Fabulous 4th Metric Bike Tour
Important Info
More on The Tour
All riders are welcome, but please note that this is
NOT A USCF - SANCTIONED RACE EVENT.
North Carolina Laws Prohibit Racing without a costly State Permit.
Remember that the finish line closes at 3 PM,
with a SEVEN (7) HOUR TIME LIMIT (67 miles in 7 hours).
The reason for this time limit is that thunder storms and lightning
will normally start to build up starting around 1:30 and on in the watershed area,
These storms can be quite dangerous if you are in the watershed area.
Remember - Lightning Kills
All riders MUST be able to maintain an average speed of 10 mph for the entire length of the course. The course has approximately 7862 vertical feet of cumulative climbing, including 10 long slow gentle climbs and three very steep (grunt!) hills. Also, there are a number of long high speed down-hills where you can make up lost time on the climbs. Just take it easy going down these descents and have no accidents. Don't forget the five mile descent from Saluda to the Finish Line. This is very F A S T and there are several very dangerous places on this down-hill section. If you are not familiar with this mountain, keep you speed under control. Play it safe and live to tell about it !
All traffic regulations and laws must be observed.
Helmets are required and must be worn
for the entire length of the tour
All riders must ride to the right side of the road at all times.
All Riders must assist vehicles in passing you.
We use the USCF Center Line Rule and it is in effect for this event. Some of the roads are very narrow, with lots of slow, with very sharp curves. Bad drivers always compound the problem. IE: There are little old ladies who drive looking through the steering wheel and don't see bicycles as they are to small ! There are lots of people yakking on cell phones, munching on a Big Mac etc. Many of them drive as if they were half blind as well. They just don't see bicycle riders very well at all! Don't get caught left of center or you may not live to talk about it!
Route Markers are all
painted on the road at all
intersections as shown below
Painted in Center Line Yellow
4 arrows + turn arrow.
5 Full Rest Stops.
Fully equipped with Medical, Water, Energy Drink, Food,
Port-a-jons for the gals and Emergency Communications
We have full HAM Radio Control for Motorcycle Escort
and all SAG Vehicles, plus rolling Rescue on the entire course.
Lunch after the tour, open to all riders at no charge.
The River Dip
This is recommended to cool yourself off.
Plus, there is a special 8 foot deep swimming hole as well !
WARNING!!!!
THIS TOUR IS NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR FIRST TIME TOUR RIDERS.
Training is a must for this Tour.
Note this climbing chart below.
If you are not ready, then
your legs will know it!
Total Climbing of 7682.2 Vertical Feet in 68.3 miles.
This information was compiled from the Delorme Topo Maps.
Below are maps done in the DeLorme Topo Program.
PDF Road Map + Elevation Chart in Color
PDF Printable Cue Sheet
PDF 2008 Route
Be Prepared for HIGH HEAT and HIGH HUMIDITY
For Example!
By the time you are about 2/3 way through the tour
or starting about 11:00 AM in the morning
the Temperature may be well over 90 degrees
and higher than 95% Humidity.
Heat Index will =
+105 degrees or better by around 12 noon
which is sort of liquid air
Please try to be in the water shed by noon
or at least water stop 4 or you will be out in the full sun Roasting !
All riders will be required to keep your own time for the tour.
There will be a clock showing the current time from the start of the tour.
This is really for those that do not have a cycle computer.
Using timing chips such as The Assaults do is to costly.
We do not attempt to score and place riders in this event,
but we ask that someone tell us who the first 3 arrivals are
for both Men and Women. Under 18 male and female as well.
Remember that this is NOT A RACE but rather a TOUR.
Treat it as a tour for the sake of the slower or beginner riders.
SHOWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FAB FOURTH 2009 BIKE TOUR
For many years, the Fabulous Fourth Metric Century Bike Tour registration and start/finish was at the Open Air Gym at the Polk County Middle School adjoining Harmon Field in Tryon, NC. This facility included dressing rooms and showers. This school was closed a few years back when the new Polk County Middle School between Columbus and Mill Spring was completed. The start, finish and parking for the Bike Tour was moved to cabin on the other side of Harmon Field in 2008.
FABULOUS 4th 100k
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Date: On July 4th every year!
Yes, we ride ONLY on the day of the 4th of July!
This date never changes - just the day of the week!
Time: 8:00 AM Mass Start Time,
with fast riders in the front and slower rider to follow
Rain or Shine!
Window start from 8:00 to 8:30 AM.
Place: Harmon Field Grounds
You will be directed to the Parking Area.
This is on the NW end of the complex.
WATER and RESTROOMS are available.
Fees: On July 4th
Registration will open approximately
6:30 AM and closes at 8:30 AM.
Be early or be late to start!
Applications on line available from
April 1st on.
PRE-REGISTERED Fee = $30.00
After June 15th, the DATE stamped on
the envelope determines the late fee.
After JUNE 15th, the Entry Fee = $40.00
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DO NOT mail applications in
after June 25, 2009, Instead
Bring the Application with you.
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Please make Checks Payable to:
Fabulous 4th 100K
Your Fee Includes
Your Rider Number
Custom Deluxe Cycle Socks
S - M - L - XL
Suggested Gearing
45 inch gear for Advanced ~ Seasoned Riders (CAT 4+)
At least a 35 inch gear for Tourist or Beginners.
Inch - Gears Explained
You don't understand this mess - your bike shop will !
Go see them and get the right gearing!
Here is the way to calculate the in-gear on a bicycle:
Divide the front chain ring teeth by the rear cog teeth and multiply by the wheel size. For convince on a road bike we use 27" for the wheel size, a mountain bike may use 26", or in the case of a small bike 20" tire, you would use 20".
Example: 39 front divide by 26 rear x 27 ( road bike ) = 40.5 inch-gear
If you multiply the in-gear by the constant (pie ) 3.1415 , you will get the distance traveled in inches, with one complete pedal revolution. The lower the in-gear, the shorter distance traveled per pedal revolution, but it is easier!
Example: 40.5 x 3.1415 = 127.23 inches (Bike travels with one complete pedal rev)
You can see by this that the smaller the in-gear the more mechanical advantage you have, but the bike speed or movement per pedal revolution drops.
Note: The wheel size is not a consideration when computing the distance traveled with one pedal revolution. It is only brought into consideration when calculating the in-gear.
The number 27" for a road bike is approximate since tire sizes vary and today's bikes use 700 C wheels. The change is so small most folks don't worry about it.
Incidentally, if you know the in-gear and the pedal revolutions, you can calculate the bike speed as follows.
In - Gear x Rev (RPM ) x Pie (3.1415) divide by 12, divide by 88 ( this gets you to MPH) equals speed in Miles per hour.
Example going up Mitchell in a 40.5 in-gear at 60 rpm pedal speed: 40.5 x 60 x Pie ( 3.1415) divide by 12, divide by 88 = 7.22 MPH.
Yup! This is a very confusing way of how to figure it out,
but guess what, your local bicycle shops know how to do it for you!
