I propose a "Green Mountain Ride" this Labor day. I put a map on the local loops page of a proposed route. It is a 4 gap ride (out of the 6 gaps). Lincoln gap is one of them, that has near 24% grade on her. Triple rings are common place, and with a 27 on the back, it is still a walker.

The ride is about 112 miles, over Brandon Gap, Middlebury Gap, Lincoln Gap and Appalachian Gap. Each climb nets over 1000 feet of elevation gain.

Downhill's are crazy fast with 50 mph hits and some twisty descents, some of it is unpaved. Caution would be wise.

IF we can get a support vehicle it is totally doable. Look at the map and let me know what you think.

Some nice write ups about the ride here http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html Most info is based on the 6 gap 135 mile route, which I would like to try someday.

I will test ride Brandon Gap and Middlebury gap at the end of this month.

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, so lets plan it ahead of time.

PJ

Why stop at 4 when you can attempt all 6? This ride makes the Local Loops "Newport Region Climbs-A-Lot" look like a warm up, and perhaps that is exactly how we should treat it. I plan to ride "Climbs-A-Lot" before September if there are any takers let me know.

Ryan

I am always ready Ryan

My labor day is open.[color=brown:d1dd099023][/color:d1dd099023] Sounds like a good dend of summer objective.
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

Monday of Labor day weekend has been selected for the epic Ironman distance 4 gap ride.

Times to be announced, but an early start is certain.

Ride support needed as well as team photographer. We may have to start paying for services.

Get those legs ready.

PJ

If that is Sept. 3rd PJ, my camera is available and the op will even be awake!

Dan's new truck should be handy for some support as well - thank you Dan.

H
 
It doesn't matter where you go in life .... it's who you have beside you.

I have ridden over three of these gaps (albiet in speedier times) as part of various races in Vermont. In those days, my gearing of choice was a 12x23 ... so I have gotten over Brandon, Middlebury, and App Gaps in a 39-23. I think that if I was doing a group ride now, I would tackle them with my 12x26 cogset. I have no idea about Lincoln Gap.

One thing I do know is that the roads between these gaps are absolutely beautiful! This sounds like a fantistic ride!

One thing you should consider is that the Green Mountain Stage Race is held on Labor Day Weekend. One of the stages goes over Middlebury and App Gaps. I think the Burlington Criterium will be on Labor Day ... but I am not sure.

Chris

I'm in. The GMSR hits the gaps Friday and Sunday, so we are clear. Can't wait to challenge these climbs.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

You guys have fun. Looks like I am not going to be able to make this one.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

6 AM meeting at Richards School parking lot, for carpool over to Rochester VT. It is over an hour drive to the closest part of that loop in Rochester. It will be a long ride, and starting the ride at 8AM is probably wise.

Expect a long day in the saddle. Get those 27's on soon, as the ride is almost here.

PJ

I cannot believe Dan gave me a support vehicle with ROLLUP windows and no cruise control!!!

Where are the electronics!?!

What if I took away your carbon fiber?

Well, I'll make do but I'm throwing my gps, ipod, xm and inverter in that thing!

H
 
It doesn't matter where you go in life .... it's who you have beside you.

I think Helen needs to be reimburse for all the pain and suffering she will endure riding over the gaps on Labor Day. Do you think a snake skin saddle to go with her new tires would ease the pain? :wink: Nathan
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps_2007.htm


a ride report from 2005. 6 gaps.

Incase there was any question I'm in so long as I can be up in time to catch you guys at Richards.

Who's gunning for 6???

Ryan

My DSL is on the fritz so incase I hear from you guys via phone otherwise I will drag my butt to Richards by 6am on Monday. See you then.

Ryan

Helen and I will be at Richards School before 6 to load the truck. I have room for two more bikes and Mark is bringing his hitch rack so 3 or 4 more bikes can be put on the back. I have two big jugs of water and can carry all the tools, food and water. I also have a back up bike and wheels if needed. Helen has the camera ready and the banana bread is baking as I write this. This will be a fun day.

FYI Helen is calling us wimps because we are only doing 4 gaps instead of 6.

Dan

Here is what I heard,

Yadda Yadda bla bla bla. Yadda bla yadda bla bla yada. Helen banana bread! Yadda yadda bla, going to be fun.

:D
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

Looks like I will be joining in the fun tomorrow. See you at 6

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

My wife manually selected a few golden potato crisps covered in a light sprinkling of baltic sea salt and scandinavian vinegar. She is the best.

PJ

I'm very doubtful anyone will be begging for more after App Gap, besides Roxbury Gap is mostly dirt and we still have to go back over Grandville Gulf on 100.

See you all in the morning. Are we stopping for breakfast, or should we get something before 6am?

Ryan

A thousand thanks goes to Helen for an excellent job as support driver and photographer today, THANK YOU! You were absolutely indispensable and it was awesome to have you there when we all needed it the most.

After 6+ hours of ride time and some of the most brutal climbing I've seen, I don't think anyone was begging to ride the last 2 of 6 Gaps and that was a OK with me.

As planned I noodled the first 2 easy gaps saving as much in reserve for Lincoln Gap as possible knowing the 2 mile finale of 20+ % grade would merit all the the strength I could muster and it did not disappoint. I managed to stay on track and hit Lincoln Gap at my peak performance level for the day and was able, much to my surprise, to conquer the beast. Dan & Mark your encouragement was very much appreciated and helped get me to the top, thank you.

Unfortunately I mistakenly thought that high would carry me effortlessly over the final climb, App Gap, and in the end App Gap proved to be the most difficult climb of the day for me, but some how, and once again encouraged from the summit by my fellow teammates with more in reserve than me, I was able to reach the summit completing 4 of 4 gaps on bike in one very long day of riding.

The weather couldn't have been much better and thanks to Helen, and the rest of the TP gang, I had a great day in the saddle with a great group of people and I'd do it all over again next year, even if I did think to myself several times today, "why am I doing this?"

Ryan

p.s. Thank you NortheastCycling.com for gathering and maintaining information on some of the most brutal climbs known to mankind so that knuckleheads like us can find new ways of inducing pain.

What a great day it was for a ride. In mental preparation for this day there was no doubt in my mind I would be able to ride all the gaps, but Lincoln got the best of me. I will be back next year or sooner and I will have a new plan for the beast. The App Gap was hard too and the other two were just long hills that didn't present any real problem for me. The gravel roads were a pain and I attribute my flat to PJ's short cut. So many aspects of the day were special and will be remembered for a long time. Best of all everyone came and went without "physical" injury. Dinner was good and the conversation fun. Thanks to Helen for driving the support truck. With all the mechanicals and need for food and water a trip like this would not be possible or at least enjoyable without support. Thanks TP riders for a great day.
Dan

Probably made the list as one of the top 10 toughest things I have done.

App gap was the toughest mental challenge. As I had a nice steady pace early and kept it rolling, then the approach to the summit, the grade kicked up and I had to dig deep that last 1K. Lincoln Gap was tough, but mentally I was focused. Got off to stretch my cramping legs, but rode the whole thing.

The Descents were fantastic (cept Lincoln). No idea how fast I was going, since my computer decided to break that morning. Probably just as well, as I have been 50 MPH before, and I am sure I hit it again.

Coming back on 100 was actually a blast, as we had a train of 4, and so did the boys in front. We were always in sight of the fast crew and closed the gap on the flats and descents, but any rise in grade disrupted our momentum and we lost ground again.

Thanks for pulling me home. 2 good cramps coming into town were sponsored by both the Richer boys, who decided once they got to the front, they had to take it up a notch.

Even with the guilt of Dan's flat on the shortcut, we still decided to chase down the O'neill Wagon from heading to Canada.

Kudos to the SAG wagon and its Driver, Helen.

PJ

Sounds like an easy ride, so who made up the entire group?

What a great day I had! Thanks guys for allowing me to share the adventure. Beautiful weather and scenery. It was a very relaxing day for me (except for Lincoln where I could swear smoke was coming out from under the hood - tricky shadows).

I have started putting up photos. The uploads are taking a long time. Likely will not be finished today so be sure to check again in a couple days. Reminder: if you see one you like - double click it for an intermed. size one and you can double click that one for a large view. That may help you ID riders in some of them.

The extremes in light and shadow caused me some grief as well as shooting from a moving vehicle at times. But, all in all, some decent shots. Hope you all enjoy them and they remind you of the fun parts of the day.

I will post all of them (including ones not posted here) on my Flickr site by next Tuesday as well and they can be downloaded there in different sizes using the menu above the individual photos.

[url]http://flickr.com/photos/hmo/[/url]

Again, thanks for the great day. I had a marvelous time and am looking forward to next fall's fun ride as well as my last team shoot of the year during the Pinnacle Challenge.

H
[url]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=Four-Gaps-September-3%2C-2007[/url]
 
It doesn't matter where you go in life .... it's who you have beside you.

Aaron R., Brian C., Dan, Ken, PJ, Mark, Nathan, Ryan, & Helen running support vehicle / team photographer extrodenaire.

Awesome pics Helen! I love your comments as well, especially the one about Dan groaning every time he sees the Lincoln Mtn sign pic. Looking forward to seeing them all.

Ryan

We can do all 6. However when we do, I would like to start on Lincoln gap.

PJ