The Biltmore Forest Tour will resume on Tuesday, April 4, 2006. This is a 20
mile meandering ride through the Biltmore Forest subdivision. Please see the
listing for these rides on the Rides page for the most current information.
Second Sunday Rides: The monthly Second Sunday Rides will resume on
Sunday, March 12, 2006, at 1:00 PM. We are usually done by 3:00 PM. I lead this
ride once a month on the Second Sunday of the month. Advanced riders are welcome
to start out with us and can continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Arboretum
or even Mt. Pisgah. (There are several long tunnels on the way to Mt. Pisgah.
Front and back lights are required!)
Tuesday Night Rides: The Tuesday Night Rides will begin on Tuesday,
April 4 at 6:00 PM. This is the first Tuesday after the beginning of Daylight
Savings Time. The ride continues during Daylight Savings Time. We are usually
back by 8:00 PM. This is a weekly ride on most Tuesdays.
Both rides start at the back parking lot of TGI Fridays in Biltmore (just south
of Asheville). TGI Fridays is on Hendersonville Highway about 1/2 mile north
of I-40.
The full ride is about 20 miles. Usually, we average about 12 miles per hour.
There are some moderate hills, but it is possible to skip two of the biggest
hills and wait for the rest of the group to catch back up. We use a casual buddy-system
so nobody usually gets lost. We did lose one woman, one time, but she left a
note saying she did find her way back. ;) The course is a bit complicated, but
there are several points where you can get to the main roads of Biltmore Forest:
Stuyvesant and Vanderbilt. These roads run north and south and make it pretty
easy to find your way back.
The course follows secondary roads with very light traffic. At the very beginning
and end of the ride we are on Vanderbilt, which does have a bit of traffic.
Most of the ride is very mellow. The Biltmore Forest Public Works department
does an excellent job of keeping the roads in good condition. (They even blow
dry the sand/gravel off the roads!)
There is a cue sheet and map in the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Ride Library under
Buncombe County and Biltmore Forest. You'll need Adobe Acrobat (free) software
to download it.
Sometimes, I remember to leave a message on my answering machine (274-2131)
advising on the status of the ride; especially when the weather is questionable
or when I am not able to lead the ride.
The course is mostly the same as last year. We have added a movie star/mini
Biltmore House diversion for extra entertainment.
All riders must wear helmets and sign the standard release/waiver. The ride
is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, but all responsible riders are
welcome.
This is a road ride. Some people do it on mountain bikes, and that is fine,
but road bikes are preferred.
If you have questions or comments, send me an email or call between 9:00 AM
and 9:00 PM.
Paul D. King
PDKingNC@aol.com
274-2131
© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Inc. 2006