|
|
Post by seenvic on Jul 18, 2008 9:31:27 GMT -5
For the time being, I like CCW better on both these loops.
Tower. The downhills on Tower CW have some really bad flow to them when you cross the gaslines. This is probably because the trail location had to be altered on the actual gasline so we wouldn't have to remove any dirt from the gasline. I feel like I am riding the brakes alot more going DH CW than CCW. I like the CCW steeper climbs as they feel more mountainous to me. I like the super flow of the long descent from the firetower going CCW.
Big Rock. I love the wild DH on Big Rock as soon as you turn off the bottom gravel road. Then a short kinda steep climb followed by a long, gradual climb thru the bowls to the top gravel road crossing. The DH from the Tower Connector going CCW is more fun to me than the DH going CW.
The big climb. Starting at the paved bridge on Deep Step Road, up Philpot Rd, CCW on BR and then CCW on Tower is perhaps the longest climb with very little DH at the FATS. Not the steepest, but the most accumulated climbing over the longest distance.
I prefer all 6 loops CCW. That makes it easy to tell someone which direction to go!
|
|
jag3
Gear Masher
Posts: 28
|
Post by jag3 on Jul 18, 2008 20:34:38 GMT -5
Haven't gotten the chance to ride the new trails yet but it on my to-do list this summer.
Regardless-I've "spun, labored, & sweat" on trails throughout the SE and FATS is the best out there. Be proud CSRA, cause we're (those of us not indigenous to the Augusta area) more than grateful and appreciative of your efforts. The short trip to FATS is a worthy ride for those that are on the fence and ALL should give a shout out to the crew that put it together.
Coming over tomorrow for a ride, if I have anything left I'll join the work party Bill. Great job.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrnutts on Jul 21, 2008 15:13:20 GMT -5
Does anyone have a map for the new trails they can send me?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Mrnutts4222@aol.com
|
|
|
|
Post by nitro on Jul 21, 2008 20:55:18 GMT -5
Seenvic posted this in an earlier thread.  Pay attention to your surroundings. It is very easy to get confused on Tower the first time or two you ride it! |
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Jul 22, 2008 17:38:26 GMT -5
Well, I'll bow to the master, but, riding Sunday, I enjoyed both DS, BR, and Tower all CW.
At 57, maybe the ability to make all the climbs on BR and Twr made me happy, but the downhill off the top of Tower - top of ridge line - next to road - is just superb ! Doesn't get much better (IMO). Great trail line !
Then, thinking I'd had all the fun, hit the middle connector, left onto the backside of BR, and lo & behold, that downhill with open forest surroundings, and the hill-gully-hill view is just IMBA spectacular ! That section was worth the trip alone !
Have to admit - not steep - but is just begs another pedal stroke - and I found myself using those discs----- not sure if it was your temps - or heat off the brakes. I was alone, couldn't afford a mistake - but what a rip !!
Also - felt the jolt on the whoop some have mentioned on the connector - but (again, IMO) the connector is a nice slow-down section from DS, before the road, and I wasn't steaming on that section. With use - that dip should flow smoother.
Met some nice guys on trail and at the trailhead. Thanks for a great weekend.
|
|
|
|
Post by seenvic on Jul 23, 2008 7:57:26 GMT -5
Ron,
Thanks for all the replys/reports on the various trails. We get alot of request for info, provide it and then never hear from the person again. Thanks for letting us know what is out there on the trails, what you like about them and for being a fine ambassodor (sp?) for the sport. You are not the first person to come to this area because of FATS only to find Modoc, Turkey, HKSP, Wine, Bartram, Keg......don't suck.
Thanks again. I hope to ride with you soon.
ps...I hope you hit the small wall ride we made on Big Rock going CW. Wait until you see that view in the winter when there are no leaves....spectacular and almost mountain like.
|
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Jul 23, 2008 17:09:39 GMT -5
We will ride soon...... Rode over to my old house (Halifax Drive / Old Petersburg) then returned to FATS via 28 for 3rd ride Monday - probably passed you homestead neighborhood.
Actually, I've been visiting HK for 5-6 years now. Rich visited HK and BC on a camper excursion. This will be Rob's 1st visit - your are welcome to give them both a "warm" CSRA welcome to FATS !
That wall / turn on BR generated a smile when I approached. We have a couple of similar sections - largest over at "Moonscape" - Alafia State Park, Plant City east of Tampa. Rob & Rich will recognize that section too - it compares to a section of "Razorback" / Ocala, which was our best trail (private - pay-to-use) - closed last winter. I wanted to accel when I saw the wall - but took an intermediate line as I was alone, not sure if top was firm, and just smiled as I rode thru..... Great add......
Other good adds on BR & TR are the closer trees to squeeze thru - saw where the machine stopped and went around. Nice work ! Very similar to what we ride here - and those sections get attention, especially at cruise, good variety !
Hard working today - mind was on riding....... enjoyed my 72 miles this weekend.....
|
|
|
|
Post by DMSC on Jul 29, 2008 8:35:50 GMT -5
Then, thinking I'd had all the fun, hit the middle connector, left onto the backside of BR, and lo & behold, that downhill with open forest surroundings, and the hill-gully-hill view is just IMBA spectacular ! That section was worth the trip alone ! Paula and I finally made over to FATS this past Saturday. It had been was too LONG since we'd ridden there! We didn't ride Tower but rode Big Rock CW. I have to agree that the section rsmith mentioned is some dang fine trail. Not at all like you'd expect this far south, that's for sure!  I'm going to have to remember where the log bridge is...if Paula hadn't slowed i would have most likely been TOAST! Easy enough to ride across...IF you see it!  |
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Aug 12, 2008 17:21:32 GMT -5
It looks like while I am at my mom's in Beaufort this weekend I am going to get to come up to FATS for a few hours Saturday morning and want to ride Tower and Big Rock. Thought the consensus was to ride Big Rock CW and Tower CCW but now I see other opinions. If I can only ride each once, which way should I go?
|
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Aug 12, 2008 17:39:53 GMT -5
Direction - start by picking me up @ I-95 @ Daytona Exit 261A, then u-turn, and head to Augusta !
4th visit recently, admit after riding both, Tower may be best CCW, but BR - CW will always be my preference - as the back-side downhill "2-ridges" with view, across the log bridge - is one of the best sections of trail in the SE (IMO)
Oh yeah, I need a ride home, too....
|
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Aug 12, 2008 20:54:47 GMT -5
I like both Tower and Big Rock CCW best. Riding up the east side of BR is easier than riding up the west side. There's a super fun downhill (one of the best in all of FATS IMO) going CCW on the east side just after the lower road crossing, then there's a short but steep climb, but after that the climb is pretty mellow. Then when you cross the road and ride the west side it's mostly downhill.
|
|
|
|
Post by seenvic on Aug 13, 2008 8:38:21 GMT -5
Another vote for CCW on both loops as the better option.
|
|
|
|
Post by jtaylor on Aug 13, 2008 11:49:22 GMT -5
I don't see the problem here. :-) You can ride both loops both directions in under two hours. Park at the top or bottom of the loops on the gravel road. Post what time you'll be there and I'm sure you'll get some company to help make the time pass even faster.
|
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Aug 13, 2008 17:27:38 GMT -5
The problem is I also want to do all of the other trails incl. two loops of BW (once each direction) and DS plus one loop of Tower and BR while still getting back to Beaufort at a reasonable time.....
rsmith - I will be happy to pick you up if you will stop driving through Jacksonville without picking me up! If I knew you were passing through, you might see me on I-95 with my bike and thumb out!
One more question - how long is the ORA trail and how does it compare to FATS? Since I drive near it on the way there and back, I was wondering if it is worth a spin or if its better to do another lap at FATS. Also, which is the best direction if I do ride it?
|
|
|
|
Post by jtaylor on Aug 15, 2008 12:05:50 GMT -5
ORA is about 5 miles total loop. It is the anti-FATS; there are only a few places you go more than 10 feet before you have to turn, brake, go up, go down, or something. In fact, it becomes a dance, and is enjoyable when you are in the rythymn. It is worth a try. I think it is easier ccw. By the same token, I would recommend Modoc and Keg if you haven't ridden those. They are fairly close to FATS and are fun in their own ways.
|
|
|
|
Post by DMSC on Aug 18, 2008 14:19:33 GMT -5
After riding Tower CW (along with BR, DS, Skinny and BW, CCW instead of CW) this past Saturday morning...IF Tower has steeper/more climbs CCW...I'll have to pass! I started questioning my manhood about half way through Tower!  |
|
|
|
Post by seenvic on Aug 18, 2008 14:28:50 GMT -5
After riding Tower CW (along with BR, DS, Skinny and BW, CCW instead of CW) this past Saturday morning...IF Tower has steeper/more climbs CCW...I'll have to pass! I started questioning my manhood about half way through Tower! I'd say Tower has shorter, steeper climbing CCW. Longer, less steep CW. Of course both directions have the same total climbing, just different in the angle the climbing is done at. Tower is like riding in the mtns....until you go ride in the mountains and realize they are much taller than the Tower Loop. That's a heck of day you had out there. Good job. |
|
|
|
Post by DMSC on Aug 19, 2008 9:49:54 GMT -5
Tower is like riding in the mtns....until you go ride in the mountains and realize they are much taller than the Tower Loop. That's a heck of day you had out there. Good job. LOL! Yeah, the climbs are BIGGER in the mountains. It's good to have a trail like Tower. It's as good as it gets, around these parts, when training for the mountains. I think I could have made a loop of Great Wall to complete the FATS hat trick...IF I hadn't run completely out of fluids. I drank a LOT more this past Saturday than I thought I would. Even with a trip back to the truck to refill after DS/BR/Tower...I still took my last gulp just as I rode back into the parking lot at the end of the ride.  |
|
|
|
Post by Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) on Aug 20, 2008 19:15:59 GMT -5
Rode 50 miles Sunday - did all six loops plus two laps of DS and BW. Kudos on the new trails. I did them CCW as suggested and must admit they were more work than I was expecting, although since they were the last I did fatigue could be influencing the assessment. Can't wait to get up there again and give them another try. Hope I can make it for the opening next month.
|
|
|
|
Post by DMSC on Aug 21, 2008 14:25:52 GMT -5
Rode 50 miles Sunday - did all six loops plus two laps of DS and BW. SHOW-OFF! ;D |
|
LIKE us on Facebook 
