Routes
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Day 1 (Orange Maps): Ride Start Time 12PM
The Viaduct Loop: Grand Masters Route
32 miles, ~2,500 feet of elevation gain
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28917024
This ride is almost completely on two great cycling roads, with most of the climbing before the halfway point. The first half will go from Blowing Rock to the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway, before turning back northeast on NC 221. There are only 4 turns on this entire ride!
OR
Hickory Nut Gap Loop
53 miles, ~4,700 feet of elevation gain
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28506556
Extra Credit "Nuts" Option: 71 miles, ~6,700 feet of elevation gain,
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31898391
After a solid 2 mile climb on the BRP, this ride will descend the 5 miles plunge of Shull’s Mill Road to Valle Crucis. Then comes the hardest climb of the 2019 MTMS Excursion. The climb from Valle Crucis up Bowers Gap is 4.2 miles at 6.2%, although one could argue where the proper start of this climb actually begins. Full of switchbacks that approach double-digits, this climb was commonly used by the old Tour DuPont road race in the 1990s. From Banner Elk, NC riders will hit the long, mild grades of Hickory Nut Gap, a few uncomfortable miles on NC 181, before the last long climb of the day. It kicks off where NC 221 begins in the town of Linville and knocks out a 2.4 miles climb at nearly 6% past Grandfather Mountain State Park. After going under the BRP, Hickory Nut riders will enjoy nearly 12 miles of rollers coaster, twisting/turning, mostly downhill roads (with only one climb that will really get your attention).
IMPORTANT NOTE: In Banner Elk is one of the most fabled, difficult road bike climbs in America – Beach Mountain. It’s 3.5 miles at 9.2% and it's every bit as hard as that sounds. Finishing the final ½ mile on SkiLoft Road’s switchbacks will top out at 5,400 feet. MTMS organizers DO NOT recommend doing this climb – but if you feel compelled to do it, please be incredibly careful coming down its nearly 10% stretches. Ride at your own risk!
Day 2 (Green Maps): Ride Start Time 10am
Valle Crucis Lollipop: Grand Masters Route
37 miles, ~3,300 feet of elevation gain
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28506581
After a bracing uphill out of Blowing Rock, the Masters will enjoy the long technical downhill to the hamlet of Valle Crucis. Don’t blink! But this is the home of the original Mast General Store, which is a fun outing and a reasonable store stop. You will climb up tiny Mast Gap, then enjoy some mostly flat miles on Old NC 421 and its neighbors before heading back south. Don’t miss the turn on Baird’s Creek Road!! Some of the roads above Valle Crucis are challenging before you plunge back towards the hamlet. You will finish on the mild uphill grades of Shull’s Mill Road, before a final screaming downhill into Blowing Rock.
OR
The Trade Route
56 miles, ~4,700 feet of elevation gain
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28917129
Extra Credit Option: 79 miles, ~6,900 feet of gain
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28917003
This ride follows the Valle Crucis Masters route onto Old NC 421, but continues all the way north to the crossroads of Trade, TN. The route back south will take in two isolated longer climbs: Bulldog Road (2 miles at 6%) and George’s Gap (1.9 miles at 6.6%). After returning to Valle Crucis, the Trade riders will finish on the easier grades of Shull’s Mill Road (4.3 miles at 4.6%).
The 79 mile Extra Credit Trade option will do an out and back from Trade on some very isolated roads, past the home of Brew Bicycle Framebuilders, and up the truly brutal climb of Snake Mountain (2.7 miles at 7.9%). Turnaround is at Elk Knob Park, and then it picks up the 58 miles route back in Trade, TN.
Note that there is also an optional 79 mile Trade Route, and it will be important to know if any riders are doing this.
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