Wheel Ride For Beer: The Climbing Challenge

Well Beer boys,

The cycle season is coming to an end, the fall weather coming in and my last big organized ride is over. At the beginning of the year I had made a commitment to do at least 4 big rides. Mount Mitchell, BSG 6 Gap and of course the Ride across NC/ Solar Bear Ride/Wheel Ride for Beer ride or just a bunch of old guys riding across NC for fun.

Before I compare these rides, the Solar Bear Ride "wheel" call it, turned out to be more than what we ever expected. This is going to be part of the comparison next year and not this year because it only had 10,000 feet of climbing this year in 4 days. Next year since we are planning on doing the NC Blue Ridge Parkway in several days and 45,000 feet of climbing ( not sure yet) it will be compared. Really, we are going to climb that much in 4 days. WHAT!! Can't wait actually, I really love to climb the mountains and don't know why and it sounds insane to some but for those who get it, you get it.

Now to the reason for my post. I am going to give my rating of BSG, Mt. Mitchell and 6 Gap. Mount Mitchell was the first ride and early in the season, but I still must not forget the pain of the bus ride after the ride and of course the 26 mile final climb of 7500 feet without a break. Mount Mitchell tops the hardest of the 3 because it did take longer, it has more climbing and it all comes at the end of the ride and not spread out like the other two rides. At the end we were all spent and little out of it at the end of the ride. None of the guys can deny it for I saw everyone ride in at the top and believe me for about 3-5 minutes I was in the clouds too.

Second place is tough but I have to give it to 6 Gap. Now I said I would have the same bike to ride all three of these rides in order to be fair. However a freak accident that laid my Fuji to rest, I was unable to take the Fuji on 6 gap and the Fuji will never see the road again. My riding did decrease dramatically after the easy Solar Bear Ride which could also have an effect on my performance and of course another bike I only rode on 6 gap that a bunch of friends help put together for me the day before the 6 gap ride. I was not exhausted after the ride and feel really good the day after. I was hurt fairly bad after getting hit by a 2500 lbs automobile, ( guess who won that battle) a few weeks before 6 gap so I did not ride much and watched

my bruises develop on a daily basis. It seemed my whole body was one big bruise. However with all that said, Hogpen is longer, tougher than snake at BSG, not to mention you have another little gap called Wolfpen after Hogpen which is just as steep but shorter. 6 Gap has almost 3,000 feet more climbing with the same miles, does not take a PHD to figure which one should be harder. What I do need to say, it does not mean BSG is easy, NC sill wins with the best views, more harder rides than GA. 6 Gap just tops BSG, NC still wins over all on views and scenery as well but the mountains are beautiful no matter where you are.

No matter the toughness of the each ride they were all very much fun and I did not feel exhausted after any of them but felt like I gave it my all in all three. I have met so many fun and real people around the country and the world on these cycling adventures. This has been an interesting, fun, and short summer and wish all the best in their adventures. Look forward to next year and wish all my friends and family the best.