About 45-50 riders from Wilmington and the surrounding area participated in Cycle North Carolina. Many of those are members of our local club, Cape Fear Cyclists. Here is our president, Bethel, amid a background of cotton, and Eileen and me at one of the rest stops.

For a bikenut like me, part of the fun is meeting people who ride all kinds of bikes, and there were all kinds of bikes and riders on the Cycle North Carolina ride. I ride a 1998 Bianchi "Campione de Italia" rebuilt in my "'shop" with Campangnolo Veloce, Centaur, Chorus, and Record components. This is probably the average bike: steel (mine), aluminum, or composite alu-carbon fiber frame, with Shimano 105/Ultegra mix. Campy components are a little less common and full carbon fiber is probably a little expensive to be the dominant frame, but there were still plenty there. Most bikes are typical drop bar road bikes but there were also folks on tandems, mountain bikes, "hybrids," hand cycles, and recumbents.

It was a great ride: 477 miles in seven days. Three days- the last three- in driving rain from TS Tammy. Well, it's not an adventure without a trial, now is it? And, it was a trial. I rode with my friend, Coleman, and 1,100 other riders aged 7-81. Cycle North Carolina is now in its seventh year and it is very well organized. It provides luggage transport and enough amenities that you don't feel like you are camping. Plus, Coleman and I saved up our pennies and hired Bubba (camp service) to provide each of us with a tent, air mattress, and even more amenities -like a cooler of beer. We had a great time and I will go next year, but hopefully without the rain.

Home for the day! We overnighted in Asheville, Forest City, Hickory, Concord, Albemarle, Laurinburg, and Whiteville. Each host town had something special planned - bands, street dance, food concessions - plus there were free shuttles to local restaurants, etc.

Scenes like this pretty much cement riders to the idea, "I can do this again next year."

Coleman, in blue in front, leads us out of Asheville on a foggy October morning (I am two back).

Peace. What a concept!
Coleman on the road. Beautiful NC scenery all the way and not much traffic except near town.