[BigSur]

I am heading to AR at the end of August with some buddies and we are riding The Womble and Earthquake ridge. Now i am the only one heading there with a ss (everyone else is on fully's) and i was wondering what should i expect with my SS? Any gear recommendations? Coming from Dallas i pretty much stick with my 2:1 since there really aren't many hills here but for the AR trip i am thinking of 34:20 for the hills.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[brewSSard]

Womble

I haven't ridden Earthquake Ridge, but I've SS'ed the Womble many times and
it's great. I wouldn't go too low, as there are lots of relatively flat or slight downhills
where you can really fly. The climbs aren't particularly long or steep either.
I've run 32:17 there and been very happy with it, and I usually tend to run easier
gears than most. Earthquake ridge may be different, but Womble is a total blast
on SS.

Have a good time.

ZB

 

[wooglin]

I rode a 32-18 for the Ouachita Challenge this year. Good gear for a really long day.

 

[brewSSard]

Ditto that....

I rode a 32-18 for the Ouachita Challenge this year. Good gear for a really long day.

That's what I ran last year at OC. Didn't make it this year.... moved east and had to
settle for Pisgah deathmarch, ORAMM, etc. Oh well....

Don't you live somewhere over here in the Carolinas areas, Wooglin? If so, maybe
we can talk about a carpool to the OC next year. I definitely want to go again.

BigSur - If you guys want to do a big epic day, you should check out the previous
routes for the Ouachita challenge. I hear that this year was a series of small loops,
but last year it was one huge loop that included pretty much all of the Womble and
a lot of the Ouachita trail - nice. Also, the folks on this board -
http://pub69.ezboard.com/bbikearkansasmessageboard
are really helpful and usually glad to meet up with out-of-towners.

 

[wooglin]

Don't you live somewhere over here in the Carolinas areas, Wooglin? If so, maybe
we can talk about a carpool to the OC next year. I definitely want to go again.

Absolutely. The drive sucked, so company is definitely high on my list of priorities for next year.

 

[BigSur]

Well i am planning on using my 34:20 for the womble and for earthquake ridge. Will i be spinning my brains out? I can keep up with the fully's on the downhill sections (5" fork and 2.3's help's a great deal) so i am not worried about that. But i am a lil' worried about the flat area's.

 

[Jdub]

The climbs aren't particularly long or steep either.

I have ridden the Womble several times, but never on a SS. We ride from North (Story Trailhead) to South (North Fork Lake Trailhead) and the climb from the Highway 27 Trailhead is long and steep in my opinion. If you ride it from South to North then its a great downhill but climbing it was tough for me.

 

[mtbkendall]

Cleburn

Bigsur,

What do you ride at Cleburn. If you can make all that you want have a problem at the womble. (esp the last few on the south side of cleburn I think it is)

I just raced the Eureka Springs trail on a 29er 34-18. This was very similar to womble. There are some fast flat sections on the womble. I have ridden with you a few years ago, you were pretty dam strong then so I dont think ypu will have any problems.

you going up wit jrsample3? later BK

 

[BigSur]

Bigsur,

What do you ride at Cleburn. If you can make all that you want have a problem at the womble. (esp the last few on the south side of cleburn I think it is)

I just raced the Eureka Springs trail on a 29er 34-18. This was very similar to womble. There are some fast flat sections on the womble. I have ridden with you a few years ago, you were pretty dam strong then so I dont think ypu will have any problems.

you going up wit jrsample3? later BK

Hey BK, how long ago did i ride with you? Why does your handle sound so familiar?

At Cleburne i ride a 34:20 and i can clean all but 3 hills...and one of those hills being on the other side of the damn...you know...the just about impossible hill along the damn.

Jr isn't going to make this trip...but Sultan and Gorilla are. Should be a smoking ride.

 

[mtbkendall]

Womble

It was around spring 2002. I am from Louisiana and had moved to Fort Worth for a year. There was a big group ride at Cleburn. Like 20 people. At the time I was on a Red Jamis Dragon. Cleburn has some tough climbs even for a geard bike, the rocks dont help much either!!!! I have sinced moved back to Shreveport but still visit the Dorba board quite a bit. I also raced the Texas spring series on SS. I kind of miss Texas, cool crowd overthere.

I would prob stick with the 34-20 then. I cant really recall but 2 or 3 real steep climbs. Most are longer and little laid down, in my opinion.(it has been about a year since I have ridden it) Which direction do ya'll plan to ride it? I prefer starting at North Fork lake and riding to fishermans village. What weekend ya'll going, I wouldnt mind hitting it agian!

Later BK

Hey BK, how long ago did i ride with you? Why does your handle sound so familiar?

At Cleburne i ride a 34:20 and i can clean all but 3 hills...and one of those hills being on the other side of the damn...you know...the just about impossible hill along the damn.

Jr isn't going to make this trip...but Sultan and Gorilla are. Should be a smoking ride.

 

[BigSur]

It was around spring 2002. I am from Louisiana and had moved to Fort Worth for a year. There was a big group ride at Cleburn. Like 20 people. At the time I was on a Red Jamis Dragon. Cleburn has some tough climbs even for a geard bike, the rocks dont help much either!!!! I have sinced moved back to Shreveport but still visit the Dorba board quite a bit. I also raced the Texas spring series on SS. I kind of miss Texas, cool crowd overthere.

I would prob stick with the 34-20 then. I cant really recall but 2 or 3 real steep climbs. Most are longer and little laid down, in my opinion.(it has been about a year since I have ridden it) Which direction do ya'll plan to ride it? I prefer starting at North Fork lake and riding to fishermans village. What weekend ya'll going, I wouldnt mind hitting it agian!

Later BK

OH Ok...now i remember...you are the only person i have met with a red jamis. I believe that day there was a fairly large crowd of us that went. Its been awhile.

As for the AR trip we are going from August 26th-29th. Not alot of time to ride alot of the trails but its all we can muster up since most of us have kiddo's. Shoot me an email at [email protected] if you want to meet up.

Jason