Mickey's Favorite Bicycle "Descending" Videos

The videos get better as you go toward the bottom. My favorite is probably at the bottom. You might turn your sound down a notch or three. The wind gets pretty loud.

I've tried to add music and I've searched for editing programs but so far I can't trust anything. I've gotten some programs that will expire in a few weeks that didn't work. I have no idea why they don't allow me to edit as they promise. Hate to put money into something that doesn't work.

Bear in mind that I'm riding my bike and holding a camera in my right hand. The only hand that I have to brake with is my left. The left brake is the front brake. This is not the ideal brake to use when wanting to slow down. Notice that I can usually keep up and pass the other riders while holding a camera.

Do not try this at home! (or anywhere)

Enjoy! Really- enjoy!

It seems to me that videos always play best after they are played at least once! The first time I watch a video there is a constant "stopping" and seemingly a "rewinding" that the "system" has to perform. If you see and hear the video stop you might let them all play "quietly" on their own and come back and play them again!

It should be very smooth- music and video!

This descent goes by one of my favorite places ever. I've taken many photos of this little spot. I always wished I could do a "time-lapsed" photo sequence of this area. It is so different in different seasons. Sometimes there are hay bales. Sometimes there is corn. Sometimes there are just furrows, and so on.

My friends and guests on this ride are Dennis Besselman and Paul Cook from Ohio. Those two are so lucky- I hear it's warm there all year 'round!

There is Schronce Creek on one side and Bald Mountain is the descent on the other. Bald or Bee Log (what we used to call it) is more fun I think. If you're at the "gap" of Bald Mountain the descent will be about 7 miles long. The first two miles of that descent is pretty technical. There are a few "switch-backs to navigate. After the first 2 miles the grade is not as steep and the curves are not as sharp. There are homes further down and homes can always have dogs. I haven't seen many but it could happen. The descent goes on a long time it seems. It's very pleasant with well kept homes and friendly people.

This descent I've done maybe hundreds of times. There are rocks in some curves but I was between some of those curves. I've painted skull and cross bones warning of the most dangerous curves. It's hard to get much over 40 or so coming down from Roan. There is one stretch where 50 and better can be reached- usually by a tandem. There are dogs occasionally further down. Of course there are deer and bear and every other critter around too.

This is fairly fast coming down from Craggy Gardens toward Asheville. There was a big fellow from Ohio in front of me. He was sitting up on the bars which slowed him/us down some but it was a pretty good speed anyway.

Further down the road is always in need of repair. There are many potholes to be careful with.

For those wishing to descend properly- sitting up like this can slow you down -but--the safest place to be is down in the "hooks" when descending, particularly if you want to go faster. Sitting upright raises your center of gravity. The higher you are sittin the more likely you are to fall. For safety- if you are trying to descend fast--be in the "hooks" (the curved part of the bars). Also if you are approaching a sharp curve keep your hands in the hooks, keep your hands on the brake levers, and push your butt back off the saddle just like mountain biking. For small handed people -if you are from the "flat lands" your brakes may be adjusted so tightly that you cannot safely be in the hook and pull the brakes in correctly- at least without "reaching" the fingers out. If you aren't sure about what I am speaking of send me an email.

This is probably my favorite. It's smooth. I was lucky in panning the camera as I was passing the other rider. I got a good view toward Linville Gorge, Hawks Bill, and Table Rock.