msheron

Okay............I have had one PM ref. this potential ride and will post something in the regional settings too. Anyone interested I will get routes and motel info. and plan on a Saturday long ride (45-60 miler) and a casual Sunday (30-40 miler) for BF and anyone else you bring along. I will try to do alot of BRP mileage on the Sat. ride due to it's beauty. Sunday I have in mind a 32 or so miler along a stretch of the FBR (French Broad River) that is nice and the ride would go through two counties.

This ride will be in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC in the Asheville area.

I am looking at early to mid spring 2007 so weather is nice but it can never be predicted. I will sure this up later and give a few month notice. I am thinking a ride Sat. and dinner that evening at a nice restaurant and Sunday a mid morning to noon ride and everyone departs for home.

Anyone wanting to be a part please e-mail me rather than PM me. I will keep you in a folder for future e-mail notifications to an actual date. It would be nice to have anyone from any region if you wish and are certainly invited.

Posted already in Foo as well.

Now go ride and quit reading my Foo-ish postings here!

msheron

Getting e-mails ref. this ride. I am saving everyone's e-mail to a separate folder and will make contact once I get the routes picked and motels for those out of town. Remember, if your interested in this weekend ride which will consist of a roughly 45-60 miler Saturday and a 30-40 miler on Sunday e-mail me. I am trying to pick out a scenic route with some climbs but not so difficult that it will be a pain rather than a pleasure.

BikeWNC

For the longer ride, I highly recommend starting at the Pisgah Inn at mp 408 on the BRP. Ride South to Waon Road Gap and Hwy 276. Take 276 West towards Waynesville 16 miles to a left on Lake Logan Rd which becomes Hwy 215. Take that road 17 miles back to the BRP and go North back to the Pisgah Inn. It's about 53 miles and 4400 ft of climbing. If you want some more info I can give you all the particulars on stores, water etc.

msheron

Alright guys and gals...........looking at a weekend in May. I am doing some organized rides in April so that is out. So May if it is alright with you guys and uncertain as to actual weekend yet so just stay tuned. I have to seek routes that will not be too difficult and less traveled hopefully that will still give a very scenic route.

I am thinking of the 32 miler of climbing Mt. Pisgah on Sunday if everyone is interested. Just let me know. I will post the elevation gain and map of one of my actual rides for you to say either yes or no. The ride is not too bad for even those who hate climbing. Best of all there is the decent of 16 miles as well! Great rest area at the top as well and wonderful overlooks along the way.

JayC

Sounds good.. Im in.

msheron

Here is the elevation chart of the Mt. Pisgah ride..............

DavidARayJaxNC

Where exactly is this, I know I live 6 hours from ashville.

wolfpack 

msheron - damn that looks like a climb

i hope i'm ready for that by may!

BikeWNC

Depending on the weekend, I might be able to lead a ride on the Sat. from the Pisgah Inn. I mentioned the ride above if anyone is interested. First weekend of May is out for me as I'll be in Chattanooga for the 3 State - 3 Mountain Century. Early May is primetime for wild Azalea, and other flowers on the BRP.

msheron

Mt. Pisgah is off the BRP and if your in Asheville, NC and go to the BRP from Hendersonville Rd. you drive toward Hwy. 191 or west I think is the direction and once you get to 191 you have about 16 miles to the base or the overlook at Mt. Pisgah.

msheron

That sounds like a possibility BikeWNC and if the Mt. Pisgah ride gets squashed due to climb I have a 28 miler backup that goes along the French Broad River into Marshall, NC with a slight climb to the top of the town for some good views on Sunday for a finish ride of the weekend. I will post the map of that ride as well to get feedback.

msheron

Okay here is another optional ride that as mentioned above would be alot more flats with some rolling hills and one climb in the town of Marshall which has a short distance of 27.2% grade of climb. But the total distance of climb to the top of the town may be around 1/2 mile or so. I have another starting point from where this ride started to add about 6 miles to it roughly for 34-35 mile Sunday ride. Well here is the map from MB:

wolfpack 

hey guys, don't change your routes or plans cuz i expressed concern about the climb! i'm from flatland, so any amount of climbing is gonna be hard for me...

msheron

Not because of your comment. The Mt. Pisgah climb is just that, a climb for almost 16 miles to the top where I do my turn around to coast to the start point again. Not that it is neccesarily a difficult climb just almost entirely constant.

The other ride I have mentioned has a climb but also goes along the FBR for a good scenic view with mountains on either side of you. Just one of those things I will put up for vote for the masses here soon to decide as a whole.

I too am not the best climber. At 195 lbs. I just do it at my pace. I will check out some more routes for consideration by all.

Stay tuned!

msheron

So far 10 interested BF members......11 including me. Also may be some local riders I ride with in my area that will attend. Routes still being considered.

Looking at a Saturday long ride but not so difficult. Like the ride BikeWNC has suggested. I could use a little help on this venture so BikeWNC if your willing. I will also get a list of reputable motels. What I mean by that would be motels that are in a good part of town and have had no meth labs in same. You think I am joking but there have been a few. Good thing is I track meth labs so I know at least the motels we have no had any at.

I am thinking a Sat. start time of 10 am allowing 4-5 hours to ride and sight see. I think a dinner that night would be great as a whole.

Sunday a leisure 30-35 miler along the FBR or the Mt. Pisgah climb. The majority rules. Start time around 9 am then a late lunch around 2 pm for those interested.

Like I said this is all up for discussion. Let me know what you guys and gals think and I can tailor it to what you may want to see if possible.

Jake the Snake

Sounds like a great plan, I am going to bring a few of my riding buddies up with me from ATL. Very much looking forward to the rides.

BikeWNC

When you decide on the day I will know more as to whether I can make it or not. Right now, only the first weekend is a problem for me. Of course Mother's Day is the next though I could make it on Sat. if that works for everyone else.

The ride I mentioned would start at the Pisgah Inn. There is a hotel and restaurant there and plenty of parking. While we would pass a couple of stores, there is not much after Bethel, except a good spring for water, so we will need to be stocked up for the climb back to the Pisgah Inn. 10am would be a good time to meet or start the ride. If I were to do this ride on my own with one short stop it would take about 3:45. So 4-5 hours would be a realistic time for a group ride with stops, regroups, etc.

For those coming from lower areas, this ride starts at 5000ft and drops down to 2900ft in Bethel then hits the highest point at 5600ft up on the Parkway. Be prepared for a cool start and layer adjustment on the way back up. Most of the grades are in the 4-6% range, but there are a couple of short 1/4 mile sections that are steeper. I use a standard double with a 12/27 rear on this ride though if you are not used to long climbs a compact or triple can be helpful. Dont' want to scare anyone off though as it really isn't that bad a climb, just consistent and long. It's a great ride that follows both the East and West forks of the Pigeon River with over half the ride in either National Forrest, along the boundary of a wilderness area or a National Park. It has long twisting descents, fast rolling valleys, gentle creek grades, long climbs, great views and wildflowers. All we need is some good weather to make it perfect.

jamiewilson3

This sounds awesome. I am highly interested in making it up from Greenville for at least the Saturday ride, assuming that it works on the calendar. I hope that this pans out, as the area is an awesome ride!

cycleaddict

Sounds like a great time. I would love to ride with you all!

msheron

Anyone wanting to do these rides please send me an e-mail direct so I can place you in a contact list. My e-mail address is: msheron@charter.net

Those who have e-mailed me you are fine...............just anyone who has posted here without e-mailing me needs to do so.

This is for SE BF members but obviously anyone is invited to ride from anywhere. I just wanted to put faces with screen names and possibly see a few of you I may have ticked off with some of my pungent post at time

bigskymacadam

e-mail sent. thanks!

knobster

The wife and I will be there doing the 3 state ride. Sounds great. You ever done it before? We might be interested in doing the BF ride also. We're over in Greensboro.

BikeWNC

Yes, I've done the 3 State - 3 Mountain Century the past 2 years. It is a great ride, but has become very popular. Which I guess isn't bad in a let's get a lot of bikes on the road kind of way, but it is a little crazy at the start with over 2000 riders. One thing I like about the 3 State is how much flat riding there is. Coming from the mountains, it is rare to have any flat at all, and that makes for a pretty fast ride. There are three main climbs, with the last one Burkhalter Gap Rd being the most difficult. Good thing it is relatively short at 2.4 miles but it comes at mile 83.

The ride is very well supplied and the area really supports the ride with the police and fire departments at most intersections. I've lucked out the past two years with the weather, sunny and cool, but rain and that many bikes might make it tough. Anyway, I highly recommend this ride and even the metric has lots to offer I would think.

You and your wife should come do the BF ride. It's a great time of year to ride in the mountains and the ride while different than the 3 State is really nice. It will be a fun, non-competitive ride with great scenery and hopefully, lots of other BF riders.

msheron

Okay......................May 26th (Saturday) & May 27th (Sunday) for the ride weekend. Saturday being the BikeWNC 50+ miler if they are available.

Sunday being the 30+ miler along the French Broad River into historic Marshall which is a quaint old mountain town on the river then a climb over Hill St. to do a circle back onto River Rd. to begin point.

Saturday would be the night we do the dinner.............I am thinking of a nice Japanese Steakhouse called Ichiban in historic Biltmore Village. Dinner time of let's say 7 p.m.

Sunday would be a 11 am meet time at which time I am thinking allow for everyone to group up and then proceed. This ride would take about 2 hrs. to 3 hrs. depending on how many want to take group photo's along the way.

I think BikeWNC was thinking of a 10 am start time for Saturdays ride I think. What do ya say BikeWNC? You let me know and as long as you can do this for the group.

As far as great hotels in the area................I will e-mail several to each of you ranging from $60- $175 per night if you want luxury like the Inn at Biltmore on the estate.

Alright guys and gals...................check those day planners and think about this one. I will take group photo's at the beginning of each ride but will be unable to take the camera along the way since it is very bulky. But it is top of the line and the pics. will come out great. If anyone has a small digital that would be great as well.

Okay..................let me know. I know there may be some that this date will conflict but that is the way things go. If the majority can't make it we will look to an earlier May weekend.

Hope to see ya there. BikeWNC let me know how this fits your schedule as well. And don't worry about your biking ability.................no one left behind. There will be cue sheets as well on my part which are very easy on the Sunday ride. Maybe BikeWNC can do a cue sheet for the longer ride if there are alot of turns.

Now quit reading this and go ride unless your like me with bad cold weather!

CycleMagic

sounds great! I've sent you an e-mail...