September 17, 2006
Bridge to Bridge Incredible Challenge "100 Miles of Pure Hill"

The last big bicycling challenge of the year is the Bridge to Bridge Incredible Challenge. This ride seems to challenge me more than any other ride throughout the season. It doesn't climb as much as some other rides but most of the climbing is very difficult. There are bunny hills in the first half but the second half is a completely different ride. As for the finish, there is nothing like it.

800 cyclists lined up at the starting point. We were off just after the crack of dawn. The potential for multiple rider crashes is highest in the beginning of a mass start. There is little room for error with so many bodies so close together.

The peloton left downtown Lenoir on its journey toward Grandfather Mountain. I usually stay back and let the main pack go ahead to avoid accidents but decided to stay with the main group this time. Two miles in, we traveled along a five lane road with gentle hills. I could actually see the front of the group. The peloton moves much like a living, breathing organism as it undulates over the crests and troughs of the byway. It's akin to a school of fish and when there is danger it reacts much like the fish as well. Repeated chants of "slowing" fill the air as riders hammer down their brakes as the road narrows or a rider goes down. This was a new experience for me and I have the confidence and ability to avoid other riders but I'm still not so sure everyone has the ability to avoid running into me.

I tried to stay with my friend Bridgette but she was simply too fast for me. However, it did make me ride much faster out of the gate and I kept up a 20 mile/hour pace past the 50 mile marker. I rode with a couple of other friends briefly; Caroline, an ultra distance cyclist and Derel, both of whom trained with me over the winter at Asheville Velosports. Derel really impressed me, even passing me on an upslope. He had lost a sizable amount of weight since winter and gained an incredible amount of strength. Kudos to Lesli at Velosports for working with him all year.

The first half of the ride is fairly easy. The real ride is in the 2nd half. With construction on the Parkway, however, some more difficult riding was replaced with basic terrain riding. This placed the big climb at 59 miles instead of at 52 miles. The fastest I'd ever ridden a 100k was 4 hours flat. I reached the 100k point at 3:15, setting a new personal best.

The climb up route 181 goes on and on ad infinitum. A rest stop is at the bottom and top with two more during the climb. It dulls your senses over 13 grueling miles, with just a few brief recovery spots. I knew I'd be passed by dozens of riders on this section and I was right. The climb was very slow but I felt much better than I did last year.

The Parkway section provides relief from the enduring effort of 181. We did more descending than climbing. After catching a brief glimpse of our destination, we approached the technological marvel called Linn Cove Viaduct. Since Grandfather Mountain is a sensitive ecological area, the road was elevated around the mountain. Prefab sections were lowered into place, fitting perfectly and treading lightly on the terrain. The unobstructed views were absolutely sensational!! Often the views are hazy but not on this day.

Beyond the viaduct lies the longest and fastest downhill of the ride. The only problem is that it crosses several bridges which have uneven joints. I opted for slowing a bit and then jumping the joints. Mountain biking experience definitely came into play.

Route 221 usually has a wonderful downhill but that was part of the section that was rerouted. Also rerouted were the two toughest climbs on the Parkway. I didn't miss them much. 221 snakes around below the Parkway, passing waterfalls and ducking overhanging boulders. It leads to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain Park. On 221, at about mile 91, something didn't feel right in my back tire. It was rapidly losing air. Fortunately, the rest stop was within sight. I'm not terribly astute at changing tubes so it took me 20 minutes. I was having the ride of my life so the flat was unfortunate but I could still atone for it.

In 2004, I took 48 minutes and 12 breaks in the last two miles. In 2005, I improved to 30 minutes with four stops. This year, I wanted to stop just twice. Mind you, these two miles are like no other road miles and they come after 100 miles of primarily climbing. The grades reach past 20%. I started up slowly, gearing down to easy gear early on. One woman passed me but I caught her after a couple of switchbacks. After the one mile to go point, virtually every switchback had one to four riders resting up to gain the strength to make it to the next switchback. I just kept pedaling, refusing to stop unless absolutely necessary.

It became unnecessary to stop. I made it past the point where I thought I was certain to stop and eyed the top of the climb. Many riders had given up and walked their bikes up the hill. I passed them all without stopping. The final grade was the toughest but at least you know there is no further to go. I pedaled up behind a box truck used for transporting bicycles. However, another box truck was coming down leaving about 18 inches of space between the two. Of course this was just before the grade hit 20% and there was no way to stop and start again at that point. The two trucks stopped and the drivers conversed briefly. I let out a %*&#@ and they passed just in time so that I didn't have to stop pedaling.

I could hear the cheers of the spectators at the top. The finish line is very spectator friendly and the onlookers are treated to all sorts of attempts to summit by riders. Some just make it, some push hard at the end, some walk. Emotions run the gamut and breath is in short supply. I blew past the truck and two riders in front of it and made it all the way without stopping. It took 23 minutes to go two miles without stopping, averaging less than 5 miles an hour but that mattered little to me.

I didn't make my overall goal of 7 1/2 hours but that also mattered very little. Minus the flat tire, it took 7:36. Last year's time was 8:02. Next year I'll go for 7:00.

The ride finishes a good distance from the start and a chartered bus is available for the return trip. I used it the last two years but this year would be different. I would ride back to Lenoir.

The descent on 181 was unbelievably enjoyable. It made all the suffering worthwhile. The little hills below the mountain felt a bit larger on the return trip. I took my time but still made it back in 2 1/2 hours. Riders who took the bus were arriving at the parking lot as I pulled in. My legs still felt fresh after 147 miles so I went for a brief jog.

Raging Bull