Assault on the Carolinas???

[profàvélo]

Um, so it's supposed to snow tonight up there...cross your fingers that if it does, it all melts before Sat. morning! In any case, I think it will be a chilly ride.

I'm not aiming to set any speed records. Just get out there and pedal. Caesar's Head is killer, but it feels so good when you get to the top!

I should have on my red jacket.

[bouncybouncy]

i am sitting here looking out to VERY grey sky...it is actually that white, can't see anything, but not foggy thick kinda day (did someone say hot chocolate?) the snow is falling but the ground is just too warm for accumulation the counties north of us are expected 1-3" of snow...
hopefully the temps will hold out as high as they can get...i am going to run to the bike shop later to stock up on warmers for feet and hands!!!! i am not very comfortable riding in bad weather so if i do this thing i will be chasing my demons big time!!!! we have spent alot getting prepared for this cold weather riding so i think we will make the effort but i am not happy about the westcoasters sending us this cr@% right before my biggest ride in months!!!! so if the weather is bad and the ground is wet i am not going to be my chipper-self cause i will be nervous as all *%^%&^!!!!! ok...can you tell i am starting to freak a bit???? i told my dh to "just PLEASE be patient with me!!!" he is a seasoned rider (but not in the cold...rain, yes...cold, no!)

OH BOY...it is snowing harder now....excuse me while i go cry

[Nanci]

Have a good time, you guys! Don't fall in the snow and not make it to 3-State 3-Mountain!

Nanci

[profàvélo]

So, Bouncy, how did it go? I never saw a pink bike...we got there without much time to spare, as usual. But I thought it went really well! I thought the route was good. No wet stuff on the roads anywhere. The only negative was the freezing cold on the descents. What did you think of the climbing? I felt pretty good on Caesar's Head. I have to say--sorry guys, if you are reading--passing guys on a climb is lots of fun! To be fair, I got passed a few times on CH as well, but it was nice to be a passER for a change and not just a passEE.

[bouncybouncy]

well, got there a bit early (did not know how long it would take to drive...only 30 minutes) suited up for the 4th time (NO CLUE what to wear!!!) ended up with the perfect combo of long sleeve jersey/illuminite jacket/shorts/gore leg warmers/woolie-boolies/feet warmers/shoe covers/amfib gloves/oh...and a beenie.
and off we were...as i rode i was checking out everyones bum...actually just looking for an Aloha saddle...never found one

hubby and i started with the crowd...he kept up and i slacked off a bit (still not comfy in big groups) but as soon as it thined out i pedaled on!!! hit every hill with avengence and never had to get off for a newbie hill-climber i felt i was flying on CH...one guy passed me and i was just not about that, so i passed him back...hehe! passed a few others (and some who looked like they should have been up and gone by then ) stopped for a snack at the top and moved on...i am a wuss on decents!!!! barely could keep it above 20 without freaking out...on the smoother areas i did get to 27mph but that was it...on the short decents where you could see the next up i hit 32...i need to work on speed!!! (my levers are not comfy tho...too far away!)

i finished total 5 hours 30 min...bike time 5 hours 19 min

not ever riding in the mountains i am not sure how that rates...hubby finished 30 minutes ahead of me so i felt pretty good he was not HOURS ahead...

[Veronica]

Sounds like you had a grand time!

V.

[profàvélo]

Sounds like you had a good ride. Great job on Caesar's Head, by the way--that is one tough climb. It's just so long! (six miles, for anybody out there reading) Did you notice the sign that says "4 miles to CH State Park"? I hate that sign! Like you, I'm not crazy about the descents, but that will get easier over time, like everything else. My DH decided to ride with me--not sure why--but I almost wish that he wouldn't, because he's constantly looking back at me, like, "Are you coming?" He didn't mean it that way--he was just looking for me, he said--but that's what it felt like. Anyway, he would wait for me at the tops of the climbs. We got into several different pacelines over the course of the day, so that helped speed the flatter parts along. We were in a group of about a dozen on the last little bit, between CH and the finish, and it felt like we were flying (a lot of that was gently downhill, remember?). The big timer at the school said 4h22m when we pulled in. My only complaint is that I wish lunch had been better. Otherwise, all the support was great, especially all the help with traffic. I couldn't believe how many turns had law enforcement there to help us.

You are all set for the Fabulous Fourth ride out of Tryon, NC on July 4--you should put that on your calendar. It's a fun ride, also a metric century, and it has plenty of climbing, but I don't think it's as hard as the Assault was. It can be hot, but that actually sounds good right now. I need to buy warmer gloves...

[Blueberry]

So glad to hear your ride went well and Asheville is agreeing with you! I'd love to tackle some rides out that way (we're only about 3.5 hours from Asheville, and it's one of my favorite places to visit), but I'm the original hill slug (think either 3 mph or walking). Maybe in a year or two...

Carrie Anne