End to End: Cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2023
- In May of 2023, three intrepid adventurers set out to conquer the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway. The entire parkway spans hundreds of miles of old mountains, endless forests, and incredible sights. Cycling the parkway is no easy feat, but rewarding in the way all tough challenges are.
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Would you guys like a more in depth video about details of our route? Like where to stay? Where to get lunch, etc? If so, like this comment or reply.
That would be extremely helpful! I've been trying to design a route since watching your video.
Yes please. Id like to go east to west on a similar route but New York to San Fran
Ditto - would love to see the daily distances / elevation and where u stayed!
Planning is key 👍. Nice ride guys! Been there before but only did a small portion of it. I’ve been wanting to do the whole distance for a while, so oh yessss, I would love to have your itinerary. Thanks 😊
Love the video/short film. Would you consider riding the BRP again? I’d like to do this.
Thanks for the shout out. Your video did such a great job displaying this epic route!
Hats off to you for your over the top consideration.
Wish we had a shop like yours out here in So Oregon.
Beautiful ❤️
I used to take groups of friends and sometimes the OSU cycling team to Asheville for bike trips. We spent lots of time on and off the parkway. Generally 500 miles in 5-6 days and it's such a beautiful area of the country. We would ride daily From downtown Asheville to Marshall, NC, or to Bat Cave or to Pisgah or to Hot Springs or to Lake Lure. What started it all was a ride from Asheville to the top of Mount Mitchell (ouch). So inspiring to see you guys ride this - we talked about doing it every year - now I am not sure it's possible. Thank you for putting such an amazing video together and creating such an inspiring video. Loved the editing, the music and the tempo. Seemed like you guys all got on well.
What a beautifully rendered video guys! The variety and quality of the imagery and audio throughout was so engaging and thoughtfully chosen and your personal reflections on the whole of the ride were both interesting and helpful. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. 🚴♀️👍
WOW, great video! Well done!
Thank you very much!
In May 1981, six of us rode Front Royal, VA to the end in the Smokies in 6 days. This included the Skyline Drive. We had a van along and switched drivers every 10 miles. We also took the Mt. Mitchel side trip. It was the best bike trip in America I ever did. We camped at Parkway campsites and took French w---e baths with a porta shower heating the water on a Coleman stove.
If I ever do this route again it's gonna be more like what you described. Thanks for watching!
From 1977-1991 I did a week ride a year with 3-7 guys mainly from work. We all rode steel 10 speeds, normally 513 double butted frames with down-tube friction shifters. Fewer mechanical issues that way. I had a 52 42 chain wheel and a custom 14, 17, 22, 26, 30 cluster I put together myself for the ride. We all starter with new tyres, 1 1/8 inch 700 c. My only mechanical issue was a loose front hub bearings that I repaired on the road by myself (no sealed bearing hubs then). Camping gets you up earlier in the morning and on the road. We did all disposable bowls, cups, spoons, and forks. Breakfast consisted of instant coffee, and oatmeal packages, with water heated in a tea kettle. Lunch was granola bars and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and dinner was canned Hearty soups, canned sardines, and packaged snacks. Last van driver of the day went ahead to set up tents. Everybody had a number 1-6 and every turn driving was by that.
It rained all six days but not hard. We planned for a 7 day trip but were finished in 6. We had all done several centuries in the 2 months prior to the trip and we lived in the Cincinnati area so we were accustomed to climbing 300 feet in a mile which seemed to be the normal grade on the parkway. Everybody had toe clips and some type of biking shoes that slid into the clip. Betabikers were the preferred brand. We were all in our 30's. @@KyleTheCyclist
Great trip. Wonderful video, and Boy Oh Boy, am I envious!
Y'all don't play around when talking about going on a bike ride. Glad to see such a great accomplishment.
What a cool adventure!!
Loved your video. Did Waynesville to Water Rock Knob three times and back and Waynesville to the highest point a couple of times and from Waynesville to Graveyard Fields once all in my late 50’s. I’m 69 now and the mountain house was sold a eight years ago. Always solo to movie soundtracks and absolutely no screaming descents. Now confined to the Tampa Bay Area with zero hills. Congrats!
very nice thx , Brazil
I've spent many painful, cold, wet, hot and priceless miles on Chief Ladiga, the Comet and the Parkway. Some on a moto and some on a pedal bike. Thanks for the memories!
Kindred spirits!
A great, inspirational ride! Thanks for taking us along. I love the BRP!
Thanks, great job on the video and much greater job riding the whole Blue Ridge Parkway. I lived 2 miles from it near Boone and Blowing Rock in 1999 and loved riding on it. I rode from the north end of Skyline drive all the way back to Boone on Memorial Day weekend Friday thru Monday with a friend who drove a support truck with camping gear. I biked he went off hiking, he loved day hikes so kept himself entertained. We met up at the camp grounds at the end of the day. Later I and a buddy rode the southern portion. from Boone almost to Cherokee, but ran out of daylight and maybe legs. Skyline and Blue Ridge are the best roads and long rides in America. However, You are not far from the Natchez Trace another 400 plus mile park I wanted to ride. Flat but probably a good bike tour. The coasts of Oregon and California are also really beautiful and like the parkway average about 100 feet of climbing per mile, but a lot of traffic and when you cross from Oregon to California going south you lose the 3 foot shoulder and get a white line, that's it, but the trucks and motor homes keep coming. If you get to the northwest, 212 southwest of Billings MT through Red Lodge climbs to about 11,000 feet over Bear Tooth Pass and heads into north Yellowstone. It has been called the most beautiful road in America. Incredibly beautiful from the top with view of the Grand Tetons. Also, up there ride "going to the sun pass" in Glacier National Park, just a long climb on the side of a mountain but awesome. North from there in Canada is Ice Fields Parkway which is constantly extremely beautiful. The Canadians often have wide shoulders, and Ice Field's shoulders were maybe 8 feet wide, but there were expansion cracks about every 20 feet and I was riding a Bike Friday with 20 inch wheels so it wasn't perfect. You've got a good group for bike adventures, keep it up.
Natchez Trace - wife and I biked it in 2005 with another couple, south to north in November, seven days with an SUV chase vehicle (Peanut the Jack Russel, his sitter for the day) and hotel bookings. Loved it. The beauty and history of the park was amazing. Only problem, a good one, is all the historical stops you'll want to make. Seemed every 5 miles or so, another thing to check out, between the 12,000 years past Mississippi Indians (mounds built 2,100 - 1,700 years ago), the recent Native Americans we know (Natchez, Choctaw, and Chickasaw, then European settlers, American Revolution, and Civil War, and sadly, Andrew Jackson's army moving Native Americans out. So much to learn and take in. There are bike packing specific campgrounds along the way. Favorite part was the open span bridge just before Nashville, and the biscuits and pie at Lovelace Cafe just past the bridge. 😀
Great, now my list of must-do trips is longer! Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
Natchez Trace is on my bucket list for sure. I hope compete in the Natchez Trace 444 eventually.
Fantastic trip and video. I've done the Parkway by motorcycle several times and loved it, but cycling up those long grades is a whole other kettle of fish. Kudos to you all!
Thanks! Most of the climbs weren't too bad, just very long. The worst one was probably Apple Orchard Mtn. Ride safe!
Astounding trip. Excellent videography. Inspirational.
Thanks from So. Oregon.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for putting this video together. On my list!
Just set a date and go do it! It's totally worth it. You will not regret it, I promise.
Enjoyed your video and thanks for the effort to edit and post it. My wife and I were in NC about 3 weeks ago and drove the BRP from Asheville to Boone. Being a cyclist (roadie) here in Northern California I had to make sure to say hi and chat up any cyclists we saw on vista pullouts. What an amazing road...one of the best in the US!!
Cool! Hey from
Richmond
Hello from Huntsville!
Epic ride.
Excellent video, I thought your music choices were perfect and added a nice rhythm and energy to the production. I grew up in Charlottesville and this was amazingly nostalgic!
Fun trip. I thought y'all were bike packing. That would've saved a lot of miles into towns. I think y'all were lucky no one snatched your bikes. The silver comet is a fun ride, I would edit the video and put in the pumpkinvine creek trestle and that tunnel I can't remember the name of on the silver comet. Glad the trip was fun, Amtrak is fun too.
If you're looking for more of the Silver Comet, you should check out this other video I did... ua-cam.com/video/249EJxpXruA/v-deo.html
Enjoyed the video! I live in Charlottesville, so the Parkway and Skyline Drive are my go-to destinations. I did the BRP S to N this year as a 7-day solo trip in June, so I enjoyed revisiting the ride with you!
BTW, I also did a “credit card” tour, and stayed very near the Parkway (no long climbs out of town) - 1 - Mt Pisgah Inn; 2 - Little Switzerland; 3 - Air BnB about 20 miles past Blowing Rock; 4 - Fancy Gap Campground (cabin rental); 5 - Bent Mt Lodge; 6 - Peaks of Otter
You have some great roads there. We saw more than a few cyclists in the area. Prime territory indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it. Got a kick out watching you riding out of town past familiar landmarks.
How was the traffic situation? Dangerous with the cars?
It’s not a dangerous ride, imho. Speed limits are low, and the vast majority of drivers are aware of, and respectful of, cyclists.
Very nice video. Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this. Enjoyed so much it’s got me excited to try that ride.
You should do it! It's amazing and I'll remember it forever. I wish everyone could have that feeling. I'm telling you, when you get to the top of some big mountain and see how far you've come and how far you have to go... well... you need to experience it. Pick a date and make it happen.
Great camerawork. Y’all looked tired by the rest day.
@@DavidSaundersPosts Haha, I'm sure we looked pretty rough by then, but honestly we all agreed we could have just kept on riding. I'm glad we didn't because our bikes definitely needed the love.
You guy’s did really great, keep it up.
Great ride, another thing on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the content. Good ride 💫
Good film, epic adventure
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful ride but it's tough 😮
Please provide music playlist! Really cool!
I like this, from Italy. =)
What a small world. I'm a cyclist, originally from Waynesboro, VA, and watching your video in Guam. Your video definitely makes me miss riding back home. There actually used to be a rather large cycle store across the street from the sign that you show around the 9:18 mark.
Your entire day 3 is practically my back yard! I know that section of the parkway like the back of my hand. There's quite a bit of mountain bike trails and gravel roads that intersect giving endless possibilities for routes. It's absolutely beautiful. Floyd, the start of your day 4, has some of the best gravel on the face of the earth in my opinion. There's a handful of gravel events throughout the year up here also if you're ever interested! Floyd has the Appalachian Journey and the Tour de Dirt, New Castle (about 30 minutes outside Roanoke) has the Appalachian Mountaineer, and there's a handful more. Great video!
Awesome! We enjoyed Floyd so much and definitely weren't expecting a weird hippie bastion in the mountains. There was a cool pizza place we hit up and a good ice cream shop too.
I'm absolutely interested in the gravel events up there. I will look into those for sure. Thanks for the info!
Loved your video…the scenery on the parkway is very picturesque…never cycled on the parkway myself but it’s on my bucket list…my hats off to you guys doing the entire route
Glad you enjoyed it.
Out East estimate temperature dropping about 4 deg F for every 1,000 ft of elevation increase. Dew points reaching saturation (the clouds) will dramatically impact the chill factor. Mountains make their own weather and where you may be has nothing to do with the forecast for populated areas. Out East note the temperature and dew point in the aviation forecast, this will give you a good idea of where their cloud bases start using the 4 deg/1,000 ft rule of thumb. Also note the current and projected winds at 6,000 ft. Anything over 10 mph could spell trouble if the temperature and dew point trends are going in the wrong direction unless you are prepared for freezing wet conditions. Always carry a Satellite communications device - the observation of vast views of wilderness are spot on (especially NC) and cell service may be a long way away.
That was an awesome inspiring video, thanks for sharing.
Did just the NC section from VA border to Cherokee years ago. We used a chase SUV and hotels. Enjoyed it, but the road surface wasn't the best for those highspeed downhill sections sometimes, and the loud Harley Davidson motorcycles would scare the - blank - out of you when they went by. Enjoyed watching your ride to and down the BRP. 😁
It's not so bad these days with everyone riding wider tires at lower pressures. Jeremy and I rode on 28s and Brandon on 30s. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed that! Well done guys!
Excellent video thank you. This is on my bucket list for sure
You should definitely make it happen. Totally worth every mile! I'm glad you enjoyed the vid.
Well done! In the first minute when I realized this was a “hotel” ride, I thought y’all were nuts. Anytime you venture from the BRP into a town, the vertical back up is HARD! 👏👏🚴🏼
No joke! Ironically, we thought carrying all the camping gear up and down the mountains would have been worse. I'm not sure which way is worse, but I know you can have fun either way. We made some interesting memories in these towns, most of which wasn't captured in the video. But we all agreed Floyd, VA and Blowing Rock, NC were cool places so it was worth it just for that.
Best bike video ever! You guys rock. Loved the scenery and love your music choices! I enjoyed getting to know a little about you guys. I’ve known Jeremy for almost 42 years. 😉
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great trip!
Thanks for posting this. I am thinking of riding the Blue Ridge. It is nice to see what it is like on the road.
You should do it. It's an amazing road.
Very cool!
I wand to do this at some point (Skyline Drive + Blueridge PKWY; but I'm not much of a roadie. Do you think this is somewhat safe? I'm a little concerned with other motorists not paying much attention. The lack of commercial traffic is definitely a big +.
I think it's probably one of the safest big road routes in the Eastern US. Roanoke and Asheville see the most commuter traffic and were the only sections I wish were better. If cars make you uncomfortable, go in the off peak season like we did. Late spring/ early summer is probably perfect.
Don't let this stuff hold you back from the adventure of a lifetime. Go for it.
I live about 4 miles off the Parkway in Roanoke - 12 miles from your milepost 100 sign and about 1,500 feet lower in elevation. The Parkway is generally safer than town and city roads. I avoid the stretch around Roanoke at rush hour, and generally avoid it just before and during leaf season which is sometime in September (Labor Day?) till late October or so. Some parts have very light traffic such as north to US-460 toward the Peaks of Otter. The part around Roanoke has fairly heavy bicycle traffic despite the car traffic. Its part of a loop with the Parkway and returning on town roads, and of course has climbing and descending. 🙂
In general expect lots of climbing and descending. Where it doesn't have long climbs it has rollers, which are part of the fun and challenge.
The lack of services are also a challenge.
@@billhamill thanks for the info. I think I would do it in May/June on weekdays. Hit Roanoke and Asheville in the middle of the day.
Are there places along the road to get water??
@@hansschotterradler3772 I thought that I replied to your question, but maybe I didn't hit the 'save' button or the response was deleted. There are some places to get water, but not a lot. Getting off the Parkway and going into town often requires a descent and then a climb to get back to the Parkway.
@@hansschotterradler3772 This video talk about logistics. The channel owner moved to Roanoke because of cycling and outdoors. The two road closures in the area are over. The Roanoke River bridge has been refurbished and the wash out at Bent Mountain has been fixed. ua-cam.com/video/vO7y2aW5DSU/v-deo.html
Blue Ridge Parkway was built as a military access highway
I did not know that! Thanks for dropping some history for us. Hope you enjoyed the vid.
I don't know that you're correct on that. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) built the BRP to connect the Shenandoah and Great Smokey Mountain parks. It was also a source of job creation during the New Deal era of FDR's presidency.
this is pretty well put together dude. Beautiful scenery
Thanks. Wish I could take credit for the scenery, but mother nature did all that herself. Definitely beautiful.
it's been over 50 years since I have been on the blueridge partway.
Awesome! I LOVE the BRP and have done it many times in my 1969 VW Camper. I’ve often considered a bike packing trip on it. I’ve also done BRAG, isn’t it great?!
Bikes ARE great!
do you have a copy of this route? Garmin or ride with gps?
Great Video, thanks for sharing. I just finished the Mountains to Coast Ride arcoss North Carolina, I loved Blowing Rock as well. Do you have link the the ride with Gps route ?
What time of year did you ride? I’d love to do this but want to avoid the foggy seasons. Great video, thanks!
Mid May.
wait, you rode from Anniston to Atlanta -- there is a trail???...AWESOME!
Heck yeah. The Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet rail trails run from Anniston to Smyrna (Atlanta Suburb). I made another video about that trail specifically. Check it out - ua-cam.com/video/249EJxpXruA/v-deo.html
Gotta love those sidewalks to nowhere...
What an epic adventure!!! I spent 3 summers working in NC. I worked at the Pisgah Inn in the summer of 2022.
I have traveled almost wll the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, minus some near the Virginia State line. I need to Explore the Skyline in more depth and have only been to the very Northern part.
Thanks for sharing your journey and those Blue Ridge Mountains take your breath away.
Very inspiring! My buddies have been talking about making this trip for years. Would be grateful if you could share the route plan?
I agree, like your video! Would like to know more about Amtrak? Guess I go Amtrak web page about bikes and boxes for traveling on there trains.
EXCELLENT video. You clearly spent a lot of time and effort putting it together, and it shows. Some really clever techniques that the wife and I will try to emulate when we do our next one. We've done The Katy twice and The Gap/C&O stateside, and a slew of tours in SE Asia/NZealand and have done a few vids, but they're pretty amateur in comparison. While I love climbing, the wife not so much, but I'll TRY to get her to consider this one. It's a long way from Oz, but we DO visit stateside (my former country) on a fairly regular basis, so maybe.....? Thanks for all the hard work.
Thanks for the high praise. I work hard to make these videos as high quality as I can. My wife and I did Katy too. I still have C&O on my list as well as some international trips. I'd say almost anyone with decent fitness and the proper bike could do BRP. Thanks for stopping by to leave the encouraging comment. Have fun out there in Ozzie land.
Well, if your international trips ever include riding the Munda Biddi, look me up as we're at the N end of that monster and we'd be happy to put you up. We haven't ridden it yet but think about it a lot. @@KyleTheCyclist
Hey Kyle, I thought I'd show you a couple of the vids that we've made of a few routes we did in NZ in an effort to get you to consider flying to the other side of the world. This was our 2nd trip to the S. Island we loved it so much. Tell me what you think, and when we can expect you! ua-cam.com/play/PLmIFEeR4nKaYxDqffNSWCUXDJAHjUuMKU.html
What gearing did you run? Awesome video! Nice editing.
I used a subcompact 48/32 crank with a 11/32 cassette in the back.
Nice, Do you have the route in Ride with GPS, Garmin or Strava you could share?
Thanks for the inspiration. Do you think the deraileur problem was due to poor handling by Amtrak?
We're not sure. It was also a new bike, so it could have been a manufacturing error. It all happened so quick. Thankfully we were only about 2 miles from a bike shop. Brandon got a surprise upgrade to Ultegra.
so yo took he train from Atlanta to DC I'm guessing?? How did you from DC to Waynesboro - riding?
So tell us, how did you get home? Cherokee isn’t close to anything and Asheville is 40 miles back uphill.
Well... I have family in Knoxville. My mom met me at the Sugarlands in Gatlinburg. The ride from Cherokee to Gatlinburg was actually pretty short and easy by comparison, but still very fun. I spent some time with family that weekend before my wife came up to pick me up.
Great ride!!! Looking at riding Pittsburgh to DC in 2024. Hit me up if interested in more adventures. (I’m in Atlanta and have ridden across the country, BRP and looking for my next adventure)
I want to do this and have had to bail 2x for people who didn't train. I"m worried about the traffic situation with cars now and need to do some research
The cars aren't that bad if you go in off season like we did.
@@KyleTheCyclist Awesome. I've had the opportunity to go for it twice. And had to stop both times for folks who didn't train enough. May go at it alone this time . lol
How do y’all handle riding with no shoulders on the road, blind curves, and traffic. Your video is great- but I’m too chicken to ride the parkway.
Good question. Road riding takes some getting used to and can only be learned from experience. Start small. Get comfortable riding roads in and around your neighborhood. Then pick a connecting road with a shoulder nearby that links you to another place you want to go. Ride that and get comfortable. Gradually build up your confidence from there. If you keep at it, the sound of passing cars will no longer bring you dread.
50 years cycling America, at least 200 trips on Amtrak ment 200 boxes. And you come along and just hand your bike to the baggage handler? Yes I’m asking about to rules on bike transport on Amtrak, how that go for you? I like your video, just need a bit more information to help thous of us who might want to plan a trip like yours. Tip, install a triple crank or a mountain gear range save your knees spin up the long grades!
After seeing many comments asking about the route and other small technical details, I'm starting to think a more detailed route planning video is in order. Is that something you guys would find helpful?
Regarding gear choice, I was happy enough with my 2x sub compact setup. That bike climbs very well.
Buena Vista wasn't good enough???
2:32 yeah, good luck with that! Atlanta has the worst infrastructure for cycling. I’m also impressed that you didn’t get your gear stolen who’d you were here!
I feel like I probably gave Atlanta a bad rap here. I know there are good routes in and around the city, but it's just a shame that the Silver Comet dumps you out into some of the worst riding conditions in the area.