We're off for the Smoky Mountains
 

Not the ones in Western North Carolina, but the ones between California and Nevada.

We're taking off for the Death Ride tomorrow afternoon. Current forecast calls for a high of 89, down from 96 a couple of days ago. Lows that morning should be around 56.

The NWS has recently issued an "Air Stagnation Warning" for the region. From what I understand, that basically says to not be surprised if I don't get to escape the smoke after all.

My body weight is down from last year and my bike is about 4 pounds lighter as well. My only concern is with my 50/36 compact crank. I'm used to riding a triple at the death ride. I hope that I have the horses to not burn all of my matches on the first 4 passes so that I can feel well heading into the final big climb.

I was planning to take this year off of this ride. One of my riding buddies pushed really hard for all of us to join him this year for his first attempt. We reluctantly agreed and then he goes and gets Mono and sells his ticket online.

http://www.deathride.com/images/photos/elemaplg.jpg

Good luck to you. Be sure to hog the road. ;)

Good luck.

Good luck with that. How many feet of vertical is that?

They used to say 16,000 feet. Now they advertise 15,000+ feet of climbing. My buddies altimeter last year said something like 16,150.

I want to do this sometime. IT is only 3 hours from my house, I need to get out there and get ready for somthing like this one of these years.

I love Markleeville. WHat a nice area.

Good luck BG. I think there are some smal plasnes that would struggle carrying me to 16,000 feet, so I find your ride very impressive. Do report upon completion.

Allow me to write the first sentence: "I'm never doing that again." He says that every time.

That sounds like me during an Ironman. I lie to my body telling it, "I'm never doing that again."

This is one hard MF ride. Only tough suckers such as steel, creek and Goose can weather that storm.

Please do not lessen the misery that goose is about to endure by throwing my fake name in the mix! I am not up to the task.