trippn1

After reading Mr Beanz post, I really want to ride some mountains. I am in central Florida and we have a few hills but it is mostly flat. Anyone know of a place that does cycling vacations (road bikes) in the Southeast. I would love to take a vacation in the mountains of North Carolina and try my hand at riding some mountains. I guess for now I will just keep looking at Mr Beanz pictures and dreaming....lol

mkadam68

Gee if you're willing to pay... Come on out to SoCal: I'd be very happy to give you a nice discount

Seriously, though, we've had others come out from North Carolina, sleep on a member's couch, and get in a couple mountain passes. And if you're willing to drive a bit, there are other climbs much more beautiful and a few longer ones than even Beans' posts.

jesspal

I'm going to my sisters in Colorado on thursday to ride, i'm super excited.

dlester

We always want what we don't have. I live in the heart of the Cascade mountains in WA State. I can't go anywhere without it being mountainous. I sometimes wonder what it must be like to be able to take off and just hammer without having to be going up hills all the time

jesspal

Well you are welcome to come riding with me if you are ever in Miami, I have extra space and I don't think my wife will mind.

jboyd

I'll let ya know. My son and I are taking a "Cat's in the Cradle" trip the 2nd week in May. We are going to spend a week biking in the NC mountains between Bryson City and Asheville.

pipes

Sign up for the bridge to bridge ride that outa CURE what ails you :O)

Mr. Beanz

Glad someone likes the pics!........Yup, riding in the mtns is a different feeling. Something everyone should experience. Even if it means stopping for a picnic!

breadbin

Careful what you wish for - you're a clyde aren't you? ha ha only joking. its great to have the different terrain - i'd say it'd get boring enough riding flat all the time. Although sometimes i wish it was flat over here. only when I'm going up though You'll just have to plan your holidays well, make sure to include some hills

Seattle_Jerry

Riding in the mountains isn't all its cracked up to be. Heart attack on a stick if you ask me. The air is thin and there are plenty of opportunities to plummet to your death from fantastic heights. Not to mention that horrible feeling when you go to shift to an easier gear and realize you are already against the spokes... I guess a triple would help.

Mr. Beanz

Hmmm, I never feel the elevation difference. I live at 1000 ft.Training rides go up to 5000'ish level. Organized rides go up to 8400 but I never feel the tough to breath thingy. Maybe I'm lucky!

TrekJapan

I'd give anything for ONE flat ride. I live in Okinawa and it's pretty darn hilly around here. All rides in any direction are up and down, up and down. Every once in a while you get that magic slight downhill with the wind at your back, but not nearly enough.

Enjoy your flats!

John

baron von trail 

Dude, you're not lucky....you're just an animal.

baron von trail 

Have you considered the Blue Ridge Parkway? It's reasonably bike friendly, cars are not allowed to travel much faster than 35 mph, and the elevation changges are not insane.

Oh yeah, it's quite a beautiful ride to boot.

cod.peace

Naw, you're just acclimatized . I went to Boulder, CO about 10 years ago for a conference and went to the local aikido school to visit. 10 minutes into the class I thought I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. The other students had a good chuckle and they said that happens to everyone who visits who normally trains at sea level.

You know Mr. Beanz, you could always put some of that mountain riding to work and come east for the Mt Washington Hill Climb...although you'd have to wait til 2010 since the 2009 races are full up.

quote:
Just how steep is the course? The Mt. Washington Hill Climb is quickly becoming known as the toughest hill climb in the world at 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 12% with extended sections of 18% and the last 50 yards is an amazing 22%! Sprint that to the finish!

Blindrage

Just throwing my nickle in the pot, but I live in Denver, and I would love to ride on a long, straight, flat stretch just for some variety. Around here it is all .5 miles steep uphill, and then a 65 mile an hour descent. Up and down, the whole ride. Feel like you are going to die as you heart pumps like mad and ends up in your throat, then hang on and scream hoping the car you are about to pass does not change lanes into you on the down. While I love where I do get to ride, it would be nice to just pedal a straight line every now and again. So enjoy what you have and know there are others out here that wish they had some of it.

^ down, ^ down, want to die, scream in terror....

Mr. Beanz

Id' do stuff like that if I could afford it!...........I did do a ride with some forum mebes of another forum back when I was in shape. Up OakGlen, Damnation Alley and then up Forest Falls. That was teh toughest ride I've ever done.

After OG, 7 miles some 12%(?)... Damnation ALley 6% average 10 miles (?).. then FF 6 or 7 miles with the final 200 yards at 22%!

That was the toughest ride I've done. But I was on my double 39/25. That was the first time I felt the feeling of "if I stop to think, I'll fall over"!

StephenH

Go east, young man, go east. Try Pawnee Buttes, for example.

howsteepisit

Bozeman MT here, I would give up a lot for some flat riding. Everything here is about 2% slope, so its a slow slog up, but the ride back is pretty nice, then there are the actual mountains, but mostly the slopes are only up to 10%, but they might go on for miles and miles. The grass is always greener as they say.

BTW Bozeman is a nice place to vacation

jesspal

Going to Colorado today, unfortunately the weather looks like it is gonna be freezing. 40's high, possible snow tomorrow and saturday. Sunday should get high of 60's will do a long climb that day 60 miles total miles 4000 ft of climbing.

scotlandtb

trippn, you could always do a pigeon forge TN to cherokee NC run in the smokies. Its close to FL (less than 10-12 hrs drive) and it will take you from 1000ft - 5000ft *grin*. A nice ride if your a sadist *LOL* but you would get to gamble at the nd of it at the casino *LOL*

https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/tn...23988733399031

jesspal

Stuck here in Ft. Collins, during a winter storm. Today should get to the 40's and i'm thinking that the little snow that is left will melt. Should be 60 tomorrow and hoping to get a good ride in. We will be trying to do the horsetooth trail. Looks challenging but doable.

Neil_B

I don't know if y'all ever consider heading north of the Mason-Dixon line, but I'm extending the offer to host a Clyde or Athena who wants to sample the rolling switchbacks of Chester County, PA. Our living room has been an overnight home to a number of cyclists.

Mr. Beanz

Extend your offer a little more with a plane ticket and I'll be happy to ride with you! Throw in a cheeseburger and I'll make sure you cross the finish line ahead of me!