There is an annual 102 mile bicycle ride that ends at the summit of Mt Mitchell. It draws pros and amateurs from all over the world. The 74 mile Assault of Marion bike ride was required to be accomplished before you could try the Assault of Mt Mitchell in years past. That ride starts in Spartanburg, SC and ends at the base of Mt Mitchell in Marion, NC at the fifth rest stop. For the Mt Michell ride you continue up the mountain for 4 more rest stops but if you don’t reach that Marion rest stop by a certain time they won’t let you proceed up the mountain. Now you can pay the registration fee and ride either Assaults (without qualifying with the Marion ride first). The Assault on Marion is a challenge of itself and has mountains of its own. Many riders don’t complete it on their first try. If you continue on and do the 74 miles of that ride to do the Assault on Mt Mitchell it’s a steep 28 more miles all uphill climb. Each ride is a continuous one to be completed in one day for many hours of riding. No eBikes are allowed. There are cut off times for each ride with SAG vehicles to pick up riders that quit or have mechanical difficulties along the route. And don’t worry-you don’t ride your bike back down from the mountain to Marion-there are buses to take you and your bike back down to Marion where you can pre-park your car the day before. (You’re not allowed to park your car at the summit.) But the weather does change on top of the mountain to cold, foggy, rainy or sometimes even snow! Rode the Assault on Marion twice, once in 102 F degrees in the shade and once in the freezing rain. Now just help out with the rest stops as a volunteer. You’d be amazed how many riders push themselves to get to the top of Mt Mitchell to be the first!! To show you how hard that ride is, the first rest stop on Mitchell is only two miles from the base of the mountain at Marion’s rest stop with three more rest stops before the summit!!!
What are YOUR picks for most beautiful spots in North Carolina?
Great video. The Black Mountain Range is the most beautiful and rugged of all of NC's mountains.
Thank you very much! I love that part of the state.
Recently visited Stone Mountain State Park. One of the best parks in NC.
@@OffTheBucketListWill definitely be heading out there at some point.
My favorite place to visit!
It really is an incredible place. Definitely one of, if not my favorite, places in the state.
You have some really great videos. We just discovered your channel. New sub.
Thank you so much!
Awesome cloudy sky from the summit timelaps!
Thanks! It was really amazing to see that cloud cover roll in.
There is an annual 102 mile bicycle ride that ends at the summit of Mt Mitchell. It draws pros and amateurs from all over the world.
The 74 mile Assault of Marion bike ride was required to be accomplished before you could try the Assault of Mt Mitchell in years past. That ride starts in Spartanburg, SC and ends at the base of Mt Mitchell in Marion, NC at the fifth rest stop.
For the Mt Michell ride you continue up the mountain for 4 more rest stops but if you don’t reach that Marion rest stop by a certain time they won’t let you proceed up the mountain.
Now you can pay the registration fee and ride either Assaults (without qualifying with the Marion ride first).
The Assault on Marion is a challenge of itself and has mountains of its own. Many riders don’t complete it on their first try. If you continue on and do the 74 miles of that ride to do the Assault on Mt Mitchell it’s a steep 28 more miles all uphill climb.
Each ride is a continuous one to be completed in one day for many hours of riding. No eBikes are allowed. There are cut off times for each ride with SAG vehicles to pick up riders that quit or have mechanical difficulties along the route. And don’t worry-you don’t ride your bike back down from the mountain to Marion-there are buses to take you and your bike back down to Marion where you can pre-park your car the day before. (You’re not allowed to park your car at the summit.) But the weather does change on top of the mountain to cold, foggy, rainy or sometimes even snow!
Rode the Assault on Marion twice, once in 102 F degrees in the shade and once in the freezing rain. Now just help out with the rest stops as a volunteer. You’d be amazed how many riders push themselves to get to the top of Mt Mitchell to be the first!!
To show you how hard that ride is, the first rest stop on Mitchell is only two miles from the base of the mountain at Marion’s rest stop with three more rest stops before the summit!!!
Thanks for sharing that! Sounds like an intense ride. The cyclists I saw going up Mitchell definitely seemed like they were being tested!