revision. It is our local rite of passage. John Bryan and he did not live to see this new project completed. Excellent recap Aaron! NEW FOR 2018 Updated Time Limit! told me that when we were picnicking on Mt. Believe it or not, I actually lost fitness when I got back home, as evident by my performance in last weeks Blue Ridge Brutal where I was 91st out of 135. Show more Show more The. rules governing this event. This 501(c)(3) organization is partnered with nonprofit organizations such as the Humane Society and Mt. Is Mount Mitchell a difficult hike? It is my A event, the one I want to complete every year. Good for sermon quotes and illustrations. All they had at the rest stop was water. I had left some Gatorade with my wife and forgot to refill my bottles. So the bottom line is make sure your lights has tim. 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. present it so much to the public. Around midway through the parkway, after having sufficiently hydrated and fueled myself, I started to get the magic back. Have you ever noticed that the very first time that you take a trip or travel a new route somewhere, it seems to take longer than on the same way home. I almost used it as the photo at the end. In fact, a lot of the climbs up to the Blue Ridge Parkway are tougher than the Parkway itself. As a result, these rides were mostly slow and methodical. MitchellCLICK HERE to view transportation detail for the Assault on Marion. You killed it! Mitchell and The Assault on Marion. and may be found in added each year to try to Inn, Bakersville, NC ~ written January 11, 2006 about the ride. Assuming there is a place to fill in the park. Its in the middle of road race season, so its almost never in the cards. Mitchell. He did start much earlier with an escort of 6 bicycle riders to protect To my surprise, it didnt seem too difficult this time. I rode Mt. Mitchell 6684 feet above sea level with 10,357 feet of vertical climbing! or submit this information to me. Insanely hard. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. displayed any bigger However, as we all know, cancer finally caught up with Should you have one . approach Robin Michael about creating a history of the Assault on Mt. A forum community dedicated to Road Bike owners and enthusiasts. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Mass Start from in front of the auditorium In the beginning The Assault on Mt. All in all, Im not in terrible shape here. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I wont have to deal with those on the Assault. People behind them passed me. or from some of the older clubmembers The clock is ticking. I tried to push at a good pace and simply couldnt keep it. Why go small, right? The Assault on Mt. Specialty: Century, This is assuming that your effort over the course of the event is more or less constant, and you wont have to deal with countering attacks, breakaways, or other types of intense surges. or submit this information to me. Mitchell for a picnic in the Spring of 1975. My wife, Helen, said I was crazy, related John Bryan. Therefore, I Please respect their work. - Van Epps finished the event in 15:00:00 on a hand powered trike! the top of the mountain as parking is very limited and a large number ofparking places are reserved for visitors traveling on the parkway. It was still painful, but I was going to do this thing and probably at a good time. Were not through this yet. colliding with the cars / trucks / motorhomes coming down the mountain The Assaults on Mt. Frankly, I was tempted to not ride because of my injuries, but this is the event I have to ride. 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. Having those extra gears will allow you to stay in your aerobic zone regardless of the roads grade, Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, Training plan - Assault on Mount Mitchell. Mitchell, II Jonathan Pait, Sr 650 subscribers Subscribe Share Save 7.7K views 14 years ago Part 2 of the 33rd. This site is maintained by: Robin Michael, E-mail address is --> By the way this about There is a chance I will not finish the ride this year. Riders from more than 43 states and world wide now come to Spartanburg every year Any hard copy or actual photos / pictures Then all riders get on busses for the return trip In two weeks, I will register for the Assault on Mount Mitchell again. Want a copy anyone has anything that they would like to include on these pages about He provided much of the allowed Sure, some businesses need to start. The Southeasts Premier Cycling Experience, $25 Spectator Bus Tickets (Only option for family and friends who wish to cheer on riders at the Mt. effort to open the ride to more people, John Bryan decided that a second event In the 22nd Annual Assault and forcing the bicycles into the ditch or up the bank. Once the climbing started I passed hundreds (or more) of riders on the way to the top. I was thrilled to find the short, 2-mile descent. The toughest 100-mile bike race in putting it on the net but at this time have chosen not to. Congrats on finishing so much faster than last year! these pages and to be included in a display of all of the patches for Thanks for any advice/input. Its a gorgeous ride along Lake Tahoma, but seems like forever until the climb begins. You would be surprised by how nice the riding is out here. At first it seemed awkward and difficult to ride. Id stick to Base>Build>Specialty, and do either Rolling Road Race or Century. of this event! I will warm up and recover on elliptical machines. Well have to keep doing a lot of that by zoom. How would you suggest logistically planning to do that from a hydration standpoint? Step One: Event Registration Select Your Ride: The Assault on Marion: 74.2 miles from Downtown Spartanburg, SC to the Tom Johnson Rally Park Pavilion in Marion, NC. be a very expensive ride to the hospital if the chopper can even fly due What Ill try to do is a mile at a time and keep at a certain speed. She and they have already written tickets. 70 miles through lush Carolina countryside. the links Register early, train hard, and we will see you in May 2023! At the elevation of 6,684 feet, is at the Tom 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. Unfortunately I made a crucial error at Marion. So the bottom line is make sure your lights has, SAG are not allowed 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. I looked down to find myself covered in bugs. When I turned into the Mitchell State Park entrance, I thought there was a chance of me breaking seven hours. How hard is Assault on Mt Mitchell? Mitchell State Park closed for the Mitchell State Park that we must adhere to. all and I was getting thirsty. While I didnt break my goal of seven hours, I beat last years time by nearly an hour. 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? Climbing road race is more more shorter climbs with surges. Just my $0.02. Amen. Mitchell State Park that we must adhere to. Mitchell registration includes transportation from the finish line in Mt. "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. 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. God gave us brains, so lets use them. The road has markings for every half a mile remaining. of the others and then it will be added to the display. Mitchell in 2008. Thats when all 1,000 riders converge together, mashing the pedals and all trying to get to Marion as fast as possible. I heard the sound as our bikes connected and I thought this was it, I was going down. Im just finishing the Build Phase plan and am leaning towards the Climbing Road Race plan for my next phase. The Off-Road Assault on Mt Mitchell is a 60 mile MTB race with 10,500 feet of climbing. Mitchell riders continue on for another 29 very hard, I've done climbing rides all over the south and it's hard to climb for 3 straight hours plus. He was a veteran of 15 Assaults on Mt. Any recommendations for a training plan for the Assault on Mt. I was able to ride through it with only minor discomfort. The voice of reason! Mitchell State Park. It is grueling to say the least. Im going for 6:30 next year. 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. From Old Fort, you climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just below Mt Mitchell on beautiful Forest Service roads and unbelievable North Carolina singletrack. I am It is frustrating, but something one has to deal with in order to get an easy ride to Marion. Mitchell Parkway (rest stop #9) by 4:00 p.m. All riders must cross the finish line by 5:30 p.m. All riders not at the aforementioned checkpoints or finish line by the times noted above will be picked up by an official event vehicle along the course and driven to the finish line or back to Marion. The difference is Ill be keeping it shorter and running faster. Are you kidding me? Reality struck as I noticed my speed during the steeper sections. We were at 22 mph when we reached Bills Hill. of climbing or about one half of the total climb to the top of Mt. We'll be back from 6am, but before you go, here are the highlights from today: Note: All of these newspaper articles are from the Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I now have almost four months to train. Bryan to the Spartanburg Harold Journal News Paper. the Rangers are concerned, you (SAGs) are not suppose to be on the parkway at I was considering Mt. main riders of this event passed away unexpectedly. The Assault on Mt. I bumped into a first-time rider at the hotel and he asked me for any tips. Mitchell would be used to assist in a qualification for Mitchell presented by Greenville Health System will have a 5:30 p.m. stop time. Congratulations on a great ride and for accomplishing your goal. am trying to complete this undertaking for him in his memory. Also, if the rangers catch you entering the parkway at the NC-80 Mitchell will be on May 22, 2023. The brakes and shifters worked. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. present it so much to the public. The biggest thing about the Assault on Mitchell is that the last 12-15 miles is all mental. ). wives of the men heading to the top. People behind them passed me. Mitchell in 2003, so it's been a while since I rode it. From Old Fort, climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just below Mt. The 46th Assaults on Mt. Thanks for the advice. I also have a broken rib, but it has healed enough that it is not really a factor. 2012 Assault, The Assault on Mt. and trying to pass the bicycle riders. It was still painful, but I was going to do this thing and probably at a good time. If we dont keep hunkered down and do the work of best practices now, well end up causing more harm in the long run. I had my plan. The pack seems to speed up and then abruptly slow down, putting each rider on high alert, sitting on their brakes. Mitchell. on The Blue Ridge Parkway, nor on the top of Mt. I was able to complete the rides, but not without struggling on the long climbs. Please read more Mitchell as I had only been riding for 5 months. I had put in the work. They are simply different. Mt. REMINDER FOR 2023: Updated Time Limit + Checkpoints! I was considering result there is no records of who entered You also might want to make sure the park is open up top, although you wont be drinking much on the way down. Mitchell State Park in North Carolinaa total vertical ascent of more than 10,000 feet. Let me back up a little bit. If I am able to ride the way I want, then I am predicting a finish in 9 hours. I was able to ride through it with only minor discomfort. For a lot of the old time riders, I was the Include source and your name and Thanks for your wisdom and help! Mitchell was run in memory of the late Kent Clary. It was a long mile. As for where to climb, my first suggestion was the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Mitchell. https://theassaults.com/assault-on-mt-mitchell/. It was in the 4-5 mph range, not fast. Spartanburg, SC. Mitchell began when John Bryan and family were going up to Mt. That's nearly a 25% fail rate, and these are not ordinary people who just grabbed a bike and decided to ride up a mountain. Occasionally it will get sore during rides. Thanks for sending them. Your choice on volume. Nice job on your ride as well. 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. Hey all, sorry about my absence as of lately. 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. I bumped into a first-time rider at the hotel and he asked me for any tips. It has been a lot of criteriums lately which is definitely not the ideal prep for a ride like Mt. These are people that trained for months, focused on this one goal. Mitchell is a 102.7-mile self-paced ride, not race, from Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina . nor on the top of Mt. Absolutely. I am finding your posts to be very interesting. He may have found that out if he could have ridden from Brevard, but alas, transportation was an issue. I looked down to find myself covered in bugs. Mt. Thats not enough, but since Ive returned, I found that the muscles have bounced back pretty quickly. Of course I also let him know about my website. But the climbing is different. interchange you will be turned around. Good to see you at the start line. then chose to try to re-mastered my very old, well worn copy from having the The brakes and shifters worked. He was the first handicap rider to enter and finish this event ! I will. The elevation on the Parkway didnt help the temperature much. Mitchell, which at 6,578 feet is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Remember that the Parkway is not closed for this event Please join us for The Assaults on Mt. I-Pad and Smart Phone users - please tap the start arrow and there is a If you have a compact and an 11-32, the only thing stopping you from getting to the top is you. The Assault on Mt. I climbed up comfortably either with or ahead of most of my pack. When I turned into the Mitchell State Park entrance, I thought there was a chance of me breaking seven hours. Mitchell itself. Id lean more toward century as that will be long sustained effort. Corrections and additions to these pages may be sent to: bicycle and a light on the front of the 100k Century. One of the guys turned and looked at me, and jokingly said You guys have hills out there? He had a good point. At mile 10, I fell victim to someones poor preparation. bicycle at all times while on the Parkway. The final shout out is to the Vicious Cycle team. For those readers who dont know, the Assault on Mount Mitchell is one of the toughest cycling challenges in the Southeast. The only real negative was that nobody recognized him as Australian, and one could mistook Australia for Austria. With the injury layoff, the weight came back fast. annual event in which thousands have and do participated in. An eternity later it said 1.5 miles to go. Tom Johnston Camp Grounds in Marion. Assault on Mount Mitchell - The Arrival - YouTube Hudson Velo Club ventured to Cornelius, NC as a staging area for our assault on Mount Mitchell. I had forgotten how hard it was. All items may be used if proper credit is given It was spot on for me. However, it was my very first century ride. I grunted my way up, slowly and surely to the finish line. mastered by WSPA TV of Spartanburg, SC. I would do Sustained Power Build and either the Century or perhaps a Time Trial specialtry plan. States (as rated by Bicycling Magazine). I had prostate cancer at the time and said if I could do a 50 mile ride before the race I could finish it. by the respective authors or photographers. Want a copy First Handicap Rider finishes the Assault. Not to take anything away from the Rockies, as I loved every minute of my stay, but the Southeast has some pretty amazing climbing if you ask me. The winners are usually able to accomplish this feat in around 5 hours. No exceptions. information to be include in these pages and also provided some of his club members or close friends of John. of the Freewheelers Bicycle Club and through their clubs archives. printed picture material that is scanned must be 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. I reached 161 before I was able to resume training again. and just turned around and coaster back to Marion. red blinker light attached to the rear of the riders My legs hurt far more after this ride than anything I had done in the Rockies. work and personal webpage PLUS this webpage. This a policy set forth by the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mt.