Northeast TN/Asheville Rides- Advice Please
 

Will be in LaFollette TN area next month (July) for several days late July. Advice on road or paved trail rides would be very welcome. Will also be in Asheville NC during same period. Perhaps someone might have day ride recommendations for the BRP?

Thanks...

I am in Northeast TN but not close to LaFollette nor Asheville. There are some others on here though that will post today I am sure.

I am willing to drive a bit to find good rides, so please give advice liberally. Rides say within an hour of either of these places will do! TIA!

http://www.tailofthedragon.com Located at Deals Gap. It is a haven for motorcyclist. Road biking there would probably be lots of fun too. There are many amazing views. Just be careful of other motorists because of the high amount of corners and people wanting to pretend to be rally racers.

For Asheville, I would recommend the BRP for sure. Asheville is in the valley, so starting on the BRP near town will require a long climb in either direction. Also, the further you get away from town the less the traffic will be. Will you be there on the weekend or during the week? How fit are you?

An out and back is what works most often on the BRP though there are longer loops that can be made. Since you only have a half day I would suggest driving up to a higher elevation to start your ride. That way you get the vistas and the cooler temps. I can offer some places to start a ride if you let me know how far you want to go (but all of it is good).

Note: I can devote an entire day or days to riding if I want to... not limited to half-day.

Fitness: My endurance is pretty good but I would not say I am terribly fast. Just finished a five-day supported 320 mile ride with a longest ride of 73 miles. Have ridden 50 milers in about 15 average, assuming low wind and minor hills. I weigh 220 and am certainly not an ardent climber, though I don't have to live in fear of hills either... but I don't think I would enjoy lot of really long extended climbs of more than a mile or so. I do not have to have, nor do I expect or want, a downhill-only ride of course. I actually really like rollers. I do want to take my time somewhat and enjoy these rides and the scenery.

Time: My family has a house rented in LaFollette, TN starting July 18th and I have pretty much freedom to take off from there for days at a time... will be visiting friends in Asheville and can stay with them most any time. Was kind of expecting to get to Asheville around the 19th (Sunday) or 20th ... but all of that is flexible. It sounds like it might be cool to just have my Asheville friends take me up the BRP 40-60 miles in one direction or the other to let me ride back to meet them for lunch or drinks etc. (Assume morning rides are more favorable this time of year?) Also have thought about possible two-day BRP ride ending in Asheville with a motel stop for one night.

I may also look around for a trout stream in the area while I'm there. Just a thought.

Still no advice on this? ....Anyone?

I would drive South up the BRP from Asheville to the Pisgah Inn mp 408 and start there. That avoids a couple long tunnels on the ride up from town. From the Pisgah Inn you can ride out as far as you care to, go to the high point at Richland Balsam mp 431.4 which is 23 miles from the Inn. Turn around ride back. There is a good water spring coming out of a pipe about a third of a mile beyond the highpoint on the right. There are no services on the BRP once you leave the Pisgah Inn.

Also, you can either start at the Folk Art Center mp 282, East of Asheville on the BRP and ride up to Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (water, restroom) and back. It's a popular ride but can get some traffic. Alternately, drive up a ways on the BRP, then ride up to Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Rockies, water and RR) and back.

Hope that helps. Best to ride earlier than later due to afternoon T-storms.