All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

It was definitely warm this weekend in NE Florida.

Nice thing about the window unit is ease of replacement. When the original unit started to go, I just went to Home Depot and bought a new one. Same size, actually a few more BTU, bolts right in. Actually made it so the AC is removable to make it easier to park in the garage.

 

I rode oak mtn today and can agree, Alabama….

 

I rode Coldwater on Sunday. Took me about an hour to cool off without blowing chunks. Snapped a derailleur 3/4 down bomb dog and had to walk back.

 

Any plans for July 4th, 3day weekend?


Also anyone else feel free to share biking plans. I’d like to try one cool place for sure, maybe two. Jarrods or somewhere else possibly

 

Prescott National Forest, Spence Basin

 

I can't speak to B-ham as I have yet to visit it.

Frequent:
Duthie for the playground and skills hub.
Grand Ridge as it can be an out/back within 2hrs
Tiger, because tiger (we pass on tiger when it's raining)
Olallie got rained out the day (5/29) we were gonna hit it.

Most of the trails seem to handle the water decently due to trail maint.
Haven't noticed if too hot as the tree canopy seems adequate.
Have noticed too cold in Jan/Feb, so layers/winter gloves/rain jacket for the swoops and DH.

 

My suggestion would be grind all the way up, come down the first 1/3 of black bear and climb back up to do it again. It's that good and saves you from an entire climb. Then come down all the way, climb back up and tackle Stormin Normin.

If you guys are feeling heroic, do all that and then take Flower Brook over to Moose Alley/Moose Deuce area. Moose Deuce was running nice. You can use Butter Tubs for the climb up. From there you can go all the way down to rt114 and New School it back to town.

 

Heck yeah. How was the camping situation? I camped 20mins outside town in the mountains when I was there. Also, how was the trek up Dr. Park?

 

I think we’ll be local and could probably work something in.

 

How is Oak Mtn? We are going to be there in Oct. How do the climbs compare to Coldwater?

 

To be fair to Coldwater, the climbs were easy but long. The heat is what kicked my A$$.

 

It's a grind depending on what way they make you climb. I've never done the race, but I believe they just make you climb the 3 mile road 3 times, but one time is shuttled. I'm guessing. Won't know till they release the map.

 

So another question, I bought a bike flight bag and going to bring my bike along with luggage when driving to Asheville this thanksgiving.

What's my must do places, but not out all day. I'm thinking 2-4 hours per place early mornings.
I figured this
Berm Park, being free and close.
Pisgah/Dupont, I don't know the difference or what trails are the must do's??
Kanuga - probably not, it's not worth $40 for me to go for such a short time.

 

Brawndo. It's what plants crave.

How'd Monarch Pass look? Continually rethinking plans after those folks turned into raisins on the plunge last week...

Team GFC FTW

 

Cooling pattern moving into Colorado soon. Monarch pass is alpine forest with streams running through the many of the drainages. Palisade plunge is desert. Not saying you cannot die on Monarch pass but it would likely be from hypothermia.

 

Precisely bud. Well, lower quarter of the Plunge is desert anyway... Nederland was hot enough last weekend was roasty enough at 8500ft.
Just wondering if there were reports on the ground regarding the snow situation up on the pass. If the trails are clear, heading that-a-way for sure. Usually we wait until after 4th of July, but I've got a free window and need to take it.

 

Appreciate the insight!

 

Ahh, wasn't thinking about snow. I know its a crappy snow year. I'd check with one of the local shops/shuttles in Salida. Or you can look on Strava to see if people are riding the hell out of it.

 

Dupont gets some flack for not being "pisgah" proper but it is still alot of fun. Theres two loops there that are highlights imo - a Burnt Mountain/Cedar Rock/Big Rock loop and a Ridgleline loop. The burnt mountain/cedar/big rock is a fun slightly technical loop with a good scenic lookout on the slick rock. Ridgeline is just a fun somewhat long smooth flow trail.

Pisgah depends on what type of riding you are wanting to get into. Black Mountain trails get a lot of praise, ive only done lower black and havent ridden the upper portions. I havent done Avery/Bennett but those are also popular. Ive done some of the Mills River trails and enjoyed them Spencer Gap/Trace Ridge and would do them again, Fletcher creek is in the same area and if im remembering right it was fun as well.

If you are staying in Asheville, Bent Creek is probably the closest trail network. It's in an experimental forest and you ride through some cool sections of different woodlands. Greens Lick is the more famous trail here as it is a long downhill, but its also a decent climb to get to the start of it.

Kanuga is a decent somewhat typical bike park. Long main climb with a bunch of trails that offshoot halfway or from the top.

East of Asheville is Kitsuma, a trail ive always wanted to ride but never get over there. Long climb, long descent loop.

I'm sure some of the other guys can chime in.

 

CDC have to put up the safest guidelines, hydration is not an easy equation like that. It's so personal, and even situational.
I can usually get away with a single bottle if I pre-hydrate. I try to drink about 1/2 a Nalgene before the ride, and I'm good with an additional 20 oz if my ride is under 3 hrs and temps are under 85*. But if I started the day dehydrated, or it's over 85*, or I'm working harder than usual, etc, that can increase dramatically.
Getting to know your personal needs, being in decent shape, and generally knowing your state of hydration is a huge help in determining what you need.
Milage is not a good way to determine what you carry. For example, riding TWE, I usually bring more than I need (just in case I run in to someone who is out of water, which happens A LOT). In one weekend I drank just one 20 oz bottle one day, the next 120 oz. The temps were different, the crew was different, and we partied a bit the night before.
**After every long ride like that, a cold Gatorade is a must!