mount mitchell
#51
Rawwrrrrrrrrr!
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Rode the 95mi. 3MM route this past weekend (Sun) with a friend who'll be doing AOMM with me. We are going back this weekend to do the organized ride prior to Mitchell. Sauratown and Pilot tough, Hanging Rock not so much. Had numerous issues with dogs along the 3MM route, most especially on the section from the Pilot Civic Center to Sauratown climb. Taper into Mitchell following the ride Sat., just easy rides to stay tuned up for June 9th.
#52
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There was some ride around here that had 'dogs' along with arrows painted on the road just before the dog areas. I think it was the Hilly Hellacious though.
I might be out of town for Sat. so I guess I will have to find something good for Sunday instead.
I might be out of town for Sat. so I guess I will have to find something good for Sunday instead.
#53
The guy in the 50+ jersey
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#54
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Getting close.....I've been doing lots of hill climbing this month (5X up the Mt. Weather ride in Marshall, VA). 1X each week, with 1 on Saturday and again on Memorial day. I've got one more tough ride to do on Saturday the 31st, then it's just do a couple days (easy pace) commuting, and stretch a lot before the 9th. I hope I'm ready.....
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#55
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Getting close.....I've been doing lots of hill climbing this month (5X up the Mt. Weather ride in Marshall, VA). 1X each week, with 1 on Saturday and again on Memorial day. I've got one more tough ride to do on Saturday the 31st, then it's just do a couple days (easy pace) commuting, and stretch a lot before the 9th. I hope I'm ready.....
#56
Ride it like you stole it
Hey everyone, I want you all to look for us and say hello. Bittersweet and I will be riding our blue Cannondale tandem to Marion. This will be her first time and our longest tandem ride ever. At the campground I plan on switching bikes and completing Mt Mitchell. Make sure when you pass us on Bill's Mountain that you wave and give her some encouragement, I told her that if I plan to finish Mitchell she had to do all the work from that point on.
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#58
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Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.
BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....
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'06 Kona Jake the Snake
2020 Giant Defy 2
Fuji Cross Pro
Scattante 650-R trainer bike
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#59
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My goal is to finish before the sag van sweeps me off - anything under the 12-hour limit is fine with me. My ride time in last year's Potomac Pedaler's century (moderately hilly) was 6 hours, with a 7-hour finish time. I've done 3 centuries since then, a couple 80 milers, lots of 60-milers, and commuting no less than 1-2X a week (40-mile RT) all through the winter.
Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.
BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....
Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.
BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....
#60
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My goal is to finish before the sag van sweeps me off - anything under the 12-hour limit is fine with me. My ride time in last year's Potomac Pedaler's century (moderately hilly) was 6 hours, with a 7-hour finish time. I've done 3 centuries since then, a couple 80 milers, lots of 60-milers, and commuting no less than 1-2X a week (40-mile RT) all through the winter.
Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.
BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....
Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.
BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....
#61
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As someone who's done Mitchell in the past (though not in a organized ride), its just like any other mountain when you break it down: just find your happy place gear wise and mountain goat up it until you're done.
#62
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After nearly 80 miles before the main climb my happy place will be long gone. In the end it's all about mental strength and just riding to the top through the discomfort.
#63
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If you break it down by rest stops, the grades are actually easier than what I've been training on (it's just longer).....A couple easy rides this week..then down to Spartanburg.
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#64
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It's really hard to predict how one will feel late in the ride. Most times it just hurts. I did have one year where it seemed easy, but I took my time and just made a fun ride out of it. I hope that's how it goes this year. Good luck!