Blue Ridge Parkway Suggestions?
05-23-17 | 07:12 AM
#51
Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Thanks! I've read that about leaving the parkway! The plan is to avoid going off the parkway except for a few particular places where that shouldn't be the case! I don't want to begin a day with a 3 mile STEEP climb just to get back on the parkway!
05-24-17 | 11:32 AM
#52
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,812
Likes: 1,234
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
My new plan, now riding south to north:
day 1: cherokee to pisgah inn (63 miles, 9800' gain)
day 2: pisgah inn to alpine inn-little switzerland...including mt mitchell (86 miles / 9800' gain)
day 3: alpine inn, little switzerland to doughton hall b&b (90 miles, 8200' gain)
day 4: doughton hall b&b to stonewall b&b (89 miles / 6500' gain)
day 5: stonewall b&b to peaks of otter lodge (74 miles / 6700' gain)
day 6: peaks of otter lodge to rockfish gap (86 miles / 8000' gain)...drive to dc
day 1: cherokee to pisgah inn (63 miles, 9800' gain)
day 2: pisgah inn to alpine inn-little switzerland...including mt mitchell (86 miles / 9800' gain)
day 3: alpine inn, little switzerland to doughton hall b&b (90 miles, 8200' gain)
day 4: doughton hall b&b to stonewall b&b (89 miles / 6500' gain)
day 5: stonewall b&b to peaks of otter lodge (74 miles / 6700' gain)
day 6: peaks of otter lodge to rockfish gap (86 miles / 8000' gain)...drive to dc
But if you pushed on to Asheville (about 20 miles IIRC, and almost all downhill) you get some great options.
Inn on Biltmore at the Biltmore Estate is excellent, and a short ride off the Parkway through Biltmore Forest, and lots of options in Downtown Asheville.
It also shortens the next day which will be hard enough with Mt. Mitchell
And I get the point about leaving the Parkway, but Asheville is one place worth leaving it for, and the climb back through Biltmore Forest is a gentle grade, and only about 400 feet vertical
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
05-24-17 | 08:53 PM
#53
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 4
From: Colorado
Bikes: '16 Cervelo R5 .... Alchemy Arion .... Alchemy Ronin Ti ... Santa Cruz 5010CC
Pisgah Inn is nice.
But if you pushed on to Asheville (about 20 miles IIRC, and almost all downhill) you get some great options.
Inn on Biltmore at the Biltmore Estate is excellent, and a short ride off the Parkway through Biltmore Forest, and lots of options in Downtown Asheville.
It also shortens the next day which will be hard enough with Mt. Mitchell
And I get the point about leaving the Parkway, but Asheville is one place worth leaving it for, and the climb back through Biltmore Forest is a gentle grade, and only about 400 feet vertical
But if you pushed on to Asheville (about 20 miles IIRC, and almost all downhill) you get some great options.
Inn on Biltmore at the Biltmore Estate is excellent, and a short ride off the Parkway through Biltmore Forest, and lots of options in Downtown Asheville.
It also shortens the next day which will be hard enough with Mt. Mitchell
And I get the point about leaving the Parkway, but Asheville is one place worth leaving it for, and the climb back through Biltmore Forest is a gentle grade, and only about 400 feet vertical
05-24-17 | 11:27 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 49
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Thanks! The elevation chart for the whole thing is a fascinating thing to look at. My days are mostly between 50-70 miles depending on the terrain and if there is a substantial climb in the day. I live in western PA. We don't have hills much over a mile, but it is pretty common to find gradients well over 10%. I live on a stretch of road that is 15%. Personally, I'm looking forward to long sustained "gentle" grades rather than half mile steep grades. Four to six percent fits in well for me loaded (based on other rides locally). Granted, those are 10 mile sustained climbs.
05-28-17 | 07:15 PM
#55
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 52
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From: Colorado
Bikes: '16 Cervelo R5 .... Alchemy Arion .... Alchemy Ronin Ti ... Santa Cruz 5010CC
Can't really say, as my wife had food/cooler in the rental car, and we stayed in hotels/b&b's/lodges. I do now know that water was hit or miss, so plan accordingly. At one point on day two between the BRP's highest point and the Pisgah Inn, I had to fill a bottle from the (abundant) runoff that was dripping from the hillside.
