Der Jan, Chum, and Red were seen on the 3 Mountain Madness course on Saturday. The blistering pace from the get-go left Red dieseling in the mid-pack. Knocks and pings. He helped a group of Rocky River cyclists chase up, but when he got to the rollers north of Sauratown, well, you know.

Times up the mountains were okay for the Big Guy, and he is very proud of Chum and Der Jan. Finishing well under five hours, Red thinks they’ll do fine on Monday’s Assault on the highest point east of the Mississippi. Good luck guys. Don’t stop to fish the trout ponds while you’re climbing NC 80, and watch that last switchback before the Parkway. I grew up hearing stories of bus loads of children campers who driving up that road and coming to that switchback had to back all the way down the mountain in order to get another head start– bus driver, I mean, not the kids. And remember: you’re not up to elevation when you get to the Parkway. It’s still up. Below is the elevation profile from the other side of 80 along the South Toe River. The two descents are on the Parkway, but man, that’s still a lot of up, at least 16 miles.

Hang in there, Dudes. I can’t wait to see the picutres.