Road Cycling - Any Mt. Mitchell alumni here?

I did the ride in 90 and 91. In 90 I finished with a time of 10 h 1 m. In the 91 ride, I DNF'ed it. It rained all night Saturday night, and Sunday. We started in the rain, and when I got to Marion to meet my wife with my MTB for the assault, I was told it was snowing at the summit. That was enough to convince me to load up and go home.

I was thinking about doing it again in a couple of years.

From what I understand the event has grown to the point where you have to do the shorter ride first and then you'll get a spot to do the longer ride. I'd like to do the short ride next year and the full ride the year after that.

Also, a couple of buddies and I are planning to do the 3-gap 50 next month up in the GA mountains - wanna come along?

Zack

I might be up for that!

Also, I may have another person to go along with us on the ride Monday if that's ok. He's got a Trek, and needs some riding partners.

i see jerseys from it around here all the time. might have to go one year. i heard hincapie did it averaging around 19 mph, and he stopped to change a flat. now, i know it's the highest mtn east of the mississippi, but i don't know the grade. either way, though, the man's a horse.

At the time I did the ride, the record was 5 h 1m. I'm sure that's come down by now. And I got to meet John Howard the first year. He came to sign autographs, but I don't think he actually did the ride. It was cool that he was there anyway.

I did it back in the late 80's. I rained all day. On top it was very cold. So cold the hydration drink of choice was coffee! We ditched plans to ride back down the mtn after the ride.

hayneda