Western NC Grand Prix

July 30-31, 2010, Black Mountain

We spent our final weekend in July racing in the Western NC Grand Prix in Black Mountain. The first leg of the WNCGP consisted of a hill climb time trial from Old Fort to Swannanoa Gap, just outside of Black Mountain. The hill climb features a very scenic and interesting route that is worthy of a short history lesson. The 3.5-mile climb (4.5% grade average) is part of what used to be the only road from the east to the Asheville region, NC 10 and later US 70.

Photo from http://www.gribblenation.com/ncpics/old10/lookout.html

Once the new 4-lane US 70 was built (which would later become I-40), Old 70 fell into disrepair and was eventually gated off from vehicle traffic. The crumbling road, as seen in the photo below, remained a popular path for both hikers and mountain bikers, and most recently was paved over to make a greenway for pedestrians and cyclists. The scenic road winds alongside the Western NC rail line, which crosses under the famous Swannanoa tunnel at the top of the gap.

Photo from http://www.gribblenation.com/ncpics/old10/lookout.html

So up Old 70 we went, one by one, to see who could ride to the top of the mountain the fastest. Amy crested the peak in 19:55, good for 5th in the Women's Cat 4 division. I stopped the clock at 18:35, finishing 12th among the Cat 4/5 men.

Saturday's contest was a criterium around Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. The counterclockwise course is very technical, boasting a nasty left-hand corner leading into a long climb featuring a switchback. To add to the difficulty, the gray and overcast day gave way to rain about an hour prior to our races, making the roads greasy and treacherous.

Above, the men's Cat 4/5 race gets underway. Although the road was drier at the start line, the heavily shaded course was still mostly wet for the 30-minute event.

On the climb early in the race.

Rounding the switchback. With only a few laps to go, I crashed in this section when my rear tire slipped on the white paint in the road.

Racing through the only real straightaway on the course, just prior to crashing. Despite the crash, I finished 9th after an unspectacular but consistent effort.

The women's race immediately followed mine, and the decision was made to combine all classes into single women's open field.

Motoring down the straightaway before the diabolical left turn.

Mashing up the hill after the switchback.

Amy finished 3rd among the Cat 4 women in the race after surviving the technical course without incident. Her consistency over the weekend netted her some cash and a crit prize of an indoor grill!