Coach Note: The Blue Ridge Camp is our annual cycling (and apparently beer sampling!) trip to Boone, NC. We ride four amazing days, building incredible fitness on the bike. Boone is centrally located, so 80% of campers drive here, with the rest flying to Charlotte — super easy! Learn more about the camp online here!

Day One: Boone to Blue Ridge, Banner Elk & Mast Gap

Coach Patrick rode the 78+ Mile Option in 5 hours 10 minutes, with a Normalized Power of 248 watts. The ride had approximately 7,000+ feet of gain.

We started off the day with smiles and a great Team picture…way to represent!!!! Athletes from more than 10 different states and of all ability levels. Picture done, it was time to head off to do our ride. The short option was 58 miles, the long option was 78, both with about 1,000 feet of gain for every 10 miles ridden.

We took a new route up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which included gravel, and then we were off and flying down the BRP, including a really great tip over the Aqueduct.

Then we regrouped for a quick pit stop with our super vehicle (thanks ANNE!!!) and headed to Banner Elk and Mast Gap.

Little did we know that in addition to climbing there would be more gravel in our future! The folks on the long route, enjoyed this view. In case you were wondering it’s about 17% grade!!!

Totally Epic!!!!  After getting over the top (by foot!) it was time for more riding down back through Mast Gap and over to Shulls Mill Road, one of our favorite climbs of the camp!

Tomorrow we head off to Mount Mitchell…with 11,500 feet of climbing on the plate. Stay tuned!!!

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