The contest typically includes over 800 cyclists from across the globe. warnings and noise makers at the famous hairpin curve. NOTE: I looked down to find myself covered in bugs. SLOWING is heard every minute or so. At mile 10, I fell victim to someones poor preparation. present it so much to the public. MASS START Both the Assault on Mt. But the climbing is different. Select Your Ride:The Assault on Marion: 74.2 miles from Downtown Spartanburg, SC to the Tom Johnson Rally Park Pavilion in Marion, NC. Its a gorgeous ride along Lake Tahoma, but seems like forever until the climb begins. results and a copy of the registration list for the years of 2002 and 2003 of the Assault on Mt. From Old Fort, climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just below Mt. The time off has been a roller coaster, sometimes with extreme pain, sometimes with absolute boredom. So the bottom line is make sure your lights has, SAG are not allowed The Finish on Top of Mt. So, were doing what we can in this in-between time to get ready. Assault on Mount Mitchell - YouTube I will warm up and recover on elliptical machines. Mitchell State Park that we must adhere to. Register early, train hard, and we will see you in May 2023! The ride begins in downtown Spartanburg. There will be plenty of jerks, as Paul puts it. Thank you for a sensible and logical way to look at getting through THE virus. Mitchell this past May, fantastic experience. I was feeling great early. Mitchell for a picnic in the Spring of 1975. We emailed again. On Monday I will visit Dr. Ekman again, probably get an X-ray, and a direction for treatment. At 2 miles, I began to wonder if I could continue. Did I have any suggestions? grueling, steep miles and Any hard copy or actual photos / pictures Never again - I have deep winter lobster claw gloves now. with SAG's trying to pass bicycles to get up the mountain and end up almost Here in Central Indiana we have short (3-5 minutes) and steep (7-12+%) and did a lot of repeats to get ready for Mitchell. This too shall pass is a popular phrase, especially when we are ready to move on. Assuming there is a place to fill in the park. Even if you do not ride in the Mitchell event, you might find the material useful to prepare for any sort of endurance event. 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. as you go by It became even better on Wednesday, Thursday, and then Friday. I tried to push at a good pace and simply couldnt keep it. The one thing each of my teammates have said - Bring enough gears. or any It worked for me. to find a clean copy of the 1988 Assaults Video tape that was filmed and printed picture material that is scanned must be The elevation on the Parkway didnt help the temperature much. *Important to note: No refunds will be issued for any bus tickets. The biggest thing about the Assault on Mitchell is that the last 12-15 miles is all mental. 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 Copies of these articles were provided by John Bryan for inclusion in this page Mitchell v2.0. If you have a compact and an 11-32, the only thing stopping you from getting to the top is you. Mitchell. Could it be that we took everything in on the way, and paid less attention on the way back home? We have many peaks in the Rocky Mts. Lets keep that fitness level upHope to see you next year. Ill try to tag along for some of those. There is a chance I will not finish the ride this year. Mitchell State Park in North Carolinaa total vertical ascent of more than 10,000 feet. Assault on Mt. Mitchell - A Potter's View The injury has bothered me so long that it gets my spirits down when it rears its ugly head. I waited a few minutes at the start after everyone left and then rode pretty much by myself until Marion. NEW FOR 2018 Updated Time Limit! these pages and to be included in a display of all of the patches for Soon enough, that meant I was getting tired. Any way to fill water bottles between the start and the top of Mitchell, or should I plan to take all that I need to the top? I looked down to find myself covered in bugs. (LogOut/ with SAG's trying to pass bicycles to get up the mountain and end up almost 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. The Blue Ridge Parkway especially is a cyclists paradise. On Tuesday, I noticed that something felt different. There isnt a place on the way up to refill, so if you have no support, then I would carry what you expect to drink. There is some lingering soreness, and I can tell that my hip still is not quite right. 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%. colliding with the cars / trucks / motorhomes coming down the mountain For a lot of the old time riders, I was the I just signed up for the Assault on Mt Mitchell in May and want to use Zwift to get ready. Were not through this yet. Mitchell riders continue on for another 29 very hard, What Matt didnt find, was that southeast climbing can be STEEP! Working with children at the Managua dump, My son Joshs family and my new grandchild, Jude Zechariah, View tim.mcclendon.9?fref=tss profile on Facebook. Assault on Mt. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I wont have to deal with those on the Assault. At his request I What if we havent climbed that last hill on the way to the top of Mt. Mitchells height at 6,684. In March and April I will try to make some other trips for more challenging rides. Mitchell, II - YouTube 0:00 / 9:07 The Assault On Mt. The Marion ride stops at the fifth rest stop in Marion which I had forgotten how hard it was. While the grades were not terribly steep, Matt found them to have their own unique challenges. I could see myself getting to Marion in 4 hours if I find a good group. If you miss this bus, you will default back to the regular bus transportation to Spartanburg via Marion. of the Freewheelers Bicycle Club and through their clubs archives. Keep in mind that as far as Parking closes at 6 p.m. I bumped into a first-time rider at the hotel and he asked me for any tips. all and It is our local rite of passage. Mitchell has a 5:30 p.m. event stop time. Mitchell Your bike will be transported via truck to Spartanburg. putting it on the net but at this time have chosen not to. This is when Ill try to squeeze in these important supplemental exercises. and they have already written tickets. Now due to health problems, I now setup all of I trained for 7 months primarily indoors with the occasional outdoor ride weather permitting. At his request I These are people that trained for months, focused on this one goal. The pack seems to speed up and then abruptly slow down, putting each rider on high alert, sitting on their brakes. The Assault Patches and Results - We both deferred our registrations and plan to participate in the 2014 event. I trained with a power meter and my goal was a FTP of around 200 on my trainer. However, it was my very first century ride. I got slower and slower. Thanks for sending them. Hopefully well be able to meet on two wheels soon enough. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. and forcing the bicycles into the ditch or up the bank. Description: This 4.3-mile trail beginning at the picnic area near the summit of Mount Mitchell has spectacular vistas that are seen on clear days as one hikes this moderately to strenuously difficult trail. These lights are to be on at all times. the East starts off winding. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The Assault on Mt. Mt. payable in Federal Court in Asheville NC if you are caught. and trying to pass the bicycle riders. If I am able to ride the way I want, then I am predicting a finish in 9 hours. The injuries this year have been severe. to be I could feel the heat intensely. Beth, We need to save lives! Im going for 6:30 next year. payable in Federal Court in Asheville NC if you are caught. So, if An eternity later it said 1.5 miles to go. The Assaults is one of the most intense, premier cycling experiences that draws a full field of nearly 800 cyclists from across the world each year. Finally I reached the top and guzzled as much water, Gatorade and Coke as I could, while filling both bottles all the way. Were not ready to coast downhill. Highway 80 starts out flat with some easy rollers. We might have to have certain services for specific groups of people delineated by age, illness or whatever criteria works to mitigate risk. In the past, there have been a number of near misses REMINDER FOR 2023: Updated Time Limit + Checkpoints! You may purchase bus tickets any time during or after you register. Wes and I left them in the lurch by backing out. 100k Century. Now some of the red blinker light attached to the rear of the riders He would be looking for good places to climb. We will have 6 ft. social distancing and probably have limitations on the size of the crowd. The Assault on Mt. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. on NC-80 from Marion up to the Parkway either. Mitchell, II Jonathan Pait, Sr 650 subscribers Subscribe Share Save 7.7K views 14 years ago Part 2 of the 33rd. I had left some Gatorade with my wife and forgot to refill my bottles. Weve created this handy guide your Registration 101 to help you register for the event. of the plaque honoring John Bryan. There are fully stocked rest stops approximately every 10 miles and you can send anything you want to . In my experience with Mt. 7000 of that climb comes in the last 25 miles. SLOWING is heard every minute or so. Id like to go up and do the climb from Lake Tahoma to the top of Mitchell (and then back down) unsupported for a little preview. Freewheeler. Then without Mitchell State Park to Tom Johnson Campground (Marion, NC). Players must reach account level 15 before they are able to join this game mode. Mitchell in 2003, so it's been a while since I rode it. If it was me, 20 weeks is exactly 12 weeks of sweet spot base 1 & 2, followed by 8 weeks of sustained power build. This will also be a good transition from my own weight program to getting in better bike shape. There are no jungle camps in Assault and the only goal is to push the minion . him from traffic since it was several hours before sunrise. over the years since his passing. Mitchell is harder than the climb OF Mt. Once the climbing started I passed hundreds (or more) of riders on the way to the top. andy'allyell HI Thats not enough, but since Ive returned, I found that the muscles have bounced back pretty quickly. Assault is one of the Game Modes in SMITE. This would be the first big challenge. States (as rated by Bicycling Magazine). The Off-Road Assault on Mt Mitchell is a 60 mile MTB race with 10,500 feet of climbing. That was my first breakthrough day. Cmon Americans! It was in the 4-5 mph range, not fast. You can totally build up to this! it The Assault on Mt. The Highlander Tour in the Adirondacks NY would really be hard to beat. Mitchell. People get sloppy. on Mt. allowed I was considering My final time was 7:07. Finally I reached the top and guzzled as much water, Gatorade and Coke as I could, while filling both bottles all the way. Mitchell. Mitchell. More people passed me. I had my plan. JavaScript is disabled. For me, that probably wont be true. Highway 80 starts out flat with some easy rollers. People get sloppy. & were simply scanned into Just stay relaxed and keep turning the pedals over and you will be OK. After we regrouped and started moving forward again, I noticed something was wrong. The guy immediately in front of me swerved to the left of me, and then onto me. I had my plan. Some people I know have driven halfway up and stashed bottles, but thats an ordeal to avoid carrying a little extra weight. They are long, but most that I tried are relatively smooth and easy. their bicycles are brought back to this location otherwise they go all That makes it difficult for me because it interrupts my pedal flow, making me pedal inefficiently (squares), plus it plays with me mentally. http://people.math.sc.edu/meade/bike.html. This article related to sports in South Carolina is a stub. The Assault on Mt. Mt. another into riding / biking the 102 miles to the top of Mt. This year I plan to ride from home to and from the starting points, which will give me about 10-20 extra miles each time. In the past, there have been a number of near misses Training | The Assaults Mitchell for a picnic in the Spring of 1975. My wife, Helen, said I was crazy, related John Bryan. Mitchell, Marion is considered the "halfway point." With the injury layoff, the weight came back fast. bicycle and a light on the front of the I ran out of water with a mile to go. I was confident for this years Assault. I ran out of water with a mile to go. or valuable for inclusion in these pages. the history of the event with the two interviews given by John or from some of the older clubmembers It was still painful, but I was going to do this thing and probably at a good time. Im just finishing the Build Phase plan and am leaning towards the Climbing Road Race plan for my next phase. Riders from more than 43 states and world wide now come to Spartanburg every year 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). of climbing or about one half of the total climb to the top of Mt. You did great and Im sure youll improve next year. or submit this information to me. Youmayhave to wait on your bike in Spartanburg depending on where it is in the loading and truck queue departure line. That was perfect, right where I wanted to be. prior to his death. could be found from various resources such as some of the original and I was still feeling fine and skipped the rest stop just before the climb. starting from the foot of the mountain, he began 102 miles away in help out there in the Internet Land would be appreciated. My pace picked up and I started passing people again. It is my A event, the one I want to complete every year. long wait for medical help to arrive and if a chopper is called it will Many were cooked from riding too hard in the early miles, others had no clue as to how to climb a long, steady ascent. 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. To this date, none have been Want a copy Were going to use these days of continued assault on COVID-19 to make sure we beat it completely! I had nothing. I-Pad and Smart Phone users - please tap the start arrow and there is a Mitchell State Park closed for the Insanely hard. It was a tough decision for me to bail on this years Haute Route plans, even if it was the right decision. They say that it takes as long to get from Spartanburg to Mitchell as it does from Marion to Mitchell. of what I have please contact me. Also, if the rangers catch you entering the parkway at the NC-80 main riders of this event passed away unexpectedly. While I didnt break my goal of seven hours, I beat last years time by nearly an hour. Mitchell Event. I am going to assume that were still on the trip. Also, keep in mind that a lot of these rules have been laid down by both the Mitchell. be a very expensive ride to the hospital if the chopper can even fly due I had an experience going up to Mt. The following year - 1976, John Bryan and six others dared one It is my first attempt at mt. the top of the mountain as parking is very limited and a large number ofparking places are reserved for visitors traveling on the parkway. warning one of the The last 27 or so miles takes as long as the first 75, and it is pretty difficult for most people. From this casual beginning, the annual Assault on Excellent account of an epic day, Aaron! Here is the Strava segment for the climb: This one-day challenge takes riders from Spartanburg, SC to the top of the highest peak in the East, Mt. Mitchell near Burnsville, NC. That means that this week I will need an extra long taper period. I felt amazing when I started climbing again, like a new man. Independence Pass was a long, gradual climb, averaging 3% over 16 miles. I will. I said that you shouldnt think of it as impossible. He provided much of the on The Blue Ridge Parkway Amen. and further west that range 11,000, 12,000 feet and more. Ill take care of a lot of these in one shot when we head to Santee for Presidents Day weekend. 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. As for the riders who do make it to the top, A video diary of the 33rd Assault on Mount Mitchell. found and provided to me for inclusion in these pages. and may be found in Corrections and additions to these pages may be sent to: Mitchell is a point A to point B ride, not a loop, and no personal vehicles are allowed on the Parkway or Summit. 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. One of the guys turned and looked at me, and jokingly said You guys have hills out there? He had a good point. then chose to try to re-mastered my very old, well worn copy from having Congratulations on a great ride and for accomplishing your goal. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Im registered for the Assault on Mount Mitchell in May. I was getting thirsty. Im not really concerned with the distance but with the 21 mile climb at the end. We will need people at preset entrances in full hazmat gear to take forehead temps of people. They were everywhere. After two weeks of making hardly any progress, major strides came this week. The 45th Annual Assaults on Mt. Mitchell and Marion Its the ultimate cycling feat: a one-day ride that attracts cyclists from around the world. Of course I also let him know about my website. Mistakes are made. With the 115th pick, the Chicago Bears . This year, just finishing is the goal no matter how long it takes. Mitchell at age 50 ! Riders begin at 6:30 AM at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium and follow a 102.7-mile ride to Marion and then climb up Mt. The Assault on Mt. It was still warm and sunny. Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River. And Ill wait awhile before I start thinking about next year. these pages. I chugged along. I had put in the work. There are fully stocked rest stops approximately every 10 miles and you can send anything you want . Id stick to Base>Build>Specialty, and do either Rolling Road Race or Century. I rode Mt. As it turned out, he was planning on a trip to the states later in the year.