The Climbing Challenge

Well Beer boys,

The cycle season is coming to an end, the fall weather coming in and my last big organized ride is over. At the beginning of the year I  had made a commitment to do at least 4 big rides. Mount Mitchell, BSG  6 Gap and of course the Ride across NC/ Solar Bear Ride/Wheel Ride for Beer ride or just a bunch of old guys riding across NC for fun.

Before I compare these rides, the Solar Bear Ride "wheel" call it, turned out to be more than what we ever expected. This is going to be part of the comparison next year and not this year because it only had 10,000 feet of climbing this year in 4 days. Next year since we are planning on doing the NC Blue Ridge Parkway in several days and 45,000 feet of climbing ( not sure yet) it will be compared. Really, we are going to climb that much in 4 days. WHAT!! Can't wait actually, I really love to climb the mountains and don't know why and it sounds insane to some but for those who get it, you get it.

Now to the reason for my post. I am going to give my rating of BSG, Mt. Mitchell and 6 Gap. Mount Mitchell was the first ride and early in the season, but I still must not forget the pain of the bus ride after the ride and of course the 26 mile final climb of 7500 feet without a break. Mount Mitchell tops the hardest of the 3 because it did take longer, it has more climbing and it all comes at the end of the ride and not spread out like the other two rides. At the end we were all spent and little out of it at the end of the ride. None of the guys can deny it for I saw everyone ride in at the top and believe me for about 3-5 minutes I was in the clouds too.

Second place is tough but I have to give it to 6 Gap. Now I said I would have the same bike to ride all three of these rides in order to be fair. However a freak accident that laid my Fuji to rest, I was unable to take the Fuji on 6 gap and the Fuji will never see the road again.  My riding did decrease dramatically after the easy Solar Bear Ride which could also have an effect on my performance and of course another bike I only rode on 6 gap that a bunch of friends help put together for me the day before the 6 gap ride. I was not exhausted after the ride and feel really good the day after. I was hurt fairly bad after getting hit by a 2500 lbs automobile, ( guess who won that battle) a few weeks before 6 gap so I did not ride much and watched

my bruises develop on a daily basis. It seemed my whole body was one big bruise.  However with all that said, Hogpen is longer, tougher than snake at BSG, not to mention you have another little gap called Wolfpen after Hogpen which is just as steep but shorter. 6 Gap has almost 3,000 feet more climbing with the same miles, does not take a PHD to figure which one should be harder. What I do need to say, it does not mean BSG is easy, NC sill wins with the best views, more harder rides than GA. 6 Gap just tops BSG, NC still wins over all on views and scenery as well but the mountains are beautiful no matter where you are.
                                                                                                                   
No matter the toughness of the each ride they were all very much fun and I did not feel exhausted after any of them but felt like I gave it my all in all three. I have met so many fun and real people around the country and the world on these cycling adventures.  This has been an interesting, fun, and short summer and wish all the best in their adventures. Look forward to next year and wish all my friends and family the best.

Just a cool shot fixing a flat

Car wins

Top of Snake

Top of Hogpen

Hogpen in late Winter

Hogpen in the Spring

8500 Ft of climbing

11,230 feet of climbing

2013 Ride to Sunset  - Mountains to the Coast:

Yes we actually did start at the TN/NC border 

Our leader (Beermeister) decided 3 days was not enough, let's ride across the state and after a few beers the rest of the team fell right in line.  The WRFB team even expanded (no not our waist lines) to 8 riders for 2013 and rode for more than just ourselves... we also rode for the Winston-Salem Cancer Services Organization.  Just look at the motley team in the mountains Wednesday afternoon ready to go.

The WRFB Team 2013 aka The Solar Bears 

Additional team name and reason to ride for 2013

Day one: The plan is to ride 30 miles and get from the TN border to 421.  However the wise old Jim has a brilliant idea - let's at least get through the gravel road (GRAVEL ROAD!? these are road bikes), it's only 10 more miles, then we won't have to deal with the gravel section first thing Thursday.  After some back and forth the team agrees.  We are off and rather quickly too - 25.2 mph for the first 10 miles... this mountain thing is easy, all downhill.  We make it to 421 and after several climbs (ok not all downhill after all) we hit a great descent.  David, Carl and I are flying... we get to a good stopping spot and wait for the rest of the team, and wait, and wait.  Uh oh, something must have gone wrong so we head back... sort of.  Too much hill to climb going back with 350 miles to go over the next 4 days, we'll just wait a little longer.  Low and behold our faithful photographer Andrew (thanks to Scott and the WSJ) comes to the rescue.  We learn Philip has blown (and I mean POW like in the batman show) out his front tire.  Matt says its a lost cause, but we have an extra wheel.  A few minutes later, the team is back again and onto the gravel road.  We end the day with 2 more flats due to the gravel and the wives are there right on time to pick us up.  We meet a nice man (Darryl) at the stopping place and wonder where his other brother Darryl is...

The BEERmeister

Day 2: We start the day with a modest pace, man there is a lot of rolling hills for going downhill.  The route is awesome and we are making great time.  We stop and Scott has a call to make.  We get a police escort through Wilkesboro, now that is pretty cool, given the busy route.  We stop at the VFS and confirm, the police will pick us up in town.  We roll into town and there are the police cars, one in front and one in back.  We roll through town like we are important people but most importantly safe.  Thanks Scott that was a nice treat.  We hit a convenience store, have some ice cold water orgasms and head for W-S.  Only one close call with an absolute idiot running an oncoming car off the road and a dropped water bottle (Andy there to help, of course) and we make our way through the foothills.  We see a sign for the  bakery.  Our usual trusty radar (Jim V) says its only about 1,000 feet off our route so we make a detour.  14 miles later (OK really only 2 but it seemed like14) we are at the bakery and lunchtime.  Awesome sandwich, reload drinks, and a known route home.  Jim O must of had EPO for lunch, he is an animal up front and really singing to loud with the ipod. We get to Lewisville and need one last stop for drinks... HEY WE MADE THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER!  Oops got the names wrong, what kind of folks do they have working there?  We roll into downtown W-S and a bevy of beautiful women await - YES it was our wives but hey they are all beautiful.  Off to the W-S Social Club for our usual post ride beverage and good nights rest in our own beds.  142 miles done.

Starting spot Day 2 - Hey where is Darryl?

Oh damm I broke a nail

Gotta get the billable hours in no matter what!

Now what?  Sheesh these guys can't even fix a flat!

I gotta tweet to show the boss I am working

 DAY 3: Back to WSJ headquarters for an 8:00 departure.  WOW we have a balloon canopy and ANOTHER police escort out of town.  Lifelong membership to Scott!  The police escort is awesome, 3 motorcycles and a SUV give us the right of way all the way to the Davidson line, THANK YOU W-S's finest.  We hit midway and no more fanfare, no more escorts, just a long slow climb to Troy.  The weather is awesome and the rolling roads are beautiful. No flats, no traffic issues and best of all, no potential fights for Carl heading into Troy.  We make it to the golden arches and sit down for lunch.  Lots of interest in our ride and lots of "good lucks".  My favorite came from our oldest fan.

Day 3 - Lunch after a hard 55 miles.

Lunchtime for the crew in Troy, NC

Me and Leo Cloddfelter, our oldest fan - she's 94!

The golden arches folks are as nice as ever, filling our water bottles with ice and we are off to one of our favorite stops... the Triple LLL Farm.  The usual ice cream, soda and peach.  We enjoy some down time after 90 miles and head for The Pine Bluff Inn.  We take another dirt road (no flats!) then back to the good old asphalt for the final push to the Inn.  The pool is AWESOME!  Chairs in the shallow end, cold beer flows (Olson is spending way too much time in the deep end - is the water getting warmer?) and a great post ride celebration begins.  We move inside, tequila and even more celebrating.  I barely recall some puppeteering, something about SYP and a big tip.  What happens in Pine Bluff stays in Pine Bluff.  255 miles are in the books.

Love that peach ice cream at the LLL.

The Welch boys never looked so good...

The WRFB Team never looked so good either... and that is after 235 miles!

DAY 4:  Oh my head hurts!  OK everybody's heads hurt.  We start the day a little later than usual, a little slower than usual and boy is it quiet.  Several water stops and we are finally at the big nasty burger joint (can we say Paris Hilton commercial) in St. Paul.  Food was never so good.  The pace is better after lunch, there is more chatter and we are enjoying the flat roads and minimal traffic.   One missed turn with a turn around (who is this guy navigating?) and we come across the sacred watermelon wagon just North of Whiteville.  We eat, leave a couple bucks and the melon carcass on the wagon and then onto the friendliest convenient store EVER in Bladenboro, NC.  I think the whole city is here... we even get asked from a little guy if we are brothers? Of course Olson lies and says we sure are, that kid will be messed up for a long time thinking about that one.    

Day 4 - Thank you watermelon man... whoever you are!

What's broken now? Oh nothing... man the people in this town are so nice. 

We pedal onto Whiteville, the third 100 mile day is starting to wear on everybody - especially the backsides.  I think I could sell my A&D ointment and pay for a year of Abby's college, but these are my teammates and I share.  We get to the Econo "suck" Lodge and OH MY!  It is now the Econo "they have a pool and it is open" Lodge.  OK it is still not the greatest place to stay but hey, the pool makes everything all right.  The pool is great!  Chairs in the shallow end, cold beer flows - much less than last night thank goodness and we keep Olson out of the deep end. A more subdued post ride celebration begins. Dinner at a new mexican restaurant (that will NOT be open when we come through next year - BAD!) and off to bed early.  350 miles done.

The Pool is fixed in Whiteville!  All hail Econo"not sucks anymore" Lodge.

Look out if Jim heads to the deep end...

The BEERmeister strikes again.

Dude whats with the rabbit skull tat and those shorts?  

Got my nails fixed, maybe I need a pedicure...

DAY 5 - THE FINAL DAY!  7:00 breakfast at the International Waffle House (funny I did not see anything International on the menu). Back to the rooms, more demand for the magic ointment, a last tune up of the bikes and we are off to Sunset.  What else can I say, the ride to Sunset Beach is smooth and we click along at a spritely 20 MPH.  Clay (Mini - Scott), our SAG for the final 3 days, does a great job taking care of us Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but espcially Sunday.  The roads are busy and he patiently follows us in the truck with flashers on.  We stop for some photos, over the bridge onto the island and again a bevy of beautiful women await!  This time they have bloody mary's and schrimp burgers!  We really have some great support for our escapades.  A great ride, a great time and even better group of guys!  I enjoyed every minute of the trip (except maybe those couple of hours Saturday morning) and best of all we even helped bring some awareness and financial donations to a great organization.  As of writing this blog, Cancer Services of W-S had donation of nearly $10,000 due to our ride across the state.  Now that doesn't suck!  Oh and Clay, how you feeling their bro?  390 miles in the books.

Day 5 - We made it - 390 miles!

Final destination, bloody mary's, beer, shrimp burgers, beach.  Makes it all worth it.

The BEERmeister is dine and happy.

Sunset at the beach... doesn't suck.

 Fred - aka Diesel!  Enjoyed it boys and look forward to 2014.

Third Time's the Charm

We leave tomorrow for my third ride to the beach. This year we are riding from the Tennessee border. I am really excited that we are raising money for Cancer Services this year. Follow our progress on the Winston Salem Journal 's website:. Www.journalnow.com.

Assault to MT. Freaking Mitchell

The WRFB team or Wheel Ride for Cancer Team completed the MT. Mitchell Assault. I as well as everyone else on this ride is happy and satisfied we completed this wonderful beautiful ride. Oh wait, I did not see any scenery until the top because it was such a grueling climb. As usual we forgot the pain after the ride due to the post ride, except for the 2 hour bus ride to the Marion. There is no doubt this ride is harder than BSG. We are doing BSG in 3 weeks and maybe I will change my mind but I do not think I will.  I have not forgotten the bus ride and never will, that was the worst part of the trip. Enjoyed the festivities after the ride and look forward to the festivities in Boone NC in 3 weeks.  I have forgotten the pain of the actual ride and really enjoyed it looking back. It is fun to lose your group during the ride only to find them again somewhere later in the ride. Happy riding and see everyone real soon!

Congrats to Jim, Jim, Fred, Carl, David and myself!!

3 Hump over the weekend, but which is more challenging?

Well boys,

We had our first long hard ride with a good portion of the group this year. 87 miles with over 8,000 feet of climbing.  If I am saying this correctly we just completed 3 hump in NC, which includes sauertown(spelling) Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain. I have been training in Georgia for climbs this year in the Gaps or Dahlonega GA ( for those of you who don't know what the gaps are).  I was looking back at one of my post in 2011 and apparently we did two of the 3 humps and I said that these  climbs are much harder and intense than the 3 gaps in GA. This past Saturday I said again that the 3 mountain climbs in NC were tougher, so tougher they are, NC wins.  My Bro was in Georgia in early January this year and he did three gap( hungover) and finished them quite easily. We do ride for beer, so for David to have had a huge amount of beer the night before should not be a surprise. Again it is obvious, 3 hump is more challenging than 3 gap.

In comparing 3 gap and 3 hump, 3 gap is only 50 miles versus the 87 miles for 3 hump.  3 gap is about 4300 feet of climbing and 3 hump was 8,000 feet of climbing. Now am I comparing apples to oranges or possible bike to bike for I have a different bike now that I rode in NC two years ago.  The full 6 gap ride which consist of 100 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing is more difficult than the 3 hump ride hands down. However, the big question is which course is more difficult and challenging, 6 gap century or BSG century. This most likely will soon be discovered by the end of September for I will have finished both rides by that time.

I have not completed 6 gap in one full day like I have done with BSG (x2) and soon to be 3 this year. I am hoping ( well not really) to complete Assault to Mount Mitchell, BSG, and 6 gap century this year so I can compare which of these three rides is more difficult and more challenging. As of now, I think Hogpen Mountain (6 gap) is more challenging than Snake Mountain (BSG) which are the toughest climbs on each ride.  I have a fear that MT. Mitchell ( thought I would throw that into the mix) may be the largest animal of all three and it is only 2 freaking weeks away. Happy riding and training to all of you. I look forward to the finish line of each of these rides so we can drink a few tall ones and have shots of patron to celebrate our success and hear the stories. No whining allowed my fellow beer riding buds.

Picture from the Top of Hogpen on April 28th, 2013.  I have slaughtered the Pig and I am ready to Kill the Snake in NC again. MT. Mitchell I have no comment for I just don't want to fight this one.

A long, hard ride for a good cause - and some fun - Winston-Salem Journal: Scott Sexton

A long, hard ride for a good cause - and some fun - Winston-Salem Journal: Scott Sexton


Thought I would include Scott's write up on us. We are actually riding for a cause now. A nicely written article on how hard we are going to train for the annual beach ride and now looks like to include Blood Sweat and Gears which we all complain about doing every year. I hope that Assault to MT. Mitchell is not becoming an annual ride as well!

Weekend of Shame

Shame # 1.  On Saturday I ran in the Hospice 10K.  It was my first DNF ever.  I ran the first 4 miles just under an 8 minute pace, but almost quit after mile 2 - just no energy.  Walked home the last 2 miles after I saw my lovely bride - she was walking and was at about mile 2 - both of us were done. 
Shame # 2.  On Sunday I made the solo journey to Pilot Mountain.  I fought the mountain, and the mountain won.  I had to stop halfway up and catch my breath. I eventually finished the job - proof is in the picture.  Recognize the dew rag, Philip?  Hope you guys did better than me.

Biking Season Opens January 12

Biking season was officially opened by the Beermeister January 12, 2013.  Little Jimmy Olson, Billy Goat Fred and I did the 60 mile ride from home to the top of Pilot Mountain and back.  The day started out with a little fog, and we encountered a slight drizzle in a few places, but overall the weather was nice for a bike ride - temps were probably in the low 60s.

We have a new King Of The Mountain!  Jim Olson has been focused on his bike training for the up coming half ironman and that training paid off yesterday as he was the first up the mountain.

We've got a long way to go, but plenty of time to train.  See you guys out on the road again soon.