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Anyone else here riding the Bridge to Bridge?

https://www.caldwellcochamber.org/abo...06=50&cat06=49


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jppe

I'm signed up. Looks like the weather will cooperate this year. Not looking forward to the last 2.5 miles though.

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peice o' cake.....if you can make it to the last 2.5 miles, you got it whooped. LOL.

CycleMagic

I will be riding in spirit....it will be a lonnnnng time before I try that ride! yikes! good luck and happy riding to those that make it! :-)

VlaanderenFlier

Back for more punishment! LY it got moved to Nov. 32 degrees at the start! Good idea adding the MacRae meadows 80 mile option, sort of like adding Marion option to the assault on Mt. Mitchell. Got 2 friends coming and a prize of a TDF KOM ball cap to the first one to the summit of Grandfather. Not looking forward to the last mile! Weather looks great for Sunday! Probably an 8 hour slog up from Lenoir to the top. Last big ride of the season.

Ostuni

the last FIFTY miles look scary from here....

CycleMagic

I could probably do the "bridge to pub" ride...when is that one, eh?

saintx

I'm in.

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Should have been there two years ago. Rained and it was cold from what I was told tonight. A friend said people were fighting over the porta-a-johns to find some shelter from the cold and rain. LOL good times.....should be painful.

AppStateEvan

I know some of my fellow team members from App. State are going to do it. I would but I have a feeling im not going to feel up for that long of a ride after tailgating all day for saturdays football game.

VlaanderenFlier

Finished in under my 8 hour goal. Great weather!

Fox Farm

Since moving to Utah, I live too far away for this ride. It is, or was, a very well organized event. The route is nice and not as much of a nut buster as the Assault on Mt. Mitchell. Yes, those last two miles are a killer with 1000 feet of gain. Come prepared with the approprite gearing and you will be ok. A funny story here, my first time riding it, back in 1993 I think, it was fully fogged in on the top. As I rode up that last wall, I could hear all of these people cheering but could not see one of them. It really inspired me to finish strong. At the very top, I made the sharp right turn for the finish and all of a sudden I could see evey one who was cheering the finishers on. A nice end to a great ride! I really like the part of the ride from Blowing Rock (where you turn off the Blue Ride Parkway) and ride up to the base of Grand Father Mountain. Nice wooded area with good terrain.

CycleMagic

great job! hope you enjoyed the ride! I was thinking of all you studs while enjoying the same weather on my little Tour de Hickory solo this weekend.

cheers!
Liz

jppe

Almost perfect weather yesterday-could have been a tad cooler but not complaining. Terrific support and lot's of spectators and sags along the route which was a nice mental boost. I can't recall all the rest stops handing out drinks and bananas before but but that was terrific as well-only had to make one stop.

It sounded like most repeat riders recorded PR's for the event yesterday-myself included. I was able to shave 45 mins from my previous best. I'm sure the great weather and good groups to ride with helped immensely.

I didn't see nearly as many flats or crashes as other rides so hopefully everyone had a good ride yesterday.

saintx

did the 80 mile route 5:15, happy with that time and glad I don't have to see the climb up rt 181 again for a year.

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What the hell was up the crash at mile 50. 200 freaking riders in a pack and someone in the front went down. And thus it began, several people flying everywhere, hitting the ditches, etc..... Anyone here caught up in it?

5:03:27 was the best time. Jason Sprouse, Asheville....Congrats if you read this forum.

He musta been flying up those hills. Of course he is from Asheville, he trains in on mountains.

Does anyone know if Chris Harkey (past winner for like 6 years) was on the course?

Ostuni

this morning my local paper (spartanburg, sc) has an awesome ap news photo of jason sprouse - the first place finisher - of asheville....

still can't find it on the web to provide a link, which is a shame - you've got to see this photo...

it's a terrific shot: he's climbing hard, there's a good crowd lining the road, and in the foreground is a sign telling cars heading downhill: LOW GEAR STEEP GRADE..

says there were 870 riders? ... must have been awesome....

Ostuni

long story, but here's that photo that was in my local paper... i think it's a classic. enjoy:

ExMachina

^^^^that IS a great pic!--thanks. Nice to see such a turnout too.

Ostuni

turns out the guy who took the shot - hugh morton - is a story himself. must be 80-years-old? apparently OWNS grandfather mountain...?

ExMachina

Yeah, funny that. I recall being very surprised when I heard that Grandfather mountain was not public land, especially considering that it's such an icon. (https://www.grandfather.com/index.htm)

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Hugh Morton is an avid photographer and a person that I would call legend in these parts. I could tell you some stories. Handed down of course.

He holds photography contest on Grandfather once a year that allows anyone to come and shoot for one day and use a photo from what they shoot in the contest. Only stipulation is that the shot has to be on Grandfather Mountain.

One of his sons now runs the operations of the mountain as Hugh is getting older. The other son built much of the hiking trails that run around the mountain range. I began hiking there in 91'.

Grandfather Mountain is considered a Biosphere and when the Blue Ridge Parkway was being finished they had to create the Viaduct as to not disturb the mountain. There were other reasons but I won't name all those. LOL.

I will look and find some of my pictures from the mountain during a night shoot that I was invited on by Hugh and a few friends if anyone is interested.