Uncharted terrain. new bicycle. Not everything goes as planned as Ryan Petry embarks on a journey through the Biking Trails In The Appalachian Plateau.
I started riding because I needed a method to get around and couldn't afford a vehicle. I think I really enjoyed the sense of freedom, excitement, and adventure that riding a bike offered me. Even though my life has changed a lot since I was five years old, my motivations for riding a bike have mostly remained the same over the last 26 years.
My name is Ryan Petry, and I get to make a livelihood by riding my bike and sharing my experiences about it. I've been competing professionally for the last ten years, switching from triathlon to endurance mountain bike. In addition to organizing some incredible trips from my home base in Boulder, Colorado, I have participated at the highest level in some of the most difficult one-day mountain bike races in the nation.
Organizing a journey on the new Neuron
They asked if I would want to organize an expedition to support the introduction of the bike when Canyon initially told me about the new Neuron. Yes, indeed! I had to pinch myself since this was such a fantastic opportunity.
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Where would I want to go if I could ride this bike anywhere?
I've dedicated my professional life to traveling around Colorado and the neighboring states. Since it was winter in the US, I started looking at the southern states since I had always read about how unique and enjoyable east coast riding was.
Asheville is the destination.
I've heard from friends who have raced in the Pisgah Forest outside of Asheville, North Carolina, that the riding there is both amazing and challenging. You see, I've never been good at technical riding. I developed my endurance while running as a child. Since I knew I would lose time and since, to be honest, I was afraid of massive drops and rock gardens, I had always avoided the more technical events. Even though I've put a lot of effort into getting better over the years, I still feel envious of those who were exposed to mountain bikes, dirt bikes, or BMX at a young age since they seem to manage anything that comes their way with ease.
I knew I wanted to bike in the Pisgah Forest as soon as it came into my view. I would be riding a bike made to boost confidence across more difficult terrain because this wasn't a race. After making this choice, I began looking up well-traveled roads and locations in the region. I wanted to make sure I saw the best of the finest both on and off the bike during my three days of exploration in this new location. The Appalachian Beer Trail is a four-day route that I discovered on Bikepacking.com that has a similar objective but focuses more on breweries. This served as the foundation for my route planning, and I relied on Industry Nine, one of my sponsors with headquarters in Asheville, to fine-tune my version of the route.
After deciding on a plan, I reserved AirBnBs in the locations where I would be stopping. Starting at Black Mountain, I was supposed to make my way to Asheville, then to Pisgah Forest, and finally to Brevard. It wasn't simple to climb 15,000 feet (4500 meters) 140 miles (225 km) in three days, so my attention now turned to getting my body ready.
Entering data for the new neuron
I rode the new bike as often as I could in the month or two leading up to the trip, fine-tuning it on the trails in between snowfalls. On days when I was unable to visit the trails, I would either hammer out a few intervals on the indoor trainer or ride my gravel bike. I used strength training at the gym, trail runs, and walks with my 10-month-old kid as cross-training activities. For the first time in my life, I was motivated to be in shape not so that I could compete but just so that I could finish and enjoy a major biking trails in the appalachian plateau.
This time of year, it may be rainy in this part of North Carolina, so I was anxious to ride on slick, wet trails that were slick with roots and rocks. Whether I was prepared or not, it was time to load up the bike, put all of my waterproof, warm clothing in a suitcase, and go to the airport.
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Getting to North Carolina
Along for the trip were a few filmmakers I collaborated with on my "Best Week Ever" project. After landing, we gathered our belongings, packed them into a minivan, and drove to Black Mountain, where the journey was scheduled to begin the next day. I was seeing this place and the landscape for the first time when I looked out the vehicle window. Though the majority of the peaks were obscured by the hazy clouds, the mountains were far larger than I had anticipated. After months of planning, I couldn't wait to hit the trails and start my trip. It was time to wind down and get some sleep after setting up the Neuron, having a fast supper, FaceTimeing with my wife Maddie, and setting up my equipment for the next day.
All set to go on the trails
The following morning arrived swiftly due to the time shift. I got out of bed to see what the weather was like. I could tell it wanted to rain, but it wasn't. My goal for the day was to ride the Kitsuma Trail, one of the most well-known downhill routes in the region, and then travel through some interesting side streets to Asheville's downtown. After watching Kitsuma on YouTube, I was really thrilled to ride it, but I was also apprehensive about how wet it would be.
I pedaled quickly from the home to the trailhead and started rising. The first ascent was semi-technical and steep. The most challenging part was navigating the wet roots. It was turning out to be true what I had read about the pathways here draining water nicely. Aside from the pebbles and roots, there was excellent traction, and it wasn't muddy. This ascent was easy for the Neuron, and I was building the confidence I would need for the descent as I ascended and crossed new biking trails in the appalachian plateau.
A mishap occurs.
In order to find a nice location for some pictures, I let Markus, the photographer, walk ahead of me. I was starting to get confidence after three or four passes in a cool-looking area. He invited me to go again while he experimented with the camera's settings and angles. All I can recall is the earth hitting my face as I pushed into the fall after hiking up, flipping my bike over, taking a few strong pedals, floating through the rocks, and concentrating on leaning my bike. I put my hands out, but my face hit the soil hard.
I let out a cry of pain and annoyance. Suddenly, I realized that the vacation was in danger. Taking inventory is the first thing I do once I crash. Is the bike in good condition? Are any of my bones broken? Do I have all of my teeth? Will I require sutures? My face was oozing blood, and I still had to drop 4 miles (6 km) to reach the car. Instead of wasting time going down, I made use of the adrenaline. At the same moment, I felt terrified, irritated, and concentrated. With extreme caution, I made my way downthe slick and damp slope. I didn't think this accident would significantly affect my plans for the weekend, but as the pain in my hands and brain started to set in, I realized this wasn't good.
The psychological toll of crashing
The hardest aspect about ending the trip, in my opinion, was realizing how much work I had put into it and how appreciative I was that Canyon had given me this chance. The fact that I wasn't out on the path made me feel upset as the day wore on and reality set in. With three days until my departure home, I found myself in Asheville and made the decision to take advantage of the opportunity to explore on foot. Even if it wasn't what I had hoped for or planned, the experience wasn't a waste. I was grateful for the additional time to gain a sense of the place and truly loved seeing these villages.
Plans for the family and the future
I allowed myself additional time to recuperate after returning to Boulder. I took a few leisurely walks, worked out indoors, and took some time to process what had happened. Although I am still disappointed that I did not have the experience for which I had prepared and trained, I have come to the realization that organizing such trips is an exciting and fulfilling experience in and of itself. It's fascinating that the activities that give us the greatest sense of aliveness in life sometimes include some degree of danger. Yes, my new bike and I did crash this time, but I'm excited to get back up, swing my leg over, and take that chance again and again because I know what experiences are ahead.
FAQs
What state are the Appalachian trails in?
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia are all along the path.
Which Appalachian Mountain hikes are the most difficult?
Madison, Mount.
Katahdin Mountain.
Mount Washington.
Notch Mahoosuc.
Bald Cheoah.
Can someone ride a bike on the Appalachian Trail?
The Wildlife Conservancy supports broad federal-agency guidelines and administrative bans against the use of the Trail by bicycles, including e-bikes, in all respects, acknowledging that some portions of the Trail share limited distances with multiple-use trails, such as the Virginia Creeper Trail and the C&O Canal towpath.
