RIDE REPORT AND WRAP UP

To begin with let me say two things. One, I’m delighted. Two, Oops.

I’m delighted with how the day turned out. It was a truly grand ride.

The oops takes a bit more explaining. I didn’t anticipate a significant detail. In our part of the world, the little town of Gay, GA absolutely explodes on the first weekend of May and October. It’s the “Cotton Pickin’ Fair”! This event draws folks from miles around. And our route was one of the two most travelled directions to Gay. That meant we had to contend with a lot of traffic during the early part of our ride. But the Fair factored in later in the day too. Our lunch stop is south of Gay, but also a popular destination, and right on the other most travelled approach to the Fair. This meant that the Bulloch House was positively overwhelmed. So we had to endure a considerable wait before we were seated.

Let me offer my profound apologies to the other riders. I missed the significance of the date when I scheduled this ride. All turned out well, and it won’t happen again. In extenuation I would like to plead youth and inexperience coupled with long and faithful service. That’s my story and I’m sticken to it.

We convened (most of us) a little before dawn, and made our pre-ride preparations. Present (in no particular order) were Kelvin Arcelay, John Cloud, Deb Kalish, Cindy Whitley, Lisa Price, H. L. Jackson, Chris Muntzel, Ed Clark, Scott Rutkowski, and your humble servant.

We got under way in the dawn gloom, slightly chilly, but clear overhead, little wisps of fog here and there. South down the Peachtree Parkway. We almost had the Parkway to ourselves at this early hour. A brisk climb up Rockaway Rd, to Senoia helped warm everyone up. For a wonder, no one needed to take a “nature break” in Senoia, so we proceeded on south to GA-85.

Usually the six mile stretch of 85 is almost deserted at this hour of a Saturday. That wasn’t the case on this day. We were absolutely flogged by the traffic speeding toward Gay. It was a real relief to turn off of 85 and head west into the rollers of GA-362. More, the Sun was well up and it began to seem like it just might warm up a bit.

We made good time to the break point in Greenville, and after a brief break, left in good order.

I should mention that I’ve been doing these rides for several years. In that time, no two of them have been even close to each other in character. This edition was marked by a group that started out determined and focused, and pretty much remained that way throughout the day. At the same time, the group seemed to be chafing at the restrained and disciplined pace. This gang wanted to turn the ponies loose!

Ed was a more than welcome addition to the group. He’s done this stuff before, and our riding styles compliment each other well. Coming out of the town of Pine Mountain, I asked Ed to bring up the rear as I led the climb up the flank of the mountain. I would then mark the turn onto GA-190 for the group, let Ed pass me, and I spent the rest of the trip across the top of the mountain riding “chaser” at the back. This works well. It’s almost impossible to hold the climbers in on this part of the ride. For that matter, it’s also impossible to keep the descenders throttled back on the screaming straight line descent into Warm Springs. This works well. There are good rally points at the end of each of these sections.

Lunch, as I’ve mentioned before, was delayed. I can’t blame the staff at the Bulloch House. They were working as fast as they could, and still managing to deliver excellent service and wonderful food. They were just simply overwhelmed by the numbers. It was Fair day in Gay. (I won’t make that mistake again!)

I should mention, Cindy Whitley and John Cloud both set new distance records for themselves. Neither had done more than a 65 mile ride before Saturday. Both did an excellent job of staying with the group, and contributing to the whole ride.

The trip north from Warm Springs was uneventful, and pleasant. The afternoon was warm, but not oppressively so. The general tone of the group was cheerful. We held the pace down for the first hour after lunch, for digestion’s sake, and then picked it up a good bit.

I should mention that there was one outbreak of sprinting insanity. This was on the last leg of the trip, coming down Huckaby Rd. There is an almost irresistible sprint line to the end of this road, and we did get an old-fashioned “stop sign sprint.” Alright, most folks had the good sense to simply sit and wait for sanity to return, but three of us just had to go play. And yes, I admit it. I was one of the group. (Honest, I didn't start it.) Doesn’t happen often, but it was a fun day.

As is the tradition for these rides, we formed up in a column of twos and took the lane coming back into town on the Peachtree Parkway. It’s our way of parading home in triumph, at the end of a long and successful ride.

We had a bit of socializing and a good solid snack at the end of the trip, and then all went our separate ways.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you who came out and rode on this perfect fall day. Congratulations to each of you. Everyone of you met some kind of challenge along the way. Each of you dealt with your personal challenges with gallantry and courage.

Bravo!

Numbers: Time on Bike = 8:40. Stopped time = 2:54. Total time = 11:34. Moving average speed = 14.3.

In parting, I’d like to point out that a Randonneurs USA sanctioned 200K brevet must be completed in 13:30. So each and every one of you could have accomplished that feat, and could in the future, if you so choose. It’s also an axiom among randonneurs, if you can do a 200K, then you can do a 300K. If you can do a 300K, then you can complete a 400K. If you can complete a 400K, then a 600K is within your reach. What comes after that? A grand randonee of 1000K or the grandest of all, Paris-Brest-Paris 1200K. Think about it.

Until we meet again, let me wish you all, Bon chance et bon route!

RIDE REPORT AND 200K WRAP UP

I'll get a full ride report out tomorrow. I promised I'd have the cue sheet out today, so here it is.

AUDAX 200 k (125 MILE)

GO MILES CUE COMMENTS
0.0 0.0 N/A Start at Bicycles Unlimited
0.1 0.1 R Peachtree Pkwy
3.9 4.0 R Robinson Rd
1.0 5.0 R Holly Grove Church Rd
1.0 6.0 L GA-74 (caution fast traffic)
0.2 6.2 R Rockaway Rd
2.8 9.0 ST Becomes Main St
0.6 9.6 L Travis St
0.0 9.6 R immediate onto Broad St
0.2 9.8 ST X GA-16 onto Luther Bailey
0.4 10.2 L Onto Dolly Nixon Rd
3.5 13.7 R GA-85/74 S caution
6.3 20.0 R GA-362
11.2 31.2 L Roosevelt Hwy
0.3 31.5 R County Farm Rd
1.6 33.1 L around square
0.1 33.2 R out of sqaure onto Roosevelt Hwy S
0.1 33.3 R into store
0.0 33.3 continue out of store
4.1 37.4 R GA-18
0.1 37.5 ST Caution very bad RR tracks
11.9 49.4 L US-27 / Main St
0.3 49.7 R into store
0.0 49.7 continue out of store
1.1 50.8 L GA-354
2.5 53.3 R onto exit ramp to GA-190
0.1 53.4 L onto GA-190
8.4 61.8 L GA-85 alt
3.4 65.2 R at light onto Roosevelt Hwy
0.1 65.3 R to stay on Roosevelt Hwy
0.3 65.6 L Bulloch St
0.1 65.7 L into Bulloch House
0.0 65.7 R Bulloch St
0.1 65.8 R Roosevelt Hwy
0.3 66.1 L to stay on Roosevelt Hwy
0.1 66.2 R at light onto GA-85 alt N
10.2 76.4 L onto GA-85 & 74 N
7.0 83.4 R Into store
0.0 83.4 reverse course out of store and
0.0 83.4 L immediate onto Flat Shoals Rd
7.5 90.9 L GA-18
1.7 92.6 L College St
5.9 98.5 L GA-362
0.1 98.6 R Kings Bridge / Hollenville Rd
6.8 105.4 R into store
0.0 105.4 continue out of store
3.4 108.8 BL onto GA-85conn
0.9 109.7 R Brooks Woolsey Rd
0.5 110.2 L Huckaby Rd
1.5 111.7 R Risging Star Rd
0.5 112.2 L Old Greenville Rd
2.8 115.0 L Goza Rd
1.2 116.2 L Bernhard Rd
1.1 117.3 ST X GA-85 caution fast traffic
6.8 124.1 R into parking lot
0.1 124.2 FINISH!!!

ONE LAST QUESTION ANSWERED

I'm referencing a question posted a day or so ago about last minute bike checks and day-before-the-ride riding.

If you have done what you should, your bike is ready. Don't mess with it.As for a "leg loosener," I'd advise against it. I've seen a lot of good long rides wrecked in just this way. Be patient. We'll do lots of riding on Saturday. (grins)

24 HOURS AND COUNTING

Ride time is 7:30. (Sharp)

Location: Bicycles Unlimited, Peachtree City, GA.

Forecast: Holding and good. Likely mid 50s at ride time, with a high in the upper 70s. Skys will be mostly clear, light winds from the north to north west. Rain chance is very low.

Get a good night's sleep tonight, and a good breakfast in the morning.

Look here on Monday for a post with a final report and a copy of the cue.

ALMOST THERE

Folks, there's very little time left until ride time. So only a very few things need to be said.

Last minute questions or concerns: Now is the time to let me know. I'm not in the shop today, but will check this blog regularly. I'll be in the shop tomorrow, until 5:00 PM, at 770-486-9252

Ride time: We will start riding at 7:30 AM on Saturday. We will start promplty, so be sure to arrive early. Sunrise will be at 7:35. We will have daylight as we start, but tail lights are a good idea.

Cue Sheets: I'm not bringing any extra cue sheets along. I'll post a cue sheet as part of a post ride blog post.

SUNSCREEN:

Directions to the shop:
From Atlanta:
South on I-85 to exit 61 for Fairburn, Peachtree City, GA-74
Go left at top of exit on GA-74
G0 7.6 miles and turn left onto the Peachtree Parkway
Go 3.2 miles and turn right into the parking lot You're there.

From Fayetteville and points north:
Take GA-85 south to the court square
Turn right on GA-54 (west) toward Peachtree City
Go 7.7 miles on GA-54 and start looking to the right
When you see McDonalds and Chick Fil A on the right...
turn right into shopping center
Bicycles Unlimited is at the opposite end of the shopping center, three doors from the Kroger.

From Griffin:
Take GA-16 to the West
Turn right on GA-74/GA-85
Go 3.0 miles and turn left on GA-74
Go 7.2 miles and turn right on GA-54
Go 1.5 miles and turn left onto the Peachtree Parkway.
Turn right immediately into shopping center. You're there.

Please park remotley from the stores. The shop will be open on Saturday, and will need the close parking for customers.

See you there!

COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

The cold front has passed through. An upper air trough has developed and stabilized, bring cool Canadian air into the state. The outlook appears stable for the next several days.

Current forecast for Saturday: Ride time temp is 53 degrees, falling to 49 by 08:00 AM, then rising to a high in the upper 70s. Sky will be partly cloudy. Rain chance is very low.

So get those last preps done today. Everything laid out. Tomorrow should be a nice relaxed day.

Be sure to get plenty of sleep tonight and tomorrow night.

One more day and a wake-up to go.

FINAL APPROACH JITTERS

I’ve been getting some questions that translate to, “What if I start this thing and find that I can’t make it?”

Okay. Everyone who has contacted me, everyone who I know plans to go. You can do it!

But what if…?

You won’t be stranded. Look, this is a self-supported ride. We don’t have the safety net of SAG wagons, road paint, crewed rest stops, etc. On the other hand, we aren’t doing this in a third world country. There is help, support, and relief all around you. We will support each other. We are strong, and determined, and resourceful, and well equipped. Relax! It will work out, and it will be fun!

But what if…?

Well, the correct attitude for this thing is to start it with the committed full intent to finish. Plan to succeed. Plan to finish. You will.

But what if…?

Alright already. Over the years that I’ve been doing this, I will admit that there have been a few DNFs. (That’s Did Not Finish) In fact there have been exactly four.

I am happy to report that they are all alive and well, and we are still friends. Two of those riders chose, before hand, to leave the ride mid-way, and arranged to be met in Warm Springs. (I’d prefer for you to do the whole ride, but this is a low stress way of doing part of it.) One year, one rider had a pretty severe asthma attack. We lowered the pace and got him to a good safe place to be met and picked up. That leaves only one other rider. This individual developed pretty severe knee pain. He admitted that he was undertrained. He arranged pick up in Warm Springs. He lives and rides happily to this day.

It is possible that you might have to abandon the ride. I do have a contingency plan to recover a stopped rider. However, that rider may just have to wait for quite a while before that pick up is made. The distances of this ride necessitate that. I think it very, I’d even say extremely, unlikely that any of you will need to abandon.

Relax. Fear is natural. Look it in the face and laugh at it. You have little to fear, and much to gain.

Current Weather Outlook: The cold front is arriving now. Current forecast for Saturday: Low 50s at ride time. High in the upper 70s. Partly cloudy. Very low rain chance. Still looks near ideal.