Six Gap Century, September 24, 2006

[Pedal Wench]

Nanci, I just did Hogpen, Jacks and Unicoi this morning. The Hog says it's waiting for you...

[skibum]

BF & I are registered. I haven't hit "Hogpain" yet this year but regularly ride some combination of the others. I love to ride up there, it's so beautiful.

Nanci, have you hit Wolf Mountain Vineyards yet? I've been wanting to try it out because I've heard some good reviews. Just curious what your opinion is if you've managed to give it a try.

[Nanci]

I think I'm just doing Three Gap, unless we stay overnight and I don't have to drive home. I made the cut off last year, (to go on and do all six) but at the time it was my longest road ride ever, and my first mountain ride. (But now I've done 3 State 3 Mountain- but don't know how that compares in difficulty to Six Gap- do you guys know?) So Three Gap was the best ride ever (until 3 State) and I kind of just want to do that, instead of torturing myself...

We went to a couple other wineries, Habersham and Walasiyi, although maybe we just bought Walasiyi at Habersham.

Three Sisters has my all-time favorite- Dahlonega Gold. Mmmm. I still have one bottle left from last year. Some day they are going to run out and I will be very sad. We even won a bottle in a bet with some girls from New York we met at the winery the night before Six Gap last year. (We didn't even eat dinner the night before- just went to the winery and ate cheese and boiled peanuts and drank wine- it was excellent pre-ride preparation.) I can't remember what the bet was- but I think it was related to who orginally sang some song the guitar duo was singing while we were there. There was also an artist drawing cartoons of people. That was cool. I had Dillbird with me in a mesh purse- he got to meet lots of new people.

[Pedal Wench]

Whoo..... wait a second, here. We can visit vineyards during the ride? No one ever told me about that! That would certainly reduce the pain - especially on Hogpain (I LOVE that - can I borrow it?)

I'm signed up, and I signed up my BF, but he doesn't know that yet.
Aiming for all six, but of course, only if I make the cutoff on top of Jacks. I made it last year, so I'm thinking I shouldn't have a problem, especially since I know what I'm facing this year. (I did 6-Gap last year without ever pre-riding a single gap - ooops!)

[skibum]

(But now I've done 3 State 3 Mountain- but don't know how that compares in difficulty to Six Gap- do you guys know?)

I've never done 3 State 3 Mountain so I can't say from personal experience. Most people would say that Six Gap is harder. I think it has about 1000 ft or so more of climbing and some of the climbing is tougher. I would say that the big difference between the two would be Hogpen -- it's long (about 7 miles) and it's steep. It's a Cat 1 climb for the Tour de Georgia. But, if you tackle it with some nice low gearing and take your time, you'll be fine. Heck, they even have a rest stop half-way up so you can break it into manageable chunks. And, once you're done, you get rewarded with an awesome descent. If you like going fast downhill, you can easily hit 50 mph The adrenaline rush from accomplishing that climb and flying down the other side pretty much carries you through to the finish of the ride.

Hogpen is calling you, Nanci. You know you want to do it!!

[Nanci]

I'll never forget BF calling me from halfway up Brasstown Bald (he was tricked by his friend into thinking it was part of Six Gap, and going for a practice ride) saying his HR was 200 and his average speed was 2.5 mph, walking his bike for the last 45 minutes...

Six Gap was the first mountain _anything_ I'd ridden!

I love descending- I'm good at it.

Nanci

[Pedal Wench]

See! You're a natural! Sign up for all 6!!!!!

(Nothing like a little peer pressure on a bike ride, right?!?!?!!!)