As of Thursday afternoon, the Saturday, 7th Aug 7:00 AM weather is forecast to have a very low chance of rain with temps in the high-70s F. It will be humid with little cloud cover and the heat index is expected to climb quickly into the 90s. Winds are predicted to be 9 to 11 mph SW. If the weather is way different from this on early Saturday, check this space and the Facebook PBA group page for any update which would be posted no later than 5:30 AM Saturday morning. If you don't see any update posted then we are on for a 7:00 AM Start. (As you check the PBA Facebook page and the PBA website Friday night / early Saturday morning, also look for any announcement from Norm Hughes, the PBA Ride Coordinator. His decision to cancel developmental rides on Saturday, of which Step-Up is one, would supersede whatever I would be planning to do. The Calendar page on the PBA website will also annotate the Step-Up ride as Cancelled if the ride for whatever reason gets cancelled).
The ride start area is at the Gulledge Elementary School (west side Preston Meadow just south of Legacy). With the expected high heat index on Saturday it's very important that we do our best to leave at 7:00 AM. Please be ready at the start area 15 minutes prior to the start time
for the pre-ride safety briefing and attendance taking so we'll be able to start as planned. Check and air up your bike prior to the pre-ride safety briefing and remember helmet, water, and tire repair kit and dress for the expected conditions. Please register on the Calendar page of the PBA website for one of the available slots and if you do register and later change your plan to attend, please cancel your reservation.
The web address to the ride planned for Saturday is: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37045183 There will be 2 rest stops (at 13.5 miles and 20.6 miles).
Step-Up ride target pace is a 13-14 mph avg speed over the route. Rolling speed at any one point might be anywhere from 9 to 25 mph due to hills. This is a no-drop ride.