Saturday, July 1, 2023

Bicycle Tour of Black Mountain - 2023

Dates: July 27th – 30th

Who's ready for 4 wonderful days in the lovely little town of Black Mountain?  You are.


Logistics:

Where are we meeting?

Mario’s house with be the HQ this year.

Mario: 47 Cheshire Drive, Black Mountain, NC 28711

C.T.: 17 Teresa Way, Black Mountain, NC 28711


Where am I going to Sleep?

Mario has quite a few extra rooms and I have an extra bed.  We'll figure it out.  Also, there is the treehouse or Nemo’s Van.  He’s gotten much more respectful about reaching into your sleeping bag a night.

 


 

Recommended Gear List:

  • Bikes - In working order (Nemo)
  • Spare Tubes and/or tires
  • Jacket & Gloves – sometimes it gets a little cold or wet up high
  • Helmet, shoes, riding kit, water bottles, etc. (duh)
  • Bike tail light
  • A good attitude
Daily Start Time:

Thursday and Friday, we will plan to be rolling at 10:15.  For those of you that need to get some work done, that will leave a few hours in the morning or the afternoon.  All is predicated on weather as well so we may adjust due to rain forecast.  Don't hold me to anything.

Agenda:

Wednesday July 26th - Arrival and Tour Check-in

It isn’t a short drive, but it isn’t too bad.  From the Columbus area, I prefer to drive the US 23 route.  It’s a little more stop-and-go but you avoid the mess of Cincinnati.  As you’ll have plenty of time to think along the route, I would suggest using it as  a time to plan some strategies for the following topics that are bound to come up:

  • Excuses for why you are so slow
  • Excuses for why you are so fat
  • Excuses for why you didn’t get to ride much this year
  • Comments for the person riding faster than you
  • Comments for the person riding slower than you
  • Plans to buy a new bike
  • Repairs you need to make on your bike 

Wednesday evening we’ll meet up at Mario’s, figure out some dinner, and review the plan for the next few days.  This would be a good time to discuss some of the above topics as well.


Thursday July 27th – Grey Rock Parkway, Sugar Hill, Old Fort

 Distance: 50 miles

Estimated Duration: 3:56

Elevation Gain: 4,855

This is a really interesting little loop.  It starts with a climb out of Black Mountain.  This will be a good opportunity to set a bench mark on the segment Hwy 9 Climb from Old Lakey Gap as we will do it again on Saturday.  As we turn off HWY 9, we will take on one of the steepest (but short) climbs we'll face this week up Rock Creek Road Climb as we enter a gated community that never really developed.  This has a very fast descent after we pass through the gate.  The roads are superb but steep and twisty.  I've put it in the grass twice there so please use caution.  

As we exit the gated community, the roads are are pretty quiet.  We'll hit a store in Sugar Hill for some snacks and water bottle refills before turning towards Old Fort.



Leaving Old Fort, we'll climb one of my very frequented routes up Point Lookout Trail.  As with the Hwy 9 climb above, this would be another climb we'll be doing on Saturday.  Point Lookout Trail Climb is on my most frequented route.  I've probably climbed it 100+ times.  For those of you that have been down here before, you will remember it.  It is a closed bike path that offers a great overlook.  Don't spend too much time looking out though as that will impact your Strava segment time!



 


Route Maps:  

Interesting Strava Segments:

Options 1 - You can cut this short by 5 miles and reduce the climb by a few hundred feet if you want after we come off the Grey Rock Descent by turning up Cedar Creek Road (https://www.strava.com/activities/5611406199/)

Option 2 - Want to get just a little warmed up and test your mountain legs, here is a 36 mile / 3,000ft option


Friday July 28th – Curtis Creek, Parkway, Route 80 (+ Pisgah Fun)

Distance: 35

Estimated Duration: 2:45

Elevation Gain: 3,478


Bring all your bikes!  The Grandfather Region of the Pisgah Forrest is my playground.  This is the region north of Old Fort and where the Forrest Service as well as the local community are building out some great new trails.  We will start with a climb up one of the most scenic "roads" in the area.  Curtis Creek Road is a mostly gravel road that climbs from Old Fort to the Blue Ridge Parkway so miles 2-9 are Gravel.  Don't worry too much about it, you can ride it on your road bike or you can borrow something with fatter tires.  See "options" below.  

After the climb, we'll roll along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit before a really fun descent into Marion.  From Marion, we'll have a few rollers to get back to our vehicles.  Then the fun begins.



Maybe start with a cool down in Curtis Creek, maybe grab a mountain bike to explore some of the new G5 Trail System, maybe both and then head over to the local brewery (Hillman) for a little snack and refreshment.





 

Route Maps:  

Interesting Strava Segments:
Options - First, as noted above, their is some gravel in the first 10 miles.  I've climbed it on a road bike and we will have Gravel Bikes for Dave and Russ if they would like to do that.  Alternatively, you could just start up on the Parkway or even ride a mountain bike up and we could stash your road bike at the parkway for a switch.


Saturday July 29th – Hickory Nut, Bat Cave, Old Fort

Distance: 57

Estimated Duration: 4:15

Elevation Gain: 5,054

Our last day will offer you the most miles and climbing!  If you were here a few years back this will be a repeat but it is so lovely, it made the remix.  We'll start with a second opportunity at the Hwy 9 climb and end with a final try at the Point Lookout Climb.  In between, we climb up over Hickory Nut Gap and take a really fun descent into Bat Cave.  From Bat Cave, we may sneak into Chimney Rock for a coffee and water refill if the mood strikes.  From Bat Cave we roll back towards Black Mountain but head east for a little more miles and a last look at Old Fort.  As noted above, we will then "leave it all out there" as you make your PR attempt at Point Lookout Trail Climb.



 


 

Route Maps:  Interesting Strava Segments:
Options - Around the 32 mile mark, we will turn off to head out to Old Fort.  If you've had enough for the day, you can stay on Hwy 9 and head right back into Black Mountain cutting the ride short by about 12 miles and 1,000 feet of climbing but you still have to climb the 2 miles back over the the HWY 9 hill!
Sunday July 30th - You don't have to go home but you can't stay here.
If anyone is up for a some riding on Sunday morning, we can do a little mountain bike ride.  I have a great little hour loop from my house that is mostly chill.  After that, hug your buds and get on down the road.





Final Notes:

  • For any dangerous descents, use good judgement.  No one is getting a pro contract for fastest descent
  • When climbing, stay behind me.  This will prevent you from getting any of my PRs
  • Any Strava PRs taken from me could result in exclusion in future tours
  • If there is any doubt what to eat, we'll have Mexican

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