Pedal with a Purpose century?

I bet Neal would ride with you.

Sure, he is going to sandbag and say he could never keep up with you, but he'll still do the century. 

Hmm, I am not liking that I am doing a sufferfest with at least one of the Browndogs there to witness it. I thought we were in this sheit together? Atlanta marathon, 5k/10k doubles, Twisted Ankle, Hospitality Highway, SC HIM. WTF guys? Dissing you peep. Where. is. the. love?Is it still about the brussel sprouts?

Karen? Karen are you gonna be there? Greg you ride faster than me. Courtney come out and play please. Lisa? Katie? Neal?

I don't know if I am in 100 mile shape either but I've done hundred with less riding and survived.

Nat...I've got my tissues ready...  I've ridden just about all of the roads included on the 105 and other routes.  Burnt Mtn is essentially a Gap (not as bad as Hogpen, but certainly not Woody).  The first 19 miles of the ride are reasonable and then you hit the "up" portion of Yellow Creek - not steep, just a slog.  At about mile 23, the road flattens a bit but it's still a net "up" to the end of Yellow Creek.  A quick right and left and you're on Steve Tate, headed toward Big Canoe, but you turn left on Cove Rd before getting there.  If I recall Cove, it's got a few steep rollers, but otherwise it's not bad.  Then you hit Burnt - or maybe it hits you; either way, you're climbing and will be until about mile 44-45.  Then you get to enjoy a nice downhill where speeds in excess of 40 can very easily be reached.  You want to be careful toward the bottom of the descent, because the turn to Steve Tate comes up quickly and you'll be carrying a lot of speed due to the road still pointing down.  Once on Steve Tate, it's about 9 miles of rolling terrain and some moderate climbing back to Hwy 53, where a quick right and left will put you back on Yellow Creek.

Enjoy this section of the route, because it's a net "down" and you can let the legs recover a bit.  A bit before mile 66, you'll turn right onto Conns Creek.  More recovery to mile 69 and then a right turn onto Moody/Cherry Grove.  I'm not familiar with this section, but guess it's a net downhill as it loops around and back into Conns.  Once back on Conns, the adage "what goes down, must go back up" comes into play.  The first part of Conns going back is not bad, but between mile 75-76.5 you'll hit some short but nasty stuff.  Folks training for IM Lake Placid or Coeur d'alene love these roads for this reason.

Now, once back up Conns (around mile 77), give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the road ahead, first on Yellow Creek and then on Old Federal Hwy.  I've not ridden Old Federal Hwy (that I remember), but if it's like Yellow Creek going the same direction, it'll be a nice ride.   Before long, you'll be on Wallace Tatum, then Heardsville, then County Line and immediately onto Howard.  With the exception of a bit of a climb at mile 91, toward the end of Howard, everything from the top of Conns until mile 98 is pretty reasonable.  If you've been taking in fluids/nutrition/sodium/electrolytes, your legs should be able to recover nicely for the last miles.

Mile 98 is also known as "Freemanville" (as in the steep section near the intersection w/King Rd).  At this point, you're almost home but you're going to have to work for about 1/2 of the next 7 miles back to the school.

It really is an awesome route - yes, very challenging, but also very awesome.  I really want to ride the full, but am just going to have to see how I feel after a week at the beach (we're leaving @ 10AM today).  Either way, I'm in for at least the metric or I may "roll my own" 80-something miler.

See you soon!

Thanks Lou for the breakdown. I guess it sounds doable.

Anyway, a reminder that there is a fee increase for the ride after 7/18.

very weird. I paid $35 for both the 62 and the 100 yesterday. I know the organizer wants riders and will be willing to work with people. She is currently out of town but will be back tomorrow and I am sure will handle appropriately. I would say if you want to do 60 or 100 just pay the $35 price and email her accordingly since the website says there will not be a price increase until after 7/18.

Who is riding the 100? I am solo.  Just curious if there will be any familar riders out there I can hang with.

X2

There hasn't been enough singing on my rides lately.