kenji666

Okay, registration is now open. Date is Saturday, May 7. Who's in?

https://www.3state3mountainchallenge.com/

Velo Vol 

Maybe. I'm waiting for them to offer a dry weather guarantee.

Velo Vol 

Someone has to be riding it. In prior years we've had several people say they did it.

Gavush

I'd love to... but I think it's too early in the summer for me - it'll totally kick my ass. I've ridden once since October...

Velo Vol 

Oh my. Well, you have three months to get ready, assuming this cold wet weather ever goes away.

Menel

I'll be there, the question is... do I ride the 12 miles to the start from my parents house... and then back at the end...

jbholcom

I just turned in my registration today. I'm doing the metric century since one mountain is a big enough psychological challenge for me at this point.

Velo Vol 

I'm in.

The rules of probability say this year will be dry, since two of the last three years were wet, right?

Maybe I'll met someone from BikeForums at the event. Or not.

Menel

Road up Signal and Suck Creek, 48 miles this AM. Buddy and I registered when we got back. Can't wait =)

Meh, Six Gap was rainy this past year and survived it. Can't be any worse.

But will be keeping fingers crossed for better!

Velo Vol 

One month away.

AMFJ

I will be doing it. Only doing the metric though. Have to be in Nashville that afternoon for a 10K race.

jbholcom

Anyone else game?

kenji666

Two weeks to go. 1400 base miles so far this year. Rode Burkhalter but not with 80 miles on my legs, so it will definitely be a challenge to get to the top. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

jbholcom

It looks like your prayers have been answered. The projected forecast for Saturday is sunny with a high of 80, a morning low of 52, and zero perfect chance of rain. It will be a little warm in the afternoon, but looks like it will be a fabulous day.

FunkyStickman

Several folks from our local group will be doing this, but I can't be one of them. Have a good ride!

Velo Vol 

Sounds good!

kenji666

The weather couldn't have been better. A little chilly on the first descent, but a great ride nonetheless.

They had to cut out the last climb up Lookout Mountain because the local county government is busy helping people recover from the tornado damage. I can't complain. After all, it's just a bike ride. Some people lost everything they own, including loved ones. The ride organizers decided to give the proceeds from the ride to help the people affected by the storms. They did a heck of a job with support, SAG stops, and overall organization.

Menel

Yup was a great day for riding!

My heart may have been a little hurt, but my butt and knees were glad to skip the last mountain =)

Velo Vol 

Bummer. I know this sounds shallow, but I was frankly disappointed that the ride axed its signature climb. That was the part I was most interested in doing.

Velo Vol 

Another thing, Suck Creek Mountain literally does suck. With cyclists forming a slow rolling roadblock in one lane and vehicular traffic trying to go both directions in the other one. And then it gets even worse with half-crazed cyclists flying down the descent and around the corners.

It's only a matter of time before someone ends up in the ER again, or worse.

kenji666

I completely understand your disappointment. This was supposed to be my first century, and now it will have an asterisk by it. I trained well for it, and I had enough left in the tank to finish strong on Burkhalter. I still did better than I thought I would. Finished in 5:16 How did you do?

Velo Vol 

That's good for your first time. Mine was a bit over a bit over 5:20. It was slow going at the beginning, but once I got to the flat stretches on the other side of Suck Creek, it felt pretty good (except for Sand Mountain, which just felt like work).

Obviously Burkhalter would have been a test, but I thought I could probably have handled another 20-30 miles yesterday without too much damage.

Menel

Those Alabama roads will beat the crap out of you =(

Same thing further out, Foothills Classic route, hits a several mile section of road that will shake every bit of your body and bike to bits =(

Any of you spot the Fuji rider rockin platforms and toe clips??? =/

fiataccompli

It was my first time on the 3S3M (or 2.25M in this case) & it was a really nicely done, nicely supported gig, I thought. I have to say (and this is clearly NO reflection or comparison with the devastation the area received on 4/27) that I wish I'd had the last climb to whup me. I was really looking forward to the challenge and I felt like the end was anti-climactic. That said, it was still a GREAT ride and a great time. I finished with 5:01 of riding time and rode the whole way (except a few miles of climbing & post climbing on the washboards of AL until we could re-group) with 7 other friends from Knoxville. It's nice sharing the load and riding with people who you know (not only 'cause they're friends, but also you know how to communicate together so it's safer). There was an interesting diversity of bikes out there. One of the most interesting was the guy on the Puch with clips and wearing blue jean shorts and a t-shirt. Rockin' it old school! Looking forward to this one next year too.

great move on the part of the organizers with regards to the proceeds from the event!

jbholcom

What was the total distance of the century? I only did the metric, so I didn't pay attention.