Southeast - Asheville, NC Road Routes

I'm going to be in Asheville, NC the weekend of April 11 for a wedding, and I'd like to bring my trusty steed and get in some miles while I'm there. I love to climb, but probably won't be in mid-season form yet at that point. Any suggestions for 40-60 mile routes in the vicinity?

I always enjoy riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Starting at Brevard Road (NC 191) and "North" on the parkway (which is actually East for a good long while) takes you around the southern and eastern tips of Asheville and then North toward Weaverville. Also, starting at the Destination center and riding either North toward Weaverville and Craggy Gardens or South toward Mt Pisgah is a good ride.

If you want a nice flat out and back try Riverside north to Marshall and turn around in Marshall and come straight back. Their is a great little cafe out in Marshall called the Zuma coffee I believe. It is a great place to stop for a coffee of snack on a cold day. That route is a little over 30 miles I believe.

If you want to climb you can take Town Mountain Rd up to the Parkway and then turn left and head all the way up to Craggy Gardens. That is probably about 36 miles or so with the return trip inlcuded. Great views.

You can allso climb up Elk Mountain Scenic Highway and then get onto the Parkway from there or you can descend down Ox Creek and that will dead end into Reems Creek Rd. Take a right on Reems Creek and go for a couple miles and you will come to Maney Branch Rd. on the left with a short climb called "The Wall". It hurts. Get to the top turn around a come back for about a 40 -50 miler.

Here is a great link to some rides around Ashevilee that was put together by a math professor at UNCA.

http://facstaff.unca.edu/mcmcclur/GoogleMaps/Biking/

Each route is mapped on Google maps and you get an elevation profile so you will know how much climbing you are doing.

Enjoy