Paceline Bicycles Winston-Salem NC 2008 Tour To Tanglewood MS Training Bike Ride Inline Skate

[Someone posted to InlineNC about this ride, so I thought I'd add my reply here.]

Hi:

I think you got a reply off-list but I wanted to say I hope some of us will show up for the training ride.

I'm not sure if I'll be in town but if I am I'll be there unless it's nasty weather. Maybe Andy, Craig, Jack or Tim might be going, or some of the Triangle folk?

I'm not sure if you're a roadskater or not or how comfortable you are with being on the road, but the T2T training rides are about the best way you can start after some practice on your own in residential streets. They're free and the support is amazing. The Bicycle Response Team is definitely pro-roadskater, and they'll gladly help if you have any problems.

We've noticed a few more beginners at the rides this year, which is excellent news. And with beginners there seem to be some content to ride along in a more leisurely way, along with those who've naturally gotten more lean and much faster as they've developed as cyclists.

Andy, Craig and I did this route last year. Maybe those guys can comment. I recommend a brake for roadskating, and on this route, mainly for the part going out of town and coming back in...or the willingness to burn a bit of wheel or time the lights right.

I don't want to scare anyone away (particularly roadskater veterans who can handle it easily), but do feel it important to be honest. This route is easier technically than Ken's (a great skride still) or Paul's in WS (very good to great the last few years). I don't recall any real wheel burners except for the one downhill stoplight coming back into town, and it's not the worst I've seen by any means. But I sometimes forget things I've gotten used to. I do remember some nice areas in the country and in a small town or two (Lewisville maybe?).

So, it's not a newbie roadskater event, but what is, in northwest Winston-Salem? If you can brake, you can do it!

Photos from last year...
http://roadskater.net/paceline-bicycles-winston-salem-nc-2007-tour-to-ta...

2002 Photos (started from a slightly different location but nearby I think...note KenO and eebee visited from Georgia)
http://roadskater.net/t2t2002tr6/index.htm

Anyone doing the training skate this Saturday meeting @Paceline Bicycles in Winston Salem? Just wondering how many were coming and the level of difficulty if anyone knows?
Thanks.

I'll try to post later this week to InlineNC or Roadskater.net and hope others will too.

Here's an excerpt from off list, off roadskater.net...

I do enjoy skating outdoors and don't mind hills etc...However...I do not have a brake, so I hope I can wing it....

If you're used to skating hills and stopping when you need to, the brake is optional. I got a brake after a trip to Philly and because of the help and encouragement of eebee, Skatey-Mark and others who tried it all out before I did. My decision came down to seeing the economics of it (brakes being way cheaper than pretty profiled polyurethane wheels) and having an additional first way to stop before resorting to burning wheels. I've used the leash a bit lately too and that helps get more leverage. But I've done this event without a brake before so you're likely fine.

Do you happen to know how far the route is and...the options if for some reason you are unable to keep up with everyone else or need to call it a day?

As for distance, or speed, nobody will mind or care if you end up not doing a certain distance. They just want you to have fun and be safe, in hopes you'll want to do more and will get inspired to do the Tour to Tanglewood to help raise money for MS (optional).

Watch for the Bicycle Response Team, who have new jerseys (shirts, not states) this year that are white with some burnt orange and light blue and black trim. These folk devote themselves to being out there for you and they'll ride in with you if you're at the back and want to keep going. The BRT and rest stop volunteers (Valerie and Elaine and others) are seriously skater friendly too and we've worked on that reputation over a long time, so please everyone be as nice as you can muster through the pain or heat or frustration. Their job is your safety so please heed their advice and come tell me later if there's a problem and I'll talk it over with whomever.

This is a great group of volunteers and staff and the friendliest bunch of cyclists you could hope to meet. I'm still not sure if I'll be in NC but if I am I plan to be there (weather is a factor) and I hope it goes well for all of you who can make it. Sounds fun.