RIDE NAME: Mills River Park - Fish Hatchery Century
RIDE LEADERS: Dawn Barr, dcbarr@live.com, 828-845-2201 and Bud Whitmeyer, bud@whitmeyerconsulting.com, 919-605-5457
• Be sure to add my phone number if you are carrying a cell phone, in case you have an emergency or get separated from the group.
RIDE DATE AND TIME: Thursday, February 8, 8:00 AM
RIDE START LOCATION: Mills River Park, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
RWGPS LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45517741
RSVP: RSVP Here
RIDE DESCRIPTON: Continuing our Dozen Centuries in 2024, we'll be riding this Thursday in NC. The weather looks promising this week. With forecasted temps threatening to turn colder later in February, this week looks good.
This mostly flat century starts at Mills River Park. We'll head through Brevard to Rosman. Leaving Rosman, our only significant climb is up the easy side of Walnut Gap starting at mile 45. We'll return through Brevard with a 17-mile out-and-back section to the Fish Hatchery. We have 4 rest stops planned on this route: Marathon Store (#1 and #4), Jarrets (#2), and the Fish Hatchery (#3).
We're planning for two groups. The goal is for each group to stay together. Although if you start out in the faster group, you can always drop back to the slower group.
C Pace - Dawn will lead this group at an average 14ish mph pace.
B Pace - Bud will lead this group at an average 15-16 mph pace.
This is a NO-DROP Ride because we'll need to keep to a tight schedule to finish by 5pm (especially if you're riding with Dawn). Always ensure you have the route and are fully self-sufficient to complete the ride on your own and have the ride leader's cell number. There is no SAG, other than what you arrange for yourself.
PARKING CONSIDERATIONS: Park at the back of Mills River Park. Restrooms and water are available.
HYDRATION, NOURISHMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF RESTROOMS: We'll stop for restrooms, water, and snacks along the route.
EQUIPMENT: Helmets and water bottles are mandatory. Have the route on your bike computer, phone, or printed cue sheet. Front facing headlights and rear blinking lights are highly recommended for this ride and required on the Blue Ridge Parkway unless appropriate reflectors are attached. Your bike must be equipped with the necessary lights or reflectors in accordance with applicable North Carolina and federal law and statutes governing bicycles. You should be fully self-sufficient for repair of flat tires or small mechanical issues.
NOTE: All rides leave promptly at the time stated. Give yourself enough time (at least fifteen minutes) to get your bike unloaded and all geared up!
WEATHER: Please remember if the weather looks "iffy" or gets bad before the start date and time, then the ride leaders may not be there and you will be riding on your own. We will try to send out an email if that happens, but Western NC is a very large area and some places could be sunshine and other places bad weather.