BIKE
TRAN S Y LV ANIA
Ride like you live hhere. 6 East Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712 | (828) 8 877-6006
TRANSYLVANIA Bracken Mountain Preserve Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Transylvania Discover Our Parklands DuPont State Recreational Forest Ecusta Trail Gorges State Park Headwaters State Forest Pisgah National Forest
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WHEN & WHERE TO RIDE Assault On The Carolinas The BAT – Brevard Area Trails Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Bike Friendly Activities Great Bike Routes Group Rides Races & Rides New Trails For Transylvania Waterfalls of Transylvania
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CYCLING/SERVICES/GEAR Bike Rentals The Hub Squatch Bikes Sycamore Cycles
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COMMUNITY Breweries Brevard College Cycling Economic Impact The Future Of Cycling Nutrition Rider Profile: Allison Arensman Rider Profile: Todd Branham Rider Profile: Kevin Moran TCS Cycling Shred Sisters
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WHERE TO STAY/RESOURCES Accommodations Listings Marketplace/Advertising Index
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B I KE T R AN SY LVANIA 2019 IS A PUB L ICATIO N O F T H E T RA N SYLVA N I A T I ME S, I N C . This magazine was made possible by a collaborative effort between The Transylvania Times and the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority. Bike Transylvania Editor - Sean Trapp Writer - Park Baker Advertising Sales - TL Smith & Angie Baney Ad Design and Production - David Metcalfe & Leigh Trapp Magazine Design - Leigh Trapp Cover Photo - Park Baker For advertising information, call (828) 883-8156 Photos - Transylvania Times Staff & Contributors 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 3
ROAD. TRAIL . GRAVEL. No matter what you ride, you won’t believe what Transylvania has to offer. You want rooty, rocky, teeth-jarring technical singletrack? We’ve got miles of that. How about hair-raising mountain road descents? Not a problem. Lung-busting gravel grinds that never seem to end? Yep, got those too. You like 360 panos while you glide along the parkway? Got ‘em. Or maybe you prefer fast, fun flowy trails that will have you grinning from ear to ear and dying for more. Oh yeah, we’ve got tons of that stuff. Simply put, no matter what kind of bike you ride, Transylvania offers you some of the greatest riding you’ll find anywhere in the country, and a temperate climate where you can ride most of the year. That’s why athletes train here, companies test products here, and our college has a cycling team that keeps winning national championships. And it’s why, year after (continuerd on pg. 6)
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year, more and more cycling enthusiasts make Transylvania County a must-visit destination. Transylvania has been home to a dedicated crew of riders for years, but it began to gain more national attention back in 2011, when BIKE Magazine came here to test the latest bikes and equipment for their annual gear guide, “The Bible of Bike Tests.” The magazine’s staff praised not just the diverse trails of Pisgah and DuPont, but also the bike-friendly vibe that Transylvania County has cultivated. “We came to Brevard with an inkling that the trails were good,” said its editor, “but we underestimated them.” He went on to say that the team spent two weeks riding trails that “absolutely blew our minds,” and the magazine declared Transylvania County “America’s best kept secret.” A couple of years later, the popular blog Singletracks added Brevard to its Top Ten Mountain Bike Destinations in North America, along with locations such as Moab, Utah and Whistler, British Columbia. That same year, the city of Brevard opened the Bracken Mountain Recreation Area, featuring 7.1 miles of hiking and biking trails that connect Brevard directly to Pisgah National Forest. Two years later, Trek Bicycles came here to test its new mountain bikes, attracting about 30 journalists and editors from around the world who praised the incredible riding in Transylvania. That same year, the folks at The Bike Farm brought
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the Red Bull Dreamline to the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch. The two-day BMX dirt jump event brought in some of the best riders in the world to compete on a course designed and built specifically for them. The course, while toned down a little, is now the REEB Ranch bike park. There are kid zones, big hits and everything in between. The county has also seen incredible growth in the road cycling scene. The Assault on the Carolinas road ride in the spring is capped at 1,000 riders and sells out every year. The spectacle of 1,000 riders pedaling through downtown Brevard is a sight not to be missed, as riders embark on a grueling 100K that takes them into South Carolina and back over Caesars Head. The charitable event raises funds for the Rotary Club
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of Pisgah Forest, which supports numerous local charities. The WNC Flyer, hosted by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, is another 1,000-rider sell-out event that starts at Brevard’s Oskar Blues Brewery. The ride takes cyclists throughout the French Broad River valley and raises money to support and promote cycling in the region. In 2016, Cycle NC returned to Brevard for its third annual Mountain Ride, a two-day cycling festival that was hosted by Brevard College. The Transylvania Tourism Development Authority recently released a new road cycling map to help riders discover our spectacular mountain roads. There’s also an ongoing effort to convert the unused railroad between Brevard and Hendersonville into the Ecusta Trail, a proposed 18-mile multi-use path. And every year, Transylvania is home to some of the greatest mountain biking events in the region: The Pisgah Stage Race, Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race and the Swank 65, just to name a few. In fact, every weekend there seems to be a ride, a race or trail work being organized, and every year it just keeps getting better. There’s a thriving cycling-centered community, with group rides almost every day of the week, and three bike shops to keep your wheels turning. There’s also a great local beer scene, and restaurants that can hook you up with everything from sushi to barbecue. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. It’s Transylvania, a truly one-of-a-kind place that is a dream destination for bikers. If you want to know more, there’s a ton of information in this magazine, but it doesn’t begin to tell the whole story. Be sure to stop by the local bike shops and visit these tourism-oriented websites: www.explorebrevard.com; www.biketransylvania.com and www.transylvaniaexplorer.com.
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More than 70 percent of the land in Transylvania County is public forestland. In fact, the word “Transylvania” means “across the forest.” Our county is unique, truly, in that there are more different kinds of public lands here than anywhere else. We have national forests, recreational forests, a national park, game lands, a state park and a newly opened state forest, all in one county. There are three main forests in Transylvania County: The Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest in the northern part of the county, DuPont State Recreational Forest in the southeastern part of the county and Gorges State Park in the southwestern part of the county. The Blue Ridge Parkway also bisects Pisgah along the northern edge of Transylvania County, and the city of Brevard has created the Bracken Mountain Preserve, a 7.1-mile trail system that connects the city of Brevard directly to Pisgah National Forest. Headwaters State Forest opened to the public last year, conserving more
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than 7,000 acres of working forestland. Headwaters State Forest is a destination more for wildlife viewing and a backcountry experience, with little trail development, and no plans to open the forest to mountain bikes. Transylvania’s extensive woodlands create countless opportunities for mountain biking and road cycling. Please enjoy our public lands responsibly: many of the trails are multi-use and are open to hikers and equestrians. Bikers yield to all other users and extra caution should be used near horses. Proper etiquette has riders dismounting and communicating with horse owners. It’s important to remember that our public lands are actively managed forests and there is more going on than just people recreating. At any given time there may be hunting groups, logging operations, military training ops, wildlife studies, bike races, commercial users and even controlled burns. Be aware of what is going on around you while visiting our woods. Pay attention to signage, trail closures and, most importantly, your footing while exploring our waterfalls. People die every year exploring here; usually they lose their footing. Stay at the bottom of waterfalls, always let someone know where you are going and take a map. Most importantly, have fun!
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Pisgah National Forest is the most visited national forest in the country and receives the most amount of rainfall. It takes up about 50 percent of our beautiful county and has more singletrack waiting for exploration than you can hike or bike. Pisgah is home to some of the best rockclimbing, mountain biking, kayaking and hiking in the country and arguably the world. There’s a reason that the best mountain bike suspension companies in the business have satellite offices surrounding Pisgah National Forest: you simply can’t find the diversity of trail that is right in Brevard’s backyard anywhere else. All that gnarly singletrack makes for some great product engineering. Professional racers and weekend warriors inhabit these hills, and every year more people fall in love with riding in Pisgah.
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•Bennett Gap Trail, shuttle-able, highspeed well-ridden trail •Farlow Gap, arguably the most technical mountain bike trail in western North Carolina •Spencer Branch, a new-school mix of berms, rock gardens and sustainable trail design •More waterfalls than can be listed, including Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock •160,000 acres with 172 miles of legal mountain bike trails •Home to two of the first Wilderness areas in the eastern U.S., Shining Rock and Middle Prong •Location of the first school of forestry in the country
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•Spectacular road biking with 360 degree views at times •469 miles long, runs from North Carolina to northern Virginia •Riding the Parkway is one of the best cycling experiences in the county
The Blue Ridge Parkway creates a natural border at the county line – cradling a huge chunk of Pisgah National Forest. Throughout the year it gets a lot of visitors – more than any other national park in the country. The peaks, waters and trails within its boundaries are protected from development forever. A through-hike trail, the Mountains to Sea, runs along the Parkway crest, passing over several 6,000-foot peaks, through balsam forests and across some of the coldest creek water you’ll ever step in. It is a real treat to be able to ride a bike on the Parkway. It is well maintained and has a low motor speed limit, which makes cruising one of the best experiences in Transylvania County. Many cyclists prefer riding the Blue Ridge Parkway in the offseason. A ride from Brevard up to Black Balsam, the highest bald in Transylvania County on the Blue Ridge Parkway, climbs more than 4,000 feet up U.S. 276 from the entrance to the forest, and is a scenic by-way.
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The diversity of DuPont State Recreational Forest’s trail system – from flowing trails like Ridgeline to the granite domes of Big Rock – offers fantastic mountain biking opportunities for riders of all skill levels. In contrast to Pisgah’s technically challenging routes, DuPont has a more moderate difficulty level, making it ideal for beginning to intermediate riders. There’s a kids’ loop and double track near the Guion Farm Parking Area that make DuPont perfect for families. The roads and trails of the forest are well marked at intersections, making it easier to navigate. And this relatively young trail system makes great use of elevation in a tight network, facilitating shorter loops and creating the opportunity for riders to enjoy several fantastic downhills with moderate climbs in just a few hours.
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•Ridgeline is one of the most popular trails on the East Coast •Unique granite domes are uncommon in this part of the country •DuPont State Recreational Forest was established in 1996 •A better alternative to Pisgah for new riders •Convenient access to popular waterfalls such as Triple Falls and Hooker Falls •Filming location for movies such as “The Last of The Mohicans” and “The Hunger Games”
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Bracken Mountain is Brevard’s own trail system right outside of downtown, with a couple of loop options and three of its own trails on the property. Hikers and bikers can also connect to Pisgah through a Forest Service road all the way to the ďŹ sh hatchery. Bracken has some educational kiosks scattered around the trail, so visitors can learn a bit about the history of the land and the ecology of the forest.
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•7.1 miles of city owned multiuse singletrack •Featured in the Pisgah Stage Race •Established in 2012 •400 acres in total •Built by more than 75 local volunteers •Directional bike-only jump lines in planning stages with new connector trails currently being built
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Gorges State Park lies on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, on the border with South Carolina in the southwest part of the county. This part of the county is the wettest, with an average recorded rainfall that rivals Seattle. There are four main rivers that form the gorges that give the park its namesake. When the water is high, these rivers draw the boaters out for Class V+ whitewater runs, but when it’s low the fishing down there is about as close to wilderness as you can get. There’s not much mountain biking out here yet, but there are some good gravel miles out here.
•Named by National Geographic as one of the “50 of the World’s Last Great Places” in 2012 •Access to the Horsepasture River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River •Foothills Trail, a 77mile through-hike trail runs through the park •Currently developing trails for mountain biking •Founded in 1999 •8,000 acres with over 22 named waterfalls
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Headwaters State Forest opened to the public in 2018, adding 6,730-acres to public lands that can be explored in Transylvania County. The new forest will be managed as a “working forest” and open to foot traffic only, with a few parking areas built to access waterfalls and entry to the forest’s interior. On the forest’s southern end is the Foothills Trail, a 77-mile through-hike trail that runs from Oconee State Park in Mountain Rest, S.C., to Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, S.C. Throughout the forest, a network of unmarked trails and old logging and 4x4 roads crisscross the property, and the Forest Service intends to leave it that way. There are no plans for any facilities, including bathrooms, in the forest. Visitors will be expected to practice Leave No Trace ethics, plan ahead and prepare, travel on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what they find, respect wildlife and be considerate of other visitors. There will be no camping allowed in the forest. Visitors can expect informational kiosks at future parking areas off Glady Fork Road, Sassafrass Mountain and Gum Gap that will lead them to noteworthy destinations. Locals can expect habitat improvements throughout the property, such as the harvesting of mature white pine stands, prescribed burns, trout stocking and other forms of wildlife rehabilitation in the future.
•Access to the Foothills Trail, a 77-mile thru-hike trail •Home to a number of hard to access waterfalls •Creates nearly contiguous public land along the S.C. state line •Foot traffic only – not open to mountain bikes, horses or ATVs
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S LE YC EC OR AM SYC
The crew at Sycamore Cycles has been spearheading the cycling scene in western North Carolina for many years. From trail work to weekly group rides, the shop is synonymous with the word Pisgah. Ask anyone who has ever ridden here and they are sure to know of shop owner Wes Dickson. Wes has been riding and racing mountain bikes in Pisgah since he was 15 years old, when his dad used to drag him around the woods on what Wes calls “adventure riding.” “There was deep loamy soil back in the day, and I was pushing a 31-pound steel mountain bike with a rack on the back,” he said. “We were riding on trails where the signs didn’t have bike stickers on them. It was kind of like the wild, wild west.” The shop has changed a bit since Wes opened it in downtown Brevard in 2000, using funds from a furniture loan (the bank wouldn’t loan the 23-year-old money to start a bike shop). Three years later, he moved his growing business to the intersection of U.S. 64, U.S. 276 and N.C. 280: it was right at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest, and close to the newly formed DuPont State Recreational Forest. Today, Sycamore carries Yeti, Norco, Specialized and Salsa bicycles, as well as accessories, service and rentals (see page 36 for details). The Pisgah Forest location’s inventory is weighted toward mountain bikes due to its proximity to the forest, while their second location in Hendersonville stocks more road bikes. Wes said both shops are starting to sell more kids’ bikes, in part because DuPont Forest is so accessible for families. The trails in DuPont are tamer and not as intimidating as Pisgah. “Families are coming in to the shops now, so we’re seeing more and more people coming in and buying bikes for their kids, and I see lots of uncles taking their nephews out,” said Wes. To fill a niche market that Wes felt was lacking in both the cycling and food scenes, he partnered with Scott Unfried, owner of Flat Rock Village Bakery, to open Crank Coffee. The smoothie bar and coffee shop inside Sycamore Cycles serves smoothies, pastries, tea and, of course, many variations of coffee. Sycamore Cycles opens at the same time as the coffee bar, to help serve riders who want to hit the trails and roads early. During the week and on Saturday, both spaces open at 7:30 a.m., and 9 a.m. on Sundays. Crank has indoor and outdoor seating. Sycamore Cycles has recently expanded into the space beside where the shop has been located for years to make more room for all those shiny new mountain bikes. For more information, call Sycamore Cycles at (828) 877-5790 or visit www.sycamorecycles.com.
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PHOTO BY SEAN TRAPP
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Squatch Bikes & Brews is located in the Brevard Lumber Yard District on King Street and is the newest of Brevard’s bike shops, having opened in 2016. The shop has grown to four employees, and everyone there is fueling the stoke for mountain biking. The shop leads group rides, mechanics clinics and they are just really nice people. The shop is owned by former Ohio residents James and Lauren Matty, who moved here because they love cycling and the outdoors. James was in the construction and landscape business in Ohio, but, like many people, the Mattys have found happiness in the mountains. “The draw for us is the outdoor lifestyle,” said James. “Western North Carolina has everything. We have been coming down here for years, as often as once every six weeks or so just to ride.” As a cyclist, James knows the Brevard area. His go-to mountain bike ride is the Bracken Mountain trails, where he said he could get a nice mix of everything from fast and flowy downhill to an invigorating climb right off the bat. His shop is in the middle of a neighborhood that is being revitalized. The Lumber Arts District of Brevard is slowly taking shape, with the purchase of the Brevard Lumber Company building by real estate developer Josh Leder a few years ago. 185 King Street, a music venue and bar, is
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just across the street from Squatch Bikes and Brews, and Magpie Meat & Three is a popular restaurant. UpCountry Brewing has just opened in the Lumber Yard as well. Things are jumping down on King Street. Keeping with the Bikes, Beer and Brevard theme, Squatch Bikes & Brews has a variety of beers on tap and in a can/bottle, so you can enjoy a great local brew while enjoying the shop’s great vibe.
Kona, REEB, Intense, Ibis, Rocky Mountain and Mondraker can all be found at the shop. Visitors can rent any of these high-end bikes. For more information about rentals, see page 36.
We’ve been open for three years now and we’re super excited to be here. We’re growing and it’s just really been an awesome experience,” said James. Sponsored racer Gus Michaels is on the gravity race scene, traveling as far as New Zealand, France and Canada in pursuit of his dreams, and can be found on podiums across the southeast. Newcomers to Brevard, but also living the dream, mechanics Pat Looney and Sean Bartasek moved here to be a part of the healthy, active community that Brevard is becoming known for. Catch them outside on their Wednesday evening or Saturday morning group rides. For more information, call (828) 877-2453 or visit www.squatchbikes.com. 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 27
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THE HUB AND
Mountain bikers pack in like sardines on any weekend afternoon at The Pisgah Tavern. People are often covered in mud, blood and sweat, and stories about an epic wreck or getting caught in a summer thunderstorm fly back and forth over pints of micro-brews. It’s like this nearly all year, and the crowds show no sign of slowing down. The Tavern is located inside The Hub at Backcountry Outdoors, and is the brainchild of Sam and Jordan Salman, Brevard College graduates with a passion for all things outside. The Hub opened in September 2008, across the street from its current location, and offers Santa Cruz, Giant, Transition, Evil, Chromag and Pivot bikes as well as rentals (see page 36 for more information). They’re not just a bike shop, though, and sell nearly anything you need for a mountain adventure. “We keep a staff that keeps their eye on the latest and greatest products for the ladies and the men,” said Sam. “There’s a constant evolution in outdoor gear. One of our goals at the shop is to create more of a community in the county, and bring in young couples and families, and get them in the woods. “It doesn’t even have to be about bikes,” he said. “It can be river tubing, backpacking or anything. We just want to create a scene centered around the mountain lifestyle.” Jordan and Sam strive to have a unique beer selection in the tavern, brews you can’t typically find in Brevard or Asheville. “I try and stock seasonal craft beers and, of course, local beer, but still try and bring in the niche market beers,” said Sam. The Hub has a rotation of food trucks in their parking lot throughout the warmer months,
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PISGAH TAVERN
and even a few days in the winter. There can be barbecue, pizza and even Cuban cuisine for afterwoods adventures. “We have so much more to offer than just being a bike shop. It’s a great place to drink beer, buy gifts or just hang out. We’re an outdoor spot,” said Jordan. For more information, call (828) 884-8670 or visit www.thehubpisgah.com. 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 31
PHOTO BY SEAN TRAPP
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Monday Beginners Ride with Sycamore Cycles (March-October) This ride is ideal for those who are just getting into mountain biking or MONDAY BEGINNERS who have just moved to the area and are looking to meet fellow riders and learn new trails. The ride leaders like to mix up the route, but they always RIDE head for DuPont. Refer to the Sycamore Cycles Facebook page each week for route and trail head information. Sycamore Cycles offers a special group ride rate for rental bikes. This ride rolls out at 6 p.m. sharp. Tuesday Night Worlds Jokingly referred to as Tuesday Night Worlds, due to the “world-class” TUESDAY pace set by the faster cyclists, this road ride usually splits into more than one NIGHT group, with the fastest riders splitting off and social and new riders filling the WORLDS pack. The route is relatively flat, so riders can get in leg–speed workouts and draft off each other to achieve training goals. The "A" group route is about 35 miles. The more casual paced groups have a lead rider who ensures no one gets lost or left behind. The ride meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Ingles grocery store in Etowah, which is about a 15minute drive from Brevard toward Hendersonville on U.S. 64. The ride rolls promptly at 6 p.m. rain or shine. Wednesday Climb to the Parkway This might be the longest standing group road ride in the county. Some of these guys have been doing this social hill climb for 20 years. The ride meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Black Mountain trailhead next to the Ranger Station. This is an informal group ride with no set pace which may split into more than one group. The descent is all business; some of these guys can hit 60-plus miles per hour coming down past Pink Beds. WEDNESDAY PARKWAY CLIMB
WEDNESDAY SQUATCH BIKE RIDE
Wednesday Squatch Bikes Ride This no-drop ride leaves from Squatch Bikes & Brews in downtown Brevard. Sometimes the ride heads toward Bracken Mountain, sometimes it heads into Pisgah. Check their Facebook page to stay updated with the Squatch crew.
REEB Thirsty Thursday Ride Every Thursday the REEB Thirsty Thursday Ride rolls out from the Oskar Blues Brewery on the bike path to the front range Pisgah trails. This no-drop ride only lasts a couple of hours and runs year round, requiring lights during the colder months. Riders can order a burger from the food truck at the brewery and it will be waiting for them when they get back. Check the REEB Ranch Facebook page for updates and rain cancellations. THURSDAY REEB RIDE
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Thursday Ride with Sycamore Cycles This mountain bike ride is typically in Pisgah, but once a month it’s held in DuPont. Refer to the Sycamore Cycles Facebook page each week for updates. While this is a no–drop group mountain bike ride, it is an advanced ride and riders should come prepared with water, spare tube and tool. This ride rolls year-round from Sycamore Cycles at 6 p.m. sharp.
THURSDAY RIDE WITH SYCAMORE CYCLES
Thursday /Sunday Ladies Rides This ladies-only mountain bike ride rolls every Thursday evening throughout the summer and the third Sunday of every month. This no-drop ride is a casual pace and meets at different trailheads weekly. Check the Sycamore Cycles Facebook page for more information or contact Charisma Arbogast at charisma.arbogast@gmail.com.
THURSDAY/ SUNDAY LADIES RIDE
Saturday Spin and Grin The Saturday morning Spin and Grin is a social ride that usually breaks off into two groups. The ride often heads out toward the western end of Transylvania County, so riders will get a tour of the less-traveled backcountry roads. Riders leave at 9 a.m. from the Farmer’s Market on East Main Street.
SATURDAY SPIN & GRIN
SATURDAY WITH SQUATCH BIKES
Saturday with Squatch Bikes This Saturday morning social ride usually heads to DuPont for a no-drop ride. Check their Facebook page for weekly updates and weather cancellations.
Sycamore Sunday Social The Sunday social mountain SUNDAY bike ride is open to everyone and it SYCAMORE is a no-drop ride. Kids, adults, new SOCIAL riders and experienced racers RIDE gather for a casual, social-paced ride. Check the Sycamore Cycles Facebook page for updated times and locations.
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Whether you’re on family vacation looking for a fun activity, or an experienced rider wanting to try out a new bike, Transylvania County is the perfect place to rent a bike. We have three bike shops offering rentals from the top brands in the industry, and a diverse selection of trails for you to test them on. From flagship lines to boutique models to entry-level hardtails, the bike shops in town have you covered. It’s strongly recommended that you reserve your bike ahead of time; demand for rentals can get pretty high in the spring, summer and fall. Renters should also keep in mind that mountain biking is a weather-dependent activity, and riding on rain-soaked trails can do a lot of damage. All of our shop owners are committed to preserving our trails and making sure riders have a fun and safe time in the woods; they may cancel rentals due to weather conditions.
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Before renting a bike, shops will need a bit of information from you. If you have this information ready when you call or make an online reservation, it will make things go a lot faster: •Rider height •Rider weight •Pedal preference •Where and when you want to ride Each shop has different brands, ranging from around $40 for basic hardtails to $90 for top-of-the-line full-suspension mountain bikes. Sycamore Cycles also rents drop bar all-road bikes. Inventory changes frequently, so it’s best to contact each shop to see what is available. •The Hub carries Giant, Evil, Santa Cruz, Juliana, Pivot and Transition. (828) 8848670, www.thehubpisgah.com •Squatch Bikes & Brews carries Intense, Kona, Rocky Mountain, Mondraker, REEB and Ibis. (828) 877-2453, wwwsquatchbikes.com •Sycamore Cycles carries Specialized, Norco, Salsa and Yeti. (828) 877-5790, www.sycamorecycles.com
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allison
“Just got to let ‘er buck,” says Allison Arensman, accentuating a Valdese, N.C. accent as she describes how she approaches certain sections of trail. Sometimes, that’s just how it goes for many mountain bikers, you just have to lean back and let the bike do its thing. She’s the second oldest of nine kids, and they’re all really competitive. According to Allison, you had to be to get heard. But being competitive is just the tip of the iceberg for this recent Brevard College grad, collegiate national champion, business owner, coach and barista. Allison began her athletic career as a swimmer, and although she had good form, she was slow, which is frustrating for someone who wants to “let ‘er buck.” Her older brother and her dad competed in Ironman Triathlons, which piqued her interest. She signed up for a time trial series, and riding her brother’s bike (which was much too big), she wound up winning her age category.
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arensman
That got the ball rolling, and eventually a family friend who coached cyclists had an athlete with an injury and a new cyclocross bike collecting dust. Her first season racing cross she won the Cat 4 category. By 2015, she had turn pro and earned a spot on the Pepper Palace women’s road cycling team, where she rode while taking classes at Brevard College. Cyclists can compete professionally while earning prizes and money during college because collegiate cycling is not governed by the NCAA, which she says is good because there is just less scholarship money for collegiate cyclists. Allison graduated from Brevard in 2016, and, moving away from road racing, started her own female-only cyclocross development team. “It was a lot to take on. I was finishing school, working as a coach and training myself as an athlete,” she said. “I needed support as a professional rider but I also wanted to start creating a development pathway. As I came up through the ranks, God really helped me create my career.” She said there were certainly struggles, which were catalysts for her to create her own program, because she wanted to help other young female athletes realize their own dreams. From her perspective, there is not a clear pathway for young female cyclists. Her program was the first female junior cyclocross development program in the country and it has been running strong for three seasons now. Allison has expanded her business and now coaches road, mountain bikers and one BMX racer who has moved on to motocross this year. “She doesn’t have any body mass at all, so the whole idea there is teaching her how to lift, working more with body weight and plyometrics, but it’s really neeeded for the effort and strain
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she is taking on her body,” she said. “I cant wait to see how that affects her handling, when she is able to throw around a dirt bike and then the cross bike when cross season comes back around.” This season Allison has shifted her focus a little bit after constantly working for the last seven years with a goal of rebuilding her own athletic abilities. After so much racing, training, studying and coaching, she developed chronic fatigue syndrome last September. In the past, she said, she would go out for an easy ride, come home and sleep for two hours and then go about her normal business, but it eventually caught up with her. For someone who has raced all over the world and across the U.S., it can be hard to turn down a challenge. “But, I am usually a zombie by the end of it,” said Allison. “But this year I am competing in some XTERRA races to get some aerobic and threshold base rebuilt. I want to learn more about multisport athletics, so I am getting into that and recruiting clients from that world also.” Her favorite training partner happens to be her sister, Hannah, who is also her roommate and the person who pushes her the most. Both sisters have competed in World Championship races, where Hannah won as a junior and Allison won the U23 category in 2016. “I was at Brevard College during her first semester as a freshman when Brevard moved from D2 to D1 athletics, so that year we won mountain bike nationals, and cyclocross nationals was my last race with the team. It came down to the team relay on the last day. Hannah and I were on the relay team together with two male teammates. Our second male rider took off and put in the fastest lap of everyone that weekend. We won the relay by a landslide and we won the team title. Being able to compete alongside my sister at this level is such a blessing,” she said. Allison’s goal for the next couple of years is to be able to move to Europe and race there full time, but she is not getting tied down to a timeline. “Make your goals, but focus on the moment and focus on the steps to get there,” she said. “If you’re focused on the end game, one, youre not going to learn a lot and you’ll be disappointed in the result instead of the process of getting there.” Allison says the “carolina cobbles” of the Wilson Creek area of Pisgah National Forest made her the hardened athlete she is today. “Carolina cobbles, that’s the secret. Our training rides, when I was younger, were on Maple Sally Road outside of Lenoir, which is pretty close to my hometown of Valdese,” she said. “That road in particular is so hard. It’s a nice warm up, and then you hit the two hour climb. That’s how we got ready.” Anyone interested in coaching services can contact Allison at Allison@studio7multisport.com.
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RACES AND RIDES 42 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
GRAVEL R AC E S April 20 – Bootlegger 100 – A 100-mile dirt road ride with 8,000 feet of climbing, this ride starts and ends in downtown Lenoir, N.C., and travels into Pisgah National Forest. This is the third race in the Appalachian Grinder Series. • $80 • www.bluemountainrevival.com Sept. 14 – Pisgah Monster Cross – The National Park Service limits up to 200 participants in this 70-mile loop with over 11,000 feet of climbing. The riders will be treated to some of the highest elevation sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and over 40 miles of the toughest gravel roads Pisgah has to offer. Part of the Monster Cross Series, the three-race series begins with the Savage Cross in the Lake James area of Pisgah National Forest, then followed by the Monster Cross in Brevard, then the final race in Wilson Creek, near Linville Gorge. • $70 • www.pisgahproductions.com
2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 43
GRAVE L R AC E S Sept. 15 – Asheville Off-Road Series – 10k off-road running, gravel grinder and duathlon events with different classes held on the Biltmore Estate grounds in Asheville. 20, 40, 60-mile rides. • Prices vary • www.idaph.net Sept. 21 – Dirt Diggler – Starting and finishing at the REEB Ranch and sponsored by Oskar Blues, this course will feature a backcountry/gravel road tour through Transylvania and Henderson counties. This 50/50 blend of paved and gravel roads meanders through DuPont State Recreational Forest and gated private property, and ends on 2 miles of single track. Riders are supported with a well-marked course, chip timing, fully supported rest stops with medical assistance available, and SAG wagons. • $40 • www.blueridgeadventures.net July 14 – Wilson’s Revenge – The final race of the Appalachian Grinder Series, this race has 33-mile and 53-mile options through Wilson Creek in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest. • $80 • www.pisgahproductions.com
D OW NH IL R AC E S May 25-26 – Downhill Southeast –Beech Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain, N.C. • $75 to $85 • www.downhillsoutheast.com
ROA D R AC E S April 6 – Assault on the Carolinas – The 20th annual Assault on the Carolinas is the premier fundraising event for the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club. All proceeds for this ride are donated to charity. (The ride had already reached its 1,000-rider limit as of press time.) Riders can choose from two different length rides – a 50k and 100k. The 50k keeps riders in North Carolina on mostly rolling river valley terrain with a few steep climbs. The 100k is another beast. Riders descend into South Carolina and make the infamous climb back up and over Caesars Head, a 7-mile climb up a 6 percent grade. Fast Strava times up this monster are sub 30-minutes, but, remember, this is a charity ride, not a race. • www.assaultonthecarolinas.com
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ROAD R ACES
April 27 – Looking Glass Tour – The Looking Glass Tour circumnavigates Pisgah National Forest in a loop that highlights many of Transylvania County’s most beautiful roads. In addition to lung busting climbs are hairpin descents, riders will see first hand the distinctive features and spectacular views that give the Blue Ridge Mountains their name. Blue Ridge Adventures will have chiptimed results with King of the Mountain segments and plenty of racer support with supported rest stops and SAG wagons. • Prices vary • www.blueridgeadventures.net
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ROA D R AC E S
June 2 – Hunter Subaru WNC Flyer – The 16th annual Hunter Subaru WNC Flyer starts and finishes at Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard. Riders can choose from full century, metric century, half century and half metric rides through the French Broad river valley. The Flyer is fully supported with support vehicles, rest stops and mechanics. • $60 • www.wncflyer.com Sept. 7 – Tour De Cashiers – Cyclists follow one of three routes of up to 100 miles across Jackson, Macon and Transylvania counties riding steep climbs and fast descents over 10,500 feet-plus of elevation changes. • Prices vary • www.peakracingevents.com Oct. 12 – White Squirrel Cycling Classic – The White Squirrel is a classic spinner during the fall leaf season. Starting and ending at Oskar Blues Brewery, riders will head out on flat river valley roads near the base of Pisgah National Forest and will cruise the French Broad River before heading into Henderson County and then back to downtown Brevard. October is one of the most beautiful months in southern Appalachia, with bright red maples and cool foggy mornings giving way to warm afternoons. The folks at Blue Ridge Adventures have put together three different routes to accommodate all levels of riders with 25, 40 and 63-mile road rides. • Prices vary • www.blueridgeadventures.net
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END UR O R AC E S May 18 – Oskar Blues Enduro – This fun event is located on the Green River in Saluda, about an hour drive from Brevard. A multi-sport event over the whole weekend, Oskar Blues sponsors the Enduro event. • $75 • www.greenrivergames.com June 1 & 2 – Pisgah Enduro – This race held in Old Fort sends riders down some of the most famous Pisgah trails like Heartbreak and Kitsuma. • $75 • www.pisgahproductions.com Nov. 16-18 – Cranksgiving Enduro – This annual event raises money for the Paris Mountain State Park trail system. • $75 • www.peakracingevents.com
CROSS-COUNTRY AND ENDURANCE M O U N TA I N B I K E R A C E S April 7 – SERC #2 – Conyers, Ga. – The second race of the Southeast Regional Championship Series. A short cross-country race. • $45 • www.goneriding.com April 8-13 – Pisgah Stage Race – The flagship Pisgah race sending riders on five days of singletrack adventure. Not for new riders. • $750 • www.blueridgeadventures.net April 14 – SERC #3 – Bryson City, N.C. – The third of the Southeast Regional Championship Series. A short cross-country race. • $45 • www.goneriding.com April 28 – SERC #4 – Winder, Ga. – The fourth of the Southeastern Regional Championship Series. A short cross-country race. • $45 • www.goneriding.com May 4 – Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race – The classic checkpoint race, the winners ride over a hundred miles of Pisgah to reach all the checkpoints. Not for new riders. • $190 • www.pisgahproductions.com May 4/5 – SERC #5 – Jackson, Ga. – The fifth of the Southeastern Regional Championship Series. A short cross-country race. • $45 • www.goneriding.com.
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CROSS-COUNTRY AND ENDURANCE M O U N TA I N B I K E R A C E S
May 18 – Pisgah 111k – Riders ride about 62 miles of Pisgah solo with rest stop, • $60 • www.pisgahproductions.com May 18 – Pisgah 55.5k – A scaled down version of the 111k, but still some difficult terrain with rest stops. • $60 • www.pisgahproductions.com May 26 – SERC #6 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – The fifth stop on the Southeastern Regional Championship Series. • $45 • www.goneriding.com June 22 – 12 Hours of Tsali – Race solo or with a team and see how many miles you can ride in 12 hours on these fast and flowy trails in Bryson City, N.C. • Prices vary • www.goneriding.com July 27 – Jerdon Mountain Challenge – The little brother to the Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell, this event will give riders a backcountry feel, with checkpoint support. • $90 until July 31 • www.blueridgeadventures.net July 28 – ORAMM – The Off-Road Assault on Mount Mitchell draws riders from all over the world to Old Fort, N.C., for this classic Pisgah race. • $160 • www.blueridgeadventures.net Oct. 26 & 27 – Double Dare – This two-day Pisgah mountain bike race will have riders racing for checkpoints all over Pisgah. Whoever gets the most checkpoints wins. • $100 • www.pisgahproductions.com Nov. 2 – The Couch Potato – Not ready to tackle Farlow Gap in the Swank 65? Check out this toned-down Pisgah mountain bike race. • $90 • www.blueridgeadventures.net Nov. 3 – Sycamore Cycles Swank 65 – The longest running Blue Ridge Adventures race, this cloverleaf tour of trails is leafy, hard and true Pisgah. • $150 • www.blueridgeadventures.net
48 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
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ASSA U LT O N T HE CA R OL INAS
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Assault on the Carolinas, the largest fundraising event for the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club. Volunteers expect to surpass the half-a-million-dollar mark for funds generated for charity this year, but it hasn’t been easy to coordinate the event, which draws cyclists from across the country and Canada. In years past, cyclists have come from as far away as Europe to tackle the course. It’s quite a sight to see a thousand or more riders line up on Main Street in downtown Brevard as they head out into the county. Some riders sign up for the 100k leg of the ride, which sends riders down the hill to South Carolina and back up over Caesars Head State Park, one of the hardest and longest climbs in the southeastern part of the U.S. There is a shorter 50k option with far less climbing, which takes riders on the country roads surrounding Brevard and Rosman in the French Broad River valley. For the 20th anniversary, Oskar Blues is brewing a special beer just for the event, and the brewery will again host the after party with live music, food and more. In addition to funds raised for charities, the Assault on the Carolinas (AOTC) has generated untold benefits for local vendors, hotels and
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merchants. The 2017 AOTC alone generated more than $35,000 in grants to support community needs in three areas: children and youth, education and health. More than 15 local organizations received grants, ranging from the local Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club to the homeless shelter to student scholarships. The Pisgah Forest Rotary Club has donated funds to charitable organizations all over the world and has helped communities in Africa with their clean water needs, bought wheelchairs for people in Central America, and helped schools in India and in Africa. Tom Whitsel, the man who started the AOTC 20 years ago, has been on the road with his wife in an RV touring the country, but plans to make it back this year to help out with the 20th anniversary. “They’ll probably have me parking cars or something to keep me out of trouble,” he joked. “But to watch this thing grow from 48 riders the first year to what it is now is remarkable.” The growth really took off when Whitesel and the other volunteers moved the event from Brevard High School to Main Street, where he said it wasn’t welcomed at first.
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AOTC
“At first the merchants in town looked at it as a bother, then they wound up supporting it, then they saw the benefits in it for them when they saw the bikers coming in and filling up the motels and restaurants,” said Whitsel. “Saturday after the ride you’ll see nothing but cars with bike racks on them. It’s been a boon for the local economy.” The stories that come from the AOTC over the years range from scary to comical. Jay Coan, owner of Brevard Insurance and one of the long-time volunteers for the ride, shared some of those memories, but said, all in all, everything has gone really smoothly. “Everyone has heard about the horses that broke through the fence from Camp Keystone,” he laughed. “They broke out and ran alongside the peloton for about six miles, like they were running with the herd. They ran alongside them all the way to the top of Walnut Hollow.” He said another year there was a guy in a big truck following the riders down N.C. 178, the road that takes riders down to South Carolina. The driver was agitated and honking his horn because he was frustrated being caught behind them. “One of the riders grew frustrated with how close he was following and made a gesture at him when he tried to pass, and the guy tried to throw his truck in reverse and his drive shaft fell off his truck! Another year, Brian
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Spotts and I were working a rest stop for the event in South Carolina when a motorist threw his flip flop at the riders. I’ve got so many funny stories over the years,” he said. Jay said it’s just been crazy putting on such an event, and the weather each year can be snowing, raining, wind blowing sideways, or just nice and sunny. He said that the Oskar Blues AOTC party has always been huge on Friday and Saturday night, with so many people hanging out. “It’s such a cool scene with a ton of out-of-town people hanging out and chilling, OB has done a really good job capturing that market,” he said. Jay said the event has become a lot smoother over the years, in particular working with all the different law enforcement agencies. The club works with the Brevard Police Department, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Department, N.C. and S.C. Highway Patrol and local first responders.
A Cottagee. a bunkhousse. A 400 sq. ft. pavvillion. A bath at house in a barn barn. This definitely ly Must M be the best place to dismount.
Less than ten miles to Brevard, Pisgah National t Forest, Headwaters t Statte t Park, and Dupont State te Forest.
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AOTC “I used to have to spend days trying to find someone to talk to me or I would have to get in the car to go find one particular guy at a fire department in Greenville County, but now those guys are all on board. Now it’s so easy,” he said. Jay said watching the attendance of more and more female riders has been great to see as well. He said this year he thinks there might be three or four hundred female riders and each year it continues to grow. “I’ve been doing it a long time. I don’t ride my bike as much as I want to, but it’s really cool to see how the culture has changed,” he said. John Buford, a professor of Wilderness Leadership at Brevard College and longtime Rotary Club member, said he thinks the real draw for the event is sticking to the core competencies — a beautiful and challenging route, great traffic control and safety, a welcoming community and family-friendly atmosphere, a hot meal after the ride, all at a reasonable price. “That’s what keeps them coming back,” he said. John has been involved for 11 years and said the event wouldn’t be possible without dedicated people willing to put in the work. The members of the Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest have put thousands of volunteer hours into the AOTC. Planning starts in May, a few weeks after the ride, and continues all year. Preparation begins in earnest after the open registration in October, and then from Christmas until the ride in April they really get busy. “We’ve never delayed or canceled the AOTC due to weather. One year we had violent lightning storms and we picked up dozens of riders in South Carolina to give them a lift back to town,” he said. John said the community has generally become more accustomed and accepting of cyclists over the years. There is certainly great community support of the AOTC riders as they wind their way out of town and as they cross the finish line. The sidewalks are lined with spectators as the ride leaves town in the morning and they stick around to welcome them back into town. The ride isn’t a race, and John said they don’t chip time the event or record winners and that riders appreciate the non-competitive nature of the ride. “That said, there’s always a group of riders who are very competitive. Believe me, they know who ‘wins,’” he said. John spends a good bit of time riding himself. If it’s wet out, he opts for the road bike, and if there’s too much traffic, he goes for his mountain bike. “That’s the beauty of living here. There are lots of good options. My friends motivate me to ride more. It’s hard to say no to a group text that says, ‘Meet at Lake Imaging parking lot at 7 a.m.’ or ‘Let’s ride up to the Pisgah Inn for coffee.’”
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To learn more about the Pisgah Forest Rotary Club and their charity ride, visit www.pisgahforestrotary.org. For more information about the AOTC, visit www.assaultonthecarolinas.com.
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BREVARD COLLEGE
As the Brevard College Cycling team has matured from a club with a few dedicated riders to a full-on program that attracts athletes from all over the world to fill its ranks, many of those students are finding ways to stay in Brevard and make lives for themselves. That’s new for Brevard College. Over the years, most of its student body has gone on to larger job markets, while typically the students who stayed in Brevard were part of the Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education program, a small group of students who appreciated this small mountain town’s unique qualities. Access to public lands in Brevard is better than anywhere else on the East Coast. That’s not hyperbole: with a temperate climate, hundreds of miles of singletrack and thousands of miles of roads for cyclists to explore, it’s no wonder the program has grown. Coach Brad Perley believes the success of the program is simply because the riding access here is so good. “I have students who turn down better scholarship packages at other schools simply because they want to come to Brevard,” he said. “The riding is that good. I think a conservative number would be 50 percent of the graduates of the program. These young folks are finding ways to stay in the area, and it’s interesting to see how many of the students are still here. It’s a snowball effect too. It’s being seen by the younger students, and it plants a seed and keeps it going that way.” And it shows in the team’s success. Collegiate cyclists at Brevard College compete at the Division I (DI) level, while the rest of the school has scaled back and competes at the Division III (DIII) level. The team’s coaches not only compete against schools with more students, but they are racing at the same level, and winning against teams with substantially larger budgets.
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Brad said he has seen a shift in the vibe of the team since the move to DI athletics because the athletes who want to come to Brevard College for the cycling program want to race against the best athletes in the country. Brad said that a top 15 result in Division I is elite company, as many of the riders racing at that level are sponsored already, with support from large brands that help them with gear, travel and, for some of his former athletes, paychecks. Collegiate cyclists can collect a check or receive compensation in other ways because USA Cycling is the governing body for collegiate cycling, not the NCAA. Brad said if the NCAA governed collegiate cycling, he would probably not be able to do his job. “I couldn’t even approach potential recruits,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the rules and regulations they have in place. For example, there has to be a designated off-season, and there are a maximum number of hours you can spend with the students. We race mountain and cross in the fall and road is in the spring. Just the time alone in the van with them to get to races would be a violation of the rules. I couldn’t even text with them about last-minute details or join them on training rides. I couldn’t do my job as a coach.” Brad is the third full-time coach that the Brevard College Cycling program has had, and his hands are full year round trying to make the program work and uphold the foundation laid by the previous coaches. Highlights of this past season include Tyler Orschel, who earned the title of DI omnium champion. The Southeast Collegiate Cycling Conference introduced a conference leader’s jersey, which Tyler held onto all season and wore at each new race. The team didn’t capture the overall mountain bike title this season, but they did win the cross nationals team relay, which Brad said amps up the team and spectators more than any of the other events, so the win was that much sweeter. “In my personal opinion, that’s the event our students get the most excited about, and take the most pride in. There’s a mountain bike relay and a cross team relay, but there’s a different
2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 57
level of focus at cross nationals. They’re pressured but there’s more excitement and incentive to do well,” he said. The team is in a transition period right now as some of the senior riders are graduating and moving on from the program. Brad said he had 15 new riders this last mountain bike season, with a lot of younger kids with less experience, but no less determination. He’s excited for road season this spring because he will be traveling to nationals just down the road in Augusta, Ga., with a full road squad for the first time in five years. Brad said this last year has been the first time in many years where he has been able to make a distinct separation between the race team and what he calls the “club team,” which is a group of students who probably don’t shave their legs or wear heart rate monitors. Brad said the addition of these students to the team creates a nice balance and forms a kind of glue between the more aggro racers and the kids who just want to have fun riding bikes at the collegiate level. “It’s really promoted the health of the program. Bike racers tend to be kind of crazy,” he said. “They can get high strung and sometimes too focused. So, having some students that just like having fun and being positive is a great balance. It’s brought the team closer.”
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2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 59
If you can’t tell, we’re a cycling destination, and an international one at that. Not only do we attract riders year round from across the United States, but, in the late winter/early spring, the county is popular among Canadian cyclists seeking to escape frigid temperatures and enjoy some road training and trail riding. As the season moves on, local races will attract international athletes who wish to test their mettle against Pisgah’s legendary trails. This year, the Pisgah Stage Race is drawing people from 25 states and 14 countries and road rides like the Assault on the Carolinas and the WNC Flyer each draw 1,000 riders to Brevard. All of that cycling activity has an important impact on our local economy, more than many people realize. Last year, professors at the University of Kentucky, in collaboration with the non-profit Outdoor Alliance, conducted a study of visiting and local mountain bikers. The study found that, economically, cycling is a big deal in the “Pisgah area” which includes Brevard, Asheville, Hendersonville and everywhere in between.
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The visiting mountain bikers to the Pisgah area spent an estimated $14 million per year, supporting 198 jobs and $5 million in job income for those workers. Taxes generated in the Pisgah area include $763,771 in state production taxes, $117,191 in state household taxes, $603,746 in federal employee compensation taxes, $282,303 in federal household taxes and $280,253 in federal corporate taxes. As far as mountain bikers who live in this region, they generated an estimated $11,035,993 in mountain biking expenditures, most of which was spent in local bike shops. According to Todd Branham, the organizer of the Pisgah Stage Race and owner of Blue Ridge Adventures, the stage race is a large contributor to the Transylvania County economy. Riders come from all over the world, stay for a week or longer, rent homes, hotel rooms, visit the local bike shops and eat at all the restaurants. In the broader region, mountain biking visitors spend an estimated $30.2 million per year in and around western North Carolina. Throughout the region, mountain biker tourism supports 366 full-time jobs and $9 million in job income. Western North Carolina residents spend an additional $18 million as a result of mountain biking. And that’s just the mountain biking. One of the biggest catalysts for cycling-related jobs in western North Carolina is infrastructure for community and road cycling.
2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 61
According to Joe Sanders, former president of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, infrastructure improvements like bridge replacements create 11.6 jobs, safety and traffic management creates 10.3 jobs, new highway construction and pavement widening creates 12.5 jobs, and greenways, sidewalks and bicycle facilities create 17 jobs. Projects like greenways and sidewalks have the biggest impact, he explained, because they act as a long-term catalyst. “Once you put them in they become an economic engine, and you only have to go half-anhour south to the Swamp Rabbit trail to see the direct effects,” he said. “I went to Travelers Rest in 1985 and it was a ghost town. Now it’s a thriving community, and every piece of real estate is taken or spoken for. That’s one of the reasons why bike and pedestrian facilities generate more jobs, because they attract small business, and those businesses serve the people using those facilities.” In order to support all this cycling activity between Asheville, N.C. and Greenville, S.C., there are about 20 bike shops that supply riders with the gear they need to ride our roads and trails. On an industrial level, manufacturers like Cane Creek, Öhlins USA, Industry Nine and Fox have all set up shop in the region, because there aren’t many better places to test products than our mountains. They are gnarly, wet and brutal on equipment. Where else would they test this stuff? So the next time you’re feeling guilty about upgrading your bike, or buying a new helmet, or taking a weekend trip to go mountain biking, remind yourself that you’re supporting the local economy. Cycling in our mountains has grown to become far more than just a fun recreational activity; it’s become an integral part of the economy in western North Carolina. And it’s not just cycling, either. Outdoor recreation in North Carolina has become such a powerhouse that the General Assembly created a state-funded Outdoor Recreation office, headed by David Knight. Knight’s position has been funded by the state legislature for two years, and his mission is to support and promote the outdoor industry, to attract these types of businesses to North Carolina, and to tap into the market and social power of the outdoor industry and the people attracted to the lifestyle. Knight has been on a tour of the state, meeting with industry honchos, lawmakers and other people involved in outdoor recreation. According to Knight, the Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) economic impact study, published last year, says consumers spend $887 billion on outdoor recreation across the country, creating 7.6 million jobs, $65.3 billion in federal tax revenue, and $59.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. The OIA is a nonprofit focused on policy change, outdoor recreation and natural resource sustainability throughout the country. In North Carolina, outdoor recreation is the fourth largest economy behind hospital care, outpatient health care, and financial and insurance services. In North Carolina, outdoor recreation annually generates $28 billion in consumer spending, 260,000 direct jobs, $8.3 billion in wages and salaries, and $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. Much of that impact is felt locally. Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway are the most visited national forest and park in the country. Knight said that there is nothing specific for Transylvania County or Brevard that he is working on yet, other than engaging community leaders. Part of his job is helping communities promote and brand themselves. “You have to be receptive and open to a diversity of businesses and types of people,” he said. “That’s important to be able to grow in the rural environment.”
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SALES SERVICE GEAR GROUP RIDES RENTALS
170 King St., Brevard, NC (828) 877-2453 /SquatchBikes squatchbikes.com /SquatchBikes 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 63
64 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
BREVARD AREA TRAILS
RIDE THE BAT
On the following pages you will find a map of the Brevard Area Trail System (BAT), a network of cycling and pedestrian friendly routes that allow folks to get around without having to drive. If single track or drop bars aren’t your thing and you want a more chill way to experience cycling in Brevard, it’s easy to get 10 or so miles in without really breaking a sweat. Along the path you will find easy access to bike shops, breweries, grocery stores and other destinations like the Brevard Music Center, the Brevard Lumberyard Arts District, the Farmers’ Market, the library and the Franklin Park pool and playground. All of these destinations are easily accessible by bike in Brevard, and there’s really only one hill that will need to be climbed; the rest of the connecting paths through town are flat and easy cruising. Ride the BAT and experience Brevard in the best way possible, by bike.
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66 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
1 Brevard Music Center 2 Bracken Mountain Trailhead 3 Blue Ridge Community College 4 Brevard College 5 Squatch Bikes & Brews 1 Police Station 2 City Hall/Public Restrooms
3 The Transylvania Times 4 Transylvania County Courthouse 5 Transylvania County Library 6 Transylvania Farmers’ Market 7 Visitor Center/Chamber Of Commerce 8 Silvermont Basketball & Tennis Courts 9 Franklin Park Pool & Playground
RIDE THE BAT 1 Pisgah District Ranger Station 2 Davidson River Campground 3 The Hub 4 Sycamore Cycles 5 Sports Complex 6 Transylvania Regional Hospital 7 Oskar Blues Brewery
BREVARD AREA TRAILS
BAT
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License. Design © Mapbox. Licensed according to the Mapbox Terms of Service.
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The following list of routes provides a sampling of popular rides in Transylvania County. Please note that these cue sheets should be used in conjunction with a map; they are not a map replacement. Visitors are strongly advised to seek guidance and purchase maps from the area bike shops or visitors centers before heading out on a ride. Not only can they help keep you from getting lost, but they can also help you choose a ride appropriate for your skill level. Mileage estimates are provided to approximate the length of a ride, but are not exact. Elevation profiles are made possible courtesy of www.trailforks.com. Time estimates reflect MINIMUM expected ride times; rides could definitely take longer depending on skill level, conditions, etc. In addition to maps, riders should carry a cell phone and/or GPS device, but be aware that cell service is not available everywhere in the county. Riders should also be sure to have plenty of water and nutrition. These routes are provided as a public service for informational purposes only. Neither The Transylvania Times, The Transylvania Tourism Development Authority nor any groups or individuals who have contributed to this publication make any guarantees regarding the accuracy of these routes or the condition of the referenced roads and trails, nor are they responsible for your personal safety or liable to you for any loss or injury incurred while following one of these routes. Keep in mind that Transylvania County is beautiful but it also has many remote areas. Please seek guidance from an area professional to ensure that your visit to Transylvania County is safe and enjoyable.
GRAVEL RIDES
PISGAH GRAVEL LOOP Cross loops, gravel grinders, whatever you like to call them are becoming more popular each year. Transylvania has no shortage of great gravel roads to cruise on, and they see little traffic. Many of these roads are rough and full of braking bumps, and are open to vehicles. Stay on the inside of corners at all times; sometimes people drive fast on Forest Service roads. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse go southwest on S. Broad St. •Stay straight on Country Club Road when U.S. 64 veers to right (at Sunset Motel) •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Right on Island Ford Rd. •Straight across Rosman Highway (U.S. 64) •Left on Cathey’s Creek Rd.-turns to gravel shortly
Intermediate/Advanced Approx. 35 Miles 3+Hours
•Stay on Cathey’s Creek about 8 miles •Turn right down the hill on 475 at the four-way gravel intersection •Gravel turns to pavement, left on 475-B (gravel) •Left uphill onto U.S. 276 •Right on FS 477 (Avery Creek Rd.) •Left on U.S. 276 •Right at intersection of U.S. 276, U.S. 64 and N.C. 280 •Left on Ecusta Rd. at Lowe’s and get on bike path •Follow bike path to Brevard •Right on McLean Rd. •Left on Railroad Ave. •Left on Probart St. •Right on Oaklawn Ave. •Left onto W. Main St. in Brevard, which will take you back to the courthouse
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MONSTER CROSS LOOP This is the same route as the Pisgah Monster-Cross Challenge from Pisgah Productions. About 20 miles of this ride are on the Parkway, and there are gravel sections in between pavement. It could take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to finish. Front and rear lights are required on the Parkway at all times. DIRECTIONS •Start at Pisgah Ranger Station •Right from parking lot onto U.S. 276 •Left onto FS 475
Advanced Approx. 80 miles 4+ Hours
•Right onto Indian Creek Rd. •Right onto N.C. 215 •Left onto Blue Ridge Parkway access road, left onto Blue Ridge Parkway •Right onto 5000 Wash Creek Rd. •Right onto Yellow Gap Rd. (FS 1206) •Left on U.S. 276 •Left onto Avery Creek Rd. (FS 477) •Left onto U.S. 276, which will take you back to the ranger station
ELEVATION 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 69
GRAVEL RIDES
UP & OVER RICH MTN. About 50 percent gravel, this 30-mile ride has two big climbs, one being past Cascade Lake, where the Little River collects after spilling over High Falls and Triple Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest. The climb up Rich Mountain reveals a gravel section at the top, with magnificent views to the west through horse pastures and apple orchards. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse, head southeast on E. Main St. (U.S. 276) •Bear left onto Elm Bend Rd. •Right on Wilson Rd. •Left on Greenville Hwy. (U.S. 276)
Intermediate Approx. 30 miles 2.5+ hours
•Left on Becky Mountain Rd. •Immediate left on Rich Mountain Rd. •Climb this road, which turns to gravel, and descend the other side •Left on Greenville Highway (U.S. 276) •Left onto Cascade Lake Rd. •Stay straight on Cascade Lake, which turns to gravel and descends a few miles •Left on Hart Rd. at the bottom •Left on Everett Rd. •Left on Old Hendersonville Hwy. •Left on Wilson Rd. •Right on Elm Bend Rd. back into downtown Brevard
ELEVATION GORGES STATE PARK This is a killer cross ride in Gorges State Park, about 30 minutes west of Brevard. Gorges sits on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, and four large rivers drop to South Carolina, flowing through the park. There is little singletrack in the park yet, but the Auger Hole Road is a beautiful out and back. Riders can get about 35 miles
70 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
OUT AND BACK Intermediate Distance and Times Vary
in this remote and rugged tract of land. This ride starts at the Frozen Creek trailhead on the east side of Gorges State Park. Riders will cross through the gated road and ride until they feel like turning around. That’s the beauty of an out and back.
MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
BIG BOY PISGAH
Advanced Approx. 32 miles 5+ hours
The classic Pisgah mountain bike ride. A tour of all
•Left on Bradley Creek Trail (look for yellow blaze)
the single-track that you’ve read about, this loop
•Go through a few creek crossings: eventually you will
could take 5 to 7 hours and is considered very difficult.
come to a field on your right
Single-track climbs, switchback descents and beau-
•Right on Bradley Creek Rd. (FS 5015) and follow this
tiful hand-cut trails are what has put Brevard on the
road uphill
map as a destination. Note: Access to this ride is
•Left at gate on Yellow Gap Rd. (FS 1206)
found at the Turkey Pen trailhead on Turkey Pen Rd.,
•Right on Laurel Mountain Trail in about 50 yards;
off N.C. 280 (Asheville Highway) at the Henderson and
continue uphill for 7 miles (an hour or more)
Transylvania County line. You may need to park at the
•Left at unmarked fork in trail
bottom of the road; it is rough and may be impassable
•Left at intersection with Pilot Rock Trail
for cars with low clearance.
•Left on Pilot Rock Trail and follow downhill •Right on FS 1206
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Turkey Pen parking lot, head to the left of the
•Left on FS 476 and stay straight onto S. Mills River
trail kiosk
•Make a left on Squirrel Gap Trail after the bridge
•Make a left over the swinging bridge
•Stay on Squirrel Gap Trail until you again reach the
•Left on S. Mills River Trail
intersection with Mullinax Trail
•Right on Mullinax Trail
•Stay straight on Mullinax Trail
•At camping area after the switchbacks, turn right
•Hard right on S. Mills River Trail
onto Squirrel Gap Trail and head downhill to the river
•Cross swinging bridge again
Trail until you reach the swinging bridge
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MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
BUCKHORN BENNETT GAP This loop takes riders down some steep and burly terrain, but there is a nice warm up on a gravel road. With great views and screaming descents, locals call this the “Triple B” ride: Black to Buckwheat to Bennett Gap.
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Park at the Pisgah Horse stables on FS 475 •Climb through the gate to Buckhorn Gap
Advanced Approx. 18 miles 2.5+ miles
•At the top, make a left on Black Mountain Trail and climb, climb, climb •Go through the intersection with Avery Creek Trail and stay straight. Climb some more. •Once the trail reaches the gravel road, across the road is the Bennett Gap trailhead. Stay straight on this until you reach the bottom. Make a left on the gravel and the horse stable parking lot is on the right.
ELEVATION BRACKEN MOUNTAIN LOOP The trails at Bracken Mountain Preserve were built a couple of years ago as part of a community effort. Volunteer labor and passion built this 8-mile network. It connects to Forest Service Road 475-C, which climbs up from the fish hatchery in Pisgah. If you’re going to explore beyond Bracken, take a map.
Intermediate Approx. 8 miles 1.5+ hours
•Head up the bottom of Bracken Mountain Trail •Make a right on Brushy Creek Trail, pedal uphill about a half hour •Left on Mackey Ridge Trail •Straight on Bracken Mountain Trail •Stay on Bracken Mountain Trail all the way back to the parking lot
ELEVATION DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Start at the Bracken Mountain parking lot
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Brevard, NC N ~ A Top Biking Destination D
~
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2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 73
MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
DUPONT CLOVERLEAF Here are the classic DuPont rides, including the famous eastern Slick Rock. Only 12 miles in length, this cloverleaf shaped ride will take riders on some of the more technically challenging trails in the forest. DIRECTIONS •Park at the Corn Mill Shoals parking lot •Make a left out of the parking lot onto the pavement •Make a left at the first gate on Tower Rd. •Stay left past the old rock quarry •Left on Buck Ridge Rd. •Left on Micajah Trail •Right on Wilke Trail back to the pavement •Left on Cascade Lake Rd., followed by an immediate right around gate onto Corn Mill Shoals Rd. •Make the first left on Longside Trail
Intermediate Approx.15 miles 2.5+ hours
•Left on Pine Tree Trail •Right on Cascade Trail •Left on Sheep Mountain Rd. •Immediate right turn on Pine Tree Trail and cross the pavement again •Ride Pine Tree Trail back to Longside Trail •Left on Corn Mill Shoals Rd. •Bear left on Little River Rd. and go past Cedar Rock Trail •Make a left on the other end of Cedar Rock Trail •Climb the trail until the intersection with Big Rock Trail •Right on Big Rock Trail •Left on Corn Mill Shoals Rd. •Right on Burnt Mountain Trail •Left on Corn Mill Shoals Rd. back to the parking lot
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COVE CREEK LOOP This intermediate ride is a great first-time ride in Pisgah. A gravel road climb will take riders past the climbing access area for Looking Glass Rock, as well as past some prime camping spots. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Park at Fish Hatchery parking lot •Left on FS 475 from parking lot •Right on FS 475-B (gravel), your first intersection •Climb this gravel road for about 4 miles •Make a left on FS 225
Intermediate Approx. 15 miles 1.5+ hours
•Turn left at gate and sign for Cove Creek Trail •Continue on trail until you reach Cove Creek campground •Make a right out of the campground and head down the gravel and cross the bridge •At the gate make a left onto the gravel, which quickly turns to pavement •Right on Davidson River Trail •Right on FS 475 (paved road) and return to Fish Hatchery parking lot
ELEVATION FARLOW GAP
Farlow Gap is a destination for many mountain bikers and what many people consider to be one of the most difficult trails in Pisgah. Fall line rock gardens, stream crossings and mountain coves covered in ferns await the adventurous on this ride that could take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours depending on skill level. Not recommended for new/intermediate riders. It is recommended that you notify someone of where you are going, and always take a map.
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Park at the Fish Hatchery parking lot •Left onto FS 475 from parking lot
Advanced Approx. 15 miles 3+ hours
•Left on Davidson River Trail •Left on FS 475 to intersection at Gloucester Gap •Right onto FS 229 Pilot Mountain Road •Go through the gate (229C) •Right onto Farlow Gap •Continue down Farlow Gap •Right onto Daniel Ridge Trail •Continue down old jeep road at bottom of trail •Cross the large metal bridge •Left onto FS 475 •Right on Davidson River Trail •Right on FS 475 and return to Fish Hatchery parking lot
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MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
COVE CREEK/DANIEL RIDGE This mountain bike ride is a great step up for intermediate level riders and consists of a mellow climb up Cove Creek Trail with a few stream crossings, then across to Daniel Ridge on an old jeep road that has grown into single-track. The descent down Daniel Ridge follows the creek, and there is a good swimming hole down there. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Park at Fish Hatchery parking lot •Left on FS 475 from parking lot •Left on Davidson River Trail •Left on 475 •Immediate right around Cove Creek Campground gate; the trailhead is on your left just before the
Intermediate Approx. 17 miles 2.5+ hours
campground •Take Cove Creek Trail until you go through the gate at the top •Left on FS 225-B; continue around next gate – this is rolling doubletrack until it dead ends •Make a left where the old car part looks like a stork •Right on Daniel Ridge •Continue left on Daniel Ridge at intersection with Farlow Gap •Cross the big metal bridge, go through the gate •Left on FS 475 •Right onto Davidson River Trail •Right onto FS 475 and return to Fish Hatchery parking lot
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MAXWELL TO BLACK MTN. Another classic Pisgah ride, it begins with a big climb up a fire road. Then you get to ride Black Mountain Trail, one of the most popular mountain bike trails on the East Coast. The ride ends back in the parking lot and is a true loop.
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Park at the Pisgah Ranger Station •Right from parking lot on U.S. 276 •Right on FS 477 (look for the horse stable sign) •Right onto Clawhammer Rd. (FS 5058) in the back of
Advanced Approx. 12 miles 1.5+ hours
the horse stable parking lot •Right onto Maxwell Cove Rd. (FS 5099) until you reach fire ring at the top (Pressley Gap) •Right uphill onto Black Mountain Trail •Continue on Black Mountain Trail downhill to the next intersection •Make a right at the intersection, continuing on Black Mountain Trail •When you reach the gravel, make a right back to the parking lot
ELEVATION THRIFT TO BLACK AND UPPER SYCAMORE These are the closest accessible mountain bike trails from either of the bike shops at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. They are the after-work quickies for locals, but during the middle of the day you probably won’t see many other people.
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •Start from the Black Mountain parking lot •Climb up Thrift Cove Trail past the bottom of Black
Advanced Approx. 7 miles 1.5 + hours
Mountain Trail •Stay left on Thrift Cove Trail at the intersection with Grassy Rd. •Climb Thrift for about 15 minutes •Continue straight on Black Mountain Trail •At the bottom climb back up Thrift Cove Trail •Right on Grassy Rd. •Left on Upper Sycamore Cove Trail •Right on U.S. 276 and return to parking lot
ELEVATION
2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 77
ROAD RIDES
A FEW GOOD CLIMBS It’s difficult to put together shorter climbs in the neighborhood, as many climbs can be 10+ miles long. We’ve done that for you, and highlighted a route that has some good climbing in it but won’t have you standing for a solid hour. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse go southwest on S. Broad St. •Stay Straight on Country Club Road when U.S. 64 veers to right (at Sunset Motel) •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Left on Island Ford Rd. •Right on Walnut Hollow Rd.
Intermediate Approx. 40 miles 2.5+ hours
•Pass East Fork Rd. on right, at which point Walnut Hollow Rd. becomes East Fork Rd. •Right on Greenville Hwy (U.S. 276) •Left on Cascade Lake Rd. •Right on Staton Rd. •Right on Crab Creek Rd. •Left on Jeter Mountain Rd. •Left on Crab Creek Rd. •Right on Everett Rd. •Left on Old Hendersonville Hwy •Left on Neely Rd. •Right on Park Ave. •Right on E. Main St. and return to courthouse
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ROAD RIDES
ASSAULT ON CAROLINAS
Difficult Approx. 65 miles 4.5+ hours
Riders looking to get in a practice ride on the 100k Assault loop can follow these directions. Starting in town and rolling along the river, riders will have a few climbs before the long descent into South Carolina. The descent is full of hairpin turns, but the road is well maintained, and there is a gas station at the bottom of the downhill. The infamous climb up Caesars Head on U.S. 276 will test your legs and lungs, and there is usually a head wind coming back into town on U.S. 276. This ride is a workout for advanced riders only. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse, head west on W. Main St. •Right onto Oaklawn Ave. •Left on Probart St. •Right on Cashiers Valley Rd. •Stay left on Cashiers Valley Rd. at Wolf Pen Cove •Stay left on Cashiers Valley Rd. at Lake Sega Rd. •Left on Rosman Hwy (U.S. 64 – stop sign) •Right on Illahee Rd. •Right onto Country Club Rd. (stop sign) •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Left onto Island Ford Rd. •Right on Walnut Hollow Rd. •Right onto East Fork Rd. (aka Charlie’s Corner) •Left on Middlefork Rd. •Left on Pickens Hwy (U.S. 178) •Cross Continental Divide •Cross over Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy (SC 11) at stoplight
•Left onto Table Rock Rd. (SC 288) •Left on Pumpkintown Hwy (SC 8) •Right on SC 11 •Left on SC 8 •Left on Greenville Hwy (U.S. 276) •Cross Caesars Head •Cross Continental Divide •Left on Barclay Rd., which becomes Country Club •Right on Gallimore Rd. •Left on Greenville Hwy (U.S. 276), which will take you back to the courthouse
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ROAD RIDES
EASY SPIN ROAD RIDE
Easy Approx. 25 miles 1.5+ hours
ELEVATION This easy spin from downtown Brevard follows the river valley, with rolling terrain and no big climbs. It’s a great ride for beginners, with beautiful mountain views and little traffic.
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse go southwest on S. Broad St. •Stay straight on Country Club Rd. when U.S. 64 veers to right (at Sunset Motel) •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Left on Island Ford Rd. •Right on Walnut Hollow Rd. •Right on Hannah Ford Rd. •Right on Calvert Rd. •Right on Whitmire Rd. •Right on U.S. 64 •Right on Green Rd. •Left on Hannah Ford Rd. •Left on Walnut Hollow Rd. •Left on Island Ford Rd. •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Right on Barclay Rd. •Left on U.S. 276 (Greenville Hwy) •Right on Wilson Rd. •Left on Elm Bend Rd. •Right on Main St./U.S. 276 (Greenville Hwy) •Stay on Main St. into downtown Brevard
80 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
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ROAD RIDES
ETOWAH LOOP
Easy Approx. 35 miles 2.5+ hours
ELEVATION This beautiful ride follows the river valley around Etowah. Many of these roads are included in the regular Tuesday night Worlds ride. See the group rides section for more information.
•Right on Park Ave. •Right on E. Main St., which will take you back to the courthouse
DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse, head southeast on E. Main St. (U.S. 276) •Left on Park Ave. •Turn left to continue on Park Ave., which becomes Neely Rd. •Right on Old Hendersonville Hwy. •Right on Everett Rd. •Left on Crab Creek Rd. •Right on Talley Rd., which becomes Pleasant Grove Rd. at Henderson County line •Left on Grove Bridge Rd. (aka Post Office Road) •Right on New Hendersonville Hwy (U.S. 64) •Immediate left on King Rd. •Right on Blantyre Church Rd., which becomes Turnpike Rd. •Right on Brickyard Rd. •Straight at stop sign onto McKinney Rd. •Cross over U.S. 64 again •Left on Etowah School Rd. •Right on Pleasant Grove Rd., which turns into Talley Rd. at county line •Left on Crab Creek Rd. •Right on Cascade Lake Rd. •When Cascade Lake Rd. turns left and becomes gravel, stay right onto Hart Rd. •Left on Everett Rd. •Left on Old Hendersonville Hwy. •Left on Neely Rd. 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 81
ROAD RIDES
LAKE LOGAN LOOP
Advanced Approx. 80 miles 5+ hours
ELEVATION This road ride features two really big climbs and two really big descents from the Blue Ridge Parkway. This route offers amazing vistas, well-maintained roads and a circumnavigating tour of Pisgah National Forest. This ride is for advanced riders only. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse go southwest on S. Broad St. •Stay straight on Country Club Rd. when U.S. 64 veers to right (at Sunset Motel) •Right on S. Country Club Rd. •Left onto Island Ford Rd. •Right on Walnut Hollow Rd. •Right onto Hannah Ford Rd. •Left onto Calvert Rd. •Left on Old Rosman Hwy (SR 1388) •Go through the town of Rosman and make a left on Old Turnpike Rd. •Right on Rosman Hwy (U.S. 64) •Left onto N.C. 215 (Parkway Rd.) •Climb to the Blue Ridge Parkway •N.C. 215 becomes Lake Logan Road as you cross Parkway and begin descent •Right to stay on N.C. 215 (Love Joy Rd.) •Right on Cruso Rd. (U.S. 276) •Climb this road back up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and descend the other side •Right at intersection of U.S. 276, U.S. 64 and N.C. 280 •Left on Ecusta Rd. at Lowe’s and get on bike path •Follow bike path to Brevard •Right on McLean Road 82 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
•Left on Railroad Ave. •Left on Probart St. •Right on Oaklawn Ave. •Left onto W. Main St. in Brevard, which will take you back to the courthouse
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ROAD RIDES
PARKWAY LOOP
Advanced Approx. 60 miles 3.5+ hours
ELEVATION Riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the many blessings of Transylvania County. Summertime on this road can be busy, and blinking lights are required while riding on the Parkway at all times. Weather can be much different up there than in town, so take a jacket just in case. DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS •From Transylvania County Courthouse, head southeast on E. Main St. •Left on Park Ave. •Left to continue on Park Ave., which becomes Neely Rd. •Right on Old Hendersonville Hwy •Left on Ecusta Rd. •Right on Asheville Highway U.S. 64/U.S. 276 •Left on U.S. 276 •Climb until you reach the Blue Ridge Parkway •Right on Blue Ridge Parkway on-ramp, left on Parkway •Right on N.C. 215 access road, right on N.C. 215 •Left on Rosman Highway (U.S. 64) •Right on U.S. 178 •Continue straight at light onto Old Rosman Hwy. •Right on Calvert Rd. •Right on Hannah Ford Rd. •Left on Walnut Hollow Rd. •Left on Island Ford Rd. •Right on S. Country Club Rd.
•Left on Country Club Rd., which will take you back to the courthouse
Located 1 mile from DuPont State Forest and 10 minutes to Pisgah National Forest
Adventure and Luxury Cabin 3 BR + bunk room 2.5 baths, fire pit, wrap around porch, gourmet kitchen, tree fort and more secluded on 10 acres For rates and availability, call or text Katie at 210-860-6760 2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 83
NEW TRAILS FOR TRANSYLANIA Recent grants awarded by the Transylvania Always Committee, a division of Transylvania County Tourism, have allowed for exciting new trail developments at Horse Cove/Joel Branch and a much-needed repair to the existing trail at Cantrell Creek. These improvements will provide cyclists with even more routes to explore Transylvania County via mountain bike. “Cycling is a big part of our community,” says Clark Lovelace, executive director of Transylvania County Tourism. “It is critical for us to take care of the many natural resources that support it.” The connector trail at Horse Cove/Joel branch will provide critical links between three popular outdoor areas: the Pisgah Ranger District (which includes the Davidson River Campground, the Pisgah Ranger Station, the Estatoe Trail and more), the NC Wildlife Education Center, and Brevard’s Bracken Mountain Trail System. The new trail, funded by the Transylvania Always Committee with assistance from Brevard and Transylvania County governments, serves the dual purpose of providing cyclists with an exciting new thoroughfare while also preserving the natural landscape by discouraging unauthorized use of other trails. The Cantrell Creek Trail, a popular cycling destination, has suffered from erosion, sedimentation problems and trail shifts due to its proximity to the water. A diverse group of partners, including Pisgah Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service, Mills River Partnership, Mountain True and several other regional branches of Trout Unlimited, were able to acquire funds for restoration through Transylvania Always, Orvis and Trout Unlimited’s Embrace A Stream Project. These new improvements will reroute a portion of trail away from the water, allowing for restoration of the natural stream landscape and improved trail conditions for cyclists. “Both projects are very exciting,” says John Cottingham, executive director of the Pisgah Conservancy. “The Cantrell Creek Restoration is a great example of how multiple federal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, private businesses and local governments can work together to protect critical waterways and promote sustainable recreation. The Joel Branch/Horse Cove Project will provide the missing link for a great loop trail connecting Brevard and Pisgah.” Officials are hopeful that the Cantrell Creek restoration will be completed later this year and the Joel Branch/Horse Cove Project will be finished by 2020. For more information on sustainability efforts in Transylvania County or to sign up for a trail building maintenance crew, go to www.explorebrevard.com/sustainability.
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TODD
Pisgah? Where’s that? If you didn’t know where Pisgah was back in the ‘90s, you probably do now. Many people have made Pisgah a destination, but probably none more so than Todd Branham. The Blue Ridge Adventures owner has been exploring these hills since the days of elastomer forks and bar ends, building a lifestyle and a career out of mountain biking, taking a passion for riding and turning it into a success story. As a kid, Todd grew up racing BMX and skateboarding. BMX racing was huge at that time and laid the foundation for some impressive bike-handling skills. “I was always on wheels as a kid,” said Todd. “Then I got into BMX so much I wanted a half pipe. So, my dad helped me build a huge 24-foot-wide masonite half pipe with coping on top. From that day on, biking was my thing. That was a pivotal point for me. Everyone was at my house all the time.” While in college at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, Todd started hanging around the bike shop in
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BRANHAM
Columbia. The guys who work there brought him to the mountains to go mountain biking. “Coming to Pisgah lit me up,” he said. Fast forward a few years and Todd was racing mountain bikes all the time, and he was even the S.C. state champ at one point. He was working at the shop in Columbia, and then started his own touring business, Blue Ridge Adventures. “With the kids in the bike shop, I was kind of the racing hero. They would ask me, ‘Where do you train? How do you get fast? Where’s the best riding?’” “I would tell them Pisgah National Forest,” and they would say, ‘Pisgah, where’s that?’” His first touring vehicle was a Ford Explorer that would fit three other people, but he asked his dad for help to buy a 1997 Suburban so he could transport more people, and then he started leading trips in Pisgah. He started running races in Pisgah in 1999, such as the Swank 65, which will be 21 years old this year, and the Off Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell, which will be 20. These days, there are all kinds of races in Pisgah, but what helped Todd succeed was basically a monopoly on mountain bike racing in the early days. Aside from unsanctioned races, if you wanted to race in Pisgah and have legit bragging rights, then you signed up with Todd. Mountain bike racing has changed a lot, according to Todd. Back in the day, the forest was just wide open, and he learned quickly that people unfriendly to mountain bikers would remove his course tape, sending out-of-town riders into the middle of nowhere. The sport has become more accepted since then, and it’s no longer just a bunch of hard bodies who want to go punish themselves. And, although Blue Ridge Adventures has a reputation for putting on challenging races, Todd says in many ways that’s just the nature of riding in Pisgah.
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In addition to promoting races, Todd has always been an active racer. In 2007, he was the Super D National Champion in his age category. The race format combined cross country and downhill, usually starting with a sustained downhill and including a punchy climb or two somewhere in the middle of the course. It’s no surprise he earned the title; that describes pretty much every Pisgah downhill. These days, he spends most of his race energy traveling the world to different mountain bike stage races. He’s raced in Africa, Canada, Switzerland, Iceland, Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala. He likes the discipline of the stage race format, which he says is a thinking man’s game, not necessarily about who is the strongest rider. This year, he is headed to Poland for a stage race. “I love the ability to view different countries on your bike in a non-touring form. With a race you don’t have to wait at all the turns, but really why I do it is to enhance the Pisgah Stage Race and figure out what works and what doesn’t,” he said. The Pisgah Stage Race has grown into his flagship event, and draws riders from all over the world. From an economic standpoint, Todd says the event provides a tremendous economic benefit to the county. His racers travel to Brevard for at least a week at a time and they often bring their families. They rent houses and hotel rooms, shop in the stores downtown and eat at the restaurants. “Now, Pisgah is known,” he said. “People are flying over to ride the trails of North Carolina. It’s incredible.” Todd’s extensive riding experience led him to another mountain-biking-related enterprise: he is the co-owner of a professional trail building company, Long Cane Trails. Not only did he
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spend his entire youth hunting down the trails and connecting them on massive rides all over western North Carolina, but trails have pretty much become his area of expertise. Todd first learned how to build and maintain trails from a local trail builder, Woody Keen. The folks at the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club saw all the volunteer work Todd was doing to help maintain the trails in Pisgah and made him a trail crew leader. Then, his current partner in Long Cane Trails got wind that he was working in Pisgah and said he had some trail work down in South Carolina. At the time, Todd didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know he could get paid to build trails. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went down there and it lit another fire. I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You can get paid to do this stuff?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The next thing you know I am 50 percent owner of Long Cane Trails,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It feels good to give back to mountain biking in this way, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty easy to do as a trail builder. It just feels good.â&#x20AC;? He said many trail builders get push back on what he describes as â&#x20AC;&#x153;cookie-cutter trails,â&#x20AC;? but Todd brushes that criticism off when he gets asked how he feels about what some call â&#x20AC;&#x153;dumbing down Pisgah.â&#x20AC;? When someone asks me that, it shows how disconnected and impatient they are. People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to remember history. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to accept there was a narrow gauge railroad all over this forest, and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to accept that trucks went up and down Black Mountain for logging operations,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over time, those logging routes became the trails we ride today. Their practice for logging was straight up the hill back in the day, and, when you do that, nature wins. Water will erode those steep sections and rut it out.â&#x20AC;?
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His favorite trail project to date is the Bracken Mountain Preserve trail system, which he volunteered a good bit of time in the layout and construction of the trail. Volunteers from the Brevard community spent hundreds of hours coming in behind Todd, dragging rhododendron and mountain laurel down the hill so he could come in with a machine and cut the trail. “Bracken was the best for me because of the hype it gave to the community and it got people excited,” he said. Todd is currently working on 2 miles of new trail on the Bracken Mountain property, which is owned by the city of Brevard. One of the projects on Bracken will make the initial climb from the parking lot much easier. He’s also got some new events he is working on, like a running event and a big gravel grinder further west through North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. His first gravel event, the Dirt Diggler, begins at the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch and goes through DuPont on a tour of some of the paved and gravel roads in Transylvania and Henderson counties. Todd is a firm believer in a life worth living, which, to him, means following your passions with a plan. “I think I’m a good story for people,” he said. “When you grow up, people say you can be anything you want, but in reality you’re probably not gonna be an astronaut. But you really can do what you want in life if you have some patience and have a plan. “I fell into it. I wanted to live and work and play outside. I could have a big old house in Charlotte, but, you know, living your dream is worth it. That’s a million-dollar lifestyle.”
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PLACES TO STAY IN THE LAND OF WATERFALLS From legendary four star resorts to rustic cabins, Transylvania County has lots of lodging options for you to consider, many of them conveniently located to help you make the most of your cycling excursions. Check out our handy accommodations finder and see just how fast we can get you settled into a room (or suite) that’s the perfect home away from home. Many of our accommodations offer bike-friendly amenities, too!
LEGEND: Wireless internet Handicap accessible Pool Pets allowed
Take advantage of special deals and promotions at ExploreBrevard.com.
RESORTS/LODGES
BED & BREAKFASTS
GREYSTONE INN, THE 220 Greystone Lane, Lake Toxaway • 828-966-4700 greystoneinn.com
BROMFIELD INN, THE 60 Woodside Dr., Brevard • 828-577-0916 thebromfieldinn.com
PILOT COVE FOREST LODGING 319 Gateway Junction Dr., Pisgah Forest • 828-7721667
HOTELS, MOTELS, INNS & HOSTELS SUNSET MOTEL 523 South Broad St., Brevard • 828-884-9106 thesunsetmotel.com BLACK BEAR LODGE OF SAPPHIRE 19386 Rosman Hwy, Sapphire • 828-553-6535 info@blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com
BROOK TROUT INN 19259 Rosman Hwy, Sapphire • 828-273-3700 brooktroutinnsapphire.com CAMPBELL HOUSE 243 West Main St., Brevard 800-553-2853 • campbellhousebrevard.com INN AT BREVARD 315 East Main St., Brevard • 828-884-2105 theinnatbrevard.com KEY FALLS INN 151 Everett Rd., Pisgah Forest • 828-884-7559 keyfallsinn.com
GEAR DOWN geardownbrevard.com • 828-877-GEAR (4327)
PINES COUNTRY INN 178 Tomfoolery Ln., Pisgah Forest • 828-884-7195 pinescountryinn.com
HAMPTON INN 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest • 828-883-4800 hamptoninnbrevard.com
RED HOUSE INN, THE 266 W. Probart St., Brevard • 828-884-9349 brevardbedandbreakfast.com
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 2228 Asheville Hwy., Brevard • 828-862-8900 brevardexpress.com
VACATION RENTALS
MT. TOXAWAY MOTEL & COTTAGES 18825 Rosman Hwy., Sapphire • 828-966-4582 PEDAL INN BIKE RANCH 2075 Crab Creek Rd., Penrose 828-577-4797 • pedalinnbikeranch.net PISGAH INN, THE Milepost 408.6 Blue Ridge Pkwy. • 828-235-8228 pisgahinn.com RIVERBEND LODGE 4259 Pickens Hwy, Rosman • 828-884-6868
Below are listings with multiple units or properties. For a full list of vacation homes go to our website at ExploreBrevard.com/lodging/.
LINGERLONG COTTAGES 52 & 63 Lingerlong Ln., Brevard • 828-553-3197 • Lingerlong.com SUTTON KNOB 7737 Greenville Hwy., Brevard • 828-862-8134 bookings.deerridgepm.com ADVENTURE VILLAGE CABINS 129 Israel Rd., Brevard • 828-862-5411 theadventurevillage.com
Insider tips, itineraries, and more at ExploreBrevard.com 92 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
Jeremiah Bishop returning to farm a er successful team training camp workout.
Bear Ridge Cabins, Shuford Farm, Appletree Co age* & DuPont Outpost Four Ideal Loca ons Easy access to Pisgah and DuPont Forests Knowledgeable Hosts Operated by avid cyclists who can provide advice on customized routes based on first hand knowledge Picturesque Se ngs Overlooking pris ne forest and the French Broad River Valley *New convenient “in town” loca on
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Clay and Lisa Sykes (h) 8288628434 (c) 7707141503 lisamsykes@aol.com
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ANNIE’S RUSSELIN’ LEAVES CABINS 344 Talley Rd., Penrose • 828-553-5149 russelinleaves.com APPALACHIAN HAVENS Brevard • 828-884-6712 • appalachianhavens.com ASH GROVE MOUNTAIN CABINS & CAMPING 749 East Fork Rd., Brevard • 828-885-7216 ash-grove.com BABBLING BROOK COTTAGE 828-290-9771 • bear8.com BEAR RIDGE PROPERTIES 828-862-8434 • vrbo.com/309725 BIG BRANCH CABINS, LLC Busted Rock Rd., Brevard • 828-885-2972 bigbranchcabins.com BRADLEY CREEK FALLS LODGE & EVENT CENTER 3400 East Fork Road, Brevard • 352-242-0167 bradleycreekfalls.com CABINS AT SEVEN FOXES Seven Foxes Ln. off Slick Fisher Rd., Lake Toxaway 828-877-6333 • sevenfoxes.com COZY COTTAGE & PISGAH ADVENTURE CABIN 828-577-3543 • vrbo.com/412196 and vrbo. com/872461 DOG WOODS RETREAT 115 Bluebird Trail, Brevard • 828-507-3020 dogwoodsretreat.com KEY FALLS CABIN 151 Everett Rd., Pisgah Forest • 828-884-7559 keyfallsinn.com MCCRARY’S CABINS AT DUPONT STATE FOREST DuPont Forest • 828-329-7709 MOUNTAINS & MEADOWS AT TURKEY PEN & FERN COVE 828-329-8430 • mountainmeadownc.com
LAKE TOXAWAY COMPANY 100 Waterfall Circle • Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 • 828-966-4260 laketoxaway.com MASTER DIAMOND 828-490-1004 • masterdiamondnc.com PETE KEY PROPERTIES 828-577-3435 • petekey.com SUSAN BREEDLOVE PROPERTIES 16096 Rosman Hwy., Lake Toxaway • 828-966-4026 breedloveproperties.com WHITE SQUIRREL REALTY 828-877-3434 • WhiteSquirrelRealtyBrevard.com
CAMPGROUNDS ADVENTURE VILLAGE 828-862-5411, theadventurevillage.com ANNIE’S RUSSELIN LEAVES 828-553-5149 • RusselinLeaves.com ASH GROVE MOUNTAIN CABINS & CAMPING 828-885-7216 • ash-grove.com AT THE RIDGE CAMPIN’ AND FISHIN’ 828-885-2267, attheridge.com BIKE FARM, THE 828-577-3673 • www.thebikefarm.com BLACK FOREST FAMILY CAMPING RESORT 828-884-2267 • blackforestcampground.com CEDAR MOUNTAIN HORSE CAMP 828-885-5254 • cedarmtnhorsecamp.com DAVIDSON RIVER CAMPGROUND 828-862-5960, 877-444-6777 recreation.gov (search Davidson River) LAZY J 828-966-3834 • lazyjcampground.com MOUNTAIN FALLS MOTORCOACH RESORT 828-966-9350 • mountain-falls.com RIVERBEND 828-966-4214 • riverbendrvresortnc.com
RED HOUSE INN VACATION RENTALS Brevard • 828-884-9349 • brevardbedandbreakfast. com TROUT HOUSE FALLS VACATION RENTALS 704-691-2131 • trouthousefalls.com
RENTAL AGENCIES DEER RIDGE PROPERTIES 7737 Greenville Hwy., Brevard • 828-862-8134 deerridgepm.com HAZEL FISHER & ASSOCIATES 976 Blue Ridge Rd., Lake Toxaway • 828-966-9012 lake-toxaway-estates.com
The Bromfield Inn
Insider tips, itineraries, and more at ExploreBrevard.com 94 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
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Planning for growth takes a village, and for Brevard to grow as a cycling destination sustainably that process requires input and perspective from people who live here for that very reason. A new development in sustainable growth for Brevard is the Friends of the Brevard Area Trails System (BAT), which is the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working name for now. (Its organizer, Torry Nergart, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set on the name officially and is open to suggestions.) Torry is the conservation easement manager for Conserving Carolina, a regional land conservation nonprofit dedicated to saving undeveloped land and, ultimately, water and air quality in the western part of the
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state. Torry said he identified a vacancy in Brevard for this kind of organization and he has generated a lot of support. Torry wanted a nice umbrella for this trail system to live under, so that it would be simple to coordinate events like litter clean-up days and trail maintenance. He compares this program to other cities that have Adopt-a-Greenway programs. “We do things that people like spending their volunteer time on. I want to get do gooders together to do good,” he said. “The trails that the city of Brevard has are just as diverse as the people that are using them. For some parts, the network is a paved city greenway for pedestrians, and we have a raised boardwalk through a wetland. There’s also the gravel path into Pisgah, the Eastatoe trail and the access to the Art Loeb and the Bracken Nature Preserve, so there’s some steep hiking and mountain biking as well.” He sees a need for a diverse group of volunteers that are a mix, just like the trail network. He said his goal is to be as inclusive as possible, so that they can get as much done as possible. “I think about it in terms of wheels, because I am on them a lot of the times,” Tory said. “From strollers to walkers, citizen residents and visitors alike, we need a program that will efficiently and simply bring all the different kinds of people together to help maintain this nice network of trails.” Torry said he is also looking for “spark plugs,” community members looking to step up and adopt sections of the trail that runs through town. He said the access to such a variety of trails and greenways in town is not something that every city can claim. Volunteers, or members who adopt sections, would be able to do so based on their expertise or simply how close they are to the trail that is already there.
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Photographer: Jerry Markatos | Contractor: Bronco Construction, Inc.
Plans to connect the existing trail through the Railroad Avenue corridor to the new Tannery Park and across the Rosman Hwy. to the Gallimore Road section of greenway are underway. The group is actively looking for volunteers to help lead this effort. If anyone is interested in volunteering or learning more, contact Torry Nergart at torry@conser vingcarolina.org or volunteer@conservingcarolina.org. As mountain biking continues to grow in popularity, one of the unintended side effects is that high traffic takes a toll on local trails. In order to maintain a healthy trail system, there’s an ongoing need to repair sections of entrenched singletrack and develop new loops to alleviate congestion. Fortunately, with the support of volunteers and groups like Pisgah Area SORBA (Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association), or PAS, the Forest Service is making some great improvements and exciting changes to trails in the Pisgah District. For the past few years, volunteers with PAS have been busy fixing years of backlogged maintenance on the Pisgah trail system. They called it the “Pisgah 60,” roughly 60 miles of prime singletrack that needed some love. Volunteers and contractors have done some fine work stacking rocks, cleaning drains and hiding those low lines that have been worn in. “We had to look at Pisgah and attack the major problems,” said former PAS president Jeff Keener. “We had major sediment issues and other water issues, which is what happened with Spencer Gap. They were going to close it. It was filling up the Hendersonville Reservoir. But the Forest Service gave us the
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option to raise money and reroute it. Now we have that maintenance done, and now we can start to do new things. Hopefully, one day, we will have an actual mountain bike specific trail. That’s my goal.” With much of that work already accomplished, members of PAS turned their sights to grander things than maintenance. For the first time in many years, new trails are being built in Pisgah. It started with a reroute of Spencer Gap in the Mills River tract of Pisgah. What was once a steep trail that fed the creek with silt is now a contouring ribbon of jumps, turns and high lines that’s about three miles long. The old trail was fun, but the new one is sooo much better. Plans are also being made to develop more singletrack loop opportunities. Connecting to other areas of the forest without riding on roads is important both for mountain bikers and motorists. Getting dusted out on a local forest service road by a big truck is about as appealing as trying to pass a group of slow moving mountain bikers. One project that is currently underway is a connector from the top of Laurel Mountain Trail to Big Creek Trail, keeping riders off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and giving some breathing room to Pilot Rock Trail. There are changes in the works on Black Mountain Trail as well. After all, not everyone wants to hike their bikes to the top of Black Mountain Trail, only to have to dismount in some of the super steep downhill sections. To better accommodate more riders and make an arguably better use of elevation, a new line contouring below the ridge has been flagged for Upper Black Mountain. There’s a lot of rock up there, a lot of topo and a lot of potential. Buckwheat Knob, connecting Black Mountain on the western end to Bennett Gap, is also on the list for some major work. Stacking rocks, fixing entrenched sections of trail and adding some water bars will keep water from running straight down the trail for 50 yards at a time. Because Pisgah is a temperate rainforest, water mitigation is essential for these trails. Avery Creek and Butter Gap trails are also receiving some makeovers. Both of them are slated to receive some love for water control, and the top section of Butter Gap will eventually receive a reroute. The intake at the fish hatchery has been clogging up these last couple of years with sediment, and rerouting the trail just a little bit will not only fix these issues, but also add more elevation drop.
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Renderings for paralleling singletrack along U.S. 276 have also been drawn, and while they are just drafts at this point, if built, their impact could be significant. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sat in traffic leaving Pisgah in the summer, it gets pretty bad. Anything that can be done to keep mountain bikers off the pavement and between the trees is a welcome improvement. You might wonder where the money to fix and build trails comes from. Grants through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is supported by a small percentage of gasoline sales in the state, help hire professional trail contractors to perform work that requires trail building machines and experience. But the trails still need your help, and joining and supporting PAS is a great way to contribute. By joining PAS, you can help support fun and sustainable trails in our community. For more information and to give your support, visit www.pisgaharea sorba.org.
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WATERFALLS OF TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one thing Brevard is better known for than great biking, it would have to be waterfalls. Transylvania County is actually called the Land of Waterfalls. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a temperate rain forest, which is why locals jokingly refer to it as the land where water falls. Fortunately, the abundance of water combines with our mountain topography to create spectacular cascades. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve laid out some of the best waterfalls that are accessible by bike. Be careful when exploring our waterfalls. Peo- WINTERGREEN FALLS ple die every year by drawn, getting and too close. Helpare us just keep 276 have also been while they them open to the public by following some simple drafts at this point, if built, their impact could be guidelines: significant. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sat in traffic leaving Pisgah in the summer, it gets pretty bad. Anything â&#x20AC;˘Stay on marked that can be donetrails. to keep mountain bikers off the â&#x20AC;˘Wear appropriate footwear. pavement and between the trees is a welcome â&#x20AC;˘Do not climb rocks above or below waterfalls. improvement. â&#x20AC;˘Always someone know wherethe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going. Youletmight wonder where money to fix and build trails comes from. Grants through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is supported by a small percentage of gasoline sales in the state, help hire professional trail contractors to perform work that requires trail building maDO MORE FOR chines and experience. MORE MILES ST TO OP P IN FO OR THE TH HE But the trails still need your help, and joining MIICH M ICH CHELIN ELIN EL N DEF FEN NDE DER LTX TX M/S /S. S. IT TS S ST TRONG RO R ONGER NG GER R ADV AD DV VAN VAN ANCE NCE C DT TR REA EAD COMP CO OMP MP POU OU O UNDS ND DS and supporting PAS is a great way to contribute. HOL HO LD D UP TO TO TO OU UGH HE ER R CON O D DIIT TIION ONS LO LONG NGER ER. ER. By joining PAS, you can help support fun and sustainable trails in our community. For more information and to give your support, visit THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WHY YOU CHOOSE www.pisgahareasorba.org. & ' ( ( ) US FOR YOUR INTERNET,
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Bike and ) Pedestrian * ) ' ) Plan Brevard is frequently referred to as the Cy of the South, due to the hundreds of cling Capital of world-class !" miles recreational riding in our
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creating a cycling and pedestrian friendly environment, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always striving to make things better. After all, our multi-use bike is fantastic, path but there are many destinations that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ! "#$ % reach. There are some intersections without crosswalk buttons, and narrow road shoulders COMPORIUM.COM can be challenging for cyclists. Fortunately, some $IBSMJFhT 5JSF $F FOUFS S *OD 828-884-9011 $IBSMJFhT 5JSF $FOUFS *OD dedicated community members have begun / $BMEXFMM 4U working behind the scenes to make our county / $BMEXFMM 4U XXX XX X DIBSMJFTUJSFDFO OUFS DPN XXX DIBSMJFTUJSFDFOUFS DPN more bike and pedestrian friendly. Mark Burrows, the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planning and community development director, has been working with his team and a list of about 24 community volunteers to form a steering committee, with the goal of implementing a county-wide bike and pedestrian ÂŽ
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2019 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 101
WATERFALLS ACCESSIBLE BY MOUNTAIN BIKE & GRAVEL BIKE
Bridal Veil Falls – Easy Ride Ride time: One hour round trip. Directions: •Park at the Buck Forest parking lot in DuPont. •Ride through the gate at the back of the lot. •Go straight under the covered bridge. •Turn right after the bridge on Conservation Rd. •Turn right on Bridal Veil Falls Rd. •Leave your bike at the bike corral and enjoy the view.
Whale Back Falls – Easy Ride Ride time: One hour round trip. Directions: •Park at the Pisgah Center For Wildlife Education/Fish Hatchery parking lot on Fish Hatchery Road (FS 475). •Ride out of the fish hatchery parking lot back onto the main road and make a left. •Make a left onto Davidson River Trail. •Stay on Davidson River Trail for about two miles. •There is a distinct left turn off this trail that leads down to the falls. There is no sign but you can hear the waterfalls.
BRIDAL VEIL FALLS
WHALE BACK FALLS
WATERFALLS ACCESSIBLE BY ROAD BIKE
It’s easy to do a waterfall tour on a road bike too. Waterfalls worth checking out are around every corner if you know where to look. Here are a few that don’t require much sidetracking! Please note that all of these falls are on two lane roads that can get a good bit of traffic, especially during warm weather, so be considerate of drivers and ride with caution. Looking Glass Falls You could call Looking Glass the easiest waterfall in the county to visit, and it’s one of the waterfalls on the Parkway Loop in our road routes guide. Located in Pisgah National Forest on U.S. 276, it’s about 5 miles from the intersection with U.S. 64 and N.C. 280. The falls are located on the right side of the road not far past Fish Hatchery Rd. (FS 475); you can’t miss it. There is a long roadside parking lane
LOOKING GLASS FALLS
BIRD ROCK FALLS
Bird Rock Falls Bird Rock Falls is also located on the Parkway Loop ride, behind the Living Waters Ministry property on N.C. 215. The falls are hidden on rider’s right. It might be best to remove cycling shoes before making the way down the stairs. The falls can be heard from the road; just follow the path and respect private property. 102 B I K E T R A N SY LVA N I A . C O M 2019
CONNESTEE FALLS
Connestee Falls This waterfall is hidden just out of view on U.S. 276 in the Cedar Mountain community. A few years ago a new viewing platform was built to help visitors access the falls safely, and there are plenty of benches where you can sit and rest tired legs. It’s worth noting that traffic can get heavy on U.S. 276, especially on nice weekends. To get there from Brevard, pedal south on U.S. 276 towards the South Carolina state line. About 6 miles from town the road turns uphill and climbs a steady grade for a solid two miles. On the right after the road levels out there will be signs for Connestee Falls and a defined area where other people will be visiting the falls. The ride to and from the falls should take the average rider about an hour and half. Hooker Falls Hooker Falls, located in DuPont State Recreational Forest, is one of the county’s most iconic falls. While not technically roadside, there is a large parking area and a wide footpath upon which you can walk your road bike. The rocky “beach” around the pool at the base of the falls is a popular area for visitors during the hot summer months. The Hooker Falls access area is on DuPont Road, and can be accessed from either U.S. 64/Crab Creek Road on the Hendersonville side of Brevard, or from U.S. 276/Cascade Lake Road/Staton Road if you’re coming from Cedar Mountain. If you’re riding a road or road/gravel loop that traverses the forest, it can make a great stopping point.
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BLUE RIDGE BICYCLE CLUB
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The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club is a bicycling advocacy group that has been active in the greater Pisgah area for many years. BRBC is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that provides organization and funding for a variety of cycling projects in western North Carolina. The club promotes education, healthy living and cycling related safety for all user groups, from new riders to experienced athletes. The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fundraiser, the Hunter Subaru WNC Flyer, has been ongoing for 16 years. Scheduled this year on Sunday, June 2, this picturesque ride begins at Oskar Blues Brewery and allows riders to enjoy the beautiful scenery and rolling hills of the French Broad River valley without long mountain climbs. The ride is capped at 1,000 riders
for safety reasons, and participants may choose between a full century, metric century, half century and half metric. The event concludes at the brewery with BBQ, music and beer (first brew compliments of Oskar Blues). The WNC Flyer has been named the best ride in WNC by the Asheville independent weekly Mountain Express. Funds raised from the event have allowed the group to contribute more than $300,000 to bicycle advocacy, including greenway expansion projects and funding for studies, grants to support cycling projects and providing a series of rides for beginner riders. In 2015, BRBC gave $10,000 to Henderson and Transylvania counties for the promotion of the Ecusta Trail (see separate story on page 121), and has committed $25,000 to help Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Flat Rock and Transylvania County develop bicycle plans. BRBC also donated a Bike Fixit station outside Oskar Blues Brewery, and a park bench to the city of Brevard. Visit www.blueridgebicycleclub.org to learn more about BRBC. For more information and to register for the 17th Annual WNC Flyer, visit www.wncflyer.com.
Voted the best Road Bike Event in WNC
Held annually on the first Sunday in June For more information & to register, www.wncflyer.com
Promoting a healthy and fun lifestyle through cycling in Western North Carolina For more information about our advocacy efforts, our rides and how to become a member, please visit our website.
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TCS CYCLING CLUB
When the Transylvania County Schools Cycling Club hits the trails, it’s an amazing sight to see. With over 50 young members and 25 kids on each ride, it can be loud, and for volunteers, it can feel a little like herding cats. But to see so many young riders develop a passion for riding mountain bikes is incredibly rewarding, and the program keeps growing every year. According to program facilitator Noelle Khare, the Cycling Club has been a true community effort, which has helped eliminate some of the financial barriers to mountain biking. Sycamore Cycles has donated about 20 bikes to the cause, and SylvanSport has donated a trailer to help get all the bikes to the trailhead. The Hub and Pisgah Tavern are donating
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time to keep the bikes running smoothly and tires pumped. “Many businesses have donated money or equipment to support our program,” Khare said. “It really takes a village, and it works.” In the club, students learn about trail etiquette, like stopping and dismounting when encountering horseback riders, and talking to horses to reassure them (horses are often scared when they come across weird looking helmets and bikes making strange noises). They also learn proper riding techniques like not to skid, how to ride in control and to yield to other forest users. Community members really make the team what it is. Khare couldn’t do it without the help of folks like Ryan DeGarmo, a parent and Brevard
resident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something I see time and again that really surprises me is the overall confidence and selfesteem some of these kids gain by participating with the bike club,â&#x20AC;? said Degarmo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of them may not connect with team sports at school, and the bike club gives them an option to try something different or to connect with other kids that love to ride. I have seen kids that are pretty anxious about coming to their first ride. They may even hide in the background a little at first. But after a few rides, or even on the first ride, you see that start to disappear. They often walk back to their parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cars with a hop in their step and new confidence in themselves. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty neat to see that transformation.â&#x20AC;? Many young riders have learned to love riding mountain bikes through the program; some have gone on to receive scholarships at colleges with cycling teams. Young athletes like Rudy Sutton, Bergen Khare, Colby McCalister and Matt Owen all received cycling scholarships, taking what they learned in Transylvania to the next level. Some of those riders return to lead rides and coach younger cyclists. Khare said that the passion for riding is cyclical, and she hopes that trend will continue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our ranks in the program are filled with middle and high school kids,â&#x20AC;? said Khare. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our youngest kid this year is in the sixth grade and the oldest will be seniors in high school. We try to foster a supportive learning environment where the kids teach others. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fast, Safe and Politeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is our motto. We want them to take what they have learned and teach it to the other kids.â&#x20AC;? To learn more about the Transylvania County Schools Cycling Club, contact Noelle Khare at (828) 553 7071, or visit www.facebook.com/TCSCyclingClub.
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SHRED SISTERS There’s a lot going on in the mountain bike world for the ladies these days. And we’re not just talking pastel riding gear and cute hashtags: women’s riding crews can be seen all over the local forests, sometimes rolling a dozen deep – and they don’t need a man to change their flat tires. More and more opportunities for women to learn and get out on the bike are filling calendars year round, like the Elevated Rides program run by Jordan Salman, owner of The Hub and Pisgah Tavern. She started the program for ladies looking to enhance their experience and fuel the excitement for cycling among women. Jordan is a Level 1 Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association instructor and says she really wants to give back to her community through the program. She has led whitewater paddling and climbing trips through local summer camps and she has a degree in wilderness leadership and experiential education from Brevard College. So, she knows her stuff.
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“This is just tons of fun, you know. I got into mountain biking before a lot of the women did, and I chased the boys around and crashed a lot and just learned by making mistakes,” she said. “But there’s a much better way to learn that is more accessible so it’s not about eating the dirt all the time. For the same reason folks need a skiing lesson, some proper instruction goes a long way.” Jordan says that many women are less willing to get out into the wilderness on their own, and are less likely to fiddle with suspension knobs and dials because they are afraid they will mess the fork or shock up. Through her program, she covers all the basics of suspension set up, as well as general bike set up. “We help them with their cockpit set up, stuff like moving brake levers. Women have much smaller hands than the men – that’s not something every lady would think about. For example, a lot of women are using two fingers to brake, and a lot of women are riding suspension way too stiff for them or tire pressure that’s way too high. Simple things like that can make the experience that much better,” she said. Her team at Elevated Rides consists of a former professional road racer, an acupuncturist, a chef and a Carmichael Training Systems coach who has competed in races all over the world. “I think what I have created with three of my very best friends is what I needed to start out riding. I wish something like this was around here 15 years ago,” she said. “It’s amazing how a group of women can be inspirational. If you see someone who is like you do it, then you’re more likely to believe you can do it too. I forever watched my husband, Sam, manhandle his bike up and down trails with upper body strength. But, once you see someone that is truly your peer, it seems easier and much more doable.” Jordan has a few dates on the calendar this year already, and she also offers private instruction, which she says is her favorite because she gets to get right to the part the client wants to work on. Her Elevated Rides weekends are full of healthy meals, great trails, yoga to recover and stay limber, and the best mountain biking that western North Carolina has to offer. A typical weekend includes airport shuttling to a nice rental home, skills clinics, trail rides, laughing and making
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making friends. To learn more about the program, visit www.elevatedride.com. Another opportunity to learn about more bike mechanics from a Hub employee started last year and is continuing through 2019. Shiloh Broadway has been at The Hub for a couple of years, and she is proudly the only female mechanic in Brevard. She has the experience too; she has taken suspension clinics from the folks at Fox Suspension, who set up an east coast office last year, and online clinics from Shimano.
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It’s not just the locals hosting events for ladies either. This year both the Ladies All Ride and ROAM Festival are coming back to Brevard and will have their base camp at the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch, which borders DuPont State Recreational Forest. ROAM Festival is the world’s first ladies-only mountain bike festival, and director Ash Bocast has a few stops around the country, but Brevard had to be on the list. Ash describes the atmosphere at her festival as more of a summer camp vibe rather than a typical mountain bike festival. Mountain bike festivals are always held in popular riding destinations with vendors and bike companies setting up shop for the weekend with gear and demo bikes, so everyone can try the latest and greatest equipment. But Ash said hers are different in that she puts together workshops, film screenings and raffles. “We try to avoid the cattle prodding that happens at larger festivals,” she said. “And we don’t do skills clinics. We’re here to shred and we want to make sure these ladies have shuttles and local trail leaders. We want them on the trails until it’s beer o’clock.” This year, ROAM Fest is May 3 – 5 and will feature all the major bike brands on site with their latest and greatest gear. Ash said that she is offering day passes as well. To learn more about ROAM, visit www.roambikefest.com. Women looking for intensive instruction on the mountain bike should also consider the Ladies All Ride clinics. Lindsey Richter, director of the program, chose Brevard, and specifically the REEB Ranch, as a stop for her business because she said it’s pretty much the perfect location.
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“We have a pretty set formula that makes these camps really special. We need a large grassy area close to trails so ladies can practice intimidating skills in a safe and controlled environment first,” she said. “We love it when trails are easy to get to after we practice in grass, and DuPont is close by and only requires a few vehicles for shuttles. We like that it only takes a few minutes to get to each trailhead where we can spread nine groups of women out on trails that have good teachable features like roots, rocks, corners, drops, etc. DuPont has it all for us.” Lindsey has been teaching ladies how to be stronger, fitter and work on their skills for years. She loves watching women progress with their bike skills, but, more importantly, she and her employees love witnessing women face their fears, start believing in themselves and learn to change negative thoughts into positive ones. “We love showing them how learning to mountain bike also relates to life. We see them walk away with a little spring in their step, and that feels great. Seeing women gain confidence in themselves and their abilities is priceless,” she said. Lindsey also hosts camps in Sedona, Ariz., Bentonville, Ark., Bend, Ore., Big Sky, Mt., Grand Targhee, Wyo., and Lyndonville, Vt. This year the Brevard stop is Aug. 26 - 27 and Aug. 29-30. To learn more about the Ladies All Ride skills clinic, visit www.ladiesallride.com. Locals and visitors to the Brevard area looking to join in on a ride and meet other ladies can also do that. Charisma Arbogast has been leading the Sycamore Cycles ladies ride for about seven years, and each ride is a no-drop social event. From the first week in April through the first week in September, ladies can show up and expect to have a good time with no pressure to ride at anyone’s pace but their own. “First and foremost, I like to ride, so I carve out that time because I make sure I can get out on the bike once a week,” she said. “I know when I started riding there weren’t lots of women on mountain bikes, so I rode with the guys. As soon as the guys could see me rolling toward an intersection they started rolling away, so I spent a lot of time riding by myself on group rides because I wasn’t strong enough or fast enough. I want women to have a better experience, to have that feeling of camaraderie.” Charisma hosts the ladies rides during the week, but she is also hosting a ride on the third Sunday of the month. To learn more about the Sycamore Cycles Ladies Ride, check the Sycamore Cycles Facebook page for updates and weather cancellations, or email Charisma at charisma.arbogast@gmail.com.
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BIKE FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to Brevard than just endless trails and roads. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to find something else to do in town or if you want to hire a guide to show you around without all the hassle of logisitics then there are plenty of options right in town or within a few minute drive. REEB Ranch Just outside of town is the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch, with a full-on bike park that will thrill everyone from kids on balance bikes, to skinny jean dirt jumpers to the folks who want to blaze down tree-lined singletrack. This year, the REEB Ranch will have canned beer for sale at their bike park and options for food trucks on various dates. The bike park opens April 20 this year and will close sometime in October. REEB offers family memberships, as well as individual passes, and
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day passes if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just in town for the day. Memberships include 10 percent off of merchandise, a members-only camping weekend and three guest passes for friends. Other events at the REEB Ranch this year include the Dirt Diggler gravel race, the ROAM womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bike fest, the Ladies All Ride skills clinic, the REEBellion festival, Asheville Cyclocross races, the Brevard College home mountain bike race and the Hendersonville Short Track series. Burning Can, a three-day music festival, will also be held at the Ranch. A new festival, the Float Life Festival, billed as the largest onewheeler festival in the world, is also happening this summer. The Tailchaser 250, a motorcycle ride benefitting the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club, will return in April. Accomodations There are several places in Brevard that market directly to visiting cyclists. The Sunset Motel in Brevard has bike-washing stations, as well as secure storage for bikes, and usually fills up when there is an event in town. The Pedal Inn Bike Ranch located near the REEB Ranch caters to cyclists as well. The Pilot Cove Cabins and Campground, located behind The Hub and Pisgah Tavern, has its own jump line and is an easy pedal from the property into Pisgah National Forest. Brevard is home to several guide companies that specialize in providing the best experience they
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BIKE FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS can for their clients. If you want to enjoy a great time on the trail without worrying about all the logistics, our local guide services offer distinct packages highlighting some of the best mountain biking on the East Coast. Red Wolf Tours Red Wolf Mountain Bike Tours offers private guided tours throughout Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. They strive to customize trips to each individual’s goals and abilities, whether that’s a leisurely ride finished with a swim in a lake, or an attempt to knock out as much mileage and climbing as possible. Whatever your goals are for your trip, they can design a ride that works for you. www.redwolftours.com (828) 384-6713. Carmichael Training Systems Explore the beautiful trails of Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest and Paris Mountain State Park with experienced and certified CTS Mountain Bike Guides. No matter your ability level, they can craft unique half-day, full-day or multi-day guided mountain bike tours for you. Book a trip with CTS to experience a thrilling ride and get a real taste for the stunning Brevard area mountain bike trails. www.trainright.com (866) 355-0645. REEB Tours The folks at REEB will set up the routes, load the truck and pack the cooler so you can focus on riding. Their mountain bike tours will show you the best the area has to offer, whether you’re looking for epic all-day rides or a family beginner holiday. Staying at the Ranch puts you at the doorstep of DuPont State Recreational Forest and a short ride away from the epic, world-renowned trails of Pisgah National Forest. The REEB mountain bike guides have more than 20 years experience on the trail. There’s also a fleet of hand-made REEB Dikyelous hardtails for rent. Riders can choose a 1×11 geared or a single-speed belt drive bike. Either way, throwing your leg over one of REEB’s hand-made trail slayers is a must for any mountain biking trip to the area. For more information, visit www.reebranch.com.
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Pura Vida Adventures Joe Moerschbacher has had a guide service in Brevard for 15 years. His primary focus these days is canyoneering down steep creeks and waterfalls, but he also loves to lead mountain bike trips all over Pisgah and DuPont. Located near the entrance of Pisgah National Forest, Pura Vida can take families canoeing and show hardcore athletes a day of adventure. www.pvadventures.com (772) 579-0005.
The Bike Farm The Bike Farm’s mission is to provide a base camp for all your needs while out on two wheels. Located just north of the entrance to Pisgah, the Farm set up includes “glamping,” regular tent and car camping and hot showers. Full service guides through Pisgah and DuPont include shuttle services, all-day backcountry rides, and adventures catered to individual or group needs. www.bikefarmpisgah.com (828) 577-3673.
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BREWERIES
Outdoor recreation communities are often home to some great breweries, and Brevard is no exception. In fact, when you come off the trails in Pisgah, you’re only moments away from one brewery, and just a couple minutes on the community bike path from another. If you stay on that path, there are two more breweries in downtown Brevard. That’s four great breweries that are less than a 20-minute bike ride from each other! The newest brewery in town is UpCountry, located in the Lumberyard District at 212 N. King St., Suite B, behind Squatch Bikes and Brews and Magpie Meat & Three. UpCountry Brewery was founded in West Asheville in 2016 by craft beer industry veteran John Cochran, co-founder of Terrapin Beer Company. UpCountry’s mission is to create awesome experiences while sharing their passion for craft beer, local music and getting outside. Their newest location in Brevard’s Lumberyard District was opened in 2018. For more information, visit www.upcrountrybrewing.com. Brevard’s oldest existing brewery is the Brevard Brewing Company, located downtown on East Main Street. The relaxed, community-friendly atmosphere at Brevard Brewing Company has made it a favorite spot for locals to enjoy conversation over a pint of one of the world’s oldest crafts. Owner and brewmaster Kyle Williams offers German-style lagers in addition to American ales. Williams said it is the only brewery in western North Carolina to specialize in lagers, which can be more costly to produce and require patience to brew due to a long aging process. According to Williams, most mass-produced lagers are light and lack flavor,
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whereas many craft breweries strive to make consistently bolder and hoppier brews. Brevard Brewing Company’s goal is to give beer lovers the best of both worlds – beer that is both drinkable and flavorful. For more information, visit www.brevard-brewing.com. Of course, if you’re a mountain biker, you know that Oskar Blues, as a company and as a culture, is cut from the mountain biker lifestyle of “Work hard, play hard.” That vibe, along with access to the trails, and, of course, clean water, are a big part of why Dale Katechis brought his business here. Katechis had been visiting the area for years to ride mountain bikes, and began coming so often that he bought another bike to leave here. “One thing led to another,” he said. “I sketched it out on a napkin, and it made more sense to build a brewery here. I knew I wasn’t going to be giving up quality of life, but instead was going to enhance my quality of life.” In return, Oskar Blues has done much to improve the Brevard community. Not only are there bands at the brewery and events and their nearby biking
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BREWERIES facility, the REEB Ranch, but the Can’d Aid Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the brewery, has given 50 bikes to kids in the community. They also regularly fund trail projects in the region. After all, REEB’s mantra is “Ride Bikes. Drink Beer.” The Can’d Aid foundation also regularly drums up support for other communities that have experienced a natural disaster. When a community near their Austin, Texas, brewery was leveled by tornados, they canned tens of thousands of cans of water for disaster relief. For more information visit www.oskarblues.com. Ecusta is the Cherokee word for the Davidson River, so it’s only right that Ecusta Brewing sits on the riverbanks at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. A recently renovated space, fresh ideas about beer and proximity to the forest keep it hopping with people coming in and out of the woods. It’s not uncommon to see a nod to outdoors culture at Ecusta Brewing, with beer names like Rey’d On, First Descent IPA, Forest Party Red and Parkway Pils. Recurring events like their local dart league and trivia nights have a loyal following, and the brewery is always a popular spot for a post-ride pint. “We now have two great entities that draw people to our area, craft beer and our forest,” said owner Josh Chambers. “Both have the same effect: they help you decompress, enjoy the moment and bring like-minded people together. What better way to finish, or plan, an adventure than talking it over with a fresh local brew! Simply put, they both make you feel good.” For more information, visit www.ecustabrewing.com.
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After nearly eight years since the Friends of Ecusta Trail was formed, momentum for the rails-to-trails project continues to grow, but still needs support from county officials. The Ecusta Trail is the proposed rail-to-trail conversion of the 19-mile stretch of unused rail line from Brevard to Hendersonville. The rail has not been used for freight since the Ecusta paper mill closed in 2002. WATCO, a short-line holding company, purchased the line from Norfolk-Southern Railways in March of 2014. Short-line railroads are defined as local railroads with annual operating revenue of less than $20 million. The property where the former Ecusta plant was located has been on the market for three years now and is listed as “mixed use” for residential, commercial and light industrial for $15 million. The owners of the rail line, Watco, declined to comment on what kinds of companies they have been marketing the rail line to, but they maintain that they are actively seeking someone to invest in the rail line. Brevard City Council officially backed the Ecusta Trail in 2015; shortly afterwards the Henderson County commissioners also endorsed creation of the trail in a unanimous vote. The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority approved a tax appropriation that same year to help fund the trail in the form of an occupancy tax. Transylvania County officials have not been as enthusiastic about the project. In 2016, efforts to get language about the proposed Ecusta Trail in the 2025 Comprehensive Plan for the county were rejected. The purpose of that plan is to provide a framework for future county investments. During the county’s comprehensive planning survey, which only 8 percent of the county resident’s responded to, one question asked was, “Thinking about the next 10 years, what would you like to see in the county that is not here now?” The Ecusta Trail was the second-highest response after jobs. The county has maintained that the line is a vital piece of economic infrastructure and has cited concerns over private property rights and an increase in crime. The Friends of the Ecusta trail remain positive, however, and are actively seeking volunteers to help with their efforts. “The big thing we’re focusing on is we’re really trying to engage volunteers,” said Chris Burns, a volunteer with the organization. “There are a lot of different events that we’re being asked to be present at.” Burns said the Friends of the Ecusta Trail is currently exploring the potential for a fundraising feasibility study, something on a much larger scale than a Go Fund Me page. Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about the Ecusta Trail can visit www.ecustatrail.org.
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KEVIN MORAN Kevin Moran has arguably more miles in his legs than any other cyclist in Brevard. That’s saying a lot for a town with three bike shops that attract riders from all over the world, but in the last seven years he has averaged more than 8,500 miles and climbed half-a-million feet a year. So far in 2019, he has 1,300 miles on the bike, although many of them are indoors on his trainer because Brevard has had a lot of rain and nasty weather this winter. Kevin, like many cyclists in the winter, uses a program called Zwift to ride and actually ride with other cyclists from all over the world at the same time. They can connect with each other while riding world championship courses, making the short winter days more bearable. Kevin approaches the age of 70 this year, and he doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. He’s been riding like this since the 1970s, when he bought his first nice road bike, a Peugeot PX10, a ten-speed steel racer. Cycling was just something he did for exercise, but it hooked him. Since then he has had dozens of bikes: mountain, road and more recently, gravel bikes. “I do it for health,” he said. “I have always been relatively health conscious, been a vegetarian since the mid-‘70s.” His current road bike, a Trek Emonda, weighs a feathery 14 pounds. It helps him get up the hills, but on the downhill he says it can get a little dicey. “You have to pay attention when you’re descending – it can get a little skittish. It’s super responsive. When you come into a hairpin turn you better know your line and don’t make any sudden moves. All of a sudden you can be 5 feet away from where you were looking,” he said. Descending on the road bike is actually his favorite part of road riding. He says he pays for it on the uphill, though.
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He and a close group of friends have been climbing to the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Black Mountain trailhead parking lot for more than 20 years. Each Wednesday after Daylight Saving Time, he and his crew meet up and make the 20-mile climb, followed by the exhilarating descent. “You have to be confident when you’re spinning the cranks at 35 miles an hour coming down U.S. 276. That’s 80 percent of it,” he said. Kevin has been on the cycling scene for longer than most newcomers to Brevard have even lived here. “Lot’s of solo time,” he said. “It’s like meditation for me. I get into a very relaxed state, depending on the terrain. On the flats, cruising along the French Broad River valley, I can get into a meditative state where it’s really relaxing.” In the summer, Kevin spends more time on the endless miles of gravel roads, and on singletrack than he does on the road, just because of the amount of traffic during tourist season. But he says there are still empty paved backroads that can be found year round. Kevin’s go-to ride is the Caesar’s Head loop in reverse, as locals call it, but out-of-towners know it better as the Assault on the Carolina’s loop. Kevin prefers descending U.S. 276 into South Carolina during the warmer months simply because of the amount of traffic coming up the hill. Although Kevin enjoys riding solo, he also loves to see the growth in Brevard’s cycling scene. “When I moved here I pretty much knew everybody riding. It was Bill Tellman, Doug Hoffman and Steve Stark. The four of us rode two or three times a week together, and you never saw anybody else out on rides, and there were very few people out in the forest back then,” he said. Kevin was at the very first Assault on the Carolinas ride in 2000 with just 47 other riders. These days the Assault sells out months in advance and is capped at 1,000 riders. Kevin does a little racing these days, but in 2014 he won the Masters 65+ category at the North Carolina Road Race Championship, which was held in Wade, N.C. The 36-mile race covered the rolling hills in eastern Cumberland County. Cyclists from across the state competed for a place on the podium, many setting it as their target event of the year.
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KEVIN MORAN
“It was a hard pace, but I was fortunate to be in a breakaway that successfully built a lead on my competition,” he said. Kevin was retired when he moved to Brevard, after a career managing Walgreen’s drug stores in the Sarasota, Fla., area. For several years, he put his knowledge and experience to use volunteering at the local free clinic. “We had a program going for indigent people who couldn’t get their prescriptions, and we had a medication assistance program for Transylvania County. We had a couple hundred patients that we provided free meds for. They were all in-county residents,” he said. “The free clinic had been in operation for maybe 10 years prior when the ACA came along. The general thoughts were that everyone was going to have medical coverage, so a lot of our sources for funding just dried up.” The clinic closed a few years ago, and with that extra free time, Kevin simply got out on the road more. “I don’t see it as a big accomplishment,” he said. “It’s a way of life. I go out and exercise for 2-5 hours, five days a week and fill the rest of the day with whatever I have to do.”
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NUTRITION TIPS
Nutrition tips from cyclist and trainer Allison Arensman •Protein is the superhero macro! It builds lean muscle, keeps you satiated longer and keeps hormones in balance. Ten grams before exercise and 25 grams postworkout, within 30 minutes. That’s the key to success. •Hydration. Sip water and also electrolytes (a half tablet of NUUN Electrolyte in a water bottle works great!) throughout the day. Increase your hydration before and after workouts. •Pro cycling tip: “Bonking is often caused by improper hydration. Consume at least one bottle of water/electrolytes per-hour of riding. •Stack your carbs. Think of the day as an upside down triangle: “Loading” the front part of the day and tapering off as you get into the afternoon and evening. •Gut health! Help your body help you and get a hold of probiotics, daily. Supplement or foods – such as sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha and plain greek yogurts – probiotics help balance your gut bacteria, making it easier to absorb nutrients instead of storing them as body fat. Nutrition Tips from Pinkbike Writer and Editor Daniel Sapp Being Celiac and having to eat gluten-free makes it a little trickier when eating before riding, especially if I’m somewhere strange overseas. When I’m at home, there are a few different routines, depending on the ride. •For riding first thing in the morning, I like to get up and ride right away on an empty stomach. I’m fine if it’s under an hour and a half and if it gets to be more than that, a light bar – something solid with a bit of sugar in it, like a gluten free (continued on pg. 126)
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NUTRITION TIPS Nutrition Tips from Pinkbike writer and editor Daniel Sapp
Honey Stinger waffle or Luna Bar (all of these are gluten free) – will do the trick in sustaining long enough to get the ride done and home. If I’m not riding first thing, I’ll eat a bowl of oatmeal or another meal and then roll with the same philosophy. For rides over an hour and a half, I try to eat every hour. •Riding at other times during the day, I make sure I don’t start out hungry. If I’m riding for a long time, I eat at least every hour and try to have as much as I feel comfortable with. There’s no set formula to it. I think your body does a good job of telling you how much is enough, usually. As far as what I eat, I usually have some Luna Bars or other random real food. If it’s a longer ride I’ll have a mix of sweet and salty foods. I’m a fan of almond butter, almonds, Nutella, baked potatoes, salami, leftover pizza – whatever won’t get too gross. For longer rides, it’s important to have something that can bail you out if you run out of energy. A Snickers bar has been a lifesaver more than once. •After riding I try and eat within 30 minutes. The longer you wait after riding, the less your body recovers and repairs the way it needs to. I prefer real food, but if it’s going to be a bit before I can eat I’ll have a recovery drink. Clif makes a good one, as do a few other companies. These products have a lot of nutrients in them and can sustain you for a surprisingly long time until you get real food in. •If I’m totally cracked after a ride, a Coca-Cola can provide some quick calories and sugars to get me feeling back to normal. Ice cream is also a good treat but doesn’t provide quite the benefits. Beer can be a good recovery drink too – calories and some sugars, but it’s easy to have one lead to another when you’re tired and dehydrated already, which can derail any plans you may have had later in the day. The other big thing with recovering from a ride is just resting. Staying off my feet is the biggest help in feeling good later in the day or the following day. Stretching helps as well, so that your muscles don’t tense up while you’re asleep.
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Nutrition Tips from local cyclist Kevin Moran
•I’m vegetarian and have been since the mid ‘70s •Two to three hours before a big ride, a couple of eggs and rice with whole-wheat toast or oat meal with a high-protein nondairy almond/cashew milk, blueberries or bananas. Then about 20 minutes before, a fig bar or something similar. •The night before I try to drink 3050 oz. of water. •During the ride, gels, gel blocks, sports bars, fig bars – anything sweet/salty or lemon/lime. Stinger Waffles are pretty good. •I drink a sports drink with electrolytes, usually a bottle an hour with about 100 calories/30 carbs. •After, I’ll drink a recovery drink with a 1:3 of protein to carbs. I’m normally not hungry after and wait about an hour before eating anything solid. Carbonated flavored water is a pretty good thirst quencher. I can drink a beer if the social atmosphere is right and there’s no ride the next day, but ice cream is always acceptable.
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MARKET PLACE/ADVERTISING INDEX ACCOMMODATIONS
CYCLING SALES/SERVICE
GENERAL DINING
Adventure and Luxury Cabin See ad on pg. 83
The Hub and Pisgah Tavern See ad on pg. 64
Cedar Mountain Café See ad on pg. 82
Ash Grove Mountain Cabins & Camping See ad on pg. 17
Ohlins Advanced Suspension Technology See ad on pg. 6
Dugan’s Pub See ad on pg. 51
Bear Ridge Properties See ad on pg. 93
Squatch Bikes & Brews See ad on pg. 63
The Bromfield Inn See ad on pg. 127
Sycamore Cycles See ad on Inside Back Cover
Deer Ridge Property Management See ad on pg. 45
CYCLING TOURS/EVENTS
Gear Down Brevard See ad on pg. 53 Hampton Inn Brevard See ad on pg. 9 and 95 Pilot Cove See ad on pg. 12 Residential Property Management & Sales LLC Isaac Allen See ad on pg. 107
Cycling Tours/Races
Blue Ridge Adventures The White Squirrel Cycling Classic See pg 90
Cycling Gear/Apparel
HEALTH SERVICES
Health Services
Brevard Rolfing and Massage Chanley Layton See ad on pg. 109
EDUCATION
Education
Mountain Sun Community School See ad on pg. 111
CYCLING GEAR/APPAREL
The KTCHN See ad on pg. 88
Oskar Blues REEB Ranch See ad on pg. 81
Sunset Motel See ad on pg. 19
Charlie’s Tire Center See ad on pg. 101
Rocky’s Soda Shop See ad on pg. 41
Brevard Orthopaedics Mission Health See ad on pg. 33
Brevard College See ad on pg. 43
AUTOMOTIVE
Jet’s Pizza See pg. 111
Red Wolf Mountain Bike Tours See ad on pg. 115
Riverbend Lodge See ad on pg. 91
Automotive
Hawg Wild Barbecue See ad on pg. 97
FOOD MARKETS
Food Markets
Food Matters Market and Café See ad on pg. 80
Cognative MTB See ad on pg. 59
Transylvania County Farmer’s Market See ad on pg. 109
Weevil Outdoor Supply Co. See ad on pg. 13
Whistlestop Market LLC See ad on pg. 105
Elevate Physical Therapy See ad on pg. 21 Fyzical See ad on pg. 35 Mercy Urgent Care See ad on pg. 117 Transylvania Public Health See ad on pg. 55 and 107 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Outdoor Adventures
Blue Ridge Adventures See ad on pg. 90 Blue Ridge Bicycle Club See ad on pg. 105 Etowah Valley Golf Club & Lodge See ad on pg. 49
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BIKE MARKET PLACE / ADVERTISING INDEX OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
RETAIL
Pisgah Forest Gem Mine See ad on pg. 15
Brevard Hemp See ad on pg. 69
Sherwood Forest Golf Club See ad on pg. 76
D.D. Bullwinkel's Outdoors See ad on pg. 41
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Highland Books See ad on pg. 55
Brevard Insurance See ad on pg. 16
Penny Lane Exchange See ad on pg. 37
Comporium See ad on pg. 130
Theophilus See ad on pg. 37
Ecusta Credit Union See ad on pg. 25
Tap Rooms/Breweries
Mac Heating & Air See ad on pg. 14
Wolf Brew See ad on pg. 119
ManglerMixer Productions See ad on pg. 29
TAP ROOMS/BREWERIES
TRAILS/LANDSCAPING
Platt Architecture PA See ad on pg. 98
Long Cane Trails See ad on pg. 89
State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge See ad on pg. 101
New Leaf Garden Market See ad on pg. 103
Transylvania County Economic Alliance See ad on pg. 128 REAL ESTATE
Real Estate
Bernadette Merriman Looking Glass Realty See ad on pg. 15
Pisgah Area SORBA See ad on pg. 99 VISITOR INFORMATION
Visitor Information
Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority See ad on Back Cover, pgs. 92 and 94
Beverly-Hanks Realty See ad on Inside Front Cover Fisher Realty See ad on pg. 73 Team Billy Harris Real Estate Professionals Beverly-Hanks See ad on pg. 7
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