Dog Days of August

Took Hannah to UF on Thursday. Bought her a bike at this cool shop that sells only used bikes - got her a Gary Fisher Marlin for $200. It needs some work but a not a bad bike for the price.

Did the Open Road short loop today. Had intended on the long loop but had a headache as we rolled down Mandarin road at 30+ so cut it short and headed home. Scott Reaves did a cool thing today; he basically rode with this 15 or 16 year old (maybe younger?) kid who has been racing for about a year. Scott stayed with him and kept him informed of what to look for on the ride. Nice to see someone mentoring the younger riders - Thanks Scott.

Lots of cycling upcoming:

• Dahlonega Aug 28th
• Savannah - Labor Day
• Watermelon - Mid Sept
• Swamp Man - Mid Sept
• 6 Gap - End of Sept
• Levi's Gran Fondo - Oct
• Horsefarm - Oct 24th (We'll make a weekend out of it since it is Family weekend at UF and Hannah's birthday!)
• Horrible 100 - November

Blazing Saddles Century

This century is aptly named "Blazing Saddles," it was definitely toasty for the ride. I'm not sure what the temps maxed out at but 98 to 100 would be a good guess.

Art G, Stevie B, and myself drove over to Newnan, Ga on Friday with the ride leaving from Franklin, Ga Saturday morning. A small turn out of about 275 riders started the ride, 8am was the start time and several left at 7 to 7:30 to beat the heat.

The ride is a steady diet of rollers, nothing real steep just roller after roller with very little flat sections. Starting in Georgia the route meanders into Alabama for several miles. The roads we took are very rural and scenic, this is one of the prettier rides we've done.

Steve opted for the 48 miler, Art put in about 61 before heading in and I got in 80 miles. I was heading into the final 25 mile loop to finish the full 103 when I had rear tire issues so had to turn it back and call it a day.

The ride was well organized, we regularly saw local law enforcement during the ride which is comforting. The sags were not very elaborate with respect to choices but they were spaced about every 15 miles and had plenty of water/Gatorade. 15 miles was about as far you could go before needing a bottle refill, there were no stores in sight to stop and refresh.

Macon, GA - Just a quick side not about our Sunday ride in Macon, Ga. We drove to Macon Saturday evening, Steve lived in Macon for a couple of years and knew some of the roads. We did a 36 miler early Sunday and it was gorgeous! We traveled some lightly used two lane roads with rollers and the scenery was beautiful. Great call on that one Steve!

And now, the rest of the story

What Peter didn't mention...

So we drive to the start of the race and get there about 6:15 a.m. Parked in a big field. Soon, some people from Cincinnati who were staying at the same hotel pulled in after us. One man was wearing his bib shorts inside out.

Inside out. The red chamois exposed. As Peter said, he looked like a baboon. But none of his friends were saying anything, and although I desperately wanted to, neither did we. (Aside: When Schultz drove up and I showed him, the look on his face was priceless.)

After the ride, as we were leaving the post-ride pizza tent, he and a woman (wife? friend?) came in. So as we walked by, I stopped, pointed at his shorts and said, "Hey, I've got to ask you. Is it more comfortable that way?"

"What way?" he asked.

Then he looked down.

Then she looked down. And she started to howl, a laugh that meant either it was a complete surprise to her, too, or she is the best actress this side of Meryl Streep.

With sort of a sheepish grin, he looked up and said that no wonder he was feeling a bit of a hot spot (or something like that, I don't remember his exact words).

Needless to say, I posed, ass-to-ass, with him.

"We got this" or Blood, Sweat & Gears Ride Report

Left Thursday for Boone in the A-Team van, one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. Dinner at a great place in Boone across from Appalachian State U called the Red Onion.

Friday morning out for a 20 miler that took us out to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Within the first few miles is a one mile climb up a road call Deck Hill. Nice climb and I'm guessing around 6% on average. Reached the to of the climb to a spot called Flat Top where there is a ski resort. I've never seen snow makers and they look like Boeing 757 jet engines mounted on poles. About 15 miles in we did a one mile descent that was spectacular form both a technical aspect and was incredibly scenic! Probably one of the top 20 mile ride we've ever done.

Friday afternoon took a drive out to Snake Mountain just to pay some respect, well actually get out and come to some kind of acceptance of just how freakin steep of a climb.We did the same thing last year where I uttered the infamous line "we got this." Uh stoopid! Once we accepted the fact we were walking Snake we were at peace and could head back to town to check out the new A-Team flick.

BS&G starts Saturday at 7:30am. The ride allows 750 riders for the century and I think 500 for the 50 miler. Some Nashville recording star, not a famous one (not famous to me?), does the national anthem on his electric guitar, very cool.

Most of the first 50 miles feels like it is up hill although there are a couple of fun but short descents. After 10 miles the 100 and 50 rides split at the Blue Ridge and this year the BRP was open giving us 100 milers about 20 miles on the parkway. IT was very windy all day, no joke that the wind was in our face all day. The views on the Parkway are breathtaking.

The fun begins at mile 56 where there is a rest stop before the climb up Snake Mountain. At this point the ride has "softened" you up with plenty of climbing. The ascent up Snake isn't too bad for 3.5 miles but then, holy crap! I've heard different numbers on the pitch of Snake form 18% to 22% suffice it to say on a bike it is one tough stretch of pavement. Mike and I both walked this 1 mile section last year but that was last year.

I went up using the zig zag method and got into the first nasty steep section forced by my heart rate to stop for a moment. I was able to clip back in and continue up, at this point it looks like everyone is walking their bikes up, one guy walking looked at me pedaling and said "go guy!" Well now there is no way I can stop, gotta gut this thing out and make it to the top. After a sharp right turn you make a sharp left to finish up a steep section, that's where I think my right calf fell off but was still able to summit ON THE BIKE!

What a great feeling to climb Snake, feels like an exorcism of sorts. OK, a little dramatic there but great to get to the top and high five some others who had just finished climbing the whole thing on the bike. Mike got to the top after only being temporarily forced off his bike by a Fedex truck during the toughest part of the climb.He was able to clip back in and continue...ON THE BIKE. Now get this; on the steepest section some goober asks Mike if this is a good place to "clip back in." Uh, go for it buddy just wait until I clear the area.

The descent down Snake is a rush, very technical so couldn't get over 50mph but think I got about 47ish. From there you pedal a long 10 mile or so downhill to mile 84ish or the cut off point. You have to make it there by 2:30 or they send you directly in cutting the ride short. We arrived with 30 minutes to spare and our reward was climbing George's Gap a steep 4 mile ascent of switch backs similar to Wolfpen Gap at 6 Gap in Dahlonega.

The climbing isn't quite done yet as they throw a 2 mile steep ascent at you in mile 93 the in mile 102 of 104 another 1 mile steep hill just to remind you why it's called Blood, Sweat and Gears.

A phenomenal ride, very challenging and one of the most beautiful rides I've ever done. We're back next year and looking for more Jax folks to join us. Most importantly there is now one thing we can confidently say about the ride, "we got this."

BS&G 2010

Photos up - click on slide show at right...ride report to follow soon

Your biological passport please

Here is a link to an explanation of the biological passport system; just in time for the grand tour season.

From the article:
"The passport program may,or may not,be the be-all-end-all means by which the sport can monitor and control doping in the peloton,but it's surely one of the most effective tools available."

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/05/explainer/your-passport-please_114527
(copy & paste above URL into browser to see article)

TOSRV

Most of the A-Team heads off to Havana, GA this Friday for back-to-back century rides on Saturday and Sunday or as the ride is known -TOSRV

The past two years the ride departed from this double century format and because of that change ridership has plummeted. Now reverting back to the old format it looks like just over 200, not counting walk ups, will participate this weekend. The good news is that the weather will be spectacular with sunny skies and highs in the low 80's.

Ride on A-Team!