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| Crossing finish line at the Blue Ridge Breakaway |
On August the 17th I participated in the Blue Ridge Breakaway riding my bicycle in the mountains of NC. This represents one full year of bicycling in the Mountains. In the past year I have done 10 bike rides in the mountains climbing steep mountain roads. I deliberately choose difficult rides to built up my endurance level in anticipation of doing some bike touring.
While I have done 10 bicycle rides in the mountains I have done a lot more in and around my home in Lancaster and Charleston.
While I have done 10 bicycle rides in the mountains I have done a lot more in and around my home in Lancaster and Charleston.
I have never been good at climbing and did not know if I could even climb up a steep mountain especially when the climbs were several miles long some as long as 15 miles with category 1 climbs along with 2's. 3's. 4's and 5's. 1 being the hardest and 5 being the easiest. I have to say that after doing some cat 1 climbs I got so tired that even the 5 Cat climbs was not easy and they are supposed to be the easiest.
To do these kinds of ride was not easy for me. I have a handicap and can not walk good and to even walking is very painful due to a damaging injuries to my left leg. However I am fortunate that I can ride a bike pretty darn good. Especially for 70's something old man.
After a year of riding bikes in the mountains my leg muscles have gotten much stronger but I do need to build up my endurance more. I no longer get muscle burning while cycling up hills.
My goal for another year is to lose more weight so I can climb faster. I also hope to get a bike setup especially for hill climbing and to use for touring. Oh! and do more steep climbs. Hopefully tour the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Speaking of touring I had hope to do a cross country tour with someone that ask me if I wanted to join them but they change their mind on this, probably never meant it anyway. I wish people would not say things they do not mean. It was my dream to cycle coast to coast and that meant a lot to me.
I am much stronger now on a bike than I have ever been so doing a cross country is possible as for cycling goes but for now it will remain on my bucket list of things to do for another time. It sort of a let down but that is life.
For now I am focusing more on doing the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway on my bike. The logistic of doing that is much easier for me to arrange. I don't need a cycling partner but will see if I can find one first. I like to try and ride it this year but it most likely will have to wait until next Spring.
I am really in good shape now and just have to keep in shape and improve on it over the winter months.
I am much stronger now on a bike than I have ever been so doing a cross country is possible as for cycling goes but for now it will remain on my bucket list of things to do for another time. It sort of a let down but that is life.
For now I am focusing more on doing the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway on my bike. The logistic of doing that is much easier for me to arrange. I don't need a cycling partner but will see if I can find one first. I like to try and ride it this year but it most likely will have to wait until next Spring.
I am really in good shape now and just have to keep in shape and improve on it over the winter months.
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| Half Way up Highway to 276 to the Blue Ridge Parkway |
in the Pisgah National Forest. Just stop to take this picture.
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| Lake Junaluska |
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| Looking at the clouds from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Pisgah |
