Touring Test Ride Outlook & Details

As of this writing, the forecast for Sunday is partly cloudy, high near 90 degrees, 10% rain chance. Widely scattered “pop up” thundershowers may be expected.

A quick word about forecasts. Folks, this is north Georgia. If the forecast rain chance is 0%, then you can figure you have about a 30% chance of getting wet in a two hour afternoon ride. If you cancel on the threat of rain, you just aren’t going to ride much. (grins)

This is a test of your ability to handle carrying your load, with your gearing, under likely weather conditions, and with a good bit of climbing thrown in. So use some of that cargo weight you need to carry to pack a rain jacket and maybe a helmet cover and cycling cap.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I’d also strongly recommend carrying a good strong (spf 45+) sunscreen. Apply liberally before the ride, and plan to re-apply somewhere around the middle of the trip. We will be starting at 1:00 PM, with old Sol nearly directly overhead. If it’s overcast, you can get on nasty “surprise burn.”

Plan to carry plenty of water. Remember, you can use water (if you have it) for drinking, and to dowse yourself for cooling.

From previous posts, you should have a pretty good idea of what to bring and the kind of pace we’ll be keeping. To this I’ll add, this will likely be the first really warm ride for many of us, so we’ll want to keep the pace very moderate. I see no sense in racing like demons, while risking injury or health.

Upcoming Test Rides:

I’d like to get in a good longer ride and maybe a mountain workout to boot. So I’m thinking of doing two more “Test Rides” before we actually go.

So how about this? In addition to this coming Sunday's Touring Test Ride to Pine Mountain, I'm adding the following two Test Rides.

65 mile Audax Tune Up Loop
Date: Sunday 21 June
Start/Finish at Bicycles Unlimited
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Course Conditions: Hilly and rolling
Pace: Relaxed Touring ~~ Approx 12 mph rolling average
Weather Minimums: We’re going
Requirements: Be there. Wear a helmet. Ride the bike and load you will bring to the tour

Dahlonega, GA Triple Gap Loop
Date: Sunday 5 July
Start/Finish: Walmart Parking Lot, Dahlonega
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Course Conditions: Mountains
Pace: Whatever gets it done
Weather Minimums: We’re going
Requirements: Be there. Wear a helmet. Ride the bike and load you will bring to the tour

There! By the time we’ve done all that we ought to pretty well know whether we are ready for Cheaha or not.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday.