Now that have been informed about this thread here's the truth and why Robbietunes isn't worried about the corncob he calls a cassette. He is driving ahead (North) each day and racing back on his bike to join us. Which the first 2 days that have the biggest climbs (over 9000 feet) he will be descending to us at 45 MPH - we will be ascending at 3-6MPH - he will then have fresh legs to climb the next 30 miles with us. He needs brighter lights not bigger cogs.

As everyone has said the tunnels are seriously dark (tunnel vision is real) and there is traffic including 40foot motor homes. I have ridden the Pisgah and Mt Mitchell area and halfway through some of the tunnels you are praying for a car with headlights to help you out.

As to the flatlander problem - I have been training with the wind 15-20mph - going into a head wind I can't get all 6'2" 220lbs in a draft behind robbietunes.

Here's the ultimate question for those of you who are type A and retentive in certain unmentionable areas - the Parkway is closed in the Sparta NC area and has a 22 mile detour using busy mountain roads. To say we did the whole parkway I don't have a problem using the detour as part of the Parkway for 2011, but could we say we did the whole parkway if we actually drive the detour? The detour is off limits to all traffic including foot in this area.