Erinna and I just got in from a fast yet fun paced ride....
HEARTBREAK RIDGE!
We met up with Mike B, Ian L. and Wode at 8AM and were on the bikes a little after 9. We started at the Kitsuma trailhead and the first hill of the day was up through Ridgecrest.
Here's a group shot at the start:
Up through the maze of paved roads to the ballfields where we picked up Rattlesnake.
Mike B heading into Rattlesnake:
Wode still peddlin' the steep stuff:
Rattlesnake is a very tough climb and Ian provided much comic relief. He was at the back and I hung with him for some moral support. I'm not sure if he was joking or not... He kept mumblin' something about 'stroking out' during the insanely(at times) steep climb. I have to say, I was happy to be bringing up the rear, everyone else had started at a fast fast pace. We got to the ridge in good time and Ian decided it was time to rest... or die from a stroke...
Next was another hard effort then we were up at the Old Toll Road. This was Wode's first ride on Heartbreaker and it was a beautiful day for it. Crystal clear blue skies, warm in the shade and darn right hot when there was no canopy overhead. There was just enough breeze to keep the humidty low and to knock thousands of flower petals onto the ground. Every time we passed under a rhodo or laurel, it looked like we had stumbled upon some backwoods wedding ceremony. Just beautiful. Here's a shot of a pink laurel...
Once we were up on the Old Toll Road I was finally feeling warmed up and Mike B and I took the lead for a while. I railed the only real descent on the Toll Rd and I knew that after that we had miles of climbing until the trail pointed down again. Old Toll Road was one *the way* to drive up to Mount Mitchell (the highest peak East of the Mississippi) so it never gets all that steep. It does, however, go on forever as moving through the mountains at a max 7% grade can go. We had a lot of elevation to gain at that grade, it takes miles and miles to do it.
Here's a shot of Erinna proving that big wheels+small stature= the ability to go anywhere:
We took a break at the overlook 2/3 of the way up Old Toll. In an attempt to bribe Wode and Ian to come along at the early hour that we set off at I made everyone sandwiches... Turkey, Tempeh, Mushrooms, and Spinach on Wheat Anyone? The payoff was having these guys along on a great ride. Here's a shot of our destination, Heartbreak Ridge, from the Old Toll overlook... It's the one that goes from the top left to the bottom right of the picture, second ridge back:
O.K., O.K., jumping the gun a little, but heres a shot of Old Toll from Heartbreaker. Again, second ridge back:
Well, that's all for now. I gotta get somthin' to eat. Poor sweet Erinna, after our 5+ hour ride she had to go to work slingin' noodles until midnight....
Oh, here's something else, a quick video of Ian rocking the Heartbreak downhill. As always, the camera doesn't do the terrain justice. Think: steeper than it looks... more tech than it looks... Three cheers to Ian!
