Bob, Congratulations. Sounds like you gave it a great effort. Just out of curiosity, what gearing were you using? I've found that as I've gotten older, I need more gearing for steep hills. I'll soon be going to the Boone area and plan to take my bike. I have 53/39 chainrings and 14/32 freewheel cogs making my lowest gear 32.9 gear inches. I plan to also take a triple bike with a lowest gear of 31.1 gear inches to compare (not much difference, but I might need it.) Don't be disappointed, like Tim suggests, change your gearing and you'll make it.
Thanks for sharing. James On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 12:19 PM, Tim & Susan <[email protected]>wrote: > ** > Awesome! Its very difficult to ride Wilson County roads and then go climb > mountains. And you're right, riding through the valley in the mountains > with 5 to 8% climbs is considered flat to the locals. You don't need a > triple though, just a compact crank and a 28 on the back. Then go try it > again! > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Bob Luppino <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Sunday, July 31, 2011 12:02 PM > *Subject:* [COWs] Roan Moan > > Yesterday was my big mountain challenge ride in Bakersville, NC. The > “Roan Moan” metric has over 6000 feet of climbing with a large part of that > total the 7 mile climb of Carver’s Gap on Roan Mountain. The ride is > advertised as strenuous and lived up to it’s billing. It was amazing to see > what the locals consider flat versus the truly flat roads of Wilson and Nash > Counties. > > First, truth in reporting...I didn’t complete the Carver’s Gap climb. I > lasted 5 of the 7 miles of the 7% average although it was more often 10% > than 7%. I took the SAG wagon to the top to meet my brother for the > descent. This ride had no flat area to it at all. There was an early 2 > mile climb that was just as difficult as the Carver’s Gap climb. There were > two short “walls” that was at least 15% grade; both were in sections the > locals told us were flat. If there is a next time on this ride, I’ll be > sure to put on a triple or a larger cam on the rear. By the way, all of the > descents were awesome. Even holding back due to unknown roads and rain, I > hit 43+ on the descent from Carver’s Gap. Someone with more experience on > those roads could easily have gone over 50 on the descent. > > Overall, it was a great ride in spite of the disappointment of not > completing the main climb. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "CyclistsOfWilson-COWs" group. > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cyclistsofwilson-cows?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "CyclistsOfWilson-COWs" group. > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cyclistsofwilson-cows?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CyclistsOfWilson-COWs" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cyclistsofwilson-cows?hl=en.
