Fifty Plus (50+) - Who else is doing the Assault on Mt Mitchell Monday?

I know BikeWNC, Palt and myself plan to ride. Anyone else here plan to ride-or even do the Marion ride?

Palt has really been training and is riding very, very strong and should do very well in his first attempt.

BikeWNC lives and rides in the mountains in Western NC so this is just a walk in the park for him.

I had not planned to ride but a spot opened up a couple days ago and I took it. I have not trained for it so I suspect it will be a real sufferfest for me. Not sure what in the heck I was thinking......

This will probably be the hottest day they have ever done this event. We're setting record temperatures in the Carolinas and the heat is supposed to still be around on Monday. Nothing like 102 miles with almost 11,000 ft of climbing.

I just looked at some info from last year and it's a little under 5000 ft of climbing the first 75 miles which is not bad at all. However there is at least 6000 ft of climbing the last 25 miles. Ugh.

I'm sure someone will be selling a spot or two at registration if anyone else here would like to join us!!

I rode The Assault on Mt. Mitchell in '88, and I remember it as a great ride and fortunately not as challenging as I'd feared. The weather was the opposite of what you have though, since we had snow on the mountain at one point!

Have a great time! My wife and I will be on a different mountain, doing Ride Around the Bear in SoCal. Only 9,000 feet of climbing and only 101 miles, so kinda wimpy compared to Mitchell!

Rick / OCRR

Walk in the park? LOL. I, like you really didn't plan to do this ride. When my friend failed to get a number I changed my focus and planned to sell my number. Oh well, I guess I'll rely on experience this year instead of training. :rolleyes:

Drink lots of water and think cool thoughts. Good luck!

I rode The Assault on Mt. Mitchell in '88, and I remember it as a great ride and fortunately not as challenging as I'd feared. The weather was the opposite of what you have though, since we had snow on the mountain at one point!

Have a great time! My wife and I will be on a different mountain, doing Ride Around the Bear in SoCal. Only 9,000 feet of climbing and only 101 miles, so kinda wimpy compared to Mitchell!

Rick / OCRR

1988! Everything was easier back in 1988. Getting out of bed was easier. Just sayin. :lol:

Good luck to all and ride safely.:)

1988! Everything was easier back in 1988. Getting out of bed was easier. Just sayin. :lol:

Well BikeWNC,

I would have to say, "Yes and No" to that! In '88 I lived in St.Louis, MO so it was a 13 Hour drive (in my Corolla hatchback) to Spartenburg, SC from St.L. Lovely ride though, and if it weren't so far away (now that I live in CA) I'd like to do it again!

The Ride Around The Bear is only a hour's drive from our home in Whittier, plus this time my wife will join me on the Tour, whereas my prev. wife (ex'd in '96) wouldn't even consider such a thing!

Looking at the proverbial "Big Picture" then, I am far happier in 2008 than I was in 1988, ride my bike even more, and don't have to drive 13 hours (for example) to find wonderful rides in the mountains.

Funny how 20 years can change things! As far as I can tell though, getting out of bed is pretty much the same!

Rick / OCRR

Edited to add Bear Link if anyone is curious:

http://www.ocw.org/bear/bearinfo.asp

Norman Goldin completed the AbB Fast South and now will do this race. He is a tough biker I think. Say Hello from me if you see him.

jppe is being charitable!!! Yes, have trained hard, but the first timer is still a bit apprehensive:twitchy: If I manage a respectable finish, will be in no small part a result of some good advice and mentoring from jppe himself. Gonna be a hot one, we may be praying for a brief shower or two to cool us down.

I picked up a spot 3 weeks ago. This will be my first time.