April 15, 2006 - Always check the map!!!!
Total Miles: 52
Feet Climbing: 5,000+
Total Time: 3:05
We arrived in Black Mountain midday and thought we would get out on a short 25 mile loop just to loosen up the legs after the long drive. After a few miles getting out of town, the road started going up. We had a 4-mile switchback climb ahead of us and kept it slow and steady. In the heat of the moment on the descent, we overshot a turn on the cue sheet and found ourselves a good 10 miles off the mark. We turned back and got ourselves on track, or so we thought.
We seemed to climb forever before we found one of the sweetest downhills I’ve ridden in a long time. Well, once again speed got the best of us and we passed a vital turn. We were smoked and out of water and the 80º temps were starting to take their toll. We climbed rollers for close to 10 miles before a very kind family gave us much needed water. Soon after we found ourselves back in familiar territory and finished out the ride with a great descent into town.
April 16, 2006
Miles: 90
Feet Climbing: 6800
Ride Time: 5:46
Today’s route was the mighty Tour de Buncombe, a 101 mile course with over 8600 feet of climbing. We started out late morning after the local church Easter Egg Hunt and from the gun started climbing. The roads leading north out of town were beautiful and combined with the 80º temps brightened our mood quite a bit. Around 20 miles into things, we were once again off the mark. We needed to cut across a hiking trail better suited for cross bikes in order to get on the Blue Ridge and back on course. The climb up the Parkway was roughly 7% for more than 6.5 miles. Nonetheless, we felt good and knew the payoff was the descent down Ox Creek Road and pay off it did with a 4.5 mile, 51mph plunge!!
Halfway through the ride we hit Hooker’s Gap. This thing rivaled any climb I’ve done in Europe. But unlike Euro climbs, it had long steep stretches of 10-12% instead of moderate switchbacks. It hurt it pretty bad but once again we were blessed with a fast, windy downhill.
We knew this ride was going to put us back on some of the roads we hit yesterday so we decided to cut out some of the suburb loop and the last of the climbs. Even though we’re spanked, it was a great day of riding.
April 17, 2006 - Assault on Mount Mitchell (sort of)
Total Miles: 66
Feet Climbing: 5000+
Total Time: 4:10
Since we had such a great time climbing the last two days, we decided to head back out on the Blue Ridge and make an attempt to get up to Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States (6684 feet). We took the same route out of town as yesterday and after an hour got on the Blue Ridge. We had taken a look at the map before we left and guessed that Mitchell was about 15 miles north on the parkway. Once again, poor map reading skills proved to be our downfall. We started climbing and climbing and climbing. About 45 minutes into the climb we met up with Noah, a rider on the Appalachian State team. He agreed that Mitchell was probably only a few miles away and the three of us continued on together.
Well, another 45 minutes of climbing and we were close to treeline. Mitchell was way off in the distance and the road was still pointing up. We were out of water when we reached the Craggy Gardens and unfortunately there wasn’t a place to get any. A rider coming down from Mitchell said it was super windy and being faced with miles more to go without water and with a nasty headwind, we decided to pack it in.
April 18, 2006 - Tourist Time!!
Total Miles: 45
Feet Climbing: 4,600
Total Time: 2:52
Today was to be a light day to let the legs rest and to have time to get down to Asheville for our afternoon massages. We chose to take the southern route out of town and go see Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. The climb out of town is beautiful and the consistent grade of the switchbacks makes it a great training hill. It sure beats going up Euro Hill ten times!! Because we knew the road from prior rides, we shot some video. I was riding behind Zach holding the camera in my right hand and holding the front brake lever for over three minutes in the switchback descent. Note: this isn’t very safe. Hopefully we can link some of the video to the site because it’s pretty cool and gives a good idea of how nice the roads are down there.
Anyway, we reached Chimney Rock and after climbing a mile to the main gate, we were told that bikes weren’t allowed in the park but we could be escorted up in a van. Now here we are in riding clothes, a third of the way up the climb and they want us to pay $14 each to ride in a van to see the view. We contemplated just ignoring the policy but in an effort to keep the reputation of northerners from being tarnished in the south, we exited the park without incident.
April 19, 2006
We woke up Wednesday to the booming sound of thunder and heavy rain. Since the forecast was for rain all day, we decided to pack up and get out of town a day early. It’s amazing how quick you can clean a cabin, pack your bag and take a shower when you put your mind to it.
We left Black Mountain around noon and returned home at 3:30 in the morning.
We had a great week in part to the weather but also our host, Carol, at the Cabin Creek Lodge in Black Mountain. She was extremely helpful in getting us around town and finding routes. We would recommend to anyone considering a trip to the area to check out her place (www.cabincreeklodge.com).
