Tour DuPont route redux

1996:
http://web.outsideonline.com/events/dupont/stages.html



chiefhiawatha wrote:
Hey all,

Going on a family trip from Chicago to NC.

Planning on stopping in Washington DC for a couple
of days, and then head down to meet up at Cape
Hatteras.

Before I (litrally by paul shwerwen) die of boredom
in Cape Hatteras, I'd like to hit some of the more
well-known spots in NC.

So what climbs or other highlights should I plan to
hit on our meander from DC through North Carolina.

I've done parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it
is a given that I will put in some miles there.

Anything else? Where were all the big stages in the
Tour DuPont?

Thanks for any help

Hmm. The Blue Ridge Parkway isn't exactly on the way from Chicago to
Cape Hatteras, but OK. You should go there and ride around Boone -
visit Beech and do some hill repeats a la Lance. It's only about 6
hours out of your way.
What makes you think you'll die of boredom in Hatteras? It's one of
the most beautiful places on earth, IMHO. Granted, the riding there
won't be very exciting. Unless you consider a 30mph headwind exciting.



If I were you, I'd go

(chiefhiawatha) wrote in message ...
Hey all,

Going on a family trip from Chicago to NC.

Planning on stopping in Washington DC for a couple
of days, and then head down to meet up at Cape
Hatteras.

Before I (litrally by paul shwerwen) die of boredom
in Cape Hatteras, I'd like to hit some of the more
well-known spots in NC.

So what climbs or other highlights should I plan to
hit on our meander from DC through North Carolina.

I've done parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it
is a given that I will put in some miles there.

Anything else? Where were all the big stages in the
Tour DuPont?

Thanks for any help

(chiefhiawatha) wrote in message ...
Hey all,

Going on a family trip from Chicago to NC.

Planning on stopping in Washington DC for a couple
of days, and then head down to meet up at Cape
Hatteras.

Before I (litrally by paul shwerwen) die of boredom
in Cape Hatteras, I'd like to hit some of the more
well-known spots in NC.

So what climbs or other highlights should I plan to
hit on our meander from DC through North Carolina.

I've done parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it
is a given that I will put in some miles there.

Anything else? Where were all the big stages in the
Tour DuPont?

Thanks for any help


The Beech Mtn stage climbed Roan Mtn from the NC side (I haven't
ridden that side). The TN side is a good 7.5+ mile climb with a good
road because it is a state park. If you are pressed for time you can
take a left on 194 before climbing into Newland for a shortcut to
Beech.
Also, 221 between Grandfather Mtn and Blowing Rock is a *great* road
on a bike.
We are racing Sept. 13&14 with the Beech Mtn Hillclimb from Valle
Crusis to Beech on Saturday and the Boone Crit on Sunday.
Ashe County (north of Boone) is primo for riding though, less traffic
and plenty of great roads.

I believe Mt. Mitchell (tn , nc border) was on the the last tour du
pont. Little switzerland off of rt. 221 .
Banner Elk , beech mt. (ski resort) comes to mind .

I believe Mt. Mitchell (tn , nc border) was on the the last tour du
pont.

Don't think so. I went up to Beech Mountain on that stage of the '96 race, and
don't recall Mitchell being on the list of climbs they tackled that day. Would
be easy to check into, but God, I am lazy.
Might do it tomorrow instead of work.
Later,
Greg

Regardless of whether it was in Tour duPont or not, you need to do Mt.
Mitchell. It's the premier climb in NC to the highest point east of the
Mississippi River. If you've done the parkway before, you probably know
where you enter Mt. Mitchell State Park. From the entrance to the top is
about 3 miles IIRC. It's a very steep 2 miles, then it eases off for the
last mile. The common route most folks take is to start from Marion, NC.
From there, it's 30 miles to the top -- all but 2 of it is uphill.

Another great climb is from Rosman, NC to the parkway on Hwy. 215.

There are countless others around Saluda, NC, Brevard, Boone, etc.

Enjoy!

Bob C.
"Patrick Brittain" wrote in message
om...
(chiefhiawatha) wrote in message
...
Hey all,

Going on a family trip from Chicago to NC.

Planning on stopping in Washington DC for a couple
of days, and then head down to meet up at Cape
Hatteras.

Before I (litrally by paul shwerwen) die of boredom
in Cape Hatteras, I'd like to hit some of the more
well-known spots in NC.

So what climbs or other highlights should I plan to
hit on our meander from DC through North Carolina.

I've done parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it
is a given that I will put in some miles there.

Anything else? Where were all the big stages in the
Tour DuPont?

Thanks for any help


The Beech Mtn stage climbed Roan Mtn from the NC side (I haven't
ridden that side). The TN side is a good 7.5+ mile climb with a good
road because it is a state park. If you are pressed for time you can
take a left on 194 before climbing into Newland for a shortcut to
Beech.
Also, 221 between Grandfather Mtn and Blowing Rock is a *great* road
on a bike.
We are racing Sept. 13&14 with the Beech Mtn Hillclimb from Valle
Crusis to Beech on Saturday and the Boone Crit on Sunday.
Ashe County (north of Boone) is primo for riding though, less traffic
and plenty of great roads.

"Bikerecker" wrote in message
...
I believe Mt. Mitchell (tn , nc border) was on the the last tour du
pont.

Don't think so. I went up to Beech Mountain on that stage of the '96
race, and
don't recall Mitchell being on the list of climbs they tackled that day.
Would
be easy to check into, but God, I am lazy.
Might do it tomorrow instead of work.
Later,
Greg

Correct - as evidenced in DC's post, in '96 the Stage went from Bristol to
Beech via Roan Mtn. Was there on Roan and Beech myself. Did part of that
back route in June, in fact; the north side of Roan as part of the Roan
Groan RR, then the south side of the loop and back to Elizabethton over Iron
Mtn as a post-race training ride. DuPont never climbed Mitchell to its
summit; they did do the long climb up onto the parkway used in the AOMM, but
went north from there. Believe that was '95.

SB