More Mitchell Motion

Here are some more videos from the Assault On Mt. Mitchell. They are actually more like slide shows, but they are significant because they are interviews with the top finishers of the ride. I can remember being around these riders in the beginning and middle of the ride... but not the ending!



I finished into Marion before her, but she still beat me to the top by 45 minutes.



This interview helps show the way the AOMM is a race and still a ride. There are all kinds of neat stories to be told and heard about the event. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is seeking to collect them and is even offering a prize of $300 to the winning entry. Learn more about it at virtualblueridge.com.

33rd Assault On Mt. Mitchell, Part Two

Here is the second part of my video diary of my first Assault On Mount Mitchell. This is definitely the one that gives a better idea of the magnitude of the event. Even so the video doesn't truly capture the full scope of it.



One thing I have noticed recording video with my helmet cam: it is hard to show the perspective of a grade. When you are recording straight ahead -- even on a 8% grade -- the road looks flat. Believe me... there were plenty of grades!

33rd Assault On Mt. Mitchell, Part One

Here is part one of my video from my first ever Assault On Mount Mitchell. Whew! It was one of the hardest things I have done in my life. Of course, it doesn't seem that way in this first part. This was actually not bad at all.



Just wait for part two! I should be posting it tomorrow.

63

I love putting numerical titles on my blog. Normally it means that something good has happened. Well, this time it's because I now have my Assault on Mount Mitchell rider's number.

63

Ok, go ahead and laugh at me for making such a big deal of this. You have to understand what getting that number means to me. Before I ever started riding my road bike, I was aware of this century that seemed like an epic feat to me.

When I first started riding in 2006 I still thought the mountain ride was beyond me. Then I started reading accounts of people who had made the ride and talked with those who made it to the top. By the time of the 2007 Assault, I started to realize that it was certainly possible.

I started making my plans to do the ride in 2008 at that time. I finished the Assault on Marion in 3'45" and watched the Mitchell riders keep going on their way. At that time I knew I could make it.

I'll be 40 by that time and the ride will be a great birthday accomplishment. So there's several reasons why this number means a lot to me. Let's go!

Waiting for the pass code

The Assault on Mount Mitchell pass codes went in the mail yesterday. I guess it will still be a couple of days before the brightly colored flier makes its way into my mailbox. I'll be glad when I finally get that number...

Here is the design of the jersey for this year's ride:



I like it. What happens now is that the pass code comes to me and I go to the Active.com site and register for the ride using the code. My assumption is that this early in the game, I shouldn't have a problem getting one. Hopefully, my planning will pay off.