Assault on Mt Mitchell: Road Bicycle Event

[Ron in SC]

This event is rated by Bicycling Magazine as one of the 10 toughest single day events in the United States. It has about 12,100 ft. of climbing over 110 miles with about 6000 ft. in the last 30 miles or so. George Hincapie has won this event several times although the event is not considered a race.

The number of people who are allow to participate in the event is very limited and tickets are very hard to come by. I am not doing the event this year and have my ticket up for auction on ebay with the proceed from the sale to go to the Palmetto Cycling Coalition.

Link to auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7142082411&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Wish I could take off and go, sounds like fun.

[Lebenz]

That is awesome! You’d have to be in some kind of shape to even participate, let alone compete. Mere mortals wouldn’t have a prayer. Last weekend I rode my bike up about 1,500 vertical feet over 7.5 miles. Took me 2.5 hours. And the race above has more than 10x the verticle! Whew

[MineMapper]

There's a Porsche 928 gathering down there that finishes with a drive up Mt. Mitchell. The last few times I did it, it was on the same day as this event. Not a happy mixture of road users. Most folks were OK, but there was some very aggesive behaviour from both groups. Kudos to the bikers doing it though. I know I don't have the lungs for it.

[jcyuhn]

I know cyclists who have ridden this ride; they have confirmed its extreme challenge.

Anyone ever ride the Markleville Death Ride? When I was younger, lighter and stronger I always wanted to ride it, but my interest is waning as I get older.

- JimY