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Hey guys and gals...
I'll be down in the area in about a month to explore the trails of Pisgah, Dupont and Tsali. I posted a while back about this and received lots of info that I put to good use in planning out the trip. I went ahead and got a map of the Pisgah forest from the Forest Service and also the Dupont Forest Map. I've been to the Mountain Biking in WNC web site and printed out lots of the best rides, including maps. I've got links to all the bike shops and have been directed where the good places are to eat. We'll be arriving in Asheville on Sunday August 22nd, in the evening. We'll be spending 5 fun filled days in Asheville, before moving onto Tsali. We'll spend the weekend in Tsali and then move onto Tennessee for another 4 days before heading home. I feel pretty confident with the riding selection in Tsali and Tennessee, it's mainly Pisgah and Dupont that we’re not certain about. With Tsali you've only got 4 loops, which alternate, and all the reviews make the trails sound pretty easy. We've ridden in Tennessee before so we know where to go and what to expect. We'll be in the Asheville area, and ready to ride, from the Monday to the Friday. Right now, the plan is to ride Bent Creek on the Monday to get our feet wet. We’re then thinking we do the Eastern Slickrock route in Dupont on one day and the Laurel Mountain Loop on another. These two rides are both off of the MTB in WNC site. Actually, while looking at the maps I thought about modifying the Laurel Mountain Loop and ended up doing roughly what is shown on the Mountaingoatepics site. So that leaves us with another day of riding, because I know we will need to throw in a rest day somewhere and my wife wants to go look at the Biltmore Estate. We have to do some of the tourist stuff so it really feels like a vacation.
We are both pretty good XC riders and have been riding for 5 years. I'd say our cardio is better then our technical abilities because of the type of trails we are to use to riding. From reading reviews I think that the Tsali trails are pretty typical of our local trails. That doesn't mean we don't like technical trails, it's just that we aren't use to riding that stuff on a daily basis. I do find that it is amazing how quickly you become accustomed to that stuff as long as you don't go too far over your head. And, going over my wife's head is what I am worried about. She can handle the tough stuff, but will quickly tire of it if she is constantly having to walk, actually so will I. So with that said, are there trails that we should definitely stay away from and others that we definitely need to do.
Lastly, drop me a line if anyone wants to act as a tour guide, or if there are any group rides that we might be able to join in on.
Thanks,
Rich
I'll be down in the area in about a month to explore the trails of Pisgah, Dupont and Tsali. I posted a while back about this and received lots of info that I put to good use in planning out the trip. I went ahead and got a map of the Pisgah forest from the Forest Service and also the Dupont Forest Map. I've been to the Mountain Biking in WNC web site and printed out lots of the best rides, including maps. I've got links to all the bike shops and have been directed where the good places are to eat. We'll be arriving in Asheville on Sunday August 22nd, in the evening. We'll be spending 5 fun filled days in Asheville, before moving onto Tsali. We'll spend the weekend in Tsali and then move onto Tennessee for another 4 days before heading home. I feel pretty confident with the riding selection in Tsali and Tennessee, it's mainly Pisgah and Dupont that we’re not certain about. With Tsali you've only got 4 loops, which alternate, and all the reviews make the trails sound pretty easy. We've ridden in Tennessee before so we know where to go and what to expect. We'll be in the Asheville area, and ready to ride, from the Monday to the Friday. Right now, the plan is to ride Bent Creek on the Monday to get our feet wet. We’re then thinking we do the Eastern Slickrock route in Dupont on one day and the Laurel Mountain Loop on another. These two rides are both off of the MTB in WNC site. Actually, while looking at the maps I thought about modifying the Laurel Mountain Loop and ended up doing roughly what is shown on the Mountaingoatepics site. So that leaves us with another day of riding, because I know we will need to throw in a rest day somewhere and my wife wants to go look at the Biltmore Estate. We have to do some of the tourist stuff so it really feels like a vacation.
We are both pretty good XC riders and have been riding for 5 years. I'd say our cardio is better then our technical abilities because of the type of trails we are to use to riding. From reading reviews I think that the Tsali trails are pretty typical of our local trails. That doesn't mean we don't like technical trails, it's just that we aren't use to riding that stuff on a daily basis. I do find that it is amazing how quickly you become accustomed to that stuff as long as you don't go too far over your head. And, going over my wife's head is what I am worried about. She can handle the tough stuff, but will quickly tire of it if she is constantly having to walk, actually so will I. So with that said, are there trails that we should definitely stay away from and others that we definitely need to do.
Lastly, drop me a line if anyone wants to act as a tour guide, or if there are any group rides that we might be able to join in on.
Thanks,
Rich
(If we are talking about the same place, many tight switchbacks and "the rock garden", then it is one of my favorite parts of Pisgah.)
