so, if i decide to do the 41mi route on saturday, i need to bring my dog spray?

There was some ride around here that had 'dogs' along with arrows painted on the road just before the dog areas. I think it was the Hilly Hellacious though.

I might be out of town for Sat. so I guess I will have to find something good for Sunday instead.

I drove 'em off with fresh legs, a firm "NO", and a few blasts from the water bottle. Arm yourself as you see fit

Getting close.....I've been doing lots of hill climbing this month (5X up the Mt. Weather ride in Marshall, VA). 1X each week, with 1 on Saturday and again on Memorial day. I've got one more tough ride to do on Saturday the 31st, then it's just do a couple days (easy pace) commuting, and stretch a lot before the 9th. I hope I'm ready.....

Ready to race? or ready to finish? I plan to finish at a steady pace. What that pace is remains to be seen.

Hey everyone, I want you all to look for us and say hello. Bittersweet and I will be riding our blue Cannondale tandem to Marion. This will be her first time and our longest tandem ride ever. At the campground I plan on switching bikes and completing Mt Mitchell. Make sure when you pass us on Bill's Mountain that you wave and give her some encouragement, I told her that if I plan to finish Mitchell she had to do all the work from that point on.

Maybe I ought to plan to draft you guys to Marion.

My goal is to finish before the sag van sweeps me off - anything under the 12-hour limit is fine with me. My ride time in last year's Potomac Pedaler's century (moderately hilly) was 6 hours, with a 7-hour finish time. I've done 3 centuries since then, a couple 80 milers, lots of 60-milers, and commuting no less than 1-2X a week (40-mile RT) all through the winter.

Since March, I've been increasing the miles, and doing lots more hills. May's weekend rides were all big hill climbs (5000+ feet), and I did that ride on both Saturday and Monday with no soreness the next day. The ride has 3 tough climbs of 12-20%, plus a 6-mile long ridge climb at a more reasonable (7-10%) grade.

BUT....I've never done anything like Mitchell before, so my plan is to ride a moderate pace to Marion, then gear down and just keep moving forward. I swapped out my rear cassette for a 12X27, and have a 53/39/30 triple, so I've got the gearing. I THINK I've got the training, and hope I've got the right attitude to make it to the top....

Sounds like you're more than ready. I've use the same gearing you have in previous AoMMs but this year I have a compact 50/34 with a 12/27. That's basically one gear less than the triple. I think you have a good plan. Just be careful not to get caught up in the pace at the start. With nearly 2500 riders on the road there will always be someone to ride with. Once on the main climb everyone rides their own pace anyway. Good luck and let's hope we have good weather.

I think you will be alright. Just take it easy the week leading up the ride. Be sure to watch your nurtrition/hydration during the ride. And don't go out too hard. Other than that just be sure not to go out too hard. Confidence is the key! Hills are all about will power & endurance.

As someone who's done Mitchell in the past (though not in a organized ride), its just like any other mountain when you break it down: just find your happy place gear wise and mountain goat up it until you're done.

After nearly 80 miles before the main climb my happy place will be long gone. In the end it's all about mental strength and just riding to the top through the discomfort.

If you break it down by rest stops, the grades are actually easier than what I've been training on (it's just longer).....A couple easy rides this week..then down to Spartanburg.

This will be my 5th AoMM so I know all about the ride and what it takes. Marion is the halfway point of the ride in effort. Fortunately, this year I am riding with a friend on her first attempt so I'll be less concerned with my time and will probably stop at a few more rest stops. In the past I've only stopped at 4.

It's really hard to predict how one will feel late in the ride. Most times it just hurts. I did have one year where it seemed easy, but I took my time and just made a fun ride out of it. I hope that's how it goes this year. Good luck!