Gladius

The photo makes it look worse than it was. The guy in the photo doesn't like heights but as long as you just don't look down/out, and keep a hand on the rock, you're fine

Gladius

There were sections that weren't fun, but we did laugh a lot drifting through the sand. And we met a lot of nice people and got plenty of high-fives and "I can't believe you guys are out here" from people with 300 HP motors underneath them. Didn't see another cyclist all day, so we were sort of rock stars.

TimothyH

Some local gravel in Paulding County, Georgia. This is my favorite time of year in the south - the air is perfumed with ligustrum and honeysuckle, butterflies everywhere and it isn't hot yet.

I started just before sunset and rode with lights. 30 miles and finished up around 10:00 PM.

It was one of those rides where you don't feel like going but are so glad you did half way through.







-Tim-

Bikedud

That's some chunky gravel. Paulding County?

TimothyH

Yes, Paulding.

That's Lucas Rd and Cochran Rd off Hwy 61 if you want to find it on the map. I start at the high school nearby. There are random gravel roads here and there in the area - Mt. Moriah, Jonny Monk, Gore Lakes, Benson Lake and a few others. Worth doing because they are so close for me and really nice to ride after work in the summer.

The gravel in the top photo is relatively fresh, dumped on thick a few months ago as trucks were present to build a gas pipeline nearby. Most of the gravel in this area however is pea over hardpack, very rideable and fast. If you have ridden in the Cohutta Mountains or up near Dahlonega then this will seem smooth.

Where are you located? A friend and I will be riding the Red Clay Ramble route on the 18th and would love to have company.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27442473


-Tim-

RidingMatthew

both of those pictures are awesome.
what light are you using?

TimothyH

Thanks. The ride was even more awesome than the photos

I use a combination of lights. It's probably best to refer you to the post in another thread where I go over the lights in some detail.

The point of that post wasn't to have "A light" or recommend any specific light but to get people to think of lighting as a cohesive system where different lights work together.

Not mentioned in that post are wheels. All my wheels also have Oracal (Reflexite) reflective tape.



-Tim-

Hmmm

Flowers are really blooming here. This is at a park on the edge of the city center that has heaps of single track like this. Perfect for quick outings.

RidingMatthew

thanks Tim. I have a lighting system as well.. thanks for the details. in the other post. I was mostly wondering if that was one light or more than one. also the tape on the wheel is black when no lights hit it? that is what I would consider adding to my wheels for side visibility.

TimothyH

The tape is black. You can see it (barely) in the photos below. .

Don't buy any. I have a ton of it sitting in my closet and will send you enough to do a few wheelsets. No charge. Just PM me your address and I'll get an envelope in the mail. I'm just down the road in Marietta, Georgia so its no bother at all.

LeFreakyBone

I took my new bike out on its first gravel ride today. It was just about 24 miles total.

pennpaul

There seems to be very little "gravel" here as it's either road or MTB (at least to me). I have not seen another gravel bike here in over a year. I switched out my 40mm Kenda gravel tires for 32mm Conti GrandPrix last fall and have been riding 99.9% road. There is a 1 mile section I did miss riding, though, but have avoided it since I didn't know if the tires were capable. Even with the Kenda's, I'd get some slipping on the 12% sections and there is a short section of 15%. I decided I would just walk it if I couldn't ride it.



The rain in Israel stopped about 3 weeks ago and it's getting brown again. This road is used by bikes, motocross bikes, cars, and hikers. It's also a section of the Israel National Trail (hiking, not biking).




That sliver of dirt you see in the upper right corner is where I'm headed. The climb really wasn't as challenging as I remember it, but what made it difficult was the sweat in my eyes and the flies that swarmed me to get a taste.




There are several approaches to the Yad Kennedy memorial, but this is the toughest. After climbing up the trail (about 1/4 from the right side of the pic), you get to this paved switchback section with the grade getting up to 16%. I was pleased with myself because when I first rode this almost a year ago, I thought my heart would explode. Today, it was just another ride in Jerusalem.




Finally I'm at Yad Kennedy. It's the perfect rest stop and turning around point--has a bathroom, water fountain, shade, always a nice breeze, and an excellent view. It makes for a nice 20+ mile round trip.

Paul

TimothyH

No helmet. Reported.

rosefarts

The first mile was downhill but by mile 13 I’d climbed 3100ft. 52 miles total, absolutely brutal but a nice break from the centuries I’ve been doing lately.

LeFreakyBone

I actually meant to pick one up before going on this ride, then it slipped my mind!
I am planning on getting one this week though.

TimothyH

Those vistas!

Here in the east everything is shrouded by trees. It is very difficult to find a vista like that. It is all blocked by the forest, even at the top of the mountains.


-Tim-

TimothyH

I went for a trail run...



And found a random Civil War era iron furnace in the woods. It is difficult to show the scale but this thing is well over two stories tall.

Bikedud

I've ridden Lucas and Cochran several times, though not recently. I usually park around the Hwy 113 end and ride out towards Cochran and Narroway Church. I like to ride in that area and around Braswell Mountain Rd., Brushy Mountain Rd. I live in Cartersville near Dellinger Park and occasionally I'll ride up Dabb's Bridge Rd. and do a loop out towards Paris Mountain/Vinson Mountain and back home. I've ridden very little around Mt. Moriah, haven't really explored much on the east side of Hwy 61.
I've done the Fried Green Tomato 50 a couple of times out of Juliette, but I haven't tried the Red Clay Ramble. I'd like to give it a go, but I'm not quite up to it just yet. I'm currently struggling with a couple of somatic issues on the bike while prepping for BRAG. With the rainy weather in early spring, I'm a good bit behind where I would like to be at this time. I do thoroughly enjoy your post and photos.

TimothyH

PM sent.

Hmmm

Here's a minute or so video from a quick ride yesterday morning. How do I embed here?

https://vimeo.com/336962329

TimothyH

This is the route of the Red Clay Ramble gravel race in Middle Georgia.

The Red Clay Ramble was founded and the route laid out by Benny (Blues Dawg) Watson













-Tim-

TimothyH

This is a great video. Everyone should watch this.

I don't think Vimeo video's can be embedded.

-Tim-

Witterings

Some amazing pics .... I'd love to ride somewhere like that .... The COON HUNTERS sign.... is that Racoons ????

TimothyH

Yes, raccoons. There is a faded raccoon image at the bottom left of the sign.

They can be a nuisance, in the garbage, getting in the barns, carry rabies and boy can they breed.

someone tried to get me to taste some once.


-

Chi_Z

15% avg gravel climb up Qinglin in Xi'an China, made me wish for 36t rear