Gary, I'd like to go so lead on! On Apr 7, 9:57 am, Bryan Grimmett <[email protected]> wrote: > Why don't you guys make it a QUAD Hump. Sean and I did it a couple years > back and loved it.... > > read more » > > Start at the top of Pilot Mountain > Ride to and ascend Sauratown > Ride to and ascend Hanging Rock > Ride back and ascend Sauratown > Ride and finish at the top of Pilot Mountain. > > On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 9:22 AM, Courtney Michelle > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > > That was good Gary. I’ve got to throw in my 2 cents worth now: > > I hate Sauratown. It has that first long “false flat” stretch where it > > doesn’t look like a climb but then you realize you’re giving > > everything you got and only going 5mph. And it’s so desolate. There > > is no protection from the wind or the sun and both always seem to be > > brutal. (And it’s always a headwind.) After all that you still have > > to climb the steep part. > > > Like Gary said be careful on the descents. At 3MM one year I was > > climbing Hanging Rock with Armando and a couple other Gyros (sorry > > can’t remember who now?) when a cyclists coming down the mountain ran > > into the back of a car. We were going into a curve on the way up, the > > car was coming out of the curve on the way down, the cyclist went into > > the curve full speed and had no idea the car was there until it was > > too late and he slammed into the back of it. > > > Courtney > > > On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 6:58 AM, Tony <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Gary - Loved reading your description of these climbs! Great to see you > > > yesterday. Let's hope for a great turnout for this ride. Please keep me > > > posted on who let's you know if they are riding the B+ ride. I will do > > the > > > same. > > > > Tony > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Rohlke" <[email protected]> > > > To: "North Raleigh Cyclists (Gyros)" <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 1:22 AM > > > Subject: [Gyros: 15212] Re: Spring Gyro Mountain Ride > > > > I will lead a B+ ride if anyone is interested. The B+ ride is > > > intended for those who want a slightly slower pace than the A ride. > > > The B+ group will also be the sweep group picking up the many weenies > > > who retire from the A group. Please let Tony and I know if you are > > > interested in the B+ ride so we can get a count. > > > > 1. The B+ ride will follow the same route and rules as the A ride. > > > > 2. The overall pace will be a bit slower than the A ride, but will not > > > be leisurely. There are no leisurely rides in the mountains. > > > > 3. The route, not including the three major climbs, consists of > > > continuous rollers and long, steep inclines. Just that part of the > > > route is more difficult than anything we ride here in Raleigh at that > > > distance. > > > > 4. There are three mountain climbs on the route. The climbs are each > > > over two miles in length and there are no flat sections where you can > > > rest. It is a continuous climb all the way up. Mountain roads in > > > North Carolina were built following old goat and deer paths. If you > > > have ever seen a deer or goat climb you know what I am talking about. > > > During the pre-Nascar, moonshine running days in western NC the good > > > old boys had 400+ cubic inch engines ("got a hemi?") in their cars so > > > a little "incline" was no problem for them. Each of the three climbs > > > is "interesting." Sauratown, the first mountain climb on the route, > > > consists of three long switchbacks. Each switchback gets > > > progressively steeper and longer with lengthy grades of 10% or > > > better. It is probably the "easiest" of the three climbs but > > > psychologically seems very difficult because you can see almost all > > > the way up the last mile and your slow progress up the mountain is all > > > too evident and disheartening. This is the first climb on the famous > > > Three Mountain Madness (3MM). If you are new to mountain climbing it > > > will be your wake up call. When I ride in the 3MM as I am starting the > > > climb up Sauratown I get to watch the "big dogs" on their way down, > > > which puts them about an hour ahead of me less than 20 miles into the > > > ride. Talk about putting you in your place. There is no rest stop at > > > the top of Sauratown, only a turnaround, fence, bugs (yes, some bees > > > too) and a radio antenna farm. Next stop is Hanging Rock which is > > > ranked by the Rocket Man (Tom Sheffield > > >http://ncbc.addr.com/documents/Rocket_Man_Climb_Ratings.htm) > > > as the third most difficult climb in NC. It has several, steep > > > switchbacks with a 15% grade or more in some places. The bottom > > > section is the only place where you can see ahead for a few hundred > > > feet, after that the road twists all over the place. It has restroom > > > facilities (a good place to puke) and water available at the parking > > > lot off to the left before you reach the summit. I have had the > > > pleasure of bonking on Hanging Rock and it was all I could do to keep > > > from going down backwards. We finish with Pilot Mountain. No, > > > contrary to popular opinion, Andy Griffith did not ride his cruiser > > > bike up Pilot Mountain from the fictional Mayberry (Mt. Airy). But I > > > have ridden up Pilot Mountain, several times in fact, and lived to > > > tell about it - barely. Each time I am grinding and cussing my way up > > > Pilot Mountain I question my sanity. Rocket Man ranks it number 6 on > > > his list of most difficult NC climbs. But it deserves better in my > > > book. It is at the end of the route so you face it when you are > > > tired. And you will be tired. It has two switchbacks that are so > > > steep (~20% grade) that I have to lean over my handlebars jsut to keep > > > the front wheel on the ground while barely turning over the cranks. > > > The final mile or so is a constant 9-10% grade that just sucks the > > > life out of your legs. You are so high at the top you can see all the > > > way to Causfornia. There are facilities and a parking lot at the top > > > of Pilot Mountain. The first time I made it to the top on the 3MM I > > > rode over to a guy sitting on a bench and asked him to kick the c...@p > > > out of me so I would never do it again. But I did and he didn't. > > > Tony and I are toying with the idea of parking at the top of Pilot and > > > starting the ride there thus forcing everyone to climb Pilot at the > > > end of the ride to get back to the cars. Machiavellian, aren't we? > > > > 5. All that being said don't let me scare you off - "you can do it!" > > > I have done it - several times. Some suggestions though. a) You will > > > need proper gearing. A compact crankset with a climbing gear on the > > > cassette, such as a 25 or 27 tooth, is the minimum in my opinion. A > > > triple is better. One time I put a mountain bike derailleur, longer > > > chain and "pie pan" (34 tooth) gear on the cassette on my road bike to > > > give me a nice, low climbing gear. b) Know your ability. Pace > > > yourself throughout the ride and especially on the three mountain > > > climbs. You should have the experience and common sense to ride at > > > your own tempo. Everyone will have a different tempo and it is > > > important you find and ride yours. Don't try to chase down or ride > > > with someone faster and stronger than you on the climbs. You will > > > bonk - I promise. c) Be aware of cramping. If you are susceptible to > > > cramps on long climbs (like me) drink the proper amount of fluids and > > > take supplements you know work. I have used Lava salts with some > > > success. Others may have their favorite potions to recommend. d) It > > > is OK to rest on the climbs. Just find a place to pull off the road > > > and rest. I promise we won't call you names (at least until we are on > > > the way back to Raleigh). Getting started again on a steep incline is > > > another matter, one I will let you figure out and experience on your > > > own. e) Be careful on the descents - you will pick up speed rapidly > > > and the switchbacks can come at you in a hurry and surprise you (false > > > cambers, oncoming traffic, etc.). Make sure your brakes are in good > > > shape. One lesson I learned is to feather my front and back brakes > > > alternately to allow the rims to stay cool. It is possible to flat by > > > overheating the rims. Tony knows about that. f) You will get very > > > tired and need to make an extra effort to stay attentive to the road > > > conditions, other riders and traffic. > > > > The good news is all of the mountain climbs are up and back down > > > (loops) so you can ride part of the climb or skip it entirely and wait > > > for everyone at the bottom. So come with us and enjoy some of the > > > "high country." > > > > Gary > > > > On Apr 5, 8:18 am, "Tony" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> G's, > > > >> Bert and I have scheduled a date for our spring mountain ride. > > > >> Date is Saturday, May 15th. Mark your calendars! > > > >> For all of you newbie Gyros, we have done this over the last 4 years in > > >> preparation for upcoming mountain rides. > > > >> This year we'll make our trip to Sauratown, Hanging Rock and Pilot > > >> Mountains. > > > >> The plan is the same as in the past. We'll meet at the Kohl's Store in > > >> Brier Creek early Saturday morning (6am), carpool to Pilot Mountain, > > have > > >> breakfast along the way, ride the course TOGETHER, and eat dinner on the > > >> return trip. So, if you haven't figured it out, this is a one day > > excursion. > > > >> This is an A ride but B's are also welcome to join in IF you can get > > >> enough to establish a group. The point here is to ride and stay > > together. > > > >> On every climb, the philosophy will be every man for himself but we > > >> regroup at the bottom and will continue our trek to the next climb. > > What's > > >> nice about this is that you do not have to do every mountain or if you > > make > > >> it up part way and realize that the task at hand is just too great, turn > > >> around and meet everyone at the bottom. > > > >> I believe the course is around 55 miles. > > > >> It's a great time and a fantastic- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
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