Tennessee 200K Ride Report

Tennessee 200K Ride Report
3/24/2007
By Davey Haynes

Jeff Sammons, our Nashville RBA, deserves credit for a really pleasant little 200k course. The course starts SW of Nashville in Kingston Springs and meanders to the SW, crossing over I-40 a few times before turning North at Only and then bending back East at McEwen. The terrain features only a couple of steep climbs, basically at the start and finish, with lots pleasantly rolling hills on very lightly-traveled country lanes. The few times we were on more significant roads, a small but adequate shoulder was available.

We had a unbelievable weather for a spring 200k, with sunny skies and temps at the start around 60F, increasing to perhaps 85F by rides end. I wasn't used to needing sunscreen on our spring 200's. We departed at 7 am and immediately faced the steep climb out of the inside of the "pinnacle" of Pinnacle Hill. I rather liked this arrangement, the climb providing a quick warm up to the still chilly morning air.

We proceeded on with a relatively large (12-ish) front group to the second control at about mile 33. The pace was quick, a little too quick for me with the lack of miles in my legs, and I was not unhappy to see that they had left while I was in the john. With 50 miles to the next store, I slipped an extra bottle of water in my jersey pocket and departed the control alone. Within a few mile I came upon Jeff Sammons and two others whose names I can't recall. A few pulls later we came upon David Sutton, and after that our little group remained more or less together for the rest of the ride.

The next control, on the most outward portion of the course, was an information control. Somehow, both David and I missed it even while looking for it (on the wrong side of the road), and had to backtrack half a mile. Jeff jokingly chided us that it was a great big white sign (and it was). After recording the required info, we hammered backup to our little group and into the next control at McEwen.

There, we had lunch of sorts, and succumbing to temptation, I indulged in a greasy corn dog, a decision I was later to regret. We departed on the next segment, which I think was the highlight of the course (although it was all nice). David reckoned that parts of it were included in last year's BRAT, which he had ridden. I just rode along behind enjoying the scenery and wishing that corn dog would digest. Within 10 miles my gut bomb was gone and I resumed trading pulls with David and Jeff.

The last control before the finish was at a country store only 10 miles from the arrive. This was interesting as shortly after our arrival, 5 vintage cars (as in model-T type, although I'm not expert and couldn't say what they really were) pulled up. We had some interesting discussion with the owners, us asking about their cars, they asking about our ride.

The last 10 miles featured a series of ridges, each dropping away to another crossing of the Harpeth River. Finally, crossing the river for the last time, the bridge terminates in a steep wall. Rather intimidating, although it looked far worse than it really was. The final turn, onto Pinnacle Hill road, features a similar climb to that at the start, followed by a high-speed drop back to the arrive. I finished sometime around 3:20 pm, having greatly enjoyed Jeff's pleasant little 200k.

Davy Haynes
Huntsville, AL

NW Florida 400K Ride Report

NW Florida 400K Ride Report
March 17, 2007
By Jeff Sammons

Bill Glass and I drove down for the NW Florida 400K this past weekend. There were about 20 riders at the 5:00 am start with temperatures in the low 40s. The front group left the hotel extremely fast with several Bacchetta recumbents out front. Several of us tried to catch the lead group, but finally gave up and settled in at an average pace of just over 18 mph out to the second control. After the third control, we turned north and fought the head winds and cross winds for the next 50 miles as we made it up to the 4th control on the Alabama border. While the temperatures did warm up during the day, the north wind we were fighting made it seem a lot colder.

Just before the 4th control, a pickup truck made a u-turn in the middle of the road and forced Bill and a recumbent rider off the road. Bill wound up with some road rash and a bent spoke, but otherwise came out OK. He patched himself up at the next control and announced that he would have to take it slower the rest of the day. His slow pace didn't last long though.

The course is composed of a 300K leg that winds up back at the hotel, followed by a 100K leg to complete the 400K. Several riders decided to DNF once they got back to the hotel. We finished up the 300K leg just under 14 hours, and rested for a while before we started the 100K loop. The lead pack of the Bacchetta recumbents and a lone single bike finished the 400K route shortly after 14 hours. The guy on the bike complained about not having anyone to draft off of all day.

After putting on some warmer clothing, our group of four riders were off to complete the remaining 100K loop. Now that the sun had set, the temperatures were dropping back down into the 40s. We set a fast pace out and back, for night riding, and finished the ride around 1:00 am. Total climbing was approximately 5,500 feet (Polar) for the 400K.

Thanks to Joe Arnold for putting on another good Brevet!