Mulberry Gap Ladies Only Weekend

Yeah, yeah ... I am a bit late posting this one, but better late than never. This is one gathering you ladies out there do not need to miss.

I had just finished a pretty heavy training load the week leading up to it, topping it off with the Cohutta Death March. For those of you unknowing souls out there, the Death March is a 75 mile gravel grinder with 9000 feet of climbing, 70 miles of it being in the Cohutta 100.

There were 12 of us that stayed at Mulberry Gap. From Namrita whose poor bike was a conglomeration of components, some of which worked (hint, hint: she NEEDS her Rotwild steed!) to Emily who likes to eat pizza and drink beer while showering ... with her kit ON, all the women were very cool and unique! Different levels of skill were represented, but no one was pushed to the edge, unless they so desired. There were options of varying mileage and everyone enjoyed the exquisite trails that the Chattahoochee National Forest had to offer.

A group of BUMP girls came up from the flatlands of Alabama, but they rode the mountainous terrain extremely well. I suspect they needed to feel they earned the post ride beers ... and wine ... and some sort of pomegranate martini drink. And earned them they did! I enjoyed their giggly and vivacious nature. And boy could they ride! Stacey is a Super D extraordinaire!

Mandy from Bike29.com came down from Vermont to escape the cold and try out her rigid singlespeed. She definitely got her work out in as she climbed up Potato Patch to the Upper Bear Creek parking lot ... twice. Gail tamed Pinhoti 2 this time and came away with an awesome ride and bones intact. Debbie, who was at the first women's only weekend last fall, has gotten even faster!

Most of these women have kids, which was pretty cool. We got to chit chat about balancing our family lives with our passion. It is so good to see older women in this REAL sport as opposed to other recreational ventures.

And where else, besided Mom's, can you have "hot, fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies" after 3 hours of riding. Dianne and Ginni are like my surrogate mothers ... they know how to nurture. Once again, the food was spectacular: baked potato bar with chicken and steak, pancakes with strawberries and bananas, chicken salad, pita crisps with "to die for" hummus, roast beef, corn casserole, awesome green salads, and the list goes on.

I will say, I had the best two nights sleep in a long time. 10 hours each night of restful bliss and no dreams about work. And the mealtime conversations were great; everything from broken bone stories to tire selection to your children's education.

I managed to get in 7 hours and 60 miles of riding. I am looking forward to the next one!