| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
44.65 miles
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Altitude Gain:
3,620 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.25 mph
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Route:
Cheaha Mountain
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 154 bpm
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Avg HR: 122 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look Blade RS 795 Iconic Ltd Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 83 F N wind @ 3 mph |
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I drove south about an hour from Gadsden to Oxford for a climb to the highest point in Alabama. I had worked in Oxford over the years and Cheaha was a frequent ride. Usually, I would climb the western side of the mountain up Cheaha Road to the park and descend on the Talladega Scenic Parkway. I had ridden it before in the opposite direction and was disappointed as the road was narrow, twisting and had a poor surface making for sketchy descending. The scenic highway had significantly less turns, but the road surface was primo and allowed for some high-speed bombing. Wasn't sure of a safe place to park in Oxford so opted to start the ride about halfway down the descent on the parkway at a scenic overlook. The descent has a couple of half mile long twelve percent climbs and so had to start climbing on one of them to kick off the ride. After that it was a few miles of downhill into the valley going around the park to start the climb on the other side. Ended up having to do a few miles on a four lane as the sideroad I used to use had a bridge out. I rode a couple miles on the side road despite the bridge out sign in hopes that it would be passible by walking. Unfortunately, the road surface kept deteriorating and it I decided to backtrack to the highway in lieu of dodging a couple more miles of potholes to find out that the bridge was impassable. Highway had quite a little traffic but most of it had a good shoulder. The climb is several miles long with mostly moderate grades hanging around five percent with occasional short ten percent sections. It does get steeper over the last two miles. It isn't steep enough to require switchbacks but the guys that built the road must have used a snake for a guide. It makes for an entertaining climb. Highlight of the ride came as I was climbing with my head down and nearly ran over a rattlesnake that was basking in the road. I swerved quickly to avoid hitting it, but it didn't even react to my going by. I did make an error when I swerved going around it as I went around the striking end rather than the rattling end but at least I didn't hit it. Not an optimal reflex. I had a pretty good climb overall but lost my momentum over the last mile of climb and was back in the granny gear. Had a few miles of downhill before one final wall back to the overlook. Ride turned out to be a bit shorter than I would have liked but couldn't convince myself to add any miles on and went on some hiking trails in the park instead.
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