Cycling in The High Country BY NEAL FALVEY
C
ycling, a popular outdoor enthusiast sport has risen to prominence in the High Country of Western North Carolina. With well-maintained trails and impressive scenery the region has kept up with the growing popularity of the sport. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the smooth, paced scale of casual cycling and the competitive nature of racing. From mountain trails to wooded terrain to neighborhoods, cycling can be experienced in a multitude of environments. Individuals can utilize many areas in the High Country for various methods of cycling. Avery County offers the experienced summer mountain biking trails of Beech and Sugar Mountain, while Watauga County operates mountainous and flat road trails. The town of Boone specifically has many programs and shops for both novice SEE CYCLING ON PAGE 89
88
FILE PHOTO Cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway. SUMMER TIMES 2022
