Assault on Mount Mitchell

[doc]

I just wanted to tell anyone who's interested about the "Assault on Mount Mitchell - Assault on Marion" ride that is upcoming on May 20th. To learn everything about it go to:
http://www.freewheelers.info/assault.html
It's in North Carolina. Total climb is 12000 feet! That's why I'm only doing the Marion ride. That's "only" 72 miles and 4500 feet. Nearly all of the climbing is squeezed into the last 25 miles.
Check it out!

[jobob]

That's "only" 72 miles and 4500 feet. Nearly all of the climbing is squeezed into the last 25 miles.

yow !

Looks like something Veronica & SadieKate & akaKim & Yellow & the other freakishly strong N. California hill climbers would enjoy.

- jo "yeah I wish" bob

[bouncybouncy]

Hey Doc...How was the ride?
You pm'd me about Asheville rides...What a beautiful part of the country! The hills were definitely bigger than here in Florida...hehe But I seemed to have handled them well. Going back in June/July for a week...hopefully we will be able to bring both "steeds" (the mtbike & the roadie) and get to attack some more of those mountians!
Last time we tackled Bent Creek, Tsali, & Kitzuma...great riding! This time I want to do Slick Rock.
We were dropped off by our bus at the top of Mt Mitchell and rode 5 miles down to Heartbreak Ridge (??) trailhead...what a site...30 mountain bikers going 40mph down the BRP Maybe next year we'll attack Mt Mitchell going up

Too many mountains...so little time!

[doc]

Major Bummer. The day before the ride: cool and sunny. The day after the ride: cool and sunny. The day of the ride? Heavy thunderstorms which lasted for at least the first 5 hours of the ride. So, being that I have young children and don't really want to crash and die on a mountain, I wimped out. 5 hours of hell (which is what I call riding in pouring rain) coupled with a real risk of serious injury just isn't my style. Maybe I'll see you there next year!

I'm glad you enjoyed asheville. Some really great riding up there.

[bouncybouncy]

No Worries! I don't blame you for thinking of your kids...I think I would have wim...uh...bowed out gracefully as well
I had my very first road ride this last Saturday on my brand new road bike...in the rain Not a good welcome to the road world! Fell on my a$$ trying to go around the corner while breaking But I am not discouraged...just a really interesting perfect purple circle on my tush I did 45 miles at an average of 16mph...not a bad start (MTBing has made me strong and resiliant I guess)
Nothing says you can't do next year!
BTW...I saw tons of cyclist on Town Mountain Road...are you familiar? Looks like quite a feat...a challenge my fiance and I are looking into while we are there again. Are you near the area?

[profàvélo]

Hey, Bouncybouncy, there's an annual mountain bike ride UP Mt. Mitchell. This year it's July 31:
http://www.wncmountaingoatepics.com/...t_mitchell.htm

And Doc, believe it or not, 5 hours in the rain is not as bad as it sounds. Once you're wet, it doesn't really matter anymore (as long as there is no lightning). You just can't draft because of the dirt and water being spewed up into your face. Three of my girlfriends did the Marion ride, and another girlfriend and I did Mitchell. I have to admit, things were a bit 'dodgy' at the start, with that many riders on wet roads, but our group was very lucky, no accidents, no flats. The good thing about the rain was that it never got hot.

Sorry it didn't work out for you, but I hope you'll give it a whirl next year.