BRAT: I think I've bitten off more than I can chew

[SouthernBelle]

Well, I do know that Middle Tennessee is a lot more than gently rolling hills. I live there (here). But I also understand that BRAT is well-SAGged and it is no problem to ride with the vehicles some. Email the ride coordinator and ask.

[indysteel]

Well, I do know that Middle Tennessee is a lot more than gently rolling hills. I live there (here). But I also understand that BRAT is well-SAGged and it is no problem to ride with the vehicles some. Email the ride coordinator and ask.

I really should have asked you about it, SB. I don't know what the heck I was thinking, and now I feel like a complete idiot. Most days are close to what I was expecting. Good rolling hills with a few steep ones thrown in here and there. It's really just Day 5 that I'm worried about (the one with over 7k in 52 miles). That would be hard on any day, but on the next to last day of riding, it seems even more intimidating. The elevation profile looks like an EKG gone terribly wrong.

I do know a couple of people who are going. I'm driving there with another rider from Indianapolis. He's done BRAT before and even he's pretty scared about this one.

I'll email the ride coordinator to see if you can hitch a ride with a SAG if need be. I'm also signed up for the camping service. The owner has been known to give people rides before.

[SouthernBelle]

Well, at that point, you'll be in my neck of the woods. So before you leave PM me and I'll give you my phone #s. I can always come get you.

[Zen]

Is there an elevator at mile 40?
I can't imagine that!
What were they thinking?

[Beane]

I understand how you're feeling now, but just think what great shape you'll be in when it's over!

[blueskies]

It's really just Day 5 that I'm worried about (the one with over 7k in 52 miles). That would be hard on any day, but on the next to last day of riding, it seems even more intimidating. The elevation profile looks like an EKG gone terribly wrong.

If it's any consolation, the experienced Cycle Oregon riders that I've talked to have all said the same thing about the effects of cumulative riding over a week. They all say that day 3 is always the hardest, and then after that you just feel stronger & stronger with each passing day. I hope it's true!

And remember: you are IndySTEEL!

[TsPoet]

I can't remember who it was, but someone had a tag line that said "I’ve never met a hill to steep to walk". On bike Washington a few weeks ago, I lived by that moto. I calculated how long it would take me to walk up "peaks" that were too steep for me to ride, did a ride/walk thing and only sagged over one.
I had a blast!
Go, have fun, relax, walk when you need to and sag when you need to.

[Beane]

"I’ve never met a hill to steep to walk".

isn't that the truth. Although, I did a "challenge ride" this year and walked so many times I pretty much destroyed my plastic Look cleats...

I'm thinking next time I'll bring some oversized Crocs in a camelbak and slip my bike shoes into them when I need to walk!

..the funniest part was when I was hiking up a hill pushing my bike and some guy comes up next to me and starts to walk his bike and says, "gee, sure wish I had one of those triple chainrings." Like he felt the need to point out that if he'd had a triple he'd be buzzing right by me!