hoodlum

Is anyone doing CNC next week?

timhines

Yep! There is another thread that got buried. But i'll be there.

hoodlum

I did a quick search but did not come up with anything. I'm looking forward to it. It's starting to feel like fall, should be a good time. What part of the Old North State are you from?

timhines

I live 77 miles west of Asheville.
Looks like we may have some really good weather after this cold spell passes through later this week.
Be sure to introduce yourself if you see me, i should be easy to spot. I'm working registration, i'm tall and have a reddish beard. :-)

BRUCE NORTHCUTT

Let me know if you want a ride to the bus in Wilmington. My van leaves Raleigh at 5 am Saturday morning. See you all in Asheville and along the way. Listen for the country music coming up from behind you. Post response if you want ride to Wilmington.

timhines

Are you trying to repell us with your music? Just kidding.

I hope all of my rides are secure. I have a nasty feeling the person I am going to ride back with will drop out of the ride leaving me without transportation from wilmington to asheville!

hoodlum

When you say "country music" what is it that you mean? If you mean some sort of adult contemporary/pop product that dominates the airwaves, count me out. If you mean Waylon and Merle, I may be having a few brews with you next week!

BRUCE NORTHCUTT

Willie, Waylon, Garth, Steve Earle, Yoakum, and George.

You know, real country songs.

If you miss your Wilmington ride, I can get you back to Raleigh, but probably not Asheville.

gBN

timhines

hey, if I miss a ride I can just take another week off and ride bike home!

hoodlum

How did you manage to pollute that fine list of musicians with Garth?

BRUCE NORTHCUTT

Another week off? Hey, that sounds like a better plan than mine. Checking the vacation and sick leave records right now.

BRUCE NORTHCUTT

I fit the model of "friends in low places" so I had to include him. Wild Horses keep dragging me away.

timhines

So what did you guys think of CNC 2005? It was my first and I enjoyed it. Hope to do it again next year!

hoodlum

Man, did I have a great time. I met a ton of good people, rode some good miles, and enjoyed quite a few beers at the end of each day. The weather forced me to abandon my tent and move indoors but the rain did not really cause me any problems while out on the road. I was disappointed so many people abandoned in the latter part of the week but I am glad so many of us also stayed. I will do it again next year for sure, and there has been some talk between a few of us of riding the whole thing next year on a fixed gear. I am sure we will be quite a sight! What was your take on it? What will you do differently next year?

NealH

Did you guys ride the full journey and, how about a brief ride report. Wish I could have made it this year. I keep my fingers crossed for next year.

timhines

I missed one day. It was the 2nd day of rain, I thought my ride home was leaving so I packed my stuff up and rode with her and her fiance to the next stop. Luckily I found another ride back to Asheville and was able to do the last day of the ride.

THe only thing I would do differently is use a second larger waterproof bag. My B.O.B bag was good, but my secondary bag was pretty small. All of my stuff stayed dry though.

Oh, and I would have pushed harder in the mountain days. I had plenty left over in the tank after the mountains (but that's what i'm accustomed to). It did feel passing over 50+ riders on the first big climb of the first day :-)

hoodlum

I did the full ride. I had my fill of bananas, lance crackers, and PB&J. I had daily mileages of 64,62,77,50,103,72, and 65. I enjoyed the whole trip but wish the weather had held out for us a little longer. I too could have gone harder in the mountains, but better safe than sorry on my first one.

timhines

The only thing I have no interest for is Gatorade for at least a couple months.

Did you have any mechanicals on the trip? My bike held up much better than I expected. I have offically worn out the rear tire though, I ordered a new one today.

Didn't see too many accidents which was good as well. The only accident I saw was a guy that crashed into the curb at the fair grounds in concord. Nasty. But I heard about a recumbent accident and another single bike accident at one of the intersections before Murray's Mill.

BRUCE NORTHCUTT

I was there all seven glorius days. Did any of you pass me? I was on the lookout for name tags but don't specifically remember seeing you guys.

I think the 3 days of rain made it the toughest ride of the six I have entered. Just now getting back to having normal old age aches and pains. What would I do differently? Leave the panniers in the luggage truck and put more speakers on the back.

Bruce in Raleigh

timhines

were you the guy with a radio on his handlebars? If so, I passed you 3 times. Once on day 1, once on the last day (at the church beside lake waccamaw), and one other nondescript day.