19th Annual
Assault on Mt. Mitchell PRELUDE ------- The Assault on Mt. Mitchell is a 102 mile ride from downtown Spartanburg, SC to the summit of Mt. Mitchell (NC), the highest point (elev. 6648') east of the Mississippi River. The total climb is approximately 11,000 feet. This year's Assault was a ride with a little of everything that cyclists both love and love to hate: crisp, clear, cool mornings, wind, sun, smooth roads, scenic Blue Ridge vistas, good food, screaming descents, challenging climbs, courteous drivers, the comradery of fellow cyclists, and ALL forms of precipitation. Now for my experience. PRE-RIDE -------- I arrive at the starting area with plenty of time to spare. As the 6:30 start time approaches I begin my usual pre-ride routine: shorts, jersey, sunscreen, sunglasses, helmet, shoes, ... but something doesn't seem quite right. After two months of pleasant riding weather, this morning is rather cool. It's bound to be windy and cold at the summit. Should I change to the long-sleeve jersey or stay with the jacket? Two year's ago I almost froze while waiting for my support to arrive at the summit. Not wanting to repeat that experience, I decide to wear the long-sleeve jersey. By the time I return to the start area I realize I have made the wrong choice. I still have five minutes before the start. Plenty of time to change jerseys and put on the jacket. WRONG! As I finish pulling the jacket over my head, the back of the pack is pulling away from the start area. THE RIDE -------- So much for trying to ride with the lead pack. The first 500 yards convince me that I had to put as much distance between myself and this group of accidents-waiting-to-happen. (Anyone who's ridden in an event like this knows what I mean. It really is amazing that there aren't more accidents in these groups.) Within 5 miles the traffic thins considerably, but I found very little help in my pursuit of the lead pack. Lot's of people wanting to go for a ride in my draft, but none interested in sharing the work. (At 6'6", you can understand why I attract this. I just wish I had a way of charging for the ``service'' I provide. :-)) Around mile 30 the hills start to build. The first climb is Bill's Hill at mile 43. (Don't ask me to define the difference between a hill and a climb, but trust me that there is a difference.) By this time I know I have made the right choice in clothing. After a quick stop to stuff the jacket in a pocket and refill the bottles I am back on the road. The next 10 miles are beset with chain problems. First, I drop the chain during a shift. Next the chain reminded me that I have not lubed it since changing the cassette two weeks earlier. Oh well, 60 miles on a dry chain can't be all that bad. Can it? As soon as I re-pass most of the people who passed me while I was stopped for the first chain stop, the chain jams. This has never happened to me before. Is it due to the chain being dry? Did I err in my replacement of the HG pin? Or, is this a sign of things to come? A quick check yields no obvious cause, so I assume it is just a random event. Fortunately, that is the last of my mechanical concerns. I stop for more water and some bananas at the rest stop at 73 miles, which is the finishing point for the 1st Annual Assault on Marion. My time to this point was 3:50; not as fast as I had hoped, but not bad considering all the time I spent working through the field. I later learn from Jim Chubon that the lead pack had rolled through in a leisurely 3:20. Total climbing to Marion is 5,500 feet. That leaves 5,500 feet of climbing for the last 29 miles. NO PROBLEM! This part of the ride can be broken into three segments. We begin along NC 80 from Marion to the Blue Ridge Parkway (the TdP descended along this road, in fact this is where Frank Andreu made his Sports Center highlight). The road starts out as a gentle climb, becoming progressively steeper as you near the Parkway (check out the ride profile for the Banner Elk-Asheville stage of the TdP). I pass a lot of riders during these 12 miles. Many of these people had stayed with the pack to Marion, but have already conceded the 30 minute lead they held on me only 10 miles earlier. The second segment is the 12 miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway from NC 80 to the entrance to the Mt. Mitchell State Park. The first 6 miles are a continuation of the climb up the watershed. By this point Mt. Mitchell is in sight. However, it is also obvious that you have to return more than 500 feet of elevation before beginning the final climb. The descent is a fast 2 miles, then only a 4 mile climb stands between me and the final 5 mile climb through Mt. Mitchell State Park. (I prefer to think of this as two separate climbs, even though it is really just one 9 mile climb.) A few riders pass me as I near the entrance to the Park. After a beautiful morning, the weather appears to be preparing for a mid-day siesta. It is still sunny with scattered high clouds, but the temperature is falling noticeably and the (head)wind is steadily increasing. But, there are only five miles to the finish! Five miles. That's about the distance from my house to the starting point of the Tuesday ride. I usually leave the house at 5:45 for a 6:00 ride (or leave by 6:00 for a 6:00 ride that doesn't start until 6:20). But, after 97 miles, I know these 5 miles will take the better part of an hour to complete. This climb is steeper than the Parkway or the watershed (NC 80). I continue in my established cadence, catching and passing a few riders. I had intended to ride the final 29 miles without stopping, but I am starting to become quite cold. I decide a 30 second stop to put on my jacket is necessary and will not count against my goal. Shortly thereafter I am greeted with words of encouragement from Brad Poindexter, the 24th finisher in 5:50. About 2.5 miles from the finish there is a ``flat'' stretch. It's not really flat, but it's as close to level as I've seen in more than 20 miles. I am passed by some of the riders I just passed before my legs remember that they can push something larger than a 40" gear. About the time I resume my normal cadence, the final push to the finish has begun. Spectators (ok, most are support people looking for their riders) begin to appear on the rocks overlooking the road. A local TV cameraman is playing leap-frog with me. I ask if it would help if I rode slower. He said my speed is no problem. (I don't think he understood the point of my question.) Each group of people is trying to encourage me by calling out their guess of the distance to the finish. I know better than to believe anything until I can see the finish line. I cross the finish line, notice the official clock reads 6:51 and am handed an index card telling me I am the 145th finisher. After one lap of the parking lot Jim Chubon finds me, and shows me the way to my ride off the mountain. (Jim's parents had sagged for Jim, and were waiting for their passengers before returning to Marion and the rest of the Chubon clan.) Jim was the 54th finisher, in 6:09. The tights nd gloves that I carried with me all day are much appreciated, but the air temperature is as low as a COLD winter day in Columbia. That's the end of my ride. But wait, that can't be the end of the story. I haven't said a word about precipitation. POST-RIDE --------- While waiting for Dale Larkee, owner of the sag vehicle, the clouds close in around Mt. Mitchell. Before long visibility is quite low, and a few drops of rain are noticed. This ends as quickly as it starts. The next set of clouds are much darker, with stronger winds. This time we are greeted with lightning, thunder, rain, sleet, hail, and/or snow. And it didn't stop! Dale finishes in 7:36 (#245), in the middle of the storm. He said he had been riding in the rain/sleet/ hail/snow for more than 30 minutes. WOW!! By the time Dale changes into dry clothes the storm has ended and the skies are clearing. As we drive back down the Parkway, many riders are continuing their push towards the summit. The road is mostly dry. Most riders look relatively dry and definitely tired. I wonder how much of the storm, and with what type of precipitation, they have endured. This year's ``winner'' was Skip Spangenburg, from Travelers Rest, SC, in 5:19. I had a wonderful time. The scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway is absolutely fabulous. I strongly encourage anyone with a love for the beauty of nature to visit this part of the country. The road surface is great, traffic is considerate (the speed limit is 45mph and there is no commercial traffic). I hope you've enjoyed this account of my adventure. Other Carolina Cyclers who participated in this year's Assault(s) include: Woody Graham, Linda Larkee, John Hamilton, Henry vanPatten. I look forward to seeing more of us on next year's rides! |