big john

Yeah, how long is the ride? Any hills? Can we all crash on your living room floor?

caligurl

about 50 miles but can be made shorter (well.. can be made longer, too)

yes....

NO!

caligurl

the route isn't decided yet.... it can be a few different rides...

it can be an out and back or it can be a loop...

if it's an out and back.... you are mainly IN the park... decent roads... low traffic... in that case... you are mostly climbing til you turn around... then you descend.... AND... you can go as far as you want.... key's view is the highest point in the park.... and the upper part of that hill has the steepest parts of any of the climbing.... an out and back to key's view would be i think about 50 miles from where we would start... maybe just over 50

the look would be climbing... then flattish... them some lesser climbing... then descending... then gradual grade back on the highway... again... about 50... if you add in a side trip up to key's view... that would add... hmmmmm can't remember???? a few more miles

whatever we do..... you have to remember... NO WATER in the park! there is water at the two entrances.... but other than that... no water available... in nice weather i can do key's view with my two water bottles.... otherwise... in heat... it's definitely a camelback ride (november should be nice weather!)

hubby will give more information... but that should appease you guys for now!

P.S. i believe the sign says $5.00 for cyclist to enter the park...

caligurl

and if we go to key's view (which i'm pretty much assuming is a given!! nice ride and awesome views) i want a group pic at the top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

cjbruin

Hey! Is Country Kitchen still around? I think that was the name of it...across the street from Nomad Adventures on the road you turn on to go to the park. It used to be an awesome place for breakfast...mmmmmmm biscuits and gravy. Of course, I probably wouldn't be up for much riding after that.

Pamestique 

Veteran's Day is a Holiday for who? I wonder if even government workers get it off? BTW I do believe all serviceman and women should have it off as a holiday as a reward for providing service to our country but pretty much its a regular workadway for most of us.

BTW I work for a big corporation - I'm lucky to get Christmas and Thanksgiving off!!!!!

Would love to find out how many of you out there get this date off? Just curious (and jealous)

tprevost

... but.... but... I had plans to curl up w/Brie

cjbruin

All govt. workers get it off and I think banks are also closed on that day. As for the private sector, very few companies do it. The only one I worked for that did it did so for a unique reason. They used to have a company trip to Hawaii for 5 days (they paid airfare, awesome lodging, rental car, and $200 cash to all employees of 1 yr or more). Anyway, Veterans Day was in the middle of the trip so that way, the newbies could have one day off while the rest of the company was having fun in Hawaii.

Sir-Lanceimnot

Ok, here is some info about the climbing in the park.

From start to Jumbo Rock is about 15 miles with about 2500 feet of climbing.

From Jumbo Rock to the bottom of Keys View is about 7 miles and about 220 feet of climbing.

From the bottom of Keys View to the top is about 6 miles and about 1000 feet of climbing.

From the top of Keys View back to the start point (out and back version) is about 28 miles and 500 feet of climbing.

Total climbing for the out and back version is about 4500 feet over 56 miles.

The loop ride will have about the same mileage but more climbing. The climbing is about 1000 to 1500 feet more. On this LOOP version of the ride there will be a long section where we will ride on the shoulder of the highway. The shoulder is very nice and I have ridden it many times. We WILL have to stay single file on this section for everyones safety.

Mr. Beanz

Wow! I haven't done any climbing this year. I'll have to do a couple of hilly training rides to test the legs before I give a definite answer.