We have done this tour in 1997, 2000, and 2005.
Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Maine
Arrive Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, August 8
16 riding days 1,760 miles 110 miles per day
Fly home Tuesday, August 25
Follow the Appalachian Trail north from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Maine. We ride for over 500 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. This route is one of the most scenic mile for mile routes on the PAC Tour calendar. If you want to ride this tour..be ready for lots of mountains everyday.
We have ridden this Tour of the Eastern Mountains three times before. Our starting location has varied but we always try to follow the spine of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains from south to north. In 2009 we will start in the rolling hills near Atlanta, Georgia and finish in Portland, Maine on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The first two days have moderate climbs as an introduction to what is coming. Georgia is the start of the mountains that cover most of the eastern United States. By the time riders enter North Carolina they will understand why this tour is called “The Tour of the Eastern Mountains.”
These mountain roads tend to be steeper than the grades of the western states. It is not uncommon to find 10% grades on the smaller side roads. All riders should have a low gear of at least a 39 tooth chain ring and a 27 tooth rear cog. A triple crank with a 30 tooth chain ring would give riders a choice of even lower gears.
Riders shouldn’t think this tour is all grunt and no fun. In fact mile for mile this tour has been voted to offer the best cycling of any of our cross country tours. The main thing to remember is that this tour has a wide range of riding intensity. Every 5 mph climb is followed by a 50 mph desent. The roller coaster effect of this tour still makes most of the days rideable at a 12-17 mph average.
By the third day we enter the Blue Ridge Parkway. These six days have some of the most spectacular scenery with over a hundred scenic overlooks of the valley floor 1,000 feet below. Most of these days will average 7,000 feet of climbing per 100 miles of riding making it the hilliest part of the tour. The days still go by fast because of the exceptional cycling conditions.
On the ninth day we leave the Parkway and head into Pennsylvania. Amish farms with horse drawn buggies are typical. The network of roads offers many routes for the cycling. One of the highlights of today is the 18% truck grade sign at the top of the last big hill. This grade is a stinker and probably the steepest hill of the entire tour.
We are in Pennsylvania three days before riding into New York State. If you are a baseball fan - be sure to allow a few hours at the Baseball Hall of Fame or watch a game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY. (http://www.cooperstown.net/) The lakes and hills of this region are perfect for the summer homes and resorts that were built here because of the four season climate and spectacular scenery.
Our final days climb over the Green Mountains of Vermont and White Mountains of New Hampshire. Many of the small rural towns haven’t changed much in 100 years. A small white church and a general store are still the main attractions in town. This is still the way of life in many eastern mountain communities.
The Eastern Mountains Tour will expose you to areas of the United States that are unique for their history and charm. This is not an easy bike ride. You should not attempt if you cannot train as much as you would for a similar coast to coast tour. However if you do like long rides through some of the best scenery in America this would be a good tour for you.
Arrive in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday morning August 8, 2009 ... evening banquet
| Day | Date | End City | Miles | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun 9 | Commerce, GA | 125 | 3,000' |
| 2 | Mon 10 | Cherokee, NC | 110 | 6,700' |
| 3 | Tue 11 | Asheville, NC | 88 | 11,000' |
| 4 | Wed 12 | Boone, NC | 102 | 11,100' |
| 5 | Thur 13 | Fancy Gap, VA | 105 | 10,100' |
| 6 | Fri 14 | Roanoke, VA | 82 | 6,400' |
| 7 | Sat 15 | Waynesboro, VA | 124 | 12,600' |
| 8 | Sun 16 | Front Royal, VA | 110 | 10,100' |
| 9 | Mon 17 | Breezewood, PA | 95 | 6,200' |
| 10 | Tue 18 | Lewisburg, PA | 135 | 7,000' |
| 11 | Wed 19 | Clarks Summit, PA | 92 | 6,000' |
| 12 | Thur 20 | Norwich, NY | 93 | 4,000' |
| 13 | Fri 21 | Saratoga Springs, NY | 121 | 5,000' |
| 14 | Sat 22 | White River Jct. VT | 116 | 4,500' |
| 15 | Sun 23 | Conway, NH | 102 | 6,300' |
| 16 | Mon 24 | Portland, Maine Monday evening banquet | 106 | 2,300' |
| Tue 25 | Fly home from Portland, Maine | |||
1,760 miles 110 miles per day 112,300 feet of climbing 7,019 feet of climbing per day
Click here for 2000 history (extensive).
Muffy Ritz's Journal on the Eastern Mountains Tour, June, 1997
