Southeast - Tour de Tuck report

We could not have had better weather this past weekend for the Tour de Tuck event. The ride started Saturday morning from Poteek Park, about a block from downtown Sylva, with the metric riders (my group) leaving about 15 minutes after the century riders. I think there were 120 riders doing the full century and, about 110 or so doing the metric century. The organization and support during the event were first rate and, the route was great. I mean really great - certainly one of the best rides that I have participated in.

A few pictures:

At Poteek Park, the century group getting ready for their 7:30AM start.
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Within minutes of starting, we are heading into the Sylvian countryside.
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The classic mountain dew is very visible at this time of morning.
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The groups had a police escort and, stayed together from Sylva all the way into Cherokee which made for a nice peloton and a good chance to make new friends. Here we are arriving in Cherokee. The traffic is light at this time of morning.
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The first rest stop. Not that we needed one at this point, and many did not stop here but, it allows quick drink and bite before the climbing starts. And, the first big climb would be a 10 mile, 6-8% grade on the Parkway toping out at the Lickstone Overlook. That is BikeWNC on the left. Not sure who is on the right.
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I believe we went through four tunnels, maybe five. The first one was long and unnerving. Very weird riding and not being able to see the road - especially with a bit uneven pavement.
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Soco Gap Overlook and rest stop. This marks our second rest stop and, the start of the second major climb which will take us up to Waterrock Knob.
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Yours truly on the way to Waterrock Knob. The mountains were really beautiful at this point.
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The rest stop at Waterrock Knob. This one had lots of goodies and, everything tasted especially great at this point (we had about 6K' on our legs now).
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ent was about 8 miles and was exhilarating. Turning off the Parkway and onto the road that would lead us back to Sylva. I snapped this picture of the Balsom Post Office when we got off the Parkway.
http://rnhood.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p468141472-4.jpg

On Sunday, about 8 of us rode near Cullowee along the Tuckasegee river which is a popular route for the locals. This turned out to be a faster recovery ride than I had anticipated. I think we averaged about 19 mph or better for a little over 30 miles. Not bad considering the terrain.
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A group (all but one) picture at the turnaround point. Some of these faces may look familiar.
http://rnhood.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p379325332-4.jpg

All in all, a great event. Its already on my calendar for next year. A couple parting shots. Looking down on the town of Sylva from the Jackson County Courthouse.
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The Courthouse.
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A group (all but one) picture at the turnaround point. Some of these faces may look familiar. http://rnhood.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p379325332-4.jpg

you guys will recognize myself, neal, & bwnc (well, those who have met us before!).

but, in either case, it's nice to have a name associated with the face...
nealh, wp, gary, margo, rich, barry, bwnc. and, behind the camera is mike! :)

great pictures of TdT Neal! i didn't take any time for picture taking this go-'round.

Great pic's. Thanks for posting 'em.

"I believe we went through four tunnels, maybe five. The first one was long and unnerving. Very weird riding and not being able to see the road - especially with a bit uneven pavement."

I couldn't agree more. I'd read someone bike blog about going through tunnels recently, and at least knew enough to take my glasses off before entering the tunnel. I actually just pulled them down a little on my nose - like bifocals.

When I got into to the tunnel and saw how dark and long it was, I thought NOW might be a good time to turn on that little blinky light they gave us in our rider packet; just to keep from getting run over, if a car or something came in behind me. I had the light clipped onto a little strap on the back of my seat bag; I thought I might be able to reach back behind me (while still riding) and push the little button and turn it on, but couldn't quite manage that maneuver. I finally yanked it off into my hand, only to discover it was already on - go figure. So there I am, still pedaling, blinky light in my left hand, and trying to keep my speed up and trajectory, to keep me out of the wall. Well, like OP said, not being able to see the road below you that you're pedaling over, coupled with the slight upgrade and ridges in the road and the crown of the road taking you back toward the wall, that was really unnerving!...I FELL ..bigtime *splat*...right over in the middle of the tunnel; couldn't even get clipped out - in time. Boy did I feel stoopid; at least there was no one else around within eyeshot to see what a "Fred" I am.

Got right back up, but couldn't see enough to get clipped back in and going again. I have a really hard time getting clipped back in and going, if I'm taking off going up hill. Heck, I have enough trouble getting clipped in when I can actually see my feet - and on level ground. Wound up walking out the rest of the tunnel; and of course, there were the guys with the cameras taking the pics. You can actually see me stopped and off the bike at the end of that tunnel in some of the pics they just posted online today.

Looks like a nice ride. Maybe next year I'll be able to do this and other organized rides in the mountains.

chuck - tour de nantahala & tour de franklin next month. i'm doing both (metric's). come on up and ride them!! :)

Thanks for the pics Neal. I had a great time riding with you. Hope you can make it back in Oct.

chuck - tour de nantahala & tour de franklin next month. i'm doing both (metric's). come on up and ride them!! :)
Two mountain metrics in one weekend? Amazing!

I doubt I can make either of them. The girls will only have been back for a little more than a week :hug: after a really long family visit, so the odds of getting away for a long ride are very low. I've already got plans for this coming weekend and Oct 11-12, so Oct 4-5 is the last weekend I'll be free to go wherever I want for a ride.

chuck - tour de nantahala & tour de franklin next month. i'm doing both (metric's). come on up and ride them!! :)

Well dayum, now you got ME interested in trying another back-to-back century weekend. I probably need to continue working on improving my stamina, in order to be up for the Black&Blue ride next year that I'm planning...or at least seriously considering. And besides, the fall foliage down in Franklin & Nantahala, in late October, could be quite spectacular.

My only real reservation is the logistics of getting down there for both Saturday's & Sunday's rides. I had to get up at 3:30 and out the door by 4:00, in order to drive all the way to Sylva this past Saturday's TdT ride; at least it was only a 45 minute drive to Lenoir, for Sunday's. I'm not sure I can take the back to back long early morning commutes in the same weekend, even if I could handle the actual riding.

You could always camp, though it tends to get pretty cool at night that time of year.

I would normally entertain camping, but, what with the cooler weather and having pitch a tent and then take it down again, coupled with no warm comfy bed and hot shower in the am, would make for a rough start to my rides.

Do you know of any really cheap motels in that area; preferably, one w/o roaches?

I checked rates and most of the hotels seem to have raised prices for the leaf lookers. The Sleep Inn in Bryson City was $116 a night. Most were about the same. You could check the Holiday Inn Express in Dillsboro or NealH likes the Blue Ridge Inn in Sylva. There are some mom and pop motels on 441 off of 74 towards Cherokee that are decent and probably a bit cheaper.

I checked rates and most of the hotels seem to have raised prices for the leaf lookers. The Sleep Inn in Bryson City was $116 a night. Most were about the same. You could check the Holiday Inn Express in Dillsboro or NealH likes the Blue Ridge Inn in Sylva. There are some mom and pop motels on 441 off of 74 towards Cherokee that are decent and probably a bit cheaper.

Thanks for the run down.

That's kind of what I was fearing, rates upwards of $100 a night-ish. I think of some the much needed (...like arm&leg warmers!) biking accessories or riding apparel I could buy for the sake of just a place to lay my head for a night - or two. Not only that, but the ride entry fees for all these rides I'm doing start adding up,too. Oh well, I guess there are prices to be paid -- for having a "hobby".

*hmmm...I wonder what kind of stuff you just "gotta have" - in order to be an avid stamp collector, and how much ITcosts? Wonder if they have CF bound stamp collecting/catalog books? But at least you don't need special shoes...do you?. I'll bet you don't don't get a whole lot of excercise from it......well, 'cept for your tongue maybe, from licking all those stamps*

You are looking at the two story section of the Blue Ridge Inn in the last picture of my thread above (the one of the Jackson County Courthouse). Below is another picture of it taken from the opposite end of the parking lot. There is a back side to this motel but, the front side (picture side) is the preferred side. Always ask for a room on the front side. Usually the back side is leased to construction crews and other longer term residents.

There were no non-smoking rooms available for the Oct. 25 weekend as of this past Monday. There were a couple smoking rooms still available. I had to take a smoking room. Same type room, same quality (which is average) and furnishings, just the smoke aroma might, or will be evident. Oh well, its only a night, or two. The price is $69 per night. That is hard to beat and, the location is just about ideal as its on the leading edge of town. Everything in the town proper is within walking distance. The rooms have a nice 27" flat screen TV, a small refrigerator and microwave oven. The bed is unusually comfortable in my opinion. As I said, the rooms are average, or decent. Not great and not a dump. I've never seen a roach there.

http://nealh.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p22182008-4.jpg

Thanks so much for the info.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to try and do both rides (century), I just need to figure out the logistics of travel and accomodations. I talked to the s/o last evening, who, unfortunately, is not into biking like me and would have to find something to do to occupy herself when I'm off pedaling, and I think I've got her talked into accompanying me. If I have her to help erect and take down a tent, then camping might just be an option; otherwise, I'll look into that motel.

Alas, I missed a good-looking ride. It appears the rest stop food was better than last year, too.

Alas, I missed a good-looking ride. It appears the rest stop food was better than last year, too.

The ride was great and, what a perfect day for it. You should come ride the Nantahala and Franklin metrics with us.

Yes, I do feel like I missed out by not doing a mountain ride in September. For assorted reasons, I've not felt as frisky (to do a long ride) since mid-August.