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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Posts
    43

    Cherohala Challenge

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    Thinking about doing this one in Tellico Plains, TN. Don't know that I'm ready for it, but every year it keeps calling my name. Just doing the 62 miles with 5000 ft. of climbing.

    http://www.active.com/cycling/telico...challenge-2012



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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    Do it! I have friends who've done the long route, and they had a lot of fun. It was brutal, but fun.

    In years past, I've done the weeklong Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee. In fact, the last time I did it, I was more or less in your neck of the woods. I almost have DH talked into it for next year or the year after next. You should consider that if you can; it's a lot of fun. I love riding in Tennessee.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Quote Originally Posted by BikeHN View Post
    Thinking about doing this one in Tellico Plains, TN. Don't know that I'm ready for it, but every year it keeps calling my name. Just doing the 62 miles with 5000 ft. of climbing.

    http://www.active.com/cycling/telico...challenge-2012
    Ohhhh, another ride near home...do it and let us know how it goes. Perhaps next year I will get to come home and participate in one of the lovely rides there

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Posts
    43
    Well. I did it. It was really rough. The first tough climb came at about mile 5 of the Cherohala Skyway. When I hit that climb I thought, if it is like this the whole time then I just don't know. After that climb it kinda went down and flattened out a tad before going back up to a reasonable grade. Made it to the first rest stop 15 miles in. Good thing I didn't ask the people at the rest stop if the remainder of the ride got worse or was comparable to the first 15 miles, b/c it was much worse! Ignorance is bliss. I wouldn't have kept going had I known what I know now. Ha. But...I made it friends. It took me 3 1/2 hrs to ascend and about 1 hr. 20 min. to get back down. I looked down and was climbing at about 5 mph on some of the steep parts, but I just kept the pedals going. I'm happy I did it but I don't know that I would ever do that one again. Part of my suffering has to do with the fact that I haven't done over 31 miles this year prior to this. Beautiful ride though. I'll try to post some pics.
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    Last edited by BikeHN; 06-18-2012 at 04:31 AM.



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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    Congrats on finishing a tough ride! I can't believe it did that with just 31 mile rides under your belt! You're one tough cookie. What awesome pictures, too. How hot was it? I've heard from friends that the Skyway mid-day in the summer can be brutal.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Posts
    43
    It wasn't too hot, the high for the day was around 85 but it wasn't that hot when we started obviously. Actually, it was quite cool at the top. I could've used some arm warmers up there. By the time I got back down it was really starting to heat up. I wouldn't have wanted to do it if it were any later in the day at all.



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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    That's good. My friends who complained about the heat on the Skyway (and this was a few years ago) did the 116 mile route (or whatever it is), so I imagine they were out in the full heat of the day. Yuck.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

 

 

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