BioWheels on Mont Ventoux

BioWheels Race team member, John Godts, recently returned from the trip of a lifetime in both splendor & difficulty. There is a challenge organized by a French bicycle club (actually, a brotherhood) next to Mount Ventoux. They say, “It is normal for a bike rider to try to climb Mont Ventoux at least once in a lifetime, but you are crazy if you do it again.”

There are 3 different routes you can use to go to the top of Mont Ventoux.
If you can climb all the routes in one day (starting from Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault), between sunrise and sunset, you are declared “Nut of Mont Ventoux” and you receive a plastic medal from the brotherhood. Putting all that in perspective, to accomplish this feat you will ride about 40 miles and climb 14550 feet - the descending at 55 or 60 MPH is another story.

The challenge can be done any time during the year - alone or with other riders. The rider must call the brotherhood in advance and then receives a road sheet which needs to be stamped by a local store in all 3 villages where the starts take place (Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault) as well as on the top of Mont Ventoux to confirm that you have been there.

So far, 26 Americans have done it including 5 people from Asheville. If you speak French, visit their web site www.clubcinglesventoux.org. If you don’t speak French and you’re still interested, e-mail John at jgodts@charter.net

John loved his Look KG461 for it’s lightweight climbing ability, stable descending and all-day comfort. Check out his great photos…

Grab the kids and head to Hot Springs, NC

The family headed out to Hot Springs the other day with our 8-year old daughter and our 13-year old nephew. We were in search of family friendly trails, and we wanted to share with you what treasures we found.

First of all, I just love the town of Hot Springs; quaint, friendly & a river runs through it. Very nice indeed, and the perfect place to grab a bite either before or after your ride. The trails that we found were on the southern end of town, making them an easy, honest 40-minute drive from Asheville.

Laurel River Trail: (3.6 miles one-way, about 5-miles from Hot Springs) Begins near the junction of NC 208 and 25/70 on a dirt road that turns into the trail. Single track on an old railroad grade to the Ghost Town of Runion where the Laurel empties into the French Broad River.

This trail is a beauty. You may feel like you are on the wrong trail as you pass by a few homes, but the trail runs right through their yards, just keep going. This is a great place to take your children that have already built up some skill on the smooth trail. It is a rocky bit of Earth, perfect for introducing the kids to some truly technical riding. The trail runs along the river, so it is also generally very flat. Check out the Ghost Lumber Town of Runion. In our young group, no one got frustrated because they were tired, even as we got all the way to the mighty French Broad River. The trail ends at the French Broad River, if you have never seen the river in Hot Springs, it is worth the scramble up over the railroad tracks to take a peek, it is a sight to see. Everyone had the energy to try out their skills and have a good time. We will be back time and time again. With a total of 7-miles, and some swimming under our belts, we decided we had enough energy and time to check out another trail.

Mill Ridge Bike Trail: (4 mile loop, about 3.5 miles from Hot Springs) This is a moderate loop on old forest roads with a short section of single track to connect the loop. The fields and wildlife openings of Mill Ridge provide huge mountain vistas.

This was the perfect trail to follow up what we had just accomplished. The ride starts out on a gravel road, downhill. The kids were having an effortless blast, which was a good thing because we wanted them to enjoy their experience. Two miles later, the terrain changed and the trail heads uphill on singletrack. Probably the steepest climb either of the kids had ever done. They were hot and tired, but they also were relieved to finish and proud that they had done so. There were lots of berries and open meadow and we saw a big bear footprint.

Our one-day in Hot Springs was filled with fun on one trail that was technical and flat and another trail that taught endurance and effort, all within reach of our two young riders.

We highly recommend both Hot Springs trails to folks looking to teach their kids mountain biking. Check out the pictures linked from this thumbnail. If anyone gets to tired, you can always just take a dip in the river!

Cape Cod takes Bike transportation very seriously.

If you are looking for an excellent beach vacation, and want to give your car a rest, we recommend Cape Cod to anybody.  After the long drive the Cape, we were very pleased to find that we could leave our car behind for our entire stay. Mass. has invested heavily in their bike lanes. Underpasses, well-marked crosswalks & frequent “share the road” signs make cyclists welcome on Cape Cod. (If only all states valued bicycles as much.)

Over the 7 day trip, our bikes were used to take us to numerous beaches, hikes & excursions.  We saw seals, whales, ton’s of birds, and learned a lot about American history. There are plenty of places to spend the money saved from beach entries. Provincetown is just about insane. We really loved the beachcomber on Cahoon Beach.

As the Cape has no bedrock foundation, you should probably visit before it is reclaimed by the sea.

Click on this photo to view a slide show.    

East Fork State Park - Cincinnati’s Hottest New Trails

The Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance and volunteers have poured their energy and resources into the trails and their efforts show. There are about seven miles of single-track that meander through one of Ohio’s largest state parks. The trails are great for beginners but also challenge more experienced riders.

The transition from four miles of flat muddy trail to 7.5 miles of quality mountain biking didn’t happen over night. It took the interest of local Rob Brock, who saw much potential out there, but not much momentum for improvements to the trail. While Rob donated countless hours of his own time organizing and writing proposals for the park, he went to the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance for the help building up momentum for trailbuilding. The trail leaders at CORA had been maintaining and improving the trails at Harbin Park in Fairfield, and Caesar’s Creek State Park up near Waynesville - and had shown that their IMBA-led training had paid off with killer trail systems there. The new East Fork trail system was designed with sustainability and fun for all levels in mind - quick-drying graded trails with an emphasis on flow.

For the full effect roll out of the mountain bike parking lot and turn right at the road. Follow the pavement for about a half mile until you see the trail on the right. The south loop (Phase one) is a tight twisty three-mile trail that is good for beginners. There are no climbs but the trail does introduce riders to some of the skills needed to mountain bike. The trail shoots out onto gravel and immediately connects with more single-track on the left. Make a left and you will be on the middle loop (Phase two), make a right and you will head back to the parking lot. This trail is a 3.5 mile long single-track that you can either follow out to the road or make a right and head back to the mountain bike parking lot.
Making a left at the intersection will send you down a quick descent, across many bridges and through a creek. There are a few more climbs, descents, roots and rocks on this section of trail. This section of trail ends at a bathroom with running water. At this point you can ride the road back or take the trail.

East Fork drains well and is the quickest trail in the area to recover after it has rained a lot. East Fork Lake is a great place to take friends and family new to mountain biking and it is also great for veteran riders.

From Cincinnati, Ohio :
From Downtown: take I-471 South into Kentucky to I-275 East. I-275 East to Exit #65, Beechmont Avenue East - Amelia ( Day Use) or Exit #63
From Lexington, KY:
I-75 North, to I-275 East (Near Erlanger, KY) to Exit #65, S.R. 125 - Beechmont Avenue East- Amelia ( Day Use) or Exit 63, S.R. 32 - East Batavia (campground). Come East 11 miles and follow signs.

Written by Amanda McKay

Thursday Night Group Rides at Bent Creek

BioWheels has several group rides that gather on a weekly basis, but by far my favorite is the Thursday night ride at Bent Creek. Bent Creek is an experimental forest that contains many miles of trails aimed mostly at the beginner and intermediate level rider, but expert riders in the area still seem to ride here on a weekly basis. Being only 15 minutes from downtown Asheville makes it the premier spot for after work rides.

The BioWheels Thurs ride meets in the Rice Pinacle parking lot at 6 and we really like to be rolling by 6:15. It’s always a relaxed group and we regroup at most major intersections and summits. Technically it’s a ride for the women’s race team, but the mix is usually 50/50.

Bent Creek is also a ideal testing ground for new bikes and demos. Most of us have ridden the trails so much that they become a great controlled environment for testing. Once you know a trail really well you can focus on testing a bike and not so much on riding the trail.

If you like rocks, check out Laurel Mountain, PA.

Once you leave your car behind, the PA woods start singing to you. Be careful, because the rocks are never ending and will throw your ass right off the bike if you are not mindful.

Covered in snow 4 months out of the year, the cross country ski trails represent some of the finest trail riding I have ever seen. Every time I go up there to ride, there are more trails. Rock gardens abound, with thousands of technical trail features.

These fern laden trails seem to go on forever…

Please enjoy these pics.

Black Mountain Trail in Pisgah just might kill you.

Nothing short of serious fitness can prepare you for the 2 hours of climbing found on Clawhammer and Black Mountain. Moreover, nothing but confidence in your skills can prepare you for the Black Mountain Trail. Although these trails are well documented as biking trails, they need to be coveted and used sparingly. Much of the climb is shared with horses. Once you turn up the super-steep Black Mtn Trail, it is foot and bike travel only. Incidentally, there are no circulating stories of anybody ever making the climb without a dab or two.

The trail get’s its first descent after the Turkey Pen Gap trail comes in from the East. At this point, you have climbed almost 2000 v/ft and crested Black Mountain. Major switchbacks, rock drops and off camber roots attempt to toss you off of big-ass cliffs. The ridgeline sections consists of views normally found in wilderness hiking-only trails. Prepare to roll up and down for miles. There are numerous opportunities to cut the loop short, but the folks we ride in would feel gypped if they didn’t get to pass through Buckhorn-, Club-, Bennett, Coontree- and Saddle Gaps.
Like much of riding in Western North Carolina, the Black Mountain trail is not for the meek. We rank it as an advanced trail that requires at least 3-hours for expert riders. We have heard stories of 7+ hour days, many broken bikes and bones, as well as unintentional overnights. If you are a whiner, go to Tsali. Yes, you could die on this trail but you’d probably be smiling when we found you.

enjoy a few pics.

Pisgah National Forest, NC is the eastern US MTB Mecca.

The Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina are home to the Pisgah National Forest. This area has consistently been rated among the best mountain bike destinations in the country. Here you will find everything from rolling gravel roads to twisting singletrack with creek crossings, open-air meadows and lush forest.

The area known as Pisgah today was once part of George Vanderbilt’s private Biltmore Estate. He started Biltmore Forest School in 1898 on this land. This school was the first institute for scientific forestry in America. After his death in 1914, his wife Edith, honoring her husbands wish to preserve the land for public use, sold 87,000 acres to the federal government as a park. This land became the nucleus of Pisgah National Forest, which now contains 504,181 acres of land.

Pisgah is predominantly a hardwood forest of yellow-poplar, northern red oak, black oak and scarlet oak, although red spruce and Fraser fir grow at the higher elevations. Due to the moderate climate and varied elevation, Western North Carolina is one of the most botanically diverse regions on the planet.

We have spent years learning this area and the hundreds of miles of local trails and roads. Pisgah beckons one to take time & experience grand vistas, waterfalls, diverse foliage and scenic trails.

BioWheels is the SE’ largest reseller of waterproof Pisgah Trail Maps

Here is a great old shot of MJ & Joe Moore in 1996

Enjoy your ride!

Here are a few more Pisgah Pics’

Dupont State Forest, NC

On October 23, 2000, the North Carolina Council of State voted unanimously to condemn and purchase the 2200 acres of land owned by developer Jim Anthony and landlocked by 8000+ acres of land called the DuPont State Forest. The Anthony property, located in Henderson and Transylvania counties is the heart of a 10,000-acre tract formerly owned and managed by DuPont Corporation. For many years, DuPont employees and guests used the area for a variety of outdoors recreational pursuits. The sale divided the original property and the primary trail connectors along with the world-class waterfalls went to private development interests.

Of particular note is the diverse groundswell of support which came together as Friends of the Falls. FOF’s long-term effort to preserve this natural treasure for the future deserves national recognition. Ably and tirelessly led by JoJo and Woody Keen, this recent conservation effort is an all-to-unusual success story, especially in western North Carolina. Amazingly, Friends of the Falls was able to have a pivotal impact on a piece of property under development. Thanks, also, to the many Bio Wheels web visitors that acted on the article we posted as the battle was heating up.

What to do within DuPont State Forest:
Check out the waterfalls (Triple, High and Bridal Veil) on the Little River. Ride or hike across the granite slabs and outcrops scattered throughout the forest.
The mountain biking is accessible for all riding levels (please remember we share the trails with family hikers, horseback riders, birdwatchers, etc.)

DuPont State Forest is a late addition to the hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails we already enjoy in Western North Carolina. With large expanses of slickrock riding, it is being heralded as the Moab of the East. But slickrock is not the only offering. There are large pine forests and tremendous waterfalls with twisting singletrack in all directions. The 10,000-acre forest boasts over 90 miles of riding trails. There are abundant trails for all ability levels. Beginners can get out and enjoy beautiful scenery, and advanced riders will be amazed at the quality trails and challenges in this diverse terrain.

We can deliver a Dupont Map to your door from our Yahoo store.

A lower resolution .pdf is available here.

Enjoy this slideshow. 

Laurel Mtn -> Pilot Rock

A very popular ride in Pisgah for tourists and locals is the ‘Laurel - Pilot Loop’ , which consists of basically riding up the Laurel Mtn trail and down Pilot Rock trail. Laurel Mtn trail is a great stretch of single track peppered with technical sections and one significant stretch of ‘hike-a-bike’. Pilot Rock is one of the best descents in Pisgah! The trail is a great place to test your technical skills on the many steep rocky switchbacks and major rock garden. Grab yourself a Pisgah map and seek out this route.

“In light of recent regimes, Memorial Day may have lost its meaning to much of America. But to disenfranchised free riders, it means one thing; singletrack.  9 of us met at Yellow Gap to share a few hours on one of our favorite advanced rides, Laurel Mountain Trail to Pilot Rock downhill. From the car, you can climb all the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Laurel Mountain is incredible, so it is usually the trail hit by people that live outside the mountains, but dream about them. Over the past few years, the trails condition has declined steadily, because people ride it wet. (Like any trail in WNC, please give it at least 36-hours after rain to let it run off.). Many people ride it out and back, but on this day, the intense descent off the front of Pilot Rock beckoned our group to climb all the way up.  The bikes varied a little bit, with a fleet of Bio Wheels’ Asheville’s Demo Ellsworth’s in the mix.  ‘Chachi’ from Endless Bikes rode the token hardtail. He was also kickin’ it old school saying “I don’t’ need a water bottle. It is in here!” gesturing to his swollen bare belly. (Before we finished our 2-hour ascent, the symptoms of dehydration set in).  Pilot Rock descent is awesome and has plenty of opportunities to die, or get seriously hurt. It is just over 1.5 miles long and full of switchbacks.  If you can locate Yellow Gap on the NG-780 Map, then you deserve to risk your life on one of the harriest still-legal downhills in the area. It’ll take your mind of the State of the Union. Here is the loop.

pics from our old site are here.