We’re going.
Date: Sunday, 5 July
Time: Ride starts at 9:00 AM
Start/Finish: Walmart Parking Lot, Dahlonega, GA
Weather Outlook for 5 July 2009: Mostly sunny. Highs near 80. There’s a 40% chance of T-showers. Looks like a day for sunscreen and rain jackets.
The intent of this ride is for folks planning to do the Cheaha Two Day Tour to get out and try mountains on their loaded up bikes. Bring your full tour load and expect to climb at a conservative pace. Anyone else who wishes to come along is more than welcome to do so. But do note, we will be on heavy bikes, so we will not be acting like racers.
Riding Strategy: The best way to tackle this one is to ride conservatively. Go to low gears early and spin easily up every climb. Don’t save your low gears for later ~~ save your legs! Do this and your day will be a happy one. One other bit of advice. There is a tendency to “celebrate the summit” at the top of each of the gaps. This wastes time and increases leg fatigue. It’s better to roll over the top and go right into the descents.
A brief Route Description:
There is a short downhill out of the Walmart parking lot, and then we are in it. The first 16 miles of this route are an “approach climb.” It’s rollers, but the trend is uphill. There is a good store just before the first gap climb. This is the last chance to water up and attend nature’s call.
We make a turn at Turner’s Corner, and then we are climbing up Neels Gap. It’s about a six mile climb with a false summit at approximately a mile and a half in. There is a store at the summit of the gap if one absolutely has to stop.
Descending out of Neels is a blast. The road is well graded and fairly wide three lane. Prepare to start looking around sharply when you pass the truck runaway ramp. The turn for the climb up Wolf Pen Gap is easy to miss. It’s just below Camp Vogel.
The climb up Wolf Pen is steeper, but shorter. It’s about a four mile ascent. There’s a lot o0f incredible scenery on this shaded climb. The road is narrow so be alert to traffic. There isn’t much, but you do not want to be stuck out in the middle of the road when a car comes around a turn. There is nothing at the top. No vistas, no stores. Nothing but a short level, and a lot of mosquitoes. Don’t stop.
The descent from Wolf pen is a blast. It’s made even better by the knowledge that the worst work of the day is behind us.
There is a stretch of nice rollers from the bottom of Wolf Pen Gap to the small intersection at Suches. There is a good store at Suches. I usually stop there, water up, and rest the legs for a few minutes.
The climb from Suches to the summit of Woody Gap is nice. It’s not steep and not very long at all. It’s about three miles of 4% to 5% grade.
There is a good vista at the summit of Woody Gap, but I’d urge us to save that for another day and keep riding. Woody Gap alsways seems like magic to me. It’s a short climb, followed by a really long and really nice descent. One bit of advice is relevant. Before beginning the descent out of Woody Gap, decide whether you are a tourist or a cyclist. If you are riding fast, and you let the views distract you, you could get into real trouble. If you want to sight-see, keep your speed down.
Coming down from Woody involves about eight miles of descending to the false summit, a short climb, and then another two miles of quality descent. Then it’s rollers back to Dahlonega. If one continues along the route out of Woody, Walmart will be on the left, after ascending the infamous “Walmart Gap.” I’d recommend staying close to me. I’ll be taking the business alternate on route 9, into the town of Dahlonega, and then through town to Walmart. This avoids that last nasty climb out of the reservoir.
For you prospective tourists, here’s the test: if you finish this ride with anything “left in the tank,” you can consider yourself ready for Cheaha.
Can’t wait to see you all up there!
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