The Freewheelers will sponsor seven Assaults training rides as part of a series to help participants prepare for the 2012 Assaults, starting February 18 and occurring every two weeks (weather permitting with make-up rides as needed).

The goals of the series include:

• Supplementing each participant’s training program for the Assaults.
• Providing participants opportunities to practice and improve upon group riding for a safe and successful Assaults ride.
• Introduce participants to sections of the Assaults course and Spartanburg county cycling courses.

The rides in this series will be conducted as group rides and may or may not have sag support. Riders are asked to attend each ride as a self-sufficient cyclist—with proper equipment, knowledge of the courses (links provided prior to each posted ride), and the fitness necessary to complete each ride.

Area and club cyclists will be leading and participating in the rides to help new and experienced riders improve their fitness, group riding skills, and bike handling. Each ride will include a variety of distances and levels of ability with the goal of having packs stay together unless individual riders wish to ride alone.

The rides will be modeled on the popular eRide group rides led by Richard White* in the Spartanburg area, meaning there will be a “lead” group that will ride together and maintain a B+/B pace with the intent of working together and providing everyone a successful ride.

* Be sure to join the Freewheelers email list and also consider joining the eride at yahoo! groups for more riding options (How to Join eride at yahoo! groups).

The tentative schedule and starting places are as follows. CHECK FOR UPDATED MAPMYRIDE AND GPS FILES TO BE POSTED WEEK BEFORE EACH RIDE.

(1) February 18, 2012: Rouge 50 mile route (includes 1.4 mis climb) staged from BikeWorx (http://www.bikeworx.net/): http://app.strava.com/rides/2568883

(2) March 3, 2012: DAY, TIME, and LOCATION CHANGE:

Meet to leave from Ingles/Duncan, SUNDAY (Mar 4) @ 1:30; we will do the Tour de Paws metric century (course marked).

http://www.strava.com/rides/moore-sc-331774

(3) March 17, 2012: Horseshoe Falls loop (63 mis) from BikeWorx (http://www.bikeworx.net/Road_Products.html)

ROUTE (Map My Ride, download cue sheet under "Notes"): http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/71361298

(4) March 24, 2012: Climbing ride (70+/- mis) from church at Hwy 357/New Cut Rd. Location TBD

(5) April 14, 2012: Expanded Great Escape (http://greatescapebikes.com/about/spartanburg-pg362.htm)

(6) April 28, 2012: Extended Great Escape (http://greatescapebikes.com/about/spartanburg-pg362.htm): TBD

(7) May 12, 2012: Out-And-Back Century from Spartanburg to Bills Mt and back:

Start place and time:
ACROSS from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (county offices parking lot); 8: 30 AM

Route:
AOMM course (marked) to Bill's Mt and back (approx. 100 mis) with a store stop on the other side of Bill's Mt (crest mountain and roll down to small store on right)

Email me only with Questions
Paul Thomas, EdD: paul.thomas@furman.edu