May 12 2008
No Sun At This Beech… But What A Climb!
I mentioned in my post last week that I was headed back to the mountains for the weekend and a good training ride packed with climbing. I pedaled the roads around Banner Elk. The very roads on which Lance decided to make his comeback to cycling after cancer. If you read his first book, “It’s Not About The Bike,” you may remember he was climbing Beech Mountain when he decided not to hang up the bike. It was part of the course in the old “Tour DuPont” … which Lance won in its last two years… ‘95 & ‘96.
I have never climbed Beech, which peaks at 5,500 feet. I don’t know why. So, this weekend I had it set in my mind I would head there first thing.
As I pedaled that way, I looked up from the town below, Banner Elk. This picture on the left is what I saw.
Nothing but really dark clouds. I always check the very trustworthy Ray’s Weather internet site for the NC Mountains and knew this horrible looking weather would be moving out. I was determined to make the climb. I felt good. It was about 7am and no one else was on 
the road.
I started hitting very steep switchbacks like the one pictured here on the right.
Still, I felt strong. Maybe it was the history of the road. I just kept turning over the pedals.
When I rounded another turn closer to the top, I hit the clouds.
I had to snap this picture (tricky while climbing). But as you can see… I was literally in the clouds.
A short time later, I crested the Beech! It felt so great to be up there. I had to jump off and snap a shot in front of the sign. I called 
my wife, shared my excitement and headed back down for some more climbing. At the end of my 4 hour ride, I had climbed a total of 6,800 feet… clocked 56 miles… and burned about 2,800 calories. I feel like my climbing legs are developing well. It has left me craving more!
I also need to mention the success of the Lees-McRae College cycling team at the Road Cycling National Championships in Fort Collins, Colorado. I talked about this small college in Banner Elk and it’s successful cycling team in my last post. Well, they won the Division I Men’s & Women’s Road Race. They also did well in the Team Time Trial… 3rd & 5th. Congrats Bobcats!
Maybe next time, I will see them training on Beech Mountain. But I’ll feel just fine as they fly past me because I know… I CAN make it to the top.
Excellent. Well done
Sounds like to much fun. The hairpin photo is great - looks steep!
If you ever post photos at FLICKR I have administer a “hairpins”
group.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/614983@N24/
PS - good job getting the altitude sign photo
(my specialty)
Will– Thanks! You are, of course, a climbing inspiration for me.
I have pointed out to Will that he needs to ride with other people more often so that he will have fewer Big Head with Elevation Sign photos and now you are doing it too, Donald. It is clear that I have to come down and ride Beech Mountain with you on a sunny day. I am glad to hear that you celebrated properly (that is, with beer) afterwards as well.
The Cheat Mountain Challenge in West Virginia is going to be on August 16th. I am seriously considering doing it in spite of the long drive: you can never have too much climbing!
Nice ride. Climbing days suck when you’re in the saddle, but I’ve never regretted one once I get to the top of the mountain.
Sprocketboy– That’s hilarious… OK, it’s my first “Big Head with Elevation Sign Photo”… but I’ll try to get some others in future pictures. So, please come on down and ride Beech Mountain and the Parkway. Never heard of the Cheat Mountain Challenge. I ‘ll check it out. And yes– there’s something even more tasty about a really cold brew after a really hard climb.
Jared– Yes, you quickly forget the pain once you’re at the top. Overwhelmed by the feeling of achievement, I’m lured back into the saddle to do it all again.
You made that sound easy. Great pictures. I have never ridden through the clouds in my adventures.
That’s a great looking climb! I can just imagine ticking the pedals over around that hairpin. The clouds look really cold - how was the descent?
Chris– I ‘ve hit the clouds a couple of times… but this was definitely the thickest. It cleared up some later but it was pretty cool.
Arlyn– The temp was around 50 degrees but at the top the winds were gusting around 30mph. I didn’t notice that much though because I was pumped from the climb. The descent wasn’t bad because I carry a piece of plastic (cut from a bag) that I put inside the front of my jersey on cold descents… it works great! Once I’m down.. I pull it out or move it to the side. It’s small and certainly a great way to block the cold wind from your chest.
Sounds like a great ride for you!! Congrats. Keep up the good work.
Good idea with the plastic. I’ve used newspapers like that, but sometimes there’s no newsstand at the top…
Jeff– Thanks… yes it felt great. Wish I could go back this weekend and do it again.
Arlyn– Yeah… the newspaper gets a little hard to handle when I keep using it because there were multiple descents on my 4 hour ride. The plastic holds up well and it’s easy to fold or srcunch up into a small piece.
ha
Sprocketboy,
I have been working very hard to cure my big-head photo issue.
I have been dragging around photographers - unfortunately they all climb faster than me - but I have trained them to wait at the signs.
Donald: keep snapping so we know you were there
That sounds like a very successful workout if it left you wanting for more … thanks for posting the photos. It’s great to see shots of your part of the world and the climb looks great. I remember reading about it in Lance’s book.
Have you ever heard of Mt Baw Baw? There is an Annual Race and friends were talking about doing it during the Tour de Tablelands over dinner. It’s 6 km at an average 13% gradient. I think it’s one of the toughest climbs in the world and it’s in Victoria, Australia.
Will– Yeah– I would also love to have someone esle there to have in the picture with me or at least help snap a better shot. But I have the same problem. The cyclist I might ride with in the mountains would be to the top well before me. I’ll try to do the best with my elevation shots.
Groover– That’s sounds like a tough one. I’ll try to look it up. Keep us posted if you decide to do it. I’m looking to do another mountain century. It’s called The Cheat Mountain Challenge. It’s actually 105 miles with 10,000 plus feet of climbing. OUCH!
I plan to meet up with Sprocketboy and some others for the ride.
Hi Donald,
You won the MuscleTrac on www.ride-stong.com. Can you email you mailing address.
How about routing this ride on www.roadbikerides.com
Thanks,
Tyler
Tyler — That’s Awesome… Thanks so much! I’ll use the Muscle Trac after my next big ride. I’ll also route my Beech mountain ride on www.roadbikerides.com
Congrats on winning the Muscletrac! I am supremely jealous! Let me know how it works for you.
UNCADAN8 - Sure thing… I’ll have to write a post on it.