wolfpack 

Caesars Head Challenge this saturday, June 13.

i'm thinking about doing the ride...anyone else around here gonna do it. just the metric.

NealH

Oh my goodness, I was sort of expecting a break from traveling this weekend. I probably should not have looked at this forum. Now I have to rethink my plans. Decisions, decisions...

It sounds like a nice event. Probably have to ride it cause its hard to pass up climbing CH. We will see.

wolfpack 

BikeWNC

I have friends coming to stay this weekend so I won't be doing this ride. Besides, it's not really the training I want right now. I need steeper pitches so I'll be riding the usual local climbs, Wayah, CMR, Tilly etc. to get a bit more in shape for the CC. I figure 11% will make 8% seem easier come next weekend.

wolfpack 

well, some of us have to make do with what we have available...it won't matter how many times i ride Wayah, SI, CMR, Tilly...i will still get dropped and i will still suffer.

NealH

I'm in. Travelers Motel in Travelers Rest - $42. No doubt its not Hilton material but, I won't be spending much time there. When I went through Travelers Rest a couple months ago, I thought it was a nice little town, clean and decent. Hopefully the motel is the same.

Have to decide on the route. Probably the metric but, not sure yet.

PAlt

I'm in for the "Grand Fondo", have been for a while. last big trainer before BS&G on the 27th. Not sure about whether to try to drive up Fri. nite or Sat AM. Any suggestions as to place(s) to stay appreciated... By the way, don't look at the forecast

wolfpack 

i'm just driving saturday morning. unless things change. in for the metric.

wolfpack 

well, i would drive down friday evening, but my son's graduation is friday evening...not sure if we're (family) doing something afterwards or not....may change my mind and do that instead of getting up at 3am.

NealH

Remember Table Rock will be a 5+ hour drive from the Triangle. Probably better to drive on Friday than Sat AM. Of course Sat AM has the advantage of little traffic - and this can often be a big advantage. I've been stuck on I-85 outside Charlotte before during rush hour and it isn't fun.

One thing you might want to consider is going ahead and riding the century then spending night before returning. I'm kinda leaning this way at this time.

PAlt, I'll be staying in Travelers Rest. Are you staying over Sat night or, returning?

wolfpack 

holy cow...you're going to ride the century? a week before Cherohala? dang...if i could only keep up with you, i might consider that....i may just drive down after graduation...that would really make more sense...i'll let ya know tomorrow or thursday what i'm going to do..

PAlt

Drive back Sat. after the century, still have 2 daughters who still don't mind seeing their Dad now & then, plus I know they'll have some surprise for me on Sun. AM (Father's Day). Probably driving to Greenville straight from the office on Fri. If you want to try & meet for dinner Fri. somewhere PM or call me on my cell (think you have that #), I'll likely stay in Greenville somewhere.

bykemike 

I was coming up Caesars Head during that event on Saturday..not even breaking a sweat. Of course, I was on my BMW GS. I gotta tell you guys, to a Fl cyclist a climb like that looks darn near impossible. You NC guys are supermen in my opinion. I stopped to watch and give some kind words to passing riders.

Mike

NealH

Go ride the Clermont hills and your legs will start acclimating to climbing. Then come join us on one of our WNC rides and leave the GS at home. Florida is nice but no match for the landscape in these parts.

erichkopp

+1,000,000

Only Florida isn't really all that nice. I hope to be up there in the next year or two, and I can't wait.

Porter20

Neal - I know Clermont has some nice speed bumps; but in no way do those mounds come anywhere close to the hills you have in WNC & the Upstate of SC. I miss those climbs like Caesars Head, Paris Mountain, Saluda Grade, Parkway....

Oh the miserary of flat lands!!