Helotes Ride Report #1

Di Anna and I drove from the hotel in San Antonio to Helotes and parked across the road from Floores Country Store. Unpacked the bikes and headed over to Scenic Loop Rd. The ride was great - we had some low water corssings that were a bit high, and plenty of the short hilly stuff in the 8-12% - Di Anna was hungover and turned around into a stiff breeze at the Scenic Loop Cafe. I continued on looking for the airport, and then found myslef in Boerne (there's a fantastic dance hall here) and turned around at I-10. Took the Babcock-Cielo Vista Loop and encountered more incredible hills - just lots of stingers with occasional 15% grades. After the ride we went Floores Country Store and had a burger and a beer!

Ride Report

Nice group to Sturgis via Silver Ridge: Mike, John, Matt, Mike M., Tanner, Di Anna, Joel, Paul, Mary and Kristin. John returns early via 12. Matt, Tanner and Mike M. stronger into Maben ahead of me and Mike. Joel, Di Anna, et al. return via Self Creek-182. Mike and I join up in Maben with others, then faster to Pheba via Hatcher Rd. Stronger riding return 389. Tanner takes sprint ahead of Matt.

Six Gap 2006

Rainy in Georgia. Zurich did well. Neals Gap longer than expected, but had beautiful twisty bits toward the end. Borders exceeds own expectations. Fifty miles plenty long enough for all the poor weather.

Di Anna's Birthday Metric

Sunday Refuge Metric. Mike, Di Anna, Chris (visiting from NC) and Racer Ron. Being DI Anna's birthday we headed to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. Ron was amped up, and the pace a bit higher than she liked and we waited up a little before she said go on, and then we were compato at the Visitor's Center, which was closed. We noodled on, while Ron, needing water, searched for oases. Farther up the ride and Mike and Chris turn back to get Ron. Di Anna and I headed on, and she wished me well as I joined the group, returned from the refreshment, to Bevill Hill. Ron and Chris made a good bit of work on the hill, with Ron topping first. I caught up on the backside and we ambled into Betheden. I was more recovered on the return and rolled across the backside of Bevill with more energy, and then let the racers fly past on the downhill section. Mike held up, and then I followed on as he caught Chris, and then a mile later, Ron. After stopping at the rest rooms for water (there is a well valve outside; though I was the only one to immediately notice), Mike motioned us on that we might catch up to Di Anna - but we didn't realize that she had turend back far earlier than we knew, and the catch wuld not happen. A bit of a sideways wind returning Oktok, and then Ron sprinted to the corner nearing town, but his wheel fell in with a gully, and there being only one way to go, he smartly, and quite deftly rolled down the embankment, and up the other side - unscathed! Mike remarked that he was the only one to sprint and yet still didn't win. Nu Grape soda on return, and Di Anna rolls by the shop later and has one too - Happy Birthday!

Witch Dance Metric Century

This is a classic out-and-back metric on the Natchez Trace. The ride starts at Ballard Creek, a historic area and picnic area about five miles South of Mathiston. This is a good staging area for a group ride as well because there's plenty of parking, though there's limited shade. From Ballard Creek ride North, pass Pigeon Roost, and then over highway 82 and northward along a flattish section of the Trace that turns a little more hilly after topping out at about 10 miles (this point is called Eight Mile Hill in some of the routes).

Along the way, you'll pass Line Creek, from there it's a few miles before you reach County Line No. 2, a convenience store in Mantee right off the Highway 46 exit. Then continue on to Old Trace. After Old Trace it's a 10 mile stretch to Bynum Mounds, an ancient memorial and burial site for the Chickasaw Indians. From here you could turn around for a perfect metric, but Witch Dance is only a mile down the road and has lots of shade, rest rooms, and a great story.

Smith Road Metric

I call this one the Smith Road Metric because it's a metric century and the second turn-around point is at Smith Road on the Natchez Trace, some five miles south of the Jeff Busby campground. Technically speaking, this is a double out-and-back, which allows for plenty of refueling (one time at your car so bring a cooler), or if the winds are contrary and you're too tired to continue, an easy out after only 36 miles.

Park your car at Pigeon Roost - the historic area about half a mile south of Mathiston, MS on the Natchez Trace. The first out-and-back is north for 18 miles to Old Trace - along the way you'll pass Line Creek, after rolling down the highest point of this stage at the eight mile point (I call it Eight Mile Hill, though this only really applies if you're coming from Pigeon Roost). Next up is Highway 46 and, if you need to refuel, the County Line No. 2 convenience store. I haven't used their restrooms - but they have plenty of cold bottled water. Then just a few miles past this is Old Trace. From there it's time to turn around and head back the way you came. The hardest part is the long uphill section back up Eight Mile Hill - it's not steep so much as just one of those that just keeps on going up - in a low gear it's an easy spin.
The nice part about a double-out-and-back is that you can stop at your car and pick up some more water,a beer, donuts, or even bananas. Then it's southward again, but after three miles the road turns rough and stays that way. Another Old Trace comes up at the 41 mile mark, then five miles later it's Jeff Busby - a very popular place on weekends as it's the only place to get gas that's right on the Trace - there's a good convenience store there, and clean restrooms - but save all that and continue southward to the highest and steepest point of this route, a sneaky 3.3% grade at 46 miles. Then onward just a few more miles to Smith Road - time for a breather, then back around, The return climb doesn't seem as bad. After stopping at Jeff Busby for a refuel you look forward to where the road turns smooth. Officially you'll have completed 100 kilometers before the road stops chattering about on hands and seat, and then you are treated to a very welcome return to the car on what feels like the smoothest and best thing ever.

GTR Out-And-Back

Here's a good mix of an urban start with rural road riding and notable landmarks to land you at the the air-conditioned, vending-laden (yet free cold water) regional airport terminal a few miles west of Columbus. The route starts at the intersection of Jackson and Garrard, which might make for a nice extension for riders inbound from Pheba on Highway 389. The first few miles are north on Montgomery to Butler Road. Turn right on Butler and enjoy a bit of rural sprawl for several miles, passing over a few creeks, and then a short hill topping out at Stowood. Right on Stowood, more unkempt roads, and soon enough the Highway 82 bypass appears on your right. Continue along to Old West Point Rd and turn left at the church with the steeple. Old West Point Road is much smoother than Stowood, and a bit more hilly as you wind around a VFW post, then short rollers to farmland, where the road straightens out and levels at 16 Section Rd. Turn right at 16 Section and watch for trains. Farmland. Descending gradually to some trees look for Sonny's BBQ on your right, then turn left on Highway 182.

Highway 182 is a two-laner with mostly moderate rolling hills. Soon enough you'll pass the State golf course on your left, and then settle in for a good pace on to cross under Highway 82, then over US-45, but not before passing another BBQ joint on your right. After the community college the road takes on a service-road demeanor, passing through more open farmland, and the big, busy highway on your left. This is probably the flattest section of the route, yet it ascends ever so to 789, where you take a right and continue along a nice section of road to the terminal. Refresh yourself at KGTR. Clean restrooms, cold water fountains, vending machines (with sports drinks), air-conditioning, CNN, and mechanical voices telling you to please watch your belongings.