dgasmd

Well, that time of the year again. Who is making the annual pilgrimage? I was going with a large group I went with last year until all of them but one bailed on me. I'm still going. Not sure if I'll pull my "vagina boy membership card" and do the 3 gap or if I will put on the big boy pants and do the 6. Haven't done a ride north of 5.5 hr in almost a year, but have been riding regularly. We'll see..........

Ghouse

I went 2 weeks ago to do the 6 gap ride (went with people training for the century) and it was amazing. It was my first time up there and I loved every minute of it. I made Hogpen my B*TCH (did it in 44 minutes, not bad for first time). The descents were all 50+ adrenaline-fests. so rad.. i cant wait to go back.

Unfortunately I'll be out of town for the century this year, I'll go next year for sure.

Ultraslide

Didn't realize this was an annual event. I was down there back in the spring for training and it was some of the best riding I've ever done. As a flatlander I am jealous ;-) Do you have a link for more info? I'd certainly make the pilgrimage in 2012.

Edit: Thanks Google!

https://www.cyclenorthgeorgia.com/

Creatre

Unfortunately just found out that this was soon. After doing the Assault on Mt. Mitchell in May, I would have loved to do this ride. But considering my longest ride in the last 4 weeks was 75 miles of flat, there is just no way I could be in anywhere decent enough form to destroy my legs doing this. I considered maybe doing the 50, but that would be lame. I'll try and plan on being there next year.

Creatre

Actually, I take that back. I may do the 3 Gap and just go for a top 10.

I would love a long day of suffering up the climbs, but pretty sure it would take a month for me to recover from doing the full 6 gaps without training for it.

KendallF

There will be a bunch of us from the Jacksonville area as usual. We were up there about a month ago and rode the course; I think I actually like riding it outside the organized century better. Either way, good times..

MPress

I'm coming up with a decent size group from the flatlands of SW FL. AFAIK, we are all signed up for the century ride. Never done any climbing like this before and I just hope my legs will forgive me. Been riding steadily, but its near impossible to properly train for a ride like this down here.

sam83

I'll be there. It is unbelievable how slow I can go up HogPen

Juan Foote

I just learned about this a few weeks ago while searching on motorcycle routes. I had not realized I have done the course, just under motor power instead of my own. I wish all of you who ride this the best, you are in much better shape than myself. I might could do a 1/2 gap or something...perhaps the downhill side of all the gaps?

dsb137

dunno if it matters to anyone, but they're doing a crit downtown this year ...

https://swagger.gobike1.com/site/?page_id=1017

dgasmd

I know what you mean. I have ridden it too outside the the organized ride, and it was good.

There are "some things" you can do, but it is extremely difficult with no hill for sure. Going to Clermont and doing some work there frequently helps a little, but for some of us that is not very practical or possible.

You are not alone.

Yeah, just saw the email they sent about it. I should be there early enough saturday to go and check it out. Not much of a crit fan, but hopefully I'll enjoy seeing the crashes LOL...........

AMFJ

I will be doing the full 6 gaps for the first time. I've rode the 3 gap course earlier this year. Looking forward to Hogpen. . .

dsb137

Not to worry, the 6 gap takes you up Hogpen from the 'easy' side...

Walter

Good luck and have a great ride to all of you who are going.

I'm kinda hoping to at least do the 3 Gap next year.

mynameistaken

Do they close the roads or have motorcycle ******* for these type rides?

dgasmd

Neither, but I personally have never heard of incidents because of traffic or drivers. The area is used for cyclist heavily most f the year, so people in the area are pretty used to having cyclists on the roads. Sure, there is always the odd A-hole or redneck, but doesn't seem to be as common as you would think for the stereotype of the area.

Walter:

You should do it man. Get a few people together from there and come up to do it. Heck, I think Loui has a cabin somewhere up there where he does all the frame painting and goes frequently to do some mountain biking if I recall correctly. Shouldn't be hard to put a good group from the area to do it.

dsb137

6 gap is fine... But don't let that fool ya...

Walter

It is something I would like to do. Louie spends alot of time up there. I'll talk to him before the Wed night ride.

Speaking of slow; I'll be very happy if my Garmin doesn't auto-pause.....

jwible

A few guys on the team are going. I'm not planning on it. I don't run low enough gearing to do that ride without killing my knees.

KendallF

Do what I do..keep another crank around for stuff like this. I think I'm actually taking my travel bike up for this weekend's event, with a triple. Makes it a lot more fun than trying to "man up" with about 1000 other dumbasses pedaling 30 rpm up Hogpen.

Creatre

So there's no motorcycles or anything for the lead group? I don't want to get lost if I come off the last mountain in first (I'm going for top 5 in 3 gap). I guess I'll enter in my Garmin and hope it doesn't mess up.

mynameistaken

So.. who did the gaps? I drove up early yesterday and signed up for the 3 gap venture. Perfect day for cycling. I think about 2,500 riders participated.

AMFJ

Hogpen is the truth.

On the way out I saw Brasstown Bald---yea, I'm going to go ahead and pass on that ride.

Menel

Brasstown is a pretty tough monster. We sometimes set off from Helen and hit it and the upper 3 gap loop.

https://www.mountainmapper.com/brasstown_bald.htm

AMFJ

Does anyone know if the guy on the cervelo with no seat finish the entire ride?

I saw him going up the first gap and he was moving along pretty good. Didn't see him after that. Just wondering.