or, I could turn around and ride back to the Y on my own. We discussed the hills going back and I decided to head back on my own. I rode the route back in goofing off on the big cogs so I would not do any mashing up the hills. I stopped at one of the Mickey D's and had some breakfast. I got back to the Y about 10. In the dressing room was a guy that hit a dog and crashed right before the entrance to the Blue Ridge. He, the dog and the bike were all OK but he had a nasty strawberry on one of his glutes. I took a shower and as I was coming out they were beginning to serve food to the shorter route riders. So I sat down and ate again! I had some good conversation, praised the staff, then left. All in all not a total washout. I was disappointed, but just because the bike was so sweeet! For me, there is something about a high level 70's frame and a good wheelset with high flange hubs that is magical. Not noodly, not too stiff, just right. It just feels different. I'm blessed in that I get to ride smaller to mid sized frames. If I had to ride those frames in larger sizes they would probably be noodly feeling. Anyway, I'm glad that the weather held off so it was a great day for riding.

Regarding the hotels, I was at the La Quinta. Pretty nice and the staff was friendly. No parking problems either. Breakfast does not start till 7. Robbie had mentioned possibly staying in Appomattox when we were talking Saturday night. I drove in and picked up the packet first thing Saturday afternoon. From Appomattox to sitting in the Jamerson YMCA parking lot is a hour at the most. Very doable.

Had I known that my Sunday was going to go like that, I would have just sat in the parking lot at Liberty Saturday night talking cars with Robbie! I need to check the schedule next year to make sure I don't miss the classic cars.

rccardr 

I was flying down a hill just before the entrance to the Blue Ridge and almost hit a dog that ran out in front of me- I was lucky. Saw a guy and his friend at the side of the road, he looked shaken but said he was OK. Didn't ask but figured the dog had done the same thing to him and he'd either swerved or hit the dog and crashed- not so lucky. Sadly, this must be the dog's hobby, as he's been hit but continues. Eventually this will not end well for someone, either human or canine.

Pat, we need to get you some better skewers.

A couple pics:

Robby and I just before starting the ride. He is, as usual, simply full of joviality:


Our respective steeds:


That bump in the distance with the arrow over it is Thunder Ridge. This ride begins at the lowest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway and ends at the highest. It's a 13 mile climb, so long that there's a rest stop halfway as well as at the top:


Top of Thunder Ridge, which is why I'm smiling:


Final rest stop on the 75 mile route, which splits just around the corner. Riders more fit (or more masochistic) than me can do the 100 mile route, which adds 1500 more feet of climbing for a total of 9000. That nice lady in the red shirt behind me is checking in each rider as they pass through and determining whether they are going to do the full century. If you don't pass this checkpoint before 2pm, you can't do the 100.