Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Ride
Hey, check out our new digs! Thanks, Ross!
So, anyway… a few of us have already talked about a New Year’s Eve ride, since the weather’s going to be really nice this weekend. This one is an advanced ride, with lots of curves and hills, and speeds exceeding 50mph, so please, 125cc+ bikes, only. Here’s the plan:
Meet up at Thorntons (7102 Charlotte Pike, 37209) anytime after noon on Saturday, and be ready to roll out at 1:00 p.m., sharp. There’s 90 minutes of riding, and with three stops, add about 45 minutes. My goal is to get everyone home before dark, so we’re rolling at 1:00! I will get to Thorntons around 12:30, to go over some stuff and hang out to chat.
If you click the image above, it will take you to Google Maps, outlining the route and the stops. If you’re concerned about whether your riding chops are up to it — and believe me, I think everyone I’ve ridden with before can handle this one! — you can check out video clips I’ve taken of some of the more challenging parts (1, 2, 3) to get an idea of how this ride goes. There are numerous gravel driveways emptying onto the route, so watching for loose gravel and sticks, etc., is a must. That said, this ride’s a blast, and I’ll be signalling for road hazards and not ripping around curves at daredevil speeds. We’ll also pull off if anyone falls behind, so ride your ride, and don’t worry about keeping up.
If you have questions, shoot me a message here; everything else will be covered at Thorntons around 12:30, Saturday. Hope to see you there!
UPDATE: @aries is asking if folks might want to also/alternately do a shorter, in-town ride on 12/31 — so please check out her comments and provide your input! Nothing wrong with having two rides on the same day!
I’m going to to my best to be there. It all depends on dropping off my sister in law earlier in the day.
This ride sounds sick! Jeff, you sound completely hyped. The write up is great and the video is very cool. I use mytracks so I am down with that as well. See you there.
@r33sm4n: You will LOVE this ride, or your money back!
Do you think we will be back before 3.30-4pm?
@reticulum: By 4:00, yes. If not, we’ll be 1/2 – 3/4 of the way through the ride at Stop #3, and that’s on River Road. So it’s a pretty direct route back into town if anyone needs to be home early.
ONE other thang: Please dress warmly. I know it’s supposed to get to ~57F today, but some of the hollows we’ll be in probably only see 30-60 minutes of direct sun each day at this time of year, if that. So it can be pretty chilly back in there!
Jeff, im running maybe 10 minutes behind. Don’t leave without me please.
@scootervic: Shame on ya!
Hey hey, I made it. Would have been 1 exactly had I not gone wrong way on Charlotte.
Thank yous to Norm, Richard, Michelle, Ed, Vic, Dan and Franck for coming out, today!
Awesome ride. I’m glad I made it. Thank you Jeff. Happy new year to all of you.
I’m glad everyone seems to have had a good time on the ride. We’ll do it again… but don’t forget my challenge to find some other rides in the area of similar length and entertainment value. @r33sm4n said he thinks there might be a good ride out White House way… and I’d like to see Oliver’s “back to school” ride mapped out, as everyone raved about how good that one was, too.
If I can, I will try to expand on another one I like that involves the northwest sections of Old Hickory Blvd., near Madison.
I know of a few rides that are fantastic, but getting there isn’t a quick ride either.
Well, every ride’s starting point is gong to be a shlep for someone, right?
I mean, we had people attend this last ride coming from as far away as Donelson, so… that shouldn’t be a concern. I’d just try to plan the meetup point somewhere easily found, and preferably at or near a gas station.
I’m a type of excursion person. I’m an avid backpacker, an Appalachian Trail hiker, and a mountain climber. I’m thinking of pushing a few warmer weather (April-later) rides down to Chattanooga area, and north into the Cumberland Trail hills. Pack a tent or hammock, sleeping bag, some food..and go ride for a few days.
There’s several good rides: low speed, twists; around the Fall Creek Falls area, as well as up near Land between the Lakes.
If we could gather some people for a great weekend ride out to these places and willing participants, I can arrange a vehicle to follow us with gear, parts, tools, gas, etc..
Spread wings!
@scootervic — That’s where I’d break the distinction between a “ride” and a “trip”; any time you’re talking potential all-day or overnight, that would, in my mind, constitute a trip. Both are good, and ideas are welcome for both, but my particular challenge is centered towards rides that people can do on a weekend afternoon with ~90-minutes of riding, and ~90-minutes of stops and socializing.
When the weather’s warm, I’ll be up for a long ride, but the CPAP and the (present) money situation make overnight trips unlikely for me in the near future… but planning for a good, long one would be welcome! Lots of people here have in the past mentioned doing just such a thing, but other than rides to the ‘Nooga, I don’t think any have happened.
@jprestonian – See my topic in Rides about taking long distance trips. I’m going to drum up some chatter, and see where it goes. For afternoon trips, how about down around the Old Hickory Lake, down to the dam. There’s some pretty low speed trips around the west side of Radnor Lake around the pretty homes and fields.
@scootervic — We need plans for all kinds of rides and trips, yes! If you can, try to whip up a map, and let us know where to find it.
If anyone needs help with ride planning aides, I can speak to the Android side of the smartphone apps; perhaps Ross or Jason can speak more to the iPhone apps.