Ride Review - Bracken Mountain Trail

MTBproject Bracken Mountain Trail

OK... so, the only way I should start this review is by saying "Holy Shit that was a climb...".


I had returned from a customer site the night before and got home around midnight... which means I don't get to bed until 1 or so.  Doubtful that was a factor in what I am about to explain.

I had some customer calls that day and some other time-sensitive deliverables and once I finished all that (around 2:30) I figured I would go and get a "quick lap" at this trail that I had seen on MTBproject that was like 1.5 miles from my house and then get back to work and finish up the other stuff I had to do. 

Riding through Brevard puts a smile on my face.  It's difficult to explain how amazing this little town is, but as I am riding towards the trail, the following image is what I see (minus the clouds and overall wetness - this picture was from a few days prior)


I get turned around on the way to the trail, which was totally my own doing - I guess I am too used to a grid street layout for my own good.  Even the paved road and gravel getting to the trail was ridiculously steep.
What is not evident from that graph at the bottom, is there are sections at +6% grade on the street.  The trail is around 11% at times.  Ugh. 

Unfortunately I had decided to timebox myself as I still had work to get done that day, so I rode out 45 to 50 minutes and turned around (figuring it would take me almost as long to get back home).  

I was pretty deflated about how poor my "performance" was.  In hopes of doing better the next time I go to Bracken Mountain, I swung by The Hub and Pisgah Tavern to see what my options are for a more "climbing focused" drivetrain setup.  Dropped the 30t in front to 28t.  But, as I was chatting with other folks about that ride, they put my mind at ease "dude.. that trail is a brutal climb.  It's just a connector to other cool stuff up the hill".  Well, I felt better after hearing that - and now my bike is ready for next time.

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