Fall foliage Blue Ridge parkway cycling event

[Le breton]

I once bicycled the Skyline drive (West Va)from the north end to near Charlottesville and went back the next day. That was in the summer.

Right now I was thinking that doing a one-week ride (or even just 5days, no saturday-sunday) on the Blue Ridge parkway (North to South) in mid-october should be a rather pleasant experience.

A quick search on the Internet did not produce any positive result for a supported group ride.

Maybe some of you have heard of such a trip being organized. If so, please let me know.

 

[pmcg76]

I am planning on visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway in late October but only by car or foot(Appalachian Trail) I would imagine the drive is pretty busy with cars at that time of year so perhaps a little scary. Could be completely wrong though.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

The Cafe is the non-cycling zone, so I am moving this.

Love the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, by the way.

Susan

 

[Sidbike]

Just drove the parkway starting in Cherokee NC in my '76 VW bus two weeks ago. Couldn't get out of 3rd gear on the climbs. Kept pulling to the side to let people pass. I would be an amazing bike ride!

 

[Rouetheday]

Just drove the parkway starting in Cherokee NC in my '76 VW bus two weeks ago. Couldn't get out of 3rd gear on the climbs. Kept pulling to the side to let people pass. I would be an amazing bike ride!

Were you reduced to driving a '76 VW because you lost your life savings at Harrah's Cherokee Casino?

 

[Le breton]

Just drove the parkway starting in Cherokee NC in my '76 VW bus two weeks ago. Couldn't get out of 3rd gear on the climbs. Kept pulling to the side to let people pass. I would be an amazing bike ride!

Did you have to pull to the side for cyclists too?

 

[Black-Balled]

I have ridden a significant portion of the BRPKWY and Skkyline Drive and found both generally a very safe. The scariest moments have been weather and wildlife related, though there was construction that took away the shoulder once and that was a tad unnerving, as the road is pretty narrow already.

The road surface is excellent and drivers are generally quite considerate. None of the climbs exceed 10%, as I recall, and most are really in the 4-8% range.

Fun time, beautiful views.

 

[Sidbike]

Were you reduced to driving a '76 VW because you lost your life savings at Harrah's Cherokee Casino?

The reverse, I spent so much money on car parts this year I had none left over to gamble with!

 

[Sidbike]

Did you have to pull to the side for cyclists too?

There were a few streaks of colorful light that blew by me...probably cyclists but I couldn't go fast enough to see for sure!

 

[veganrob]

I rode from Asheville to Mt. Pisgah last Sept. Beautiful ride, very little traffic. Beware of weather changes. It was 78 sunny in Asheville, 55 misty, windy top of Pisgah. Bring lights also. Going through some of those tunnels scared the **** out of me.

 

[Tar_Heel83]

There are single day cycling events that use the Blue Ridge Parkway such as Bridge to Bridge, Assault on Mt. Mitchell, and the Blue Ridge Brutal 100. These events use only a short segment of the parkway before turning off on other roads, perhaps 10-15 miles at most. The Assault on Mt. Mitchell moved from Sunday to Monday a number of years ago to reduce the impact on motor vehicle traffic. I personally doubt you will ever see an organized multi-day cycling trip that is totally on the parkway, especially during peak leaf viewing season. Traffic is already sluggish during this height of fall tourist season.

 

[Le breton]

...........
I personally doubt you will ever see an organized multi-day cycling trip that is totally on the parkway, especially during peak leaf viewing season. ...........

Unfortunately you are probably right, otherwise organizers would have made themselves known.

Thanks to everybody for your contributions.