2008 Helen Ride Results - Chattanooga Ride Qualifiers >>

By Ralph Frazier

April 15, 2008

We had our largest turn out for a FCP event at the 2008 Helen Ride.  Twenty-three riders finished the ride including five riders led by Brian Burke who added an extra 32 miles by the way of Neels Gap, Jacks Gap, and Unicoi Gap.  Another two riders rode to Clermont, 44 miles, bringing the total participation to 25. 

For this year, we modified the course by adding about two more miles to avoid SR 115's heavy traffic leading into Cleveland.  Although we skipped the steep hill on SR 115 at Cleveland's corporation limit, we added a long and fairly steep hill that broke up the group on Westmoreland Road (~50-mile mark).  There was almost no traffic on this new section of the course.  Brian Burke suggested this change a couple of years ago. We didn't try it last year because we only had five riders, so SR 115 was no big deal. This year we stayed in a double pace-line until the last six miles to the Creekwood Resort (the "Share the Road" signs on SR 356 restrict us to single file).

It was chilly (mid 40's to low 50's) and a lot of crosswind (W 17 mph), but overall, the conditions were good. Five riders led by Brian Burke continued at Alt. 75/Hwy 129 intersection. They averaged 17.8 mph for 108 miles. We rest of us finished at the Creekwood Resort Campgrounds and Cabins with an 18.2 mph average speed (Hayley Parker struggled over the last 14 miles, so we slowed down for her). It was still quite a bit faster than Mary Scott's epic ride in 2004. This ride was Hayley's longest ride ever.

My team juniors were very strong. Five completed the ride. The Juniors rode great!  I was very impressed with tiny Zoe Frazier - she never got dropped and she was always with the leaders at the hilltops.  She has a weight advantage (77 lb)!  Andrew Macrae (he's only 12 - he'll be 13 in December) is the all-time youngest Helen Ride finisher and Chattanooga Ride qualifier.

Mike Notheis joined the group south of Gainesville.  He had to wait a little longer for us than we had planned. Our group was late getting started because Ubeimar Herrera came to the ride in a short-sleeved jersey and shorts. We had to scramble to find clothes and gloves for him. Cathy said that we started about ten minutes behind schedule.  We lost another ten minutes, or so, due to a mechanical.  Kris Kester's Shimano chain broke at 10.8 miles (just before we made the turn onto Camp Branch Road, crossing the I-85 overpass on the SR 324 jog).  I had a chain tool, but my hands were a little cold, so it took me a while to get the bad link out and get another pin to hold. Remarkably, it held for the remaining 65 miles!  You know how these rides go - always an adventure!

2008 Helen Finishers

Brian Burke (plus the 3 gap option)

Carrie Burke

Rusty Burns

Cana Dailey

Nick Frazier

Coach Frazier

Zoe Frazier

David Goodman

Kevin Godleski

Srin Gummadi

Brian Herbert 

Ubeimar Herrera

Chris Hovorka (plus the 3 gap option)

Kris Kester

Brad Macleod (plus the 3 gap option)

Andrew Macrae

Andrew Maholski

Kevin Mitchell (plus the 3 gap option)

Mike Notheis

Hayley Parker

Mike Tindol (plus the 3 gap option)

Kevin Tolbert

Hugh Wellington

Melissa Goodman (Clermont – 44.5 miles, Clermont)

Russell Tindol (Clermont – 44.5 miles, Clermont)

Results for Helen Ride

75.96 miles, 4:09:21, 18.278 mph

Results for Helen Ride Plus

107.89 miles, 6:04:09, 17.777 mph

A big "Thanks" to Melissa and Robert Keady owners of the Creekwood Resorts.  We really appreciate their hospitality and we encourage our members to make reservations for weekend getaways in the North Georgia Mountains and stay at the Creekwood Resorts.

Also...

"Special Thanks" goes Caroline Burke who provided support for the "long version" of the ride. 

"Thanks" to Mike Goodman who drove Kevin Godleski's van to Helen.  "Thanks" to Kevin for providing his van - his extra capacity made planning a lot easier.

"Thank you" to all drivers and family members who transported our riders, joined us for lunch at the Nacoochee Grill, and returned our cyclists, bikes, and gear back home!

2008 Chattanooga Ride Qualifiers

Brian Burke

Carrie Burke

Rusty Burns

Cana Dailey

Nick Frazier

Zoe Frazier

Kevin Godleski

David Goodman

Brian Herbert

Ubeimar Herrera

Chris Hovorka

Kris Kester

Brad Macleod

Andrew Macrae

Andrew Maholski

Kevin Mitchell

Mike Notheis

Bob Sill

Mike Tindol

Kevin Tolbert

Hugh Wellington

The 2008 Chattanooga Ride will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008.