Bikaroo

[JohnnyB]

Anyone interested in an epic journey into the heart the Cumberland Plateau, the musical event of the season and the heart of cycling oneness, should consider joining me, Rivers and Drummonger's wife as we ride our bikes to Bonnaroo. We depart on Tuesday, June 13th. It will take 3 days. Totally self contained (you gotta carry your own stuff). We will stay in hotels. 70ish miles the first day, 50ish the second and 30ish the third. Bonnaroo arrangements are your own. Get somebody to take your tent/gear with them and meet them there. I have a route planned (although that will probably change as we encounter whatever we encounter) and will make lodging arrangements for whoever wants to join us. Let me know soon. And start riding your bike.

Johnny B out

[kag]

That sounds like hell to me ;-)

I don't "get" riding a bike. Why not ride a horse instead?

I'm just teasing (although I'm not a biker, for sure), but I look forward to seeing all you guys there.

[Ian]

One caveat: Bikes aren't allowed on Bonnaroo proper. I was at the tollbooths when they opened, and there was this one guy who'd biked in with all his gear on a rack & pannier rig. He had to lock his bike to a chainlink fence and carry his gear in (which is entirely doable; just be sure to plan for it).

[Pecktacular]

One caveat: Bikes aren't allowed on Bonnaroo proper. I was at the tollbooths when they opened, and there was this one guy who'd biked in with all his gear on a rack & pannier rig. He had to lock his bike to a chainlink fence and carrying his gear in (which is entirely doable; just be sure to plan for it).

No bikes allowed???...Pfff--and to think that they call themselves hippies...

[Mac Comer]

I'm going to ride an elephant into Bonnaroo!!!

[Ian]

Now that I would pay good money to see.

[Mac Comer]

I'm going to fly in on a robin's back...

[rivers]

Let the oneness begin.

Bikaroo mach 1 departs tomorrow am...leaving from Kroger's at Pellissippi.
See Y'all there Thursday.

We'll be the ones with 3 days of road grit in our teeth.

[kag]

Have fun!

Be safe :-)

See you in Manchester!

[JohnnyB]

Bikaroo #1
Final stats & report:
Day 1 (Knoxville to Dayton)- 88 miles (about 15 more than planned)
5:39 riding time
15.6 mph avereage speed
4890' cummulative ascending
5970' cumulative descending
Beautiful cool day. After Loudon, we didn't pass a single business establishment for at least 3 hours. Totally rural and flawlessly gorgeous. Rolling hills all day, no major climbs. We had to beg for water twice: first from a migrant worker couple near Sweetwater. They spoke almost no english but were all smiles and ice water (phew!) and seemed very interested in what we were up to; and second from a 70+ year old man out splitting firewood. He looked like he'd been at it for weeks and was as healthy and vital as a 50 year old. He gave us cold water straight from his well. Yumm...

Day 2 (Dayton to McMinnville)- 75 miles (about 10 miles more than planned)
5:30 riding time
13.6 mph average speed
4400' ascending
4270' descending
Drop dead gorgeous day. Mid 80's, low humidity, not a cloud in the sky. Climbed the Cumberland Plateau first thing (at mile 4). We had two extra beers leftover from the night in Dayton, so we drank those at the top of the first climb. Descended into Pikeville to a diner that had the best cheeseburger I've had in months. Took a long break after that before we crossed the Sequatchie Valley and climbed up the other side. Traversed the top of the plateau, went through Fall Creek Falls State Park and dropped down Baker Mt. (hey!) and rode the last rollers into McMinnville. Barbecue for dinner

Day 3 (McMinnville to Manchester)- 31.2 miles (exactly what I estimated, finally)
1:55 riding time
16.2 average speed
forgot to set watch for altitude gain/loss but it was pretty flat
Nice hot day of smooth rollers and anticipation for Bonnaroo. Got passed by Tim Lee & Don Coffey Jr. as we rode. We yelled out for beer but our pleas fell on deaf ears. I know they had some but they weren't sharing. hmmppphh...

Add in the festival and I can't remember a week I've enjoyed more. I'm sad it's over.

Baker Out

ps- favorite musical performances in order:
Steel Pulse
Amadou & Miriam
Radiohead
Refugee All-Stars of Sierra Leone
Phil Pollard & Band of Humans
Nug Jug
Death Cab for Cutie
Tom Petty
Beck
My Morning Jacket

[Randall]

Hey Baker, I finally got a bike. After having you and others tell me to start looking in the $400 range, I got a $99 7-speed Schwinn Cruiser. I've been enjoying it the past week. I've hardly run into anything.

[JohnnyB]

Well cheerio to you! Get a helmet. Welcome to the revolution.

Next stop Bikaroo 2!

jb

[Randall]

Well cheerio to you! Get a helmet. Welcome to the revolution.

Next stop Bikaroo 2!

jb

Helmet? ... check.

[Apeville]

Bikaroo #1
Final stats & report:
Day 1 (Knoxville to Dayton)- 88 miles (about 15 more than planned)
5:39 riding time
15.6 mph avereage speed
4890' cummulative ascending
5970' cumulative descending
Beautiful cool day. After Loudon, we didn't pass a single business establishment for at least 3 hours. Totally rural and flawlessly gorgeous. Rolling hills all day, no major climbs. We had to beg for water twice: first from a migrant worker couple near Sweetwater. They spoke almost no english but were all smiles and ice water (phew!) and seemed very interested in what we were up to; and second from a 70+ year old man out splitting firewood. He looked like he'd been at it for weeks and was as healthy and vital as a 50 year old. He gave us cold water straight from his well. Yumm...

Day 2 (Dayton to McMinnville)- 75 miles (about 10 miles more than planned)
5:30 riding time
13.6 mph average speed
4400' ascending
4270' descending
Drop dead gorgeous day. Mid 80's, low humidity, not a cloud in the sky. Climbed the Cumberland Plateau first thing (at mile 4). We had two extra beers leftover from the night in Dayton, so we drank those at the top of the first climb. Descended into Pikeville to a diner that had the best cheeseburger I've had in months. Took a long break after that before we crossed the Sequatchie Valley and climbed up the other side. Traversed the top of the plateau, went through Fall Creek Falls State Park and dropped down Baker Mt. (hey!) and rode the last rollers into McMinnville. Barbecue for dinner

Day 3 (McMinnville to Manchester)- 31.2 miles (exactly what I estimated, finally)
1:55 riding time
16.2 average speed
forgot to set watch for altitude gain/loss but it was pretty flat
Nice hot day of smooth rollers and anticipation for Bonnaroo. Got passed by Tim Lee & Don Coffey Jr. as we rode. We yelled out for beer but our pleas fell on deaf ears. I know they had some but they weren't sharing. hmmppphh...

Add in the festival and I can't remember a week I've enjoyed more. I'm sad it's over.

Baker Out

ps- favorite musical performances in order:
Steel Pulse
Amadou & Miriam
Radiohead
Refugee All-Stars of Sierra Leone
Phil Pollard & Band of Humans
Nug Jug
Death Cab for Cutie
Tom Petty
Beck
My Morning Jacket

Damn- that sounds like a blast- wish I could have made it. I would have work my way up to those rather long daily average of miles, though.

I might try that route sometime in the fall.