Six Gaps - September 28th: who's in?

Also, will likely be camping out for the weekend ... going for the entire granola effect   I reserved two camping spots last June at Vogel state park (nestled at the bottom of Woody's and Wolfpen). 

For those that might be interested, there should be room for an additional tent or two based upon the size of the camping sites received in the past. (Knew those Cub Scout campouts would come in handy.) 

More the merrier.

I go up there every other week and ride the 3 gap. We leave out of duluth around 6 and are home around noon. My first time riding them I had a 11-23 casette and it will dfinately put hair on your chest. Since then I have opted for the 12-27 and it is much more enjoyable.

OK...what's an 11-23 casette?

A cassette (rear cogs) that has a range in number of teeth from 11 to 23. The larger the rear cog, the easier the bike is to peddle, so a larger rear cog allows you to climb steeper hills. Which is why a 27 (the largest generally available for most road/tri bike setups) is useful when going up long, steep climbs.

Abbey,  we ride the gaps fairly frequently.  Lawyerchick and I are planning on doing the bottom three either this week or next.  You are welcome to ride with us.  The route we do on the bottome three is 35 miles.   We do a 40 or 50 mile ride on the upper three.

FYI, you do not have to do the whole 100.  You can do the three gap fifty ride.  LisaB did that last year.  I certainly would not sign up for the 100 until I had ridden the back three a couple of times.  If you do the century, Hogpen Gap starts around the 72 mile mark and then Wolfpen starts around 80 miles.  In the TdF thread, you asked about mountain ratings.  TdG rates Hogpen a category 1 climb.

Since you live so close, one suggestion might be for you to go up to Turner's Corner and park.  You could ride up Neel's gap and back down a couple of times.  If you can do that ok, I would think you could do the bottom three ok.  If you still have my number, you can call me and I will explain the casette, gearing issues, and the ride in general with you.   

I will get in touch with you when we ride.  I am leaving the time up to Meredith.  Either Falls-Runner or I usually post our rides ahead of time.  We have not done them as often this year because of gas prices.  I will get in touch with you whenever we go next.  I would like to do all six starting at Stonepile some time soon if you are interested.  I think that is a 75 or 80 mile ride.

Neal ... add me to the list of potential participants too as I'd love to ride with y'all. 

That said, my efforts to remain married require a rather limited hall pass - meaning I have to be back to Johns Creek around noon. 

Not sure what time you generally leave, but in order to get back by then it would mean leaving Johns Creek/Duluth/Alpharetta at the crack o'stupid. 

Done... you are on the list...  When we ride with David O'Rear (Falls-runner) we ride very early on Sunday mornings.  David does not like Saturday's due to traffic.  The last time I went with him on Saturday morning (last year) which was against his better judgement.  He had a close encounter with a Harley that wound up with Harley sliding off the road (no injuries).  The last few times that we have ridden have been at 7:00 am Sunday mornings.  I am a bit more flexible than David, but he is my hero on the gaps so I do what he says. 

Neal,

 Steph and I want to do the front gaps in the next few weeks.  Right now I was thinking of Sunday the 24th.  I'll post something when we get a little closer to the date.

First time I ever rode in the Gaps was when I did the ride last year - did the 3 Gap option and had a blast.  I had my cassette changed out to a 12-27 right before the ride and it was the right choice for sure. 

Have riddent the front 3 gaps many times and it's a blast.  Rode the back 3 this summer for the first time and I won't swear to it, but it will most likely be my last.  If it weren't for Falls Runner talking me through it don't know what I would have done.  For sure Hogpen is the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike.  And I did 3S3M century this year.  Hogpen wins hands down.

I sadly will miss 3 Gap this year as I too will be up at SCHIM doing the bike a the Go Go Girls relay team!

Cannot tell you how many times I have heard this ... but as I have yet to do Hogpen I am embracing the bliss of my ignorance.

The front three are fun.  I particularly like to park at stone pile and use the ride towards Turners Corner as a warm-up for Neal's, then the steep side of Wolfpen and then Woody's.

Despite doing the backside of Woody's on my tri-bike (with a 12-27) in aero I still have yet to join the 50 mph club.  I am sure that the descent of Hogpen will afford that opportunity - but not sure that I would take it based upon the number of accidents I have heard about there.

The bike-car thing at St. Anthony's has given me a dose of caution that I used to throw to the wind.

Pansy.

Neal is a total sandbagger on the Gaps. Just thought I'd throw that out there!

I'm in...again.  This will be my last long ride (with T-run following...yes I'm an idiot), before B2B Taper.

I'm riding the back three this weekend. I'll be starting at the intersection of 280/129 this Sunday at 7 am if anyone is interested. PM me if you need directions.

 I am in if I am in town.  I will let you know tomorrow.  I am going to start another thread for this Sunday's ride so that we do not further hijack Brian's thread for the Six Gap Century check-in.  Fyi for everyone, this is for the back three gaps. If you have not ridden the gaps, read LisaB's post here on Hogpen.  That being said Brown_Dog_Us (Doug) went up Hogpen on his tribike on his FIRST ride up a few weeks ago as I very humbly inched up it with my compact crank (34/50) and 12-27 cassette.  He is now a part of Legend and the lore of Hogpen gap just below the legend of David O'Rear who may be better known to some of you as the King of the Mountain or High Priest of Hogpen.  

 I think Doug and Stephanie want to do the bottom three the follow weekend and since I am out of work, I could be talked into going during the week.