Since comments were requested...I think that North Carolina is about an ideal state for an "across the state" ride. The change in terrain and scenery as one rides from the mountains to the coast is greatly interesting, and fun! I was on the ride the year we layed over in Asheboro, and I think that I have preferred the years when the ride moved East each day. I hope that it remains a mountains to the coast ride, but I will continue to ride CNC in whatever way the very capable staff at NC Amateur Sports decides to schedule the route.

Mel,

I think your idea is pretty good. I've done all 6 CNCs, & loved every one.

But I did BRAG in 02, and we stayed two nights in one town, with an optional 20/62/100 mi ride, or of course, ride none. Bike Va this year spent 3 days in one town, and it was nice to not have to break camp every day, I mean it was a real luxury.

So, I've enjoyed each and every one of the CNC rides and have nothing but praise for the rides and routes. But, for a change of pace, it'd be OK to have a day 4 layover and optional loop ride. That might be a good thing to do if CNC started deep in the mountains (like Murphy) and rode east for 3 days thru the mountains. 3 days in the mountains will tucker out most folks. Believe it or not, we've not really spent much time in the mountains, so we've missed much of western NC since '99.

It might be cool to start in western NC, ride for 3 days to say Boone, and then have an optional loop ride along a significant chunk of the BRP, like Linville Viaduct. Then just head east until we finished in the Piedmont somewhere.

Or, we could have just 2 host cities, with 3 days of cloverleaf loops from each city plus one day of travel between the 2 cities. Son, not breaking camp every day will spoil ya, you will like that a whole bunch. It's also easier in ways on Mike and Amanda and the staff.

Hey, whatever the route will be, count me in. If not next year, then soon we will have started in most of the feasible cities, and ended in most of the feasible cities. So, then the staff will find it easier to consider loop rides w 2 or more days in one town. 

Let's go!

Jack

 

Hey   i like the ride the way it is.....i have done 3 cycle of north carolina rides....the layover will only make things worse.....we should kept going everyday.....good for your muscles...a day off will only hurt you.....i have talk to some of the ones that does it from my city... and they feel the same way i  do....if they give a day of rest   next year   then i guess they will   loose alot of riders   because i know those from my city and around will not go next year..........it would make more sense to train for the ride so one doesn't need a day off in the middle of a challenge such as this one. We are only talking about 7 days of riding. You get a big break everyday after the ride until the next morning......I think the purpose of the ride is to see North Carolina and to test your  endurance.....from the   USPS   TEAM......GO  LANCE............

B.S. is a genius!  That is a great start and end!!!  Asheville is incredibly bike friendly and Topsail is a charming small but funky beach town. (Wasn't Oriental great!)  The route could be Asheville, Forest City, Lincolnton, Albemarle (that town rocked in 2000), Laurinburg, White Lake (one of the prettiest places in NC), Wilmington (not just the Battleship this time), and Topsail!  That would take us through some beautiful country.  Just as most of you, I'll go regardless of the route. It's a recreational thing . . . Slow Down, Go Dots.

Team blaine casts its vote for starting in Asheville!!!! We have tremendous cycling routes here that don't need to go on the Parkway either.

Marcia