Cycling

Going for a spin: Autumn cycling

BY JAMIE SHELL

Nothing quite compares to the feeling of riding a bicycle through the winding roads of the High Country.

Whether someone is looking for a leisure bike ride through a park, a longer tranquil ride or a challenging course with uphill climbs, the High Country has something for all cycling skill sets.

Seasoned and rookie cyclists agree that a great place for cyclists of any ability is the Greenway located in Boone. Marsh said the Greenway offers about 10 miles of flat paved or gravel trails for an easy ride.

The Greenway is a fully accessible trail open for walkers, runners and cyclists that follows the South Fork of the New River. The Greenway entrance can be found at the Watauga County Recreation Complex near State Farm Road or adjacent Clawson Burnley Park.

For more information on the Greenway, visit www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/ hiking/boone-greenway.

For those looking for another easy pace ride, Railroad Grade Road in Todd offers about 10 miles of paved road built on an old railroad grade. The road is open for walking pedestrians and cyclists. Marsh said riders can visit the Todd General Store on their ride and get a bite to eat.

To get to Railroad Grade Road, take U.S. 221 South towards West Jefferson and turn on N.C. 194 to go to Todd. For more information on Railroad Grade Road, visit www.traillink.com/trail/ railroad-grade-road.

Additionally, a route on Old U.S. 421 near the Cove Creek Elementary School offers a more gradual path for cyclists to cruise the backroads of Cove Creek,

SEE SPIN ON PAGE 85 PHOTO SUBMITTED Nothing is as exhilarating the a brisk autumn ride on one of the High Country’s area roads.

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Zionville, Mabel and Sugar Grove. One of the more favorite spots for the more experienced cyclists in the High Country is the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway spans 465 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and offers scenic views of beautiful mountains with frequent overlook stops.

However, ride with caution as there are not bicycle lanes along the route. Cyclists can travel onto the parkway by turning onto it from U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock. For more information on the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit www.blueridgeparkway.org.

Cycling opportunities in the High Country run the gamut between leisurely strolls through parks in many of the local mountain towns to challenging excursions that will lead cyclists down the mountains and out of the High Country altogether.

The Mountains to Coast Ride is a seven-day bike ride across North Carolina, which begins in Lake Junaluska and goes through towns like Tryon, Belmont, Albemarle, Laurinburg, and Whiteville before finishing at Holden Beach. The event is not a race but a recreational trek across the state’s many scenic backroads. The ride is scheduled to take place from Oct. 1 to 8.

To learn more, click to ncsports.org/ event/cyclenc_mountainstocoast_ride.

Another race to keep an eye on is the Grand Fondo National Series. This year, the Asheville stretch of the series was held on July 17, while the race was held in Boone on Aug. 7. The trek through the High Country begins in Boone before progressing through Appalachian State University, Winkler’s Creek, Shull’s Mill Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Linville, Newland, Beech Mountain and Vale Crucis before a downhill stretch leads riders back to Boone.

While these particular races offer cyclists a ride to remember, the High Country’s Crown Jewel for cycling is Blood, Sweat and Gears, which was held in June this past year and features a climb over a 4,500-foot gap at Snake Mountain, the ride’s signature obstacle.

Additionally, the area is home to a pair of collegiate cycling teams at Appalachian State University and Lees-McRae College. App State races in the Atlantic Coast Cycling Conference and hosts the High Country Cycling Classic in the Spring. LeesMcRae College, located in Banner Elk, also races in the event and is a member of the Southeastern Cycling Conference. In years past, the race has been held in April and involves two distinct races, the Cove Creek Road Race and Mountaineer Crit.

Fortunately, for more casual cyclists the High Country is home to plenty of trails and bike paths that do not involve competition. One popular cycling destination is the Blue Ridge Parkway, which provides spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, especially in the fall.

Those looking to ride with a group can get involved with a number of cycling clubs and regular riding events that occur throughout the week in the summer and fall in Boone and Blowing Rock. One such club is the Boone Area Cyclists, who can be reached by clicking to booneareacyclists.org.

The Boone Bike family has been providing passionate & knowledgeable service for 40 years! Its hard working crew was named Boone’s “Small Business of the Year” in 2014. Boone Bike offers Boone Bike & Pearl Izumi custom cycling apparel, including Men’s Short Sleeve Jerseys, Women’s Sleeveless Jerseys, Men’s Long Sleeve Jerseys, Cycling Caps, and Men’s Bib Shorts. It offers a full-service repair shop and professional bike fitting services.

Location: 774 East King St., Boone

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: (828) 262-5750

Magic Cycles

Magic Cycles has served the High Country for more than 25 years, providing bicycle rentals at its Sugar Mountain and Boone locations. Call the store ahead of time to make rental reservations. The staff is comprised of riders first and foremost and are focused on offering engaging and friendly service in the shop, inspiration on and off the bike and stocking the products they believe in.

Location: 140 S. Depot St., Boone

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Phone: (828) 265-2211

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