Actually, it's medically referred to as piloerection, but if I used that title it might generate the wrong kind of interest in this story. Also, it was the wrong thing to experience in 90+ temps riding the Assault on Mt. Mitchell. It means heat exhaustion and that your body is not succeeding at maintaining proper temperatures.

The day started off with very pleasant temps and an original forecast that made it seem like as we’d be climbing, that we’d be pulling away from the heat and into cooler conditions on the mountain. That’s what is supposed to happen. THAT was the case on a drive up the day before. And THAT is what has happened on every Assault I’ve ever ridden. Instead, it was 92 when we got to Marion at 75 miles and the temperatures never dropped below 90 until the last few miles toward the summit.

This is a tough ride under any conditions. The usual DNF rate is 15-20% with 800-850 riders usually finishing out of the 1000 that start.

705 finished this year.

Nearly 1/3 of those who started had to quit.

I saw people walking bikes with triples. On the mountain, I passed some people who’d rocketed past me earlier in the day. They did pass me again later, but that was when they were in the back of the Sag vehicle being driven to the top in order to get a ride back down.

I heard riders let out single huge groans and …just…plain….stop.
Right in the road.

Not even the energy to make it to the shoulder. Just groan, stop, put their feet down, lean over the handlebars and just stand there.

There was a group of 10 or so riders who had stopped in one of the tunnels to rest in the cool air and shade.

The Sag vehicle kept stopping to ask people lying in the grass if they were OK. With their bikes on the ground and arms and legs spread out, it did look a bit disturbing.

As usual, the volunteers were amazing. They’d run out to hold your bike while you’d get water and food. They’d offer to fill your bottles for you knowing that you were barely aware that you needed to do so and certainly couldn’t muster the energy to actually accomplish the feat.

Usually, I can distract myself from the effort by listening for bird songs. Not so much on this day, however. I did hear a vireo, wood thrush and Eastern Wood-Pewee. The best, though was the veery I heard on the final climb to the summit just after I turned off the parkway. Overall though, the birds were far less vocal in the heat of this years ride.

There were funny moments in spite of all the trouble. After the turn off the Blue Ridge parkway, there is a 1.6 mile climb of 12% grade to gain 1000 feet and reach the ranger station. The next mile is a bit easier. I rode with a guy for a while and was looking down when he remarked, “oh damn, there goes my ride back down the mountain.” I looked up and saw it was an ambulance on its way down from the summit.

The last 3/4 mile is that final beat down in which the mountain tries one last time to defeat you. You know you’re almost done, and you had a stretch of easier riding since the ranger station and then it jumps back up to a 10-12% grade again. The cyclist who missed his ambulance ride had charged ahead of me earlier, but was now walking his bike as I passed him.

Finally you come to a right hand bend and along the outer edge of the turn you begin to see people sitting on a guard rail and you know that the parking area is right there. They start cheering as you enter the final turn, then you can see the orange cones directing you to the exact finish line.

After crossing the finish there’s someone to take your bike from you for the transport back to Spartanburg. I saw some riders who had to stop and lean over their handlebars before they could be helped off their bikes.

After a change in clothes, I sought out some shade and enjoyed the tomato soup.