Remember that the Parkway is not closed for this event Freewheeler. Ill be smart about it. Polk County, NC. Mitchell My left handlebar was crooked, pointing to the right and sitting a little lower. could be found from various resources such as some of the original and another into riding / biking the 102 miles to the top of Mt. Please make sure all your travel plans are worked out with your family and friends prior to purchasing your ticket. Mitchell was born and has become one of the best known centuries in the country. Having done the event I now know how to better train for next year. One of the biggest challenges is mental, pushing yourself to continually grind up the hill, knowing that at some point the reward will be worth all this punishment. This would be the first big challenge. I grunted my way up, slowly and surely to the finish line. If you want evidence, just check the results. Besides, training is the best part. effort to open the ride to more people, John Bryan decided that a second event Ive found myself with my mouth open and gasping during difficult stretches of road. The guy immediately in front of me swerved to the left of me, and then onto me. The last 27 or so miles takes as long as the first 75, and it is pretty difficult for most people. I heard the sound as our bikes connected and I thought this was it, I was going down. I trained with a power meter and my goal was a FTP of around 200 on my trainer. Thats a big if. the Assaults, be Build: Sustained Power Build The governor of Georgia thinks we are on the other side of this enough so that we can get our nails done and have massages. The steering was fine. In 2005, John Bryan When I turned into the Mitchell State Park entrance, I thought there was a chance of me breaking seven hours. By the way this to weather conditions. Ive found that even while riding by myself or in group rides, I have been able to move along at a decent pace, far faster than I expected at this point. It is & was in extremely poor All they had at the rest stop was water. I tried to conserve water, knowing it probably wouldnt be enough to take me through the climb. You may purchase bus tickets any time during or after you register. It almost makes want to come ride in North America Shaving an hour off of last year is amazing, too, and good luck with the 6:30 in 13. I refuse to waste what this uphill battle has already cost us. Pray for us to do what is best so that we can worship God in the most excellent way. So the bottom line is make sure your lights has, SAG are not allowed The ride begins in downtown Spartanburg. Hello! revision. Register early, train hard, and we will see you in May 2023! I'd stick to Base>Build>Specialty, and do either 'Rolling Road Race' or 'Century'. or join their family members and go directly home very tired and exhausted. A bus will depart the campground at 4 p.m. to transport riders from Marion to the Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg (Note: Bikes will not be allowed on these services buses. I felt amazing when I started climbing again, like a new man. Hey all, sorry about my absence as of lately. On Sunday, before the ride, there will be a service bus from Marion to Spartanburg, so you can leave your vehicle at Tom Johnson Campground overnight. Were just not there yet, so lets use this gap-time wisely to pray and think it all through. Box lunch will be provided on the bus, and the bus will make a stop for a restroom break. Mitchell, you are in for a more steady pace, you will spend the first 75 miles in a bigger gear (probably in the big chain ring) as the terrain is flatter and the speeds are higher. Spartanburg, South Carolina. NOTE: Once the climbing started I passed hundreds (or more) of riders on the way to the top. Gravity hurts right now. Im not saying that Rocky Mountain climbing is easy in comparison. The ride starts in Spartanburg, South Carolina[1] and ends at the summit of Mount Mitchell in Mount Mitchell State Park in Yancey County, North Carolina. "Asheville, NC: Assault on Mount Mitchell", Official site of the rides (operated by organizer, Freewheelers of Spartanburg, South Carolina), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assault_on_Mount_Mitchell&oldid=1059623041, Recurring sporting events established in 1974, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 December 2021, at 15:45. You did great and Im sure youll improve next year. I had put in the work. NC-80 is just to narrow anddangerous for the SAG's to be on this road They were everywhere. Kent passed away in Praying to get prepared! I dont have any experience with this race in particular, but from what I was able to glean from their website, the ideal training progression would be: Base: Sweet Spot Base Sure, some businesses need to start. For those readers who dont know, the Assault on Mount Mitchell is one of the toughest cycling challenges in the Southeast. SLOWING is heard every minute or so. Everything Else: It is easy for me to neglect upper body and core. Many were cooked from riding too hard in the early miles, others had no clue as to how to climb a long, steady ascent. kv4al@charter.net. same route. It feels remarkably better now. Mandatory Safety If you would like to see your rider finish at the top of Mt. How hard is Assault on Mt Mitchell? A water bottle came loose in a large pack, maybe five or six riders ahead of me. Why? We both deferred our registrations and plan to participate in the 2014 event. Thats when all 1,000 riders converge together, mashing the pedals and all trying to get to Marion as fast as possible. I thought that this was a great idea and agreed to You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Follow different athletes and enthusiasts as they prepare for one of the countries most grueling events. Just stay relaxed and keep turning the pedals over and you will be OK. Around midway through the parkway, after having sufficiently hydrated and fueled myself, I started to get the magic back. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It was a long mile. Go with a bigger cassette, and youre doing yourself a huge favor. Mitchell would be used to assist in a qualification for as you go by 70 miles through lush Carolina countryside. It is our local rite of passage. However, as we all know, cancer finally caught up with If I could hang with this group through Bills Hill, I would get to Marion without issue. NC-80 is just to narrow anddangerous for the SAG's to be on this road It was a tough decision for me to bail on this years Haute Route plans, even if it was the right decision. We need to stay the course right now, and not jump too quickly to the downhill side. Now, if we can just get everyone on the same page, Roger, Thanks! The Marion ride stops at the fifth rest stop in Marion which for them on top. Assuming there is a place to fill in the park. Due to the very narrow NC-80 route It is grueling to say the least. At the elevation of 6,684 feet, Note: All of these newspaper articles are from the When I turned into the Mitchell State Park entrance, I thought there was a chance of me breaking seven hours. Mitchell, and a few of you may have done it. Were not through this yet. this road either. It may seem weird to have this blog title when climbing is my (temporary) weak point. or submit this information to me. Enjoy the climb! or submit this information to me. entry into The Assault on Mt. The guy immediately in front of me swerved to the left of me, and then onto me. The biggest thing about the Assault on Mitchell is that the last 12-15 miles is all mental. I got slower and slower. or both and would be willing to donate it to be included in this display - please contact me and we will APRIL 29 ROSCHON TO BEARS The Cowboys want to take a running back somewhere in this Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but that guy won't be a favored Longhorn. Henry's hosted us for 3 days of prep. He would be looking for good places to climb. I was able to ride through it with only minor discomfort. More people passed me. Insanely hard. Just a constant and powerful grind. condition but it is all that I had of this video. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. to the owners it pictures, articles, or memories, please contact me for the proper way to provide This will catch up with me on Monday. Thanks for sending them. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! It is enough of a challenge that everyone who completes it should be proud. Mitchell is a 102.7-mile self-paced ride from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the summit at Mt. This prairie dweller wouldnt have made it. Mitchell is a 102.7-mile self-paced ride from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the summit at Mt. The riders that I had been with before all passed me. I had prostate cancer at the time and said if I could do a 50 mile ride before the race I could finish it. Thankfully we have a Bishop who will determine when our church will begin to have face-to-face worship. Nice job on your ride as well. Heads Up ~ what to expect on Economic disaster is tantamount to death for lots of people. The conditions the year I did it was terrible in that it was really hot. I arrived in Marion at around 3:35. If we dont keep hunkered down and do the work of best practices now, well end up causing more harm in the long run. present it so much to the public. prior to his death. I had an experience going up to Mt. Well have to keep doing a lot of that by zoom. where he found the gate to the Mt. Mitchell. I was bonking. the top of the mountain as parking is very limited and a large number ofparking places are reserved for visitors traveling on the parkway. payable in Federal Court in Asheville NC if you are caught. This bus ride is, on average, 60 90 minutes long and does not stop for restroom breaks. Mt. I bumped into a first-time rider at the hotel and he asked me for any tips. MitchellCLICK HERE to view transportation detail for the Assault on Marion. The ride covers 102.7 miles with a cumulative elevation gain of around 12,000 feet. Until then Ill try to squeeze in a few short 20+ mile rides in the late afternoons. People behind them passed me. John Bryan and he did not live to see this new project completed. Ill take care of a lot of these in one shot when we head to Santee for Presidents Day weekend. Back then you had to join the Spartansburg Cycling Club to be able to get a ride to the top. anyone has anything that they would like to include on these pages about and trying to pass the bicycle riders. Id stick to Base>Build>Specialty, and do either Rolling Road Race or Century. I did a similar climb earlier this year in January after sweet spot base 1 high volume, and it was easy work but youve got the climb after riding 80 miles to the base. Im not out of the woods yet. He may have found that out if he could have ridden from Brevard, but alas, transportation was an issue. Parking closes at 6 p.m. Looks like I should plan on 25+ miles of climbingmaybe 50+ overall. Bikes cannot be transported on the bus. Heres my tip the ride TO Mt. I got slower and slower. I had left some Gatorade with my wife and forgot to refill my bottles. If I do all of the above, Im going to kill it at Mitchell. One of the guys turned and looked at me, and jokingly said You guys have hills out there? He had a good point. Thats when all 1,000 riders converge together, mashing the pedals and all trying to get to Marion as fast as possible. I am going to assume that were still on the trip. Lets keep that fitness level upHope to see you next year. I expect lots of grunts and groans for this class. Climbing RR plan would make the most sense to me. be a very expensive ride to the hospital if the chopper can even fly due required for your device. now includes all Federal Parks in the USA. I was feeling great early. Hopefully well be able to meet on two wheels soon enough. interchange you will be turned around. The Assault on Mt. warnings and noise makers at the famous hairpin curve. the East starts off winding. Mistakes are made. With the 115th pick, the Chicago Bears . Thanks for staying with us for the latest politics news on this Bank Holiday Monday. Copies of these articles were provided by John Bryan for inclusion in this page I was feeling great early. Who am I kidding? I am Hwy 80 really took a toll on me. The Assault starts in nearby Spartanburg, SC and ends at the summit of Mt. This article related to sports in North Carolina is a stub. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. From this location they either catch yet another It spawned the Off-Road Assault on Mount Mitchell, which has taken place since 1999. I had never heard of the Assault on Mt. Mitchell State Park in North Carolinaa total vertical ascent of more than 10,000 feet. He was the first handicap rider to enter and finish this event ! Its in the middle of road race season, so its almost never in the cards. In the meantime were starting to have discussions among the powers that be to decide if our reopening will be a rolling start or an all-at-once one. First Handicap Rider finishes the Assault. As for the riders who do make it to the top, We may have to take reservations for attending church, block off pews and seat people on either ends and make sure that theyre staggered so no one is behind anyone else. I'm gonna do Marion in 2017, and depending on how my fitness progresses over the next eight months or so, I may try to buy a spot in the Mitchell ride on the day. It looked like I was wearing black arm warmers. Therefore, I years are on line at this time with their respective finishing patches. Thanks, Gabe. He provided much of the Mitchell. Too many bugs, and I had probably already eaten my share on the way up. Either would prepare you, IMHO. with SAG's trying to pass bicycles to get up the mountain and end up almost payable in Federal Court in Asheville NC if you are caught. It worked for me. Any recommendations for a training plan for the Assault on Mt. Ultimately I suggested Asheville because it is a bigger city, and he would be relying on local transportation to get to and from the climbs. of the Freewheelers Bicycle Club and through their clubs archives. Any hard copy or actual photos / pictures Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. you can and will receive a hefty fine in the area of up to $500.00 per ticket The Assault On Mt. The Assaults on Mt. by the respective authors or photographers. It was in the 4-5 mph range, not fast. Weekly Spin Class: This is something new that I havent tried before. I have done my fair share of ultra rides and maybe because of the poor shape I was in at the time I rate the Assault on Mt. All of us did and the pack kept going. slight delay for the start of the video due to the conversion routine Due to the very narrow NC-80 route Then I get an email saying he had set aside a few days, and wanted to try the Blue Ridge Mountains. Crazy is an understatement. Once they arrive at the Tom People get sloppy. back down to Marion and / or just simply quit! Mitchell will have a 5:30 p.m. event stop time. If you miss this bus, you will default back to the regular bus transportation to Spartanburg via Marion. I chugged along. of this event! Ive been up Hogback Mountain in your neck of the woods and if memory serves me well that will be similar to Mitchell minus the length. Occasionally it will get sore during rides. Please respect their work. I ran out of water with a mile to go. A First Timers Assault on Mt. Mitchell. on Mt. Now some of the bicycle and a light on the front of the make arrangements to get the patch(s) so that it can be scanned so that they will match all Ill plan to focus on speed for the first trip up and go slower on subsequent trips. Your bike will be put on a separate truck and transported to the auditorium. I positioned myself in my broken handlebars as low as possible and let the mountain breeze cool me down. The Assault is a 102.7 mile bicycle race that starts in front of the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg, SC and goes 11,000 feet up to the top of Mt. I was maybe half the climber I had been in the Blue Ridge. Speaking of Mitchell, my friends in the southeast might be interested to know that I am now blogging for the 2013 Assault. rest stops along the way, you will be able to refill, refuel, and make mechanical adjustments as needed. Good luck on you next one. I had missed the lead pack, but settled into one that was keeping a good enough pace. I checked his website a few months later, and to my surprise, he had just climbed Mount Baldy outside of Los Angeles. I passed on the soup this year. Mitchell. (registration roster) nor whom finished this event. Mitchell at age 50 ! My wonderful grandkids minus our newest addition! I was still feeling fine and skipped the rest stop just before the climb. Weve created this handy guide your Registration 101 to help you register for the event. Mitchell or in our assault on COVID-19? The riders that I had been with before all passed me. For me, that probably wont be true. In the fall of 1975, John Bryan attempted the trip by himself, but instead of Absolutely. The next day he decided to head out the opposite direction on the Blue Ridge Parkway, heading up to the top of Mount Pisgah, then back down Town Mountain Road. I want gyms and churches and everything thats been closed to reopen, too, but is it safe yet? A video diary of the 33rd Assault on Mount Mitchell. all and Once the time changes, Ill be able to stretch my rides out a little more. An eternity later it said 1.5 miles to go. I tried to push at a good pace and simply couldnt keep it. Thinking out loud or at least in print, we will most certainly avoid handshakes, hugs, and high-fives. anyone has anything that they would like to include on these pages about It was still painful, but I was going to do this thing and probably at a good time. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the contest was cancelled for the years 2020 and 2021. If you have a compact and an 11-32, the only thing stopping you from getting to the top is you. The Highlander Tour in the Adirondacks NY would really be hard to beat. Mitchell ~ Photo by Charlie Bobbish. him from traffic since it was several hours before sunrise. He toughed it out, made it up to Mitchell, and came back down elated. The road has markings for every half a mile remaining. In the past, there have been a number of near misses Youmayhave to wait on your bike in Spartanburg depending on where it is in the loading and truck queue departure line. We need to reopen everything at some point, but were not there yet, are we? There probably wont be any Sunday School to start with. The pack seems to speed up and then abruptly slow down, putting each rider on high alert, sitting on their brakes. 100k Century. Due to safety concerns, family/friends/personal SAGS cannot drive to Mt. Ill be an editor of sorts as well, working with a few others for different perspectives and tips, varying from beginners to professionals. Mitchell They say that it takes as long to get from Spartanburg to Mitchell as it does from Marion to Mitchell. Register early, train hard, and we will see you in May 2023! Want a copy Mitchell State Park that we must adhere to. What Matt didnt find, was that southeast climbing can be STEEP! The Assault on Mt. Thanks for any advice/input. No exceptions. than the original. Mitchell as the 2nd hardest Century ride I have done on the East Coast. We are constantly changing gears and the majority of the time we are in the lower section of the cassette (in the 11-15 tooth gears). I was bonking. told me that when we were picnicking on Mt. All of the National Federal Parks now Follow different athletes and enthusiasts as they prepare for one of the countries most grueling events: The Assault on Mt. Part One of my first attempt of the Assault on Mount Mitchell. He was asking about places to climb near his last two stops. on The Blue Ridge Parkway and just turned around and coaster back to Marion. I filled part of a bottle, figuring that would be enough to get me up Highway 80 to the Blue Ridge Parkway. One thing caught my attention, regarding the bicycle race that starts in Spartanburg and "goes 11,000 feet up to the top of Mt. Mitchell. In 2012, I just registered for Mt. slight delay for the start of the video due to the conversion routine Remember that the Parkway is not closed for this event Mitchell, safely and back to Marion, NC. [2] Most riders finish in less than 12 hours; the leaders finish in under 6 hours. If I am able to ride the way I want, then I am predicting a finish in 9 hours. At first it seemed awkward and difficult to ride. There is some lingering soreness, and I can tell that my hip still is not quite right. Last year I had made up time on the climbs, so at this point it looked like a good bet for me to break seven hours. It would be quite a climb, but it is also the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and is probably one of the best climbs of the Southeast. grueling, steep miles and Climbing road race is more more shorter climbs with surges. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Rockies. below. This will also be a good transition from my own weight program to getting in better bike shape. I was able to complete the rides, but not without struggling on the long climbs. Also, if the rangers catch you entering the parkway at the NC-80 pages as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 at 6:46 pm and tagged with, Assault on Mount Mitchell, 2012, Spartanburg,SC, Cola Town Bike Collective MidlandsGives. After we regrouped and started moving forward again, I noticed something was wrong. All in all, Im not in terrible shape here. Assault on Mount Mitchell WLOS News 13 69.7K subscribers Subscribe 1.2K views 7 years ago MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK, N.C. -- Hundreds of cyclists from across the world take on one of the most. Mt. That was good advice, but I reflected on it as those last miles slowly ticked by, as I noticed every passing tenth of a mile, reassuring myself that the end was getting closer. Let me encourage you, we will get wherever there is, but right now we are going to stay in this valley, and do what it takes until we can all come out on the other side as safely as we can. Soon enough, that meant I was getting tired. Unfortunately I made a crucial error at Marion. If they elected to leave directly from Tom Johnsons Camp Ground then own personal pictures and thoughts that he thought would be most apropos They were everywhere. always comes first. No matter the reason, a first time trip somewhere always seems longer than the trip back. I had missed the lead pack, but settled into one that was keeping a good enough pace. Base Miles: For the next few weeks my rides will be easy, with the goal just to accumulate miles. I am also in need of the Mount Evans was possibly the most difficult thing Ive ever done on a bike! Im going for 6:30 next year. and p.s. He then headed to New Orleans, then to New York, and finally to Washington, DC. And Ill wait awhile before I start thinking about next year. The road has markings for every half a mile remaining. showing that they did in fact make it to the top of the mountain. I was considering Mitchell is a 102.7-mile self-paced ride, not race, from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina . I trained for 7 months primarily indoors with the occasional outdoor ride weather permitting. The Blue Ridge Parkway especially is a cyclists paradise. Please join us for The Assaults on Mt. Are you kidding me? I also have a broken rib, but it has healed enough that it is not really a factor. During this period of time, John Bryan tried Start could be warm and humid. You killed it! Here's my tip the ride TO Mt. As I was climbing Mount Evans with a few Colorado locals, I made reference to one of the hills I had climbed in the Southeast. I continued to climb, going by the restaurant and then to the final summit, just a few hundred feet. My time will only allow for two short workouts per week at the gym. These lights are to be on at all times. The harder the ride, the more time I need. Mitchell itself. It was still painful, but I was going to do this thing and probably at a good time. Racing is in full effect here in the south and I have been traveling every weekend to a different city to go race. Im not even sure if weve turned around yet. Mitchell is much harder than its 4% average grade suggests - removing descents from the equation raises the average grade to 6.2% (15% of the climb includes some descent); 31% (7.6 miles) is at 0-5% grade, 52% (12.6 miles) 5-10%, and a fraction is 15-20%. There are no jungle camps in Assault and the only goal is to push the minion . Mitchell. Many of those climbs were above the treeline, and yielded views that far surpassed anything we have on the East coast. The one thing each of my teammates have said - Bring enough gears. First The elevation on the Parkway didnt help the temperature much. If I need a break, I will not hesitate to stop. Finally I reached the top and guzzled as much water, Gatorade and Coke as I could, while filling both bottles all the way. Mitchell is a 102.7-mile self-paced ride from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the summit at Mt. The brakes and shifters worked. Around April I was in my local bike shop and overheard a man who was very upset that something had come up and he wasn't going to be able to ride it. Ill have to be careful not to cause any excess soreness, while still keeping the muscles loose and warm. You can find Part Two at LowCadence.com. I was getting thirsty. With 10 rest stops along the way, you will be able to refill, refuel, and make mechanical adjustments as needed. To my surprise, it didnt seem too difficult this time.