Cycle North Carolina Spring Tune-up Tour

We all know that when the first dusting of pollen is seen a spring tune-up ride is soon to follow. Such was the case for the 6^th Annual Cycle North Carolina spring tune-up held April 17 – 19, 2009 in historic Washington, NC. Over 1,000 riders from Colorado, Maine, Canada and other parts near and far converged on Washington for this three day ride-out-ride-back ride. For the many who confessed, “This is the first time I’ve been on my bike this year,” this hub and spoke ride offered a wide variety of options from a leisurely 5 mile slow roll to an arduous 108 miles.

CNC is a top-notch riding group that does an excellent job of organization, planning, registration and orchestration. Several years back, I participated in a Cycle North Carolina week long fall classic ride. An e-mail received in the dark wintry days gave plenty of time to contemplate the ride, procrastinate and still have ample time to register online. The online registration cost of $105 included outdoor camping facilities, continuous hot water showers, porta-potty access, a Friday night fish fry dinner, t-shirt, ferry crossing fee, ride maps and a marvelous opportunity to tour the byways and bergs surrounding the Pamlico River on the eastern shore of North Carolina.

The first and most difficult first part of this ride was getting to Washington. Located nearly 500 miles from our home in Roswell, GA, Washington is on the edge of our riding circuit. We packed our bikes, camping equipment and good spirits into our Prius and made an all day drive on Thursday up to North Carolina. We arrived about 2 hours after the close of registration and found little to no signage to help us navigate the intention of the organizers. However, a spacious spot among the other tents pitched along the river was home for the next two evenings. We also found ourselves a tad ill-prepared for the chilly April evenings. We made a note to pack knit caps and warmer sleeping gear for our next spring tune-up ride.

On Friday morning, Helen volunteered at registration while I took an early work-related conference call. The weather was sunny and the ride options of 5, 11, 23, 30, 56 and 73 miles pulled on our enthusiasm to get on the road. Helen opted for a 30 mile cruise, I selected the 73 mile option. Generally, the courses were well marked. A few more reassuring course arrows on lonely, long stretches of road would have been welcomed, but overall a good job was done marking. The only shortcoming of the tune-up tour was in the selection of some course routes.

Asphalt long ago applied atop concrete slab roadways provided a thump-thump rhythm on those roads. Several of the coastal roads were real workhorses and revealed their stress in cracks and rough surfaces. Also, the shorter 23 - 30 mile courses, typically ridden by less experienced riders, had those riders returning to camp on a busy four-laner. Hopefully a bit more attention in course selection will be included in next year’s course layouts.

Friday night was fish fry night at the town’s old railway station, refurbished and now the civic center. We were also treated to a marvelous Washington street party. We were told the historic downtown district is closed to traffic several times a year and converted into a pedestrian mall. Musical bands ranging from country, blues, rock and roll and good old-fashioned bag pipes filled the air with global tunes. There was dancing, eating, mingling and generally an inviting atmosphere.

Saturday was another beautiful sunny ride day. Options of 5, 11, 23, 30, 35, 67 and 108 were offered.

Helen beamed out on the 23 mile course; I headed out on the 67 mile course which included a ferry ride to visit the Aurora Fossil Museum. Unfortunately, the morning ferry crossing was cancelled, so I picked up the century course. Grandeur of an early season century was dispelled by the constant spring winds and legs growing increasingly fatigued. I clipped the century short and had a wonderful 65 mile ride with my new best hero, Sharon. Sharon, 70 years young, rode like a 20-something hard-body. At the ride’s conclusion, Helen and I chatted with Sharon and marveled as she listed her ballroom dance schedule and her planned biathlon and triathlon competitions. She then headed out for 3 mile run. May we all be so blessed.

The long drive back to Atlanta required that we skip the Sunday ride options of 5, 11, 25, 65 and 73 miles. We are sure all who rode had a wonderful day. In fact, any day you ride your bike is wonderful day! Happy cycling.

Cycle North Carolina 2003

The 5th annual Cycle North Carolina (CNC) ride was held October 4 - 11. This year's theme was The Mountains to the Coast. This cross state ride started in Boone, the Heart of the High Country, and followed a fairly straight 400+ mile line to the sandy beaches of Oak Island on the coast. Twelve hundred cyclists participated with an average age of the riders set at 50. The high and low ages were 78 to 8. I suspect fun was had by all.

The course, as the theme indicated, started in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains and progressed to the coastal plains. The first several days presented climbing challenges. However, as once explained to me on a BRAG (Bike Ride Across 2) many years ago by a challenged rider ìThere is no hill too steep I canít walk up!î Amen! From a post ride review of the CNC website chat room, I found an enterprising rider had posted our total vertical climb at 12,410 feet. The first four days were in the 2,900 to 2,100 range, then dropping to 310 of vertical climb on the last day. I had anticipated lower traffic in the mountains than on the coastal plains. Yet, the opposite was revealed. The economy of the mountains has logging trucks, chicken transports and other eighteen wheeled vehicles moving about at terrifying speeds. Road surfaces also varied greatly. Seems old concrete slab roads were asphalt resurfaced years old leaving a thumb-thumb ride as one bikes forward. Yet, overall, the roads and traffic were delightful.

As with many cross state rides, the organizers provided expected services. A shuttle service for riders and bikes was offered at both the start and end of the ride. I took advantage of the Oak Island to Boone shuttle at the start of the ride. The service was reasonably priced at $60. The base cost of the ride was $175. A meal plan that I opted not to select was offered for breakfast and dinner. I am a ìforagerî and prefer to seek the adventure and variety of self acquired meals. Foraging worked out just fine. Those with whom I spoke who opted for the meal plan were pleased with the quality and quantity. Trucks transported luggage from stop to stop. I have not participate in a cross state ride for some years and was surprised to find other entrepreneurial services offered from gourmet morning coffee with optional muffin, cell phone recharging, clean towel service, bike cleaning, pampered camping, private SAG, etc. I paid my $11 dollars and took advantage to recharge my cell phone (car adapter needed). The bike cleaning was a bust. Those who took advantage of the pampered camping (e.g., tents set up, tents broken down, luggage transported) were very happy with their selection. Shower trucks with continuous hot water were available. Indoor and outdoor camping was available at all stops. A shuttle service to town and local motels was also provided.

Weather conditions varied as would be expected on any fall ride. We had rain some days as well as cool and sunny days. Pack gear in plastic bags.

Such rides are what one makes of them. I tend to goof off and arrive among the last 20 or so riders into camp. ìIt is not a race, rather a leisurely trek on scenic back country roads with minimal trafficî as the brochure indicated. I did provide feedback to the organizers that the ride, however, seem organized around the ìgot to get there ridersî. Us ìback of the pack folksî found under stocked SAG stops, wet luggage left to the elements and depleted restaurant fare. At the Bethel Church SAG on the rainy century day, for example, all that remained upon my arrival of the hot soup, deli meats, biscuits provided by the church members were stories of this delicious fare.

Nonetheless, the joy of these rides is to let time become irrelevant and enjoy the moment. A side trip to the Linville Caverns was a highlight as was the conversation with Frank. Frank, a 79 year old lifelong North Carolinian, had watched cyclists pass his home of 50+ years all day until my riding partner Tina and I pulled into his driveway. Tinaís chain had popped off and in true cyclist fashion we stretched every inch of the downhill until we lost momentum and had to pull off into next driveway to put her chain back on the ring. Frank motioned for conversation, curious about the riders. He shared his sweet well water with us, much conversation ensued, pictures taken, firm, friendly handshakes exchanged as well as a gift of Frankís sourwood honey bestowed upon us. Conversations with Mr. Dennis of the Dennis Vineyards were equally rewarding as was the time spent with two former Maine residents, Harold and Helga, who self transplanted to the hills of North Carolina. Helgaís stories of fleeing the post-war Soviet occupied sector of Germany were riveting.

REI provided great bike repair services. SAGs vans swept the course and offered rides to those injured or spent. Entertained was provide as well. I was a bit surprised to find lower than anticipated community involvement. I am used to BRAG rides where one finds front yard lemonade stands, towns that put out the red carpet (Metter is Better) or fire departments hosing down overheated riders. Mostly, I discovered startled townspeople and restaurant completely unprepared for a breakfast crowd numbering in the hundreds. I sent my comments on to the ride organizers.

However, despite whatever short comings that I may have observed, any day you ride your bike is a good day. The ride is organized by North Carolina Amateur Sports - a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The presenting sponsor of CNC is the North Carolina News Network, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company. The founding partners of Cycle North Carolina include the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. Information can be found at www.cyclenorthcarolina.org.