worth the experience...

[bouncybouncy]

Assault on Mt Mitchell, N Carolina


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauriea...7606032122875/

[maillotpois]

Great report - what event was this? It wasn't clear from what I read. sounds like a tough course with huge climb at the end!

Good job!

ETA - thanks for editing to put the ride name in!

[indysteel]

Great job; great report. I have a handful of friends who've done the Assault and, from what I gather, it's a huge accomplishment. As a flatlander who strives to be a good climber someday, I'm quite envious!!!!

[Thorn]

Impressive! Last fall we road the Blue Ridge Parkway and took the detour up Mount Mitchell. As I climbed Mt Mitchell, I kept thinking of people like you who would be doing that segment of my ride at mile's 70-100 instead of 20-50. Wow! Finishing that century is a notch in the accomplishment list! Congrats!

[Blueberry]

MP - I'm pretty sure this is the ride: http://www.freewheelers.info/assault.html

It's on my "to do one day" list. You actually have to do the 75 mile ride one year to be eligible to do the entire thing (unless you buy a ticket, and then don't use yours for a year).

CA

[mimitabby]

good story, 27 miles in 4.5 hours, that's about 6mph. that's STEEP!

how come only 1 photo?

[Zen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_M...orth_Carolina)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow, great adventure report. I can't even IMAGINE biking up that mountain!

I visited a friend in Asheville 10 years ago and he drove me up Mt. Mitchell to see the view- it was a DARK day during the week, with thunder and black sky and fog (or was it clouds??) rolling about everywhere....very spooky and beautiful.
On the way down in the car we were going pretty slowly and suddenly we had to brake because two little black bear cubs crossed the road right in front of us.
We took one look at each other and then high tailed it out of there cause we knew what else was likely coming along.

[GLC1968]

Great report!

Had we stayed in NC, I know this ride would have been on our list of 'someday' rides. This one and the lovely "Bridge to Bridge".

[Blueberry]

I still want to do Blood, Sweat and Gears.....GLC - Did you guys ever do it??

CA

[GLC1968]

I still want to do Blood, Sweat and Gears.....GLC - Did you guys ever do it??

CA

No! And that was one that I truly wanted to do. It's supposed to be fun and beautiful!

I was just thinking about riding in the NC mountains (and Micheal at the Bicycle Inn) and I miss that. The riding here is great, but I'll miss the mountains, no doubt about it.

[Blueberry]

Yeah - I was actually thinking about Michael the other day. Looks like he's still updating the webpage with pictures from his new locale. It's a shame the Inn isn't there as an inn anymore, though.

Can't you guys get to mountains pretty easily??

CA

[tulip]

My brother lives in Asheville. He recently did the Mountain Bike Assault on Mt. Mitchell. 50 miles up Mount Mitchell on mountain bike trails. He's a really good mountain biker and very strong, and it takes him about 6+ hours. His regular road riding includes Pisgah Mountain; he loves riding up hills.

It's hard for us flatlanders to imagine our daily rides like that. Good going, Bouncy.

[bouncybouncy]

Thanks...living here makes it easy to train for climbing! Also, one nice thing about the ride is the first 70 miles is relatively flat.

I felt awesome at the end of this ride...there were many notches that day!!!

Have not done Blood, Sweat & Gears...I am mostly a mtbiker so one or two huge road rides a year...maybe next year???

Tulip - I did the Off-Road Assault as well (hehe...not quite 6+ hours) but I did better than last year!!! It was hot, tough and unfortunately a disappointment on the "stocked aid station" part of the deal...report to follow soon.

CA...I will not be doing the road assault next year...let me know and I will give you my number so you can try to get a ticket!!!! come on...you know you wanna!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

I did the Off-Road Assault as well (hehe...not quite 6+ hours) but I did better than last year!!! It was hot, tough and unfortunately a disappointment on the "stocked aid station" part of the deal...report to follow soon.

I'm looking forward to reading that, bouncy. A (male) friend of mine did it too, and he really suffered. He also complained bitterly about the lack of water and food at at least one rest stop (maybe more). He was one of the later finishers, and the fact that they ran out of stuff really pissed him off, because he NEEDED it (both food and water on such a hot day). And apparently the organizers had the same number of riders as last year so should have known better. For the $80 entry fee, he expected more, and I don't blame him one bit.

Emily