Appalachian Blue Ridge 2021

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

DESCRIPTION:   YouTube 3 min preview:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veC9Yitjea8   The tour makes a clockwise loop from Asheville, into Tennessee briefly, then back into North Carolina, with the last five days riding on or around the Blue Ridge Parkway. On our first day, we head west from Asheville on a 44-mile climb to Hot Springs, a small town on the Appalachian Trail. We are staying in the town's origial train station hotel and dining at their restaurant. Day two and three we ride to Erwin, Tennessee and on to Banner Elk, NC, passing Roan Mountain on the way (or climbing up it if you wish). Note that there are 10 miles of busy roads on this day.  Day four and five are in W. Jefferson, NC where rolling pastures and interesting wooden barns are sprinkled among the many Christmas tree farms.  On day six we cycle along a winding river road before entering the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Photo ops are frequent with scenic views of the expansive hills and valleys.  On the Parkway, vehicle speeds are reduced and commercial traffic is prohibited.  Day six brings us to Blowing Rock, NC for two nights. Here you can take an optional loop ride to Boone, NC or hike up Grandfather Mountain. Blowing Rock is named for the 1,500 ft jutting rock formation over the Johns River gorge.  Wind currents from the gorge can defy gravity and blow light objects vertically up the gorge.  Day eight we again ride the Parkway all the way to Little Switzerland, NC and the Switzerland Inn. The town was founded because it commands panoramic views reminiscent of the foothills of the Swiss Alps.  There’s hiking or the possibility to relax and enjoy the panoramic view from your room. From there we proceed on the Parkway to arrive back in Asheville. 

RIDE RATING:  This trip averages 47 Mi/Day and 3,785 Ft/Day of climbing.  It is rated a 4B. The most difficult day is the last day with 50 miles and 4,870 ft of climbing. The grades are moderate at less than 6%, with a couple of spots topping out at 10%. There are frequent short tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway section on the last day of the tour. Cyclists are required by law (and common sense) to have HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. Day three includes a 10 mile stretch of busy roads.

LOGISTICS: Meet Monday, September 20, 2021. First cycling day, is Tuesday, Sept 21; last cycling day, Wednesday, Sept 29. Departure day is Thursday, Sept 30. Start/end hotel is the Four Points by Sheraton Asheville; 22 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC 288011-3022 PH: 828-253-1851 starwoodhotels.com. At this time there is no charge for parking in the hotel lot however that could change. It is a short walk to downtown restaurants, museums and shops. Fly in and out of Asheville/Hendersonville Airport. A cab ride to the hotel will cost approximately $40.  When you are accepted you can access the "Ride Leader Docs" posted on the tour page.  There you will find the “Welcome letter” for specific details about the tour.  Routes are posted there in GPX, TCX and RidewithGPS (for phones) files for you to download.  Bike boxes will be stored in a rented cube parked at the hotel. The front desk will have the key for the cube. You may rent bikes directly from a local shop (details in the Welcome Letter). Tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.  Talk with the leaders about this. Third time this tour is offered by leaders Tom and Julie Leever.

COSTS: Your initial payment of $ 725 includes the $50 nonrefundable BAC fee + $ 675 deposit.  Final payment of $600 is due June 15, 2021.   This covers the cost for all lodging, 7 Happy Hours, 6 dinners, 8 breakfasts, happy hour refreshments, maps, cue sheets, luggage van and driver.   After the tour we will provide a report of all expenses and return any money that remains after expenses have been paid.

SINGLES: We encourage single riders to sign up who are willing to share a room. We will assist with the singles search for a suitable room mate. Singles who are accepted but waiting to find a room mate will have a limited time-frame to do so if there are more BAC members registered on the wait list.

SOLO SUPPLEMENT: Solo supplement, if available, is $ 717.  We have not reserved solo rooms and will only offer a solo option if the tour does not fill within a few months. Should any solos be accepted, the Ride Leader will advise when the solo supplement payment is due. Any solo supplement payments will need to be made as a check and mailed to BAC, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.  Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.

WEATHER: The weather is usually cool to warm. Average temps are from the mid 60s to the mid 70s. However, temperatures can vary into the 40s, particularly with rain. Be prepared with cold weather rain gear, long-fingered gloves, pants, shoe covers and helmet cover.

COVID Protocols:  The specific safety precautions to protect participants from COVID will be determined 60 days prior to the tour start date. After polling participants, the group has requested that all participants must be fully vaccinated including booster shots if applicable and voluntarily present vaccination documentation for viewing by Ride Leader if requested.  Face masks should be worn when interacting with people other than our tour group inside buildings.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and credit card fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled due to low enrollment.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  Note that most hotels on the tour require a final count for the reservation 30 days in advance.) If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support, including changing their own flat tires.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE: Before participating in any BAC tour, members should review their medical coverage and assess whether what you have is sufficient. If it isn’t, you should purchase additional travel medical coverage. BAC maintains a policy that provides coverage for expenses related to medical emergencies and repatriation when members are on tours outside the US and their home country. The policy ceases to be applicable if a member makes a personal deviation (e.g., makes a side trip not related to the planned BAC tour), has limits on expenses covered for family members and only applies for 45 days following departure from home. There is also limited coverage for medical expenses associated with accidents incurred by US residents when on tours within the US. None of the policies maintained by BAC will cover costs associated with self-quarantines that may be government mandated. Members should also ensure that vaccinations are up to date (e.g., annual influenza, tetanus, etc.). If traveling outside your home country you may wish to consult with a travel physician or nurse to ensure that the appropriate vaccinations are up to date.

SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($50) and tour deposit of $675 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.