SOTR 2017 ride thread
12-03-16, 10:40 AM
#1
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SOTR 2017 ride thread
Storming of thunder Ridge. https://stormingofthunderridge.org/
The date is May 21, 2017. The place is Lynchburg, VA. For all of you within acceptable distance, (only you know what that is) this is a good ride. RobbieTunes, rrcardr and myself have been doing it for a few years now. Last year we had a new addition with Spaghetti legs joining us.
I'm putting this up now so people have time to check out the website, check their schedules and hopefully join us. Spaghetti legs is a local so he can give you the inside info on Lynchburg. Robbie and Doc can give testimony to the quality of the event.
The event sells itself. The RD is an avid cyclist and has a real passion for cycling. The organization and support are top shelf. You get a lot of bang for the price. The host YMCA shuts down the day before and day of the event. Riders have full use of the Y both days. Free camping on their soccer fields or, camping in the Y gym for a small fee. Plenty of swag in the race bag as well. That is hard to beat for the price.
So........go to the website and check it out. See if you can join us this year.
The date is May 21, 2017. The place is Lynchburg, VA. For all of you within acceptable distance, (only you know what that is) this is a good ride. RobbieTunes, rrcardr and myself have been doing it for a few years now. Last year we had a new addition with Spaghetti legs joining us.
I'm putting this up now so people have time to check out the website, check their schedules and hopefully join us. Spaghetti legs is a local so he can give you the inside info on Lynchburg. Robbie and Doc can give testimony to the quality of the event.
The event sells itself. The RD is an avid cyclist and has a real passion for cycling. The organization and support are top shelf. You get a lot of bang for the price. The host YMCA shuts down the day before and day of the event. Riders have full use of the Y both days. Free camping on their soccer fields or, camping in the Y gym for a small fee. Plenty of swag in the race bag as well. That is hard to beat for the price.
So........go to the website and check it out. See if you can join us this year.
Last edited by seypat; 12-03-16 at 02:06 PM.
12-03-16, 12:54 PM
#2
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Agreed, one of the best rides of the year. Gorgeous setting on and around the Blue Ridge Parkway, really nice people and well organized. Yes, there's a bit of climbing involved, but hey, it's not a race atmosphere and besides, you also get a 14 mile downhill. Go the afternoon before, stay the night, drive home after. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from the DC area.
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12-03-16, 01:52 PM
#3
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You didn't spell out the name, or mention the website.
Storming of Thunder Ridge ride.
I was thinking about doing it last year. Sounds good.
The 75 mile ridewithgps route. It features a 12 mile, 3200 foot climb up the Blue Ridge Parkway, starting at mile 25. That's the lowest spot on the BRP! It has 25 miles on the BRP, from the James River to the Peaks of Otter, and the BRP is extremely nice for cycling.
I had bookmarked this Storming video. Very nice, quiet country roads, including some rougher pavement. But I don't see any BRP section on this video.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are the road surfaces like? I need to decide between my fast carbon bike or my gravel/touring bike with lower pressure tires.
Storming of Thunder Ridge ride.
I was thinking about doing it last year. Sounds good.
The 75 mile ridewithgps route. It features a 12 mile, 3200 foot climb up the Blue Ridge Parkway, starting at mile 25. That's the lowest spot on the BRP! It has 25 miles on the BRP, from the James River to the Peaks of Otter, and the BRP is extremely nice for cycling.
I had bookmarked this Storming video. Very nice, quiet country roads, including some rougher pavement. But I don't see any BRP section on this video.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are the road surfaces like? I need to decide between my fast carbon bike or my gravel/touring bike with lower pressure tires.
Last edited by rm -rf; 12-03-16 at 02:15 PM.
12-03-16, 02:09 PM
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Thought I put the link in. My mistake. I will correct it.
At the 65 mile SAG you have to decide whether to do 75 or 100. The route is the same till then.
At the 65 mile SAG you have to decide whether to do 75 or 100. The route is the same till then.
12-03-16, 03:07 PM
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I'm in again this year. Bike Mama Paula is a little dynamo, and runs a good event. The SAG is good, rest stops well stocked with amiable local volunteers. The climb is the climb; it's not a crusher, and you can rest at the overlooks and take great pics. The descents are fun, as long as you remember to breathe. There is no hurry on this ride. That atmosphere evaporates about a mile out of Lynchburg in some very pretty countryside.
Last year, seypat, rccardr and I rode Ironman bikes, and one lady from Chicago thought we were "cute." I saw her again at Dairyland Dare.
The relaxing part is being able to take your time getting there on Saturday, the ease of the venue, and then being able to drive home Sunday and not miss a lot. The late Friday drives really tire me out after working all day, and then I often don't feel 100% on ride day. (As opposed to the Dairyland Dare, where I manage to close Tony's Tap the night before-never a good thing).
The 75-mile distance suits me fine, too. You get back in time for a late lunch, top off the gas, and drive home. For me, I'm home in time to cut the grass and grill out. Another plus for me is the scenic drive there and back. There is really no direct route, so it's back roads from NC well into central VA, which is outstanding cycling country.
Last year, seypat, rccardr and I rode Ironman bikes, and one lady from Chicago thought we were "cute." I saw her again at Dairyland Dare.
The relaxing part is being able to take your time getting there on Saturday, the ease of the venue, and then being able to drive home Sunday and not miss a lot. The late Friday drives really tire me out after working all day, and then I often don't feel 100% on ride day. (As opposed to the Dairyland Dare, where I manage to close Tony's Tap the night before-never a good thing).
The 75-mile distance suits me fine, too. You get back in time for a late lunch, top off the gas, and drive home. For me, I'm home in time to cut the grass and grill out. Another plus for me is the scenic drive there and back. There is really no direct route, so it's back roads from NC well into central VA, which is outstanding cycling country.
12-03-16, 04:23 PM
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I'm picking which bike to ride based on my climbing pace........So it will be the Centurion DLX mixte that my wife and daughter piddle around the neighborhood on. The one with upright bars and stem shifters. 😆
12-03-16, 11:34 PM
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I'll be there!
Hmm time to start thinking about which bike. The Merckx Century is leading choice right now. That's the one you guys saw in the rough this year.
Interesting tidbit. Bottom of the Thunder Ridge climb at the James River is the lowest point on the entire Blue Ridge Parkeay. The Apple Orchard summit 13 mikes away is the highest point on the BRP in Virginia! That being said, other than the length, it's not a hard climb.
As a PSA, weather permitting, I'll be doing my annual ride up Thunder Ridge on New Years Day (the year is all downhill after that).
Hmm time to start thinking about which bike. The Merckx Century is leading choice right now. That's the one you guys saw in the rough this year.
Interesting tidbit. Bottom of the Thunder Ridge climb at the James River is the lowest point on the entire Blue Ridge Parkeay. The Apple Orchard summit 13 mikes away is the highest point on the BRP in Virginia! That being said, other than the length, it's not a hard climb.
As a PSA, weather permitting, I'll be doing my annual ride up Thunder Ridge on New Years Day (the year is all downhill after that).
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12-04-16, 01:29 PM
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I think the river is just before we turn left to get on the BRP.
You know, the section where we blew past the boys on carbon like they were standing still...
You know, the section where we blew past the boys on carbon like they were standing still...
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12-04-16, 04:32 PM
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I didn't know there was a river there either, much less the mighty James. Definitely "creek" size at that point. It is a big river by the time it rolls through Richmond. By the time it hits the Williamsburg/Jamestown/Tidewater area, it is full fledged "big body of water" size with enough room to moor the Navy's Ghost Fleet.
Haunted Hampton Roads: James River ?Ghost Fleet? | WTKR.com
Haunted Hampton Roads: James River ?Ghost Fleet? | WTKR.com
12-04-16, 10:51 PM
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Really? You guys didn't know that?
Yeah when you make that left turn off the 2 lane road up that little incline to the BRP the left turn you make tales you up toward the climb. If you look right about 100 meters away is the bridge across the river, which is proabably a little less than a 1/4 mile wide at that point. Well OK maybe about 200m wide, but pretty good size.
So you could easily break off and pee in the river, indirectly peeing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Yeah when you make that left turn off the 2 lane road up that little incline to the BRP the left turn you make tales you up toward the climb. If you look right about 100 meters away is the bridge across the river, which is proabably a little less than a 1/4 mile wide at that point. Well OK maybe about 200m wide, but pretty good size.
So you could easily break off and pee in the river, indirectly peeing in the Atlantic Ocean.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
12-05-16, 09:11 AM
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So it's not that little hump we go over when we turn left? My mistake again. I think the route up until that point is just about perfect. You have some smaller climbs and rollers to stretch out the group. Some descending and decent speed with the pretty landscape as a backdrop. Then you turn onto the BRP and get to climbing.
12-05-16, 06:52 PM
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I rode up TR today. Forgot to take a pic on the bike but this is on the bridge over the river. The left turn is up ahead in the distance. Gorgeous day today, could see probably 50 miles out over the valley to the west.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
01-01-17, 07:35 PM
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The mountain awaits ...
Did the traditional New Years Day ride today and then signed up for SOTR. Price goes up at midnight EST tonight.
Sorry for the offense to C+V sensibilities but if you squint your eyes you can pretend it's a 1985 Super.
Sorry for the offense to C+V sensibilities but if you squint your eyes you can pretend it's a 1985 Super.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
01-01-17, 08:01 PM
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Sweet! Was it cold at the top? I signed up earlier in the week. See you there.
01-01-17, 08:46 PM
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Of course I'm only teasing. I'm a Virginia native from way back and would love to go back there just to pedal both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. This should be a beautiful ride.
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01-02-17, 05:11 AM
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Once again, I'll be heading the mountain up over a steel deal. Same frame as last year, same gearing as 3 years ago. I'm hoping to see some folks from here and some of the same folks from years past.
01-02-17, 08:53 AM
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I'm in. Hope to bring something...interesting.
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01-02-17, 09:05 AM
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It wasn't. It was 58 degrees at the bottom and I was like a pack mule with jackets, hats, booties stuffed everywhere and hanging from the bike. I expected a windy 35 but it was sunny, calm and 45 at the top. Hopefully bodes well for the New Year.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
01-03-17, 08:53 AM
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BTW, I have 2 rooms reserved at the Super 8 because of a computer glitch. (It could have been user error) I will wait until the week of before I cancel one of them. Who knows, we might get some more BF riders this year needing a room.
I have lots of camping gear. One of these years I might try the outdoor/indoor camping. I'm afraid it might be a party all night though. Tough riding with no sleep. Even tougher driving home afterwards.
I have lots of camping gear. One of these years I might try the outdoor/indoor camping. I'm afraid it might be a party all night though. Tough riding with no sleep. Even tougher driving home afterwards.
02-21-17, 10:28 AM
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Bump. According to Bike Mama's emails, SOTR might sell out this year.
I started ramping up the training. More importantly, I started limiting the food intake. This year's bike will be either the 83 SR Semi Pro(tested/last century ride and ready to go) or the 84 Lotus Legend Compe.(current project) I can't decide what kind of hubs to go with on the Lotus so it is stalled right now. I have a couple of other wheelsets I can use if I need to and probably will for test riding. I can't decide if I want to try a 130 rear hub or stay with a 126. I still prefer a triple in front so it will probably be a 126.
I started ramping up the training. More importantly, I started limiting the food intake. This year's bike will be either the 83 SR Semi Pro(tested/last century ride and ready to go) or the 84 Lotus Legend Compe.(current project) I can't decide what kind of hubs to go with on the Lotus so it is stalled right now. I have a couple of other wheelsets I can use if I need to and probably will for test riding. I can't decide if I want to try a 130 rear hub or stay with a 126. I still prefer a triple in front so it will probably be a 126.