I thought I was prepared for the 3-6% grades on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But they tend to grind away at you for 5-12 mile stretches with no flats nor even short descents to make for a break. It wasn't that I was winded (I was able to carry on a conversation the whole time), it was just that the legs would go "flat" and have nothing left! I walked or stopped at the overlooks many times during the two day ride.

Jon, I am not ashamed to gear any of my bikes for climbs. And I'm not ashamed to dismount and walk when I want to or need to.

Looking up the BRP (DrRobWave in picture).



Looking down the BRP.



Check out the locations of our chains. Were we climbing when we stopped?