RonH

The "regular" Tuesday Melton's ride leaves at 6:30. Are we riding with that group or following them?


2500 N. Decatur Rd.

Here's a map.

The intersection is fairly large for Decatur. Two major roads and a side street intersect there.
Scott Blvd Church on one corner, a large mostly empty shopping center across from Melton's, two gas stations across from Melton's on two other corners.
Melton's is in the strip shopping center with Pet Supermarket(??), Firehouse Guitars, laundry/dry cleaner, etc.

If you drive be prepared to park way around in the back. Tuesday is also family night at Melton's. Lots of folks bring their kids for the "free" eats.

KinjaBoy

I live around Candler, and Memorial, and I'd love to start biking intown again. I used to follow the Path from Midtown to Stone Mountain, but I had one too many close calls by the East Lake Marta station; no love for those insane bus drivers. I am actually moving my components to a new frame this weekend, so I will not be able to meet at App & Tap (a great joint, indeed!) next week, but the following week should be gold.

cheers!

Allen

So have ya'll settled on Tuesday or Thursday? I'm game so long as I'm free.

--A

Pedal Wench

I did a ride today with a woman who does the Tuesday ride from Melton's App & Tap that leaves at 6:30. She said it's a great group, a few different paces, and easy route. I suggest we met up and ride with that group, so we can just tag along onto their route, unless someone has a route they know from there.

GTcommuter

So Tuesday at M's A&T?

RonH

Ok with me.
The "regular" ride leaves Melton's at 6:30 so I'm guessing we will be there to ride with them and check out the route. Correct?

Pedal Wench

I've got to get used to some new pedals on my MTB, so I might bring that instead of a road bike - I just hope I can keep up with y'all -- I did put slicks on it last night, so that might help.

RonH

That's ok. I'm bringing my commuter bike. My road bike doesn't have lights.

Pedal Wench

Arghh -- work rears its ugly head, and I might not make it in time. I won't know until the start - if I'm not there (Ron H knows me) have a blast, and let's try again next week!

RonH

You're going to have to explain to your boss that there are some things that are more important than work.

I hope you make it tonight.

RonH

Three BF members did the Melton's ride last night - Pedal Wench, GTcommuter, and myself. I think there were 30-40 riders total.

The ride was a lot of fun. I think there were 4 groups - the fast riders who did the long option, the regular riders who did the long option, the fast riders who did the short option, and the regular riders who didn't have a clue about the route and followed the ride leader - who did a modified short option.

PW and I were in the last category. Neither of us recognized many of the streets or neighborhoods we rode through. GT got separated from us after about 3 miles and I think he ended up riding with the third group.

I don't do many group rides and was surprised to see the group split before we had gone 2 miles. The group tries to stay together in the other rides I do.

Pedal Wench

Shoot - the main group was split at the intersection outside the parking lot! I was amazed that they didn't wait up at that point. We hadn't gone 100 feet and I was already dropped. It was fun riding with Ron and chatting with GT. We'll have to try again to get this group together.

PW

dalmore

Hey - Just wondering what you guys are planning to wear for the winter? Last year I only did 4 miles down hill to a bus stop once or twice a week. My Nashbar Endurance jacket was great for that. But this year I'm doing 15 miles to the office with a serious climb about 2.5 miles in. That jacket doesn't breath well enough for that. I'd just stew in my own sweat for the rest of the commute.

My current plan involves up to three layers for the colder days. A base layer of silk or compression fit polyester, a wool layer and then a polartec 200 vest. You think that will work for our typical coldest winter days? I'm sure I have enough of the various layer options to get comfortable mix for the less cold days but I can't decide if that will be warm enough ...

RonH

Here's what I wear on my coldest commutes.
Lower - bibs with leg warmers and tights over that.
Upper - base layer l/s t-shirt, l/s jersey or fleece shirt, and heavier weight REI(?) jacket.
Hands - glove liners and PI ski gloves
Feet - sock liners, long, heavyweight SmartWool socks, and mostly leather mtn bike shoes.
Head - head band over the ears or skull cap or balaklava.

That's good for my 8.5 mile commute. My hands start to get cold by the time I get to work.

Pedal Wench

Here's what I wear:
Ancient Acura Integra
It's good for my 1.4 mile commute, but my toes and fingers are still cold by the time I get to work.

GTcommuter

Good catching up with Ron and PW last night. Sorry I got dropped so early but I ended up riding with the renegade 5th group. We did some off-roading and riding around some soccer fields and other fun stuff.

1.4 miles? Seriously? I could barely get clipped into my pedals in 1.4 miles.

dalmore... I really don't wear too much more in the winter time. Long sleeve shirt or arm warmers, a wind proof vest, and some Windstopper gloves. I overheat easily once I get riding. On blustery days I've got some ear warmers that help when I'm stopped at a light. I used to carry a good travel mug for some coffee or tea but my commute is too short to bother with that now.

RonH

The Southern Californication thread is ~7 weeks old and they have 780+ pages of replies. They must not ride very much. Too much time at the computer.

Our thread is ~1.5 weeks old and we only have 5 pages. Can we still ride and out-post those OC punks?

Pedal Wench

Okay, I'll keep posting. Anyone doing the Tony Serrano Century? My gals bailed on my plans for a re-do of 6-Gap, so instead of suffering in the mountains, we're all heading out for a fun day in the country.

branman1986

Aw crud! I missed you guys on the Tuesday App & Tap ride!!! I was there, but I didn't know bikeforum people were going to be there, or I would have introduced myself!

In case you happened to have seen me, I was the really tall half-asian guy, I think I was wearing red/black

In the ride's defense...the lights were super screwy and only stayed green for like 4 seconds that day...the group was *way* more splintered than it normally is. You'll normally find people going your speed that know the route since it's such a massive group, but a large portion of people decided to leave at 6:25?? Not really sure why they did that, I guess to beat the sun.

Anyways, I'm in the Virginia Highlands and do most of the Decatur social rides. There is another slightly faster paced ride that leaves next to the CVS in Decatur on Thursday that's a good ride to do with a large group. Usually there are some faster guys at the front that push the pace, but there's always a large group of pacers that take it nice and easy.

Another good ride is the Stone Mountain ride on Monday that leaves from the James Joyce Pub on Avondale at 6:30

ps. Pedal Wench, are you Sorella?

RonH

Tall, Asian looking, wearing red/black? Hmmm. That describes about half of the people there.

What bike were you riding, not that knowing that would help.

branman1986

the TCR2...it had yellow bar tape if that helps

Serendipper 

We have to try this again. This week was way too cramped with the post starting on Tuesday.

Ron H., the hell we can't get our region hopping like rabbits to go on rides. Atlanta/Decatur/Marrieta/Roswell/Alpharetta/Sandy Springs has a pretty big bike community I see. We are just spread out so far...

But, hey...so is Cali. And they still do alright...I think we can challenge those Hollywood Squares! lol j/k

branman1986

I'm sure you guys know these sites already, but www.bikesbl.org and www.atlbike.org are two sites that have tons of local rides. The sbl site has a calendar of rides that you can peruse once you register on the site.

dalmore

Please allow me to add Sorba to branman1986's list. The mountain biking community is quite active in this area.

RonH

I haven't been training for a century so will probably spend the day doing things around the house.
But I am thinking about heading out to Conyers on Sunday for the opening day of cross season. Sounds like fun and the weather should be great -- mid-40s in the AM with afternoon highs in the mid-70s. Good shorts weather.