Bro GC to return to Mitchell

Ok, I have to admit it. Although I felt like hitching a ride back down Mt. Mitchell because of a little rain storm with 50 mph winds was very unCherry like, I had decided to let it go and cut my Bro a break. Life has been challenging for him in the past year. But after he published his funny video, (still have vomit in my mouth from M. Cyrus) BF laid into him like a Piranha on a ham hock.So, bro and I are heading back up to Mitchell Aug 6 to hit her again. This time it will be two wheels all the way and back regardless of what the big Bitch throws at us. Snow in August? I've heard that it can happen on Mitchell.

More on Mitchell

I can not condone the use of Miley Cyrus music in any grown mans video, but this pretty funny. Make sure you watch till the very end. I think if you know Bro G, you will appreciate it.

The Land Between the Lakes

This trail is literally on the land between two lakes. You start out going North along the shore of one lake, and then you cross over the parkway and go South along the shore of the other lake. The Eastern side is flat and fast and the Western side has lots of hard technical climbing. It makes three ascents from lake level up to the top of the cliff. GK and I had a melee of attacks, as is tradition, while Bro G was smart and brought up the rear. At the end.... we were all toast.

Brother Greg conquers Mitchell

After a spirited mtb ride at Land Between the Lakes on Monday and a Death march ride to Illinois on Tuesday. Brother G Went back for more. He drove all day yesterday across the state of Kentucky and Tennessee to Asheville. He got up this morning and assaulted Mt. Mitchell. True to legend, Mitchell's weather made a turn for the very worse. He found himself shivering in a horrific storm on the summit which read 61 Degrees. Good job Bro G. Now that we have both ridden the tallest mountnains in NC, TN,GA and AL, G and I are considering starting to pick away every states tallest peak. Just one state at a time. I guess next will be Woodall Mtn in Ms. It is only 2 hrs from Cullman and about 850'.

Big River Brew Company

Who was it that said Chattanooga doesn't have a local brew?

Riding the Noog

I guess hard habits are hard to break. Although I had the hotel curtains closed tight and made a point of turning off all of the alerts on my phone, I still awoke about 6 a.m. I managed to sneak out without disturbing the fam .

After a quick gulp of hotel coffee (ick), I hit the streets of Chattanooga on the road bike, headed down River road , along the river front and crossed over on one of the bridges to the Red Bank area. Downtown was quiet and bike routes were well marked. I rode around Red Bank a while and crossed over another bridge back into Chattanooga. This city seems to be very bike friendly.

One highlight on the ride was finding Firefighter Memorial Fountain. This is the site of a criterium that Wig, Ccup, and I raced back during our Pedros farm team days in 92'. The course had a 6% climb and remember it being quite difficult after a several laps. Curtis became a legend in my mind here for his famous attack on a prime lap for a case of Powerade. He tore the pack to pieces and then dropped out to leave the rest of us to suffer. So... one toast to nostalgia.

Looks like my kind of place in Red Bank

Off to play in the Noog the rest the day with the Fam. This evening we will hit the road to Ky and the Farm.

Chattanooga Sidetrack

On the way to the "The Farm" ,this weekend, we made a sidetrack to Chattanooga. Although I have been through here and ridden many routes around here, such as Racoon Mtn ect. I haven't made it downtown in about 18 years. A lot has changed since the Riverfront Criterium days. Downtown seems to have succeeded where so many other Southern city's have failed (i.e. Birmingham). There is a thriving loft, entertainment, restaurant and family culture. There are statues on the corners, beautiful buildings and bridges, cafes with alfresco dinning, Italian ice stands and live music everywhere. The most notable thing ,to me ,is the amount of families out playing in the open fountains, riding in the free pedal taxi's (tips only) and listening to live music after dark. It made for a good night and E had a blast.