UPDATE: Ring of Fire on FRIDAY 01/15?

[joet]

Anyone up for a just say no to snow, its finally going to be above 40 degrees ring of fire? Around 12 noon or so. Moderate pace. Post if your in. Hopefully the roads will be in OK condition.

[Scott Baker]

I can't on Monday but Friday is looking good as of now. Sunny and 52F! Hopefully the forecast will hold...

[joet]

Friday looks good for me as well. Do you think the parkway would be in ok shape by friday?? One of the big peeks would be nice to see again.

[Scott Baker]

My guess would be the BRP is not going to be ideal. Possibly from Balsam Gap towards Waterrock for a ways since is on the southern face. However, I am not sure how much snow is there now and it will be melting all week up to whatever elevation the freeze line is at. I think Ring of Fire is a better option, but I am game.

[YellowLemondTed]

What time for ROF on Friday?

[Scott Baker]

Not sure exactly, but I would need to be back on campus around 4:30PM in order to get home on time if I deprt from home. The way my legs are right now I would probably ride a 2:40ish pace (timed from start/finish of Cullowhee Mtn Rd/107 intersection), so departing around 1:30PM at the latest. I would prefer about a 1:15PM departure in case of flats, etc. If that is too fast or slow feel free to leave earlier or later than I do and we can rendezvous on the route. The official start will be the Cullowhee Rec Center, but I may ride from Webster or from home in Cullowhee. Will post more later.

[joet]

New date and time. Friday 01/15. Leaving Cullowhee Rec Park at 1 pm. 2:45 or so pace. Weather looks good.

[YellowLemondTed]

I will see you at the Rec Center! Hope I can keep up with the 2:45 pace. I can count on my hands the number of rides I've been on since October.

[Scott Baker]

You may want to leave about 20-30 minutes earlier and we can catch up then.

[dobovedo]

Don't know if I can get away from work to get in on this, but I'm sure gonna try. I'm dying to get outside instead of riding the trainer. Just out of curiosity.. what does a 2:45 pace mean? I've only done that loop once. And I don't have a time comparison, because I had that spill on whatever that first descent is and an extra mini-mart stop to double check the bike and clean up a little crimson.

[Scott Baker]

In my opinion and experience for my fitness, if you time the loop from the Old Cullowhee Rd/107 intersection, under 2:20 top form, under 2:30 is hauling ass, 2:45 is a good zone 3 effort, and and 2:45+ is an easy pace. Now I know that just riding the darn loop is an accomplishment for some people and I am not trying to say your effort to ride a 3:15 is any less hard for me to ride it faster, but this is my rubric. ;D Of course this is tough for the winter/off-season rides no matter what your time.

[grant]

I'm in as long as my truck isn't in the shop. Been running more than anything else lately so it will be interesting to see how the legs feel. Might as well jump right in the deep end, huh?

[dobovedo]

Thanks Scott. I've ridden with you enough times to be able to use that as reference. I'm in if I can get myself away from work. Weather forecast looks awesome.

[Scott Baker]

Sounds great. Hope to see you all there if you can make it. I have never seen Grant suffering, but maybe this will be it when Joe tightens the screws on Ellijay! I have not ridden over two hours since late November, so my hurt stick is pretty weak. Just working on base fitness (continue sandbagging...)

[dobovedo]

I'm not gonna be able to get away. I got meetings scheduled for me that I can't get out of. I think my boss (who rides) did it on purpose because she knew I'd be tempted by the forecast.

Probably just as well.. between Spinervals 19 (Bending Crank Arms) that has several repeat sets of off-bike squat thrusts/isometric squats, and a race-the-sunset-home TT level effort Thursday afternoon, I'm having a hard time even getting up out of a chair. Hammies are a hurtin!