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Patrick

The Puig Climb

You Can’t Skip these Three Epic Cycling Destinations in Mallorca

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Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? If you’re a cycling enthusiast, Mallorca is the place to be! With its stunning views and challenging climbs, this Spanish island is a paradise for anyone looking to test their mettle on two wheels.

The following ride list is perfect for cyclists staying in the Port de Pollença or Alcudia areas. We have stayed here for our annual Mallorca Cycling Camp and recommend these options!

Can't Beat Sa Collabra

Sa Colabra

One of the most famous climbs on the island is Sa Calobra, a 9.5km ascent with an average gradient of 7%. It’s a road to nowhere, so the only reason to go down is to come back up! Try to get there early in the morning to avoid the buses and the crowds of tourists. Be prepared for a good workout… You can make the climb out as hard as you like! Be sure to smile for the photographer waiting close to the top.

Soller in Mallorca

Puig Major / Col de Soller

If you’re feeling ambitious, the Puig Major / Col de Soller loop is a great challenge. The Puig Major climb is 10.6km with an average grade of 6%, and the Col de Soller climb is 4.9km at 5%. Both offer stunning views and a satisfying descent.

Typically reserved for more intermediate level cyclist, both claims are accessible with proper planning. Interestingly enough, the towns in this part of the island are just the right size for a group of cycles looking for something different than just a café.

Cap de Formentor

If you’re looking for something a little more relaxed, the ride to Cap de Formentor is a great option. Also known as the lighthouse ride, it’s not as challenging as some of the other climbs on the island. For sure, you have two distinct, climbs, but both come with plenty of recovery. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and there’s a small cafe at the top where you can rest and refuel.

Bike to Earn Your Beverage!

Active Recovery Day

And if you’re really looking to take it easy, the ride from Port de Pollença or Alcudia to Petra is mostly flat, making it a great option for a more social ride or even a skills training day. For sure, they’ll be some wind off of the water, but nothing that a well-organized group in a peloton can’t overcome.

Pack your bags and get ready to hit the road in Mallorca. It’s the adventure of a lifetime! We hope you can join us on an April trip sometime for our annual cycling camp.

Soller in Mallorca

Why Mallorca is the Ultimate Cycling Destination

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Are you looking for the ultimate cycling destination? Look no further than Mallorca! This beautiful island offers the perfect mix of warm weather, diverse terrain, and understanding drivers. There’s a reason we go back to the island every year for our cycling camp.

Mallorca has been a favorite among cyclists for many years – even the professionals! – and it’s easy to see why. You can choose to have a flat and easy ride or challenge yourself with some steep climbs. The roads are well-maintained and locals are used to dealing with large groups of cyclists during the peak season. Cafes abound and everyone is out to have a great time on two wheels!

When to Visit

The best times to visit Mallorca are in the spring and autumn when the weather is mild and sunny. The capital city of Palma has an airport with plenty of international flights — flights from the UK usually take about two and a half hours.

The island has a diverse landscape with mountains, valleys, forests, and beaches. The island is also home to a number of towns and villages, each with its own unique character.

Mallorca has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average temperature in summer is around 30 degrees Celsius, and in winter it is around 15 degrees Celsius.

Bikes are Always Welcome!

The Bike Question

You can choose to bring your own bike or hire one when you arrive. There are many cycling shops to choose from, so you can’t go wrong. As we learned one year, even the cafes have cyling tools to repair issues that arise! 🤣

In terms of clothing, you should be in shorts on the bike most of the time. But don’t forget to pack some warmers and a jacket for the chillier climbs and descents. Note we don’t ride on rainy days due to the limestone roads that are slick. Good news is that it’s rarely wet for more than a day!

Yes, it’s that nice!

Where to Stay

As Mallorca is a popular holiday destination, there are a number of hotels and resorts on the island. There is also a range of self-catering accommodation, and camping is also popular. There are plenty of reasonably-priced accommodations to choose from, whether you prefer a hotel or a rental apartment.

The real key is deciding where you want your cycling base camp to be set up. Our Mallorca Cycling Camp is based out of Port Pollensa as it’s a little quieter, yet still within the range of the mountains.

The Mallorca 312 is a Must Do Event!

Renown Events

And be sure to check out the Mallorca 312 sportive in April. This annual event takes over the island with riders participating in either a 312km or 167km route. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and is very close to our annual cycling adventure in Mallorca!

Start planning your trip to Mallorca now for the ultimate cycling experience!

Can't Beat Sa Collabra

How to be Mallorca Perfect for a Spring Cycling Camp

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Embark on an adventure of a lifetime with our Mallorca Cycling Camp! Join us as we explore Europe’s cycling Mecca, the beautiful island of Mallorca. Over the course a week, we’ll spend 5 days riding along stunning coastal roads, through picturesque backcountry lanes, and tackle some of the most challenging climbs on the island. And don’t worry about a thing – our leaders will take care of all the details, so you can focus on the adventure.

Your itinerary begins with a flight to Palma, where we’ll pick you up and transfer you to Port Pollenca and your home for the week. You can pick up your bicycles and take a short test ride. You’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel complete with delicious food.

On Sunday we do a test ride of about two hours. There is the option to extend the day’s ride for those who are feeling particularly adventurous.

On Sunday, we’ll warm up with a shorter ride of approximately 50 miles along the scenic open roads of the east, and north of the island, enjoying the peaceful surroundings and occasional coastal views. We’ll end the day in the ancient and perfectly preserved walled town of Alcudia, where we’ll have dinner at the town’s finest restaurant.

Monday is where the real riding begins, as we tackle some of the most thrilling cycling terrain in Europe. We’ll ride one of the following epic climbs — the Col de Femenia, the spectacular Sa Calobra, or the the Puig Major climb before a beautiful descent back to home. Please clean up before you hit the restaurants for those carbohydrates.

Tuesday is our big adventure day, which could be a point-to-point exploration of the gorgeous west coast of the island. This doesn’t mean an early transfer. We will be up and out the door to take the shuttle down south. Upon our arrival, we quickly get caffeinated and get on the bikes. There will be two groups to make sure everyone can complete the challenge for the day.

Wednesday is a much needed rest day off the bike. The ambitious might do a cross-training session, but most people opt to take it easy. We will do a Camp Dinner out (food is included!) so you can enjoy some delicious local food. Early to bed is key, as we have two days of riding left.

Thursday and Friday will be flexible based on the weather and your legs! We’ll have options to gain mileage or gain vertical. Each group can decide on the best course of action to close out the week.

Regardless of what you choose, know that you’ll be heading home with strong legs and a sense of accomplishment.

Um, and You Have to Think Twice About Mallorca Camp WHY?!

Is This Camp for You?

Our cycling camp is suitable for cyclists who are comfortable with long rides and regular training. You should be able to cycle at least 15 mph and are capbable of riding in a group. Most days will have 3 to 5 hours of cycling time, but the adventures might push you longer.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to tackle a thrilling cycling challenge and explore the beautiful island of Mallorca. Join us on for our annual Mallorca Cycling Camp and let us take care of all the details – all you have to do is show up and enjoy the ride!

Coach Patrick’s 2022 UltraMay Recap

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OK, here is my official report from the 2022 UltraMay event. This is our third year, and my third time through the process. I made a big remix, according to the official event rules of UltraMay. Even though it was a little bit unorthodox, I was able to achieve the goal of serious suffering within 48 hours. If you didn’t join us this year, click that link above and join in for next year. Everyone is welcome to suffer!  

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I just wanted to get this started before the weekend was over. I have a feeling that Tuesday is going to hit me like a ton of bricks, and I’m worried that I won’t even write this report! In case you didn’t know, I decided to modify my UltraMay game and have a brand new gravel bike.  

That’s right, after two years of talking about it, I finally pulled the trigger. I have a Cannondale Super Six EVO courtesy of the folks at Belmont, MA Wheelworks and I love love love being outside. Hard to get bored on the trails. Let’s gooooooooooooo!

Day One: All the Ups [6:27 + 0:39 moving time] 

Part One was crazy and at the end of the day I had to cut this ride short. Super ambitious to start, but it turns out that some of the smaller sections were real mountain bike style. Super hard to navigate and plenty of smaller than single track if that’s a thing. Let’s just say I am intimately familiar with thorns, roots, and unclipping.

The Element died again, so turned to strava to take me back home…and then Google Maps to get me to a post-ride shake!!

Day Two: Freetown Revenge  [3:40 moving time]

The first day got a little out of control. I think I was gone for 8 1/2 hours, that couldn’t happen again! 😱 So this time I went closer to home and made a route that I felt was a little more manageable. It still worked out to be pretty tough with a few big rock sections, but I was able to force my way through it thanks to some surplus pavement at the end. 

This left me with 1:15 ish to do. I did kayak for under an hour this afternoon, but no tracking…I am on track to run Tuesday AM to get that time complete, but keep your eyes on me to make sure I don’t fade away!

Update —> Day Three: The Microwave

After a few gorgeous days, the humidity locked in like a laser beam making today’s final session pretty brutal.

Of course, finishing with a run as the last hour of a 12-hour block is less than ideal. I only had an hour to go but it took more out of me than I imagined. https://strava.app.link/A5WrZ2MPtqb

Overall

Certainly a little more unconventional than what I have done in the past. That said, subcontractor and adventure levels are off the charts! While an eight-hour day was not exactly in the cards, I’m glad I survived it. Along the way, I learned a great deal about how to plan for rides from supplies, timing, and mapping.

Now it’s time for some rest and recovery to see if I can absorb all of this work! Congratulations again to everyone, hope to see you next year

~ Coach Patrick

Mallorca Miles Maketh Fitness

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On the way back from the cycling heaven that is Mallorca, and wanted to share out my explorations on the island – including some camp highlights. Also these notes are a good reminder for when I return in 2023 (oh yes, we will be back!). 

First up, the stats – 536 miles ridden and 29,950 ft climbed in 7 days. 💀 That’s an average of 76.5 miles and 4,200 feet every day. This involved a lot of independent riding – pre-camp, post-daily rides, and even on the rest day. Thankfully Mallorca makes riding easy to do!

While the climbs are my own, I relied heavily on my fellow campers on the flats. This included our incredible guides who keep us on the right path, well-fed and highly caffeinated (the last one is optional). And of course, good fortune that saved our campers from lost luggage, broken chains, and potential downhill disasters. 

Day 0 – A Great First Test

I landed midday and raced over to the hotel as quickly as possible. The first order of business was to unpack and get myself over to the Pinarello store. Super fast bike in hand, it was time to plan the route. We lost a little time getting my bicycle fit sorted out, but then it was off to the open road. There’s nothing like getting off a plane and being on a bicycle in less than 2 hours in Paradise! We planned to ride about 50 miles, but ended up focusing on the fun instead.

Day 1 – Orientation

The first official day of camp is all about getting organized. There is a lot of friction between people who travel with bikes, people who rent with bikes, and people who have never ridden together before. to make things easier, our guides sort the group by ability and for safety purposes — smaller groups are safer on the road.  the first day is a small test of all the things we will face this week. Traffic circles, other groups, rolling Terrain, and variable winds. it is the perfect opportunity for campers to practice riding in a group and learning how our guides will run the daily experience. A group lunch in Petra Was well X in terms of calories and the bringing all of the groups back together again.

Day 2 – Sa Collabra

With the first day of firmly in our rearview mirror, it was time to explore. With the weather looking honest in the coming days, we made the decision to head over to one of the most epic climbs on the planet. it is worth noting that even getting there requires climbing the Col du Feminia. Which is no small task. We refueled at a cafe station at the top before making the descent down the winding roads to the bottom. Even going down this climb is an adventure — there are more hairpin turn than you think is possible. It’s no surprise to learn this road was originally built by hand. I’m not sure how they would even get machinery there in the first place!

The Climb from the bottom to the top can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on your goals and ability. This is a perfect early Camp test and a chance to stack yourself against tens of thousands of riders. It wasn’t my day, but I certainly enjoyed the chance to tackle these climbs in earnest.

At the top the group continued on to lunch and home. Matt and I made a right turn for adventure. There is a running joke on the island between me and a fellow Zwifter from England. He gave me coordinates for a gift that he had hidden at the top of a nearby climb, the Puig. With Matt in tow, or rather, with Matt towing me, we were off to find the prize. Coke collected, we continued to on the other side. We made an epic loop that took in 4 climbs add a total of 10,200 ft of climbing in just under six and a half hours of ride time. We made sure not to crack 100 miles just to drive everyone on the team crazy!

Day 3 – Recovery Ride

Regardless of the route people took on Monday, we were all tired by Tuesday. Given the chance of rain, this is the perfect day to spin over to the beach for photos and cake. Once again we gathered as a group for lunch to hang out and relax. After lunch the group split up on the way back with my group opting for some extra miles out towards Sineu. It is here that I ate the largest pastry of my life and managed to avoid the rain just like the other group.

Day 4 – Orient-eering

Another day of potential rain lay ahead, but it didn’t stop either group from making adventurous plans. My group decided to head over to the climb in the Sleepy town of Orient. hey picturesque Village nestled at the base of a Time where the road is covered in moss and is apparently deadly with any form of moisture on it! Good fortune kept the faith with several Mechanicals that forced us to slow down and keep Safety First. This resulted and I much longer day than planned oh, and we missed our fellow Riders after world’s greatest take place in Santa Maria. thankfully they had given us some leftovers which we devoured. as you’ll see in the map, we decided to take a more direct path home due to time constraints.

Day 5 – Off Day

After four straight days of 5 to 6 hours a day on the bike, it was time for rest. It was also time for some serious rain, which is always the right car on the island. The Limestone roads are not safe when they get wet despite what you see other Riders doing well you are staying dry.

Of course, I was there to ride and convinced Matt to go out for a quick 40-mile loop. Truth be told, we were rolling the dice from the start with the rain coming in over the mountains. We split the difference, cruising the flats to warm up and then hitting the Sa Batalla climb for a coffee break before heading home. We had to take shelter from the rain at the top, and this was where I realized I didn’t have gear for wet weather (it was all in my hotel room!). I did however have a plastic bag, also known as a packet in Europe, that I put under the front of my jersey. While it certainly didn’t make up for the vest and arm warmers that everyone else was wearing, it was a lifesaver. descending in the rain flights pretty terrifying and I think my shoulders are still tight from how hard I was gripping the bars.

Day 6 – Three Out of Four Ain’t Bad

Our final ride day of the camp saw both groups opting for a more epic day. We set off early and plans to rent accordingly so that everyone can get maximum distance on the bike. One group was able to hit the local velodrome for some fun laps in addition to logging 85 miles. My group went a little wider around the island to find a few new monasteries to climb. Both groups found some solid headwinds for the first half of the day oh, the remnants of the storm from the day before. While we all suffered mightily to start, the winds hung around long enough to help push us all home.

It’s never easy to say goodbye to cycling paradise, but after a day like Friday I was happy to say goodbye to my two-wheeled dream machine.

Planning for 2023

We will be back in April 2023 for another year of adventure. You can learn more and make your deposit online here. You won’t regret it!

Suffering Up

HOW I PR’D MY SLEEP AND NAILED THE 4 KEYS OUTSIDE OF TRIATHLON

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OK team, time for an update! After much back-and-forth, I’m pleased to report that we were able to attend and complete an off-road team event.

The logistics for this type of event or challenging because there are so many distributed across the United States. And there are so many different ability levels and specific cycling interests inside the team.

The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo fits the bill simply because it has different distances of events and different terrain options. Something for everyone! And just 2h drive from IAD Dulles Airport makes is pretty accessible as well.





The Team

EB (Emily Brinkley) helped me lock in MOOSE, my trusty NC-resident bike…and all relevant cycling supplies. That plus mojo, friend time and all the smiles made for a great weekend.

Matt Limbert surprised my by jumping into the event. We spent 3-ish days together in all manner of cycling situations…and it made the event itself 10x more fun.





Thursday Night Arrival

This is a total debacle. From a three hour delayed flight to a ridiculous hybrid rental car that had no trunk space, what was intended to be a 12 midnight arrival time into Harrisonburg turned into us getting there at 3 AM. 

Matt Limbert and I have agreed that we shall not speak of the food that we purchased and ate at the 24 hour convenience store on the way to our hotel.

Snitches eat burritos. I slept in until 9:45am!!!




Friday Ride

Given the late start, we modified the day. Instead of doing a full 70 mile loop, we opted to do an out and back I’m a climb known as Reddish Knob. Seems pretty straightforward, until we started climbing.

What started out as a gentle grade quickly kicked up and made for 30 minutes of really tough work. \

Thankfully it was shaded, a theme that persisted with our climbs all weekend.

The majority of this road was paved but it was not easy. Approx 140 TSS.


Saturday Ride

Opted to travel out to hang with EB (Emily Brinkley) because EB! We get to meet some of her friends and had a great time catching up over coffee.

We took that opportunity to ride from Bryce resort, which resulted in another fantastic session.

We took a loop with some single track on it and added on some more gravel riding.

Approx TSS 140 again, with 50% of ride time climbing! 

We did get a little lost…

But we found EB during her charity golf tournament…



Alpine Gran Fondo

With 90 miles and 9,000 ft of climbing in two days, we were clearly completely tapered for the Fondo itself. The Fondo is 110 miles with approximately 10,000 feet of climbing.

There were five categorized KOM’s and plenty of places to work and have fun along the way. I captured a video to sum up my experience across the aid stations:

The Highlights

Matt Limbert “told the story” of the ride .. instead of straight data … End it really worked!

I thought the narrative model was really effective at helping to set expectations to across what was going to be a long day.

The main themes of the story were that we were going to ride our specific numbers, not over-reach, and be really quick through the aid stations. 

The Food

As you undoubtedly noticed in the video food saved my day.

There were plenty of places across the road where things got hard very quickly.

Seemingly flat and fun sections turned into time trial drag races.

Quick detours through the forest turned into dirt roads with 22% inclines. This is not a long ride for the weak of mind or spirit.

The Pacing

This was the real game-changer. Our ability to work within our limits meant we could recover…but it wasn’t easy.

There was plenty of carnage out there on display, it took a great deal of savvy and patience to make sure we didn’t end up similarly. 

The Results

While it’s not a race in the traditional sense, the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo does have a cumulative timed section format that allows for competition. Surpisingly, I did fairly well overall and in the “top 5” range of my category! #plottingfor2022

2021 ALGF Mini Results

We Will Be Back! 

This was a great event in a world-class location. Aid stations were great, Harrisonburg had all the things, and there are multiple ride options (road vs gravel) as well as distances. This could become an end-of-season fixture, I won’t lie!


Thanks for reading!

~ Patrick

ps – the Sleep PR? That was 8 hours for two consecutive nights after my red-eye flight home. Yep….8 hours ride time + 2 hour drive + 2 hour flight had me home at 12:30am!  Zzzzzzzzzz

Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Interview with Jeremiah Bishop

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Coach Patrick from Endurance Nation sits down with Alpine Grand Loop Fondo founder and chief hooligan Jeremiah Bishop to talk about the event.2021 will be a unique year for all of us given the current state of the pandemic, but thankfully we have a handful of fun, human, and challenging events like the Alpine Loop.

Friendly remind her that we will be up at the grand Fondo for the weekend, chilling out and even doing a Friday recon ride on the course. You can learn more on our official event page here.

Participants can choose from a variety of different distance options, all the way up to a 110-mile challenge. Full event details and registration on BikeReg.com.

The video will be posted online here: https://youtu.be/6sW3FJx_KOc

Race Saver Bag: 1, Ohio 70.3: 0

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One of our favorite things to do is read feedback from our amazing and super good looking customers. Here’s a dispatch from Ohio 70.3, from a first-time Race Saver Bag user! Keep crushing out there! 💪

As I am sure you have heard previously, this saved my race.  

STUPID hot run at Ohio 70.3 – filled the bag with ice at every water station and kept moving.  AMAZING!  

Too bad they didn’t grab a pic of me wringing it out over my head.  Magical! 

Will definitely be bringing it to Chatty for the 144.6.”

~ Sarah Bristol

Gravel Camp: Day One Dirt Adventures

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All the Colors at Camp!

Note: This is the first of three updates from our first annual Gravel Adventure Camp. Early Registration for 2022 is open, and camp space is limited. Learn more on the 2022 event page.

After much planning, scheming, and dreaming we finally held our first official gravel camp! Camper consensus was unanimous — the wait was 100% worth it. Every day had rides ranging from 5 to 6 hours (that’s just ride time!) and adventures galore.

We’ll be back in 2022, and if you can handle six hours on the bike and grades ranging up to 18% at times, you should consider grabbing one of our limited spots with a 100% refundable deposit.

The View of Grandfather Mountain from Gravel Camp HQ

Settling In

The first order of business after the drive out to Linville was assembling bikes and making new friends. We took care of the friends part on Wednesday night with a pit stop in Banner Elk at the Kettell Brewery. Then it was on to Gravel Camp HQ for bike assembly and unpacking.

The Overly Ambitious Route for Day One
The River Road to Valle Crucis

Off the Beaten Path

Mast Gap General Store

Mast Gap General Store Pit Stop

Ouch. No really.

When Hard Becomes Gravel 

As if sneaking up the backside of Beech Mountain wasn’t enough, we decided to add a few additional gravel sections for some fun.

One of these was Philips Branch Road (above), where a punishingly steep straight shot gives way to gravel and switchbacks. Add a random pickup truck pulling a bobcat and you’ve got the recipe for total suffering.

This was only topped by a second, equally strong segment up by Bob’s Adventure. A little shorter this time wasn’t much solace as we were all hurting from the prior climb. We did get to meet “Bob” in his John Deere mobile, and he even offered us a beer. Unfortunately, oxygen was our top priority at the time! 🤣

Friendliness Wins

Heading back to Beech after this “bonus” loop, we realized just how low on water we were. Lucky for us, we came across a small church, a very nice gentleman and a spigot with endless cold water!

Shortly thereafter, our adventure was derailed by a dead end road (and a 10 foot high fence covered with signs). Google maps, it would seem, hadn’t exactly captured the nuances associated with this particular dirt road in the middle of nowhere!

Lesser of Two Evils

Sitting on the side of Beech Mountain, we had to make the call. Push onwards or start the journey home.

After many turns and stops, the truth of about riding gravel really sunk in: it takes time to enjoy this level of awesome!

So, we made the right call and ended up having our official lunch at roughly 4pm in Banner Elk! It was amazing and just in time. The climb home wasn’t any easier, but at least we weren’t starving!

Dinner at Lost Province

We wrapped the day with Dinner in Boone, NC. First for the delicious pizzas at Lost Province Brewing. Second for a proper late-night supermarket so we could stock up on provisions for tomorrow night’s dinner.

With the help of many calories, we mapped out our adventure(s) for the second day!

The Official 2021 Phoenix Challenge Report

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The first annual Phoenix Challenge Ride is officially in the books! After months of planning and strategery, it’s hard to believe I’m sitting here on a Monday morning writing this post. Congratulations to all of the riders, whether you took the Half or the Full challenge. 

Our motto: We Ride. We Rise. The Phoenix Challenge is here to push your limits. To challenge what you think is possible. To help you unlock fitness and mental strength. Our handpicked route is a one-way ticket; with only two-wheels to get back you have your own personal mission. 

It was a total blast, the perfect combination of social time, cycling, and suffering. We certainly hope that you will join us again for another adventure soon! Follow along at www.weridewerise.com for future Phoenix Challenge updates. 

DCA Reagan International Airport

Pre-Ride in Front Royal

After weeks of training and final ride preparations, it was time to go and find elevation to make us fitter and stronger. The hotel was approximately a 90-minute drive from Reagan international airport. Totally easy to get there, and right off the highway. Lots of stores and places to get food, so we opted for Chipotle for some fresh calories. Paul from Black Bear Adventures rolled in at 9pm and was ready to go — he’s so prepared 24/7!

Riders continued to arrive on their own schedule, and checked in online. The only issues we had the morning of our folks who decided to drive in that day. If possible, staying overnight the day before makes a big difference and relieves a lot of stress. 

Day One: Dickie’s Ridge to Waynesboro

The admin team was up bright and early, on site for a check in around 7 AM. Lots of coffee was needed!

This is our first chance to meet many of the riders, and hear their stories. It was great to see new friends and old connecting as they strategized for the day. 

The official ride start time was 9 AM, but many opted to leave early according to their fitness and ride expectations. The wet weather meant extra layers were in order, as well as flashing lights on the front and back of every bike. Given the nature of Skyline Drive being on a ridge, the weather is highly variable. 

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast.

Most riders headed South, aiming for a 104-mile ride. A select few decided to ride back to the park entrance, adding another 8 miles and a few hundred feet to the equation — why not!?

There are three stops along the ways with stocked stores and shelter: Elk Wallow, Big Meadows and Loft Mountain Wayside. Each approximately 30 miles apart. 

Taking those into account, we were able to stage support as needed along the road and use Big Meadows as a more extended lunch break. We needed it; if only because the wet weather meant we were burning extra calories from a healthy amount of shivering! 

Lunch at Big Meadows was the perfect pit stop; more than one person opted for some hot chocolate / coffee! The yummy handmade bars were also amaze; pretty sure I personally at about a shopping basket’s worth!

The further we went the more the weather added a degree of difficulty to the equation. Wet roads are one thing, but the fog really made for some dramatic riding! 

By the time we got to Loft Mountain, we were ready for a coke and some solid downhills. The draw of Basic City Brewery kept us laser focused, and I have to be honest a beer never tasted better.  

We Survived Day One!

We ate our fair share of salad, pizza and nachos before retiring to clean bikes and prepare for the early start on Day Two. No rest for the wicked!

The Official Data

Day Two: Waynesboro to Dickie’s Ridge

We woke slightly earlier on the second day to pack up and have all of our gear ready for pick up. Rolling out to Basic City Brewing parking lot, the group met up and began the climb out of Waynesboro to Skyline Drive. 

While a few early departing folks skipped ahead, everyone had to deal with the challenging terrain from yesterday – in reverse! 

Personally I was tired, but my legs actually felt better on Day Two. I think there is a little more variety in the early terrain that made it easier to get into a rhythm than the strong challenge of the first day.

There were no skipping stops this time, as calories were in high demand. In fact, almost all the SAG food was gone by the time we finished the day. 

The weather was once again very dynamic. There were bouts of sunshine and stunning views interspersed with fog so thick, finding the food at Big Meadows required a better sense of smell than eyesight! 

The final push was as tough as advertised. If not for a Coke and Twix at Elk Wallow, I might not have made it. Rolling up to Dickie’s Ridge and my car was pretty darn satisfying. Mission accomplished, and it was time to cheer in the other finishers as they completed the route. 

The Official Data

Half and Full Finishers

Not everyone was able to do the full two-day tour. The course is tough, and these folks earned Half Phoenix honors. For those able to go the distance, the Full Phoenix recognition is theirs. Stay tuned for our Hall of Fame page on the website at www.weridewerise.com by the end of June. 

That Sock Game

Virtual Finishers, Too!

That’s right, there we even a handful of riders in the UK who decided to take the Virtual Phoenix Challenge. They charted their own two-day adventure to earn the right to be a Phoenix finisher. They even had better weather than we did; we might have to go abroad next year!

The Final Numbers

My two-day totals were 226 miles and 21,000 feet in 12 hours ride time. Add in 20+ new friends plus countless memories and it’s clear the event was a great success. 

We can’t wait to do this ride again in 2022, so be sure to join the Mile18 newsletter list to get early bird sign up links, discounts and regular training advice. 

Happy riding!

~ Patrick, Chief Phoenix