It is almost time for Blood Sweat and Gears, a 100-mile loop bicycle ride around the Blue Ridge Parkway. The century long ride begins at 7:30 AM on June 26 at an elementary school south of Boone; it circles into the heart of North Carolina’s High Country before ending up back in Boone. These are hilly, curvy miles; the ride is ranked from challenging to strenuous. Bikers may expect to climb over 13,000 feet in elevation, culminating at the gap at Snake Mountain (milepost 63).

For folks who love to ride but don’t feel up to completing the entire century, there is a half century option. This route also begins and ends south of Boone, but otherwise follows a separate route, with a cumulative elevation gain of 5,800 feet

Don’t let the name of the ride scare you away. You may cycle this route any time, but during Blood Sweat and Gears there will be 6 aide stations (2 on the Half Century route) to help you along, complete with food, beverages and toilets; in addition, there will be support vehicles circling the route. You will sweat, but there is no reason for blood to be shed.

After the ride, come back to your Blue Ridge NC cabins and soak in the hot tub for a really long time. If you don’t fall right to sleep, stretch out by a campfire, gaze at the stars, and swap tales of the ride with fellow cyclists.

Blood Sweat and Gears