AoMM Training Ride #2 - Recap

Got to North Greenville University about 9:20 AM. Decided to leave early, so at 9:44 AM we were on our way. I fully expected to see a Bee or two there. I did happen to see one Bolt Brothers Jersey, but sad to say I did not know who the person was.

Callahan Mountain Road kicked my butt again. It comes too soon in the ride and not being warmed up I ended up walking the last few hundred feet. Then it was a chore to try to catch the group I was with. I was just one turn behind then, almost caught up when I hit US 25 up the Greenville water shed. I never saw any of that group again.

Managed to get up the shed and then down Pearsons Falls Road. I do not like this road. I crashed on this descent last year! Taking it pretty conservatively, I managed to descend with about 5 other riders. Now 176 down towards Howard’s Gap was an easy haul. Turned on Warrior road and even that was ok. Stopped for water and a banana at the bottom of Howard’s Gap Road. The first part was actually pretty easy, then it hits about 14% steady for a few of miles. I had my butt handed to me again, and about half way up I was forced to walk. As I walked I watched three people blow out tires on the descent and a few that had to have been traveling at least 50 MPH. I am not that brave, a conservative descent I hit 40 in one or two spots, but tried to keep it under 30 MPH most of the way.

Traveling up the Saluda grade on 176 proved to be an entirely different matter. It started to rain on the way up. When I say rain, I mean big drops, and lots of them. In a matter of minutes I was soaked to the bone and with the accompanying temperature drop, I was cold too. Stopped at the now closed Saluda Bakery to wait for it to let up just a bit. As soon as I turned on Greenville road in downtown Saluda, the heavens opened up again. Big drops, plenty drops. I saw riders pulling off the road to find shelter under any tree they could find. I decide to press on.

Hail. I was now being pelted with hail. Some of them actually hurt too! I still figured it would let up soon. It finally stopped when I started my descent back down the Greenville water shed. The descent was fast, since I was familiar with the road. I actually managed to catch a rider or two. Down at Callahan Mountain Road I made the decision to ride Dividing Waters instead. It adds about 1 mile to the ride but the climb is around Callahan Mountain rather than over it.

Back on Tigerville Road I meet up with Scott. Since we drove down together this is a good thing, we finish the ride together. Refuel up at the University cafeteria and back home. Its time for a nap!

Distance: 57.52 miles
Time: 04:16:00
Climb: 5,329 feet