Brasstown Bald Climb Six Gap Training Camp 2016 with the 24% Wall Section!

Rear GoPro records most of the Brasstown Bald ascent, with veteran cyclists Gary Stern and Simon Kessler. This is a great, epic, seriously hard but short climb (2.5 miles) - the highest point in Georgia. It is a HC category, no joke climb and the grades you hear about are not exaggerated. I have seen the weather be completely different at the top. It is a mythical and legendary climb, where many top pro cyclists battled here during the now defunct Tour de Georgia that was very popular in the early 2000s. Some of the biggest names in cycling such as Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielson, Floyd Landis, Cesar Grajales, Mario Cippolini, Jacky Durand and Alexi Grewal are among the many pros that ended the stage at the top in front of huge crowds. It's so steep even some of these top pros were asking for a push up the steep sections.
THE ASCENT: At the start, you are at the top of Jack's Gap at 2,955ft. of elevation. Through the entrance gate and the grade immediately kicks up to 8-9%. For the next mile the grade varies from 10% to 15%. Looking up the road is the worst thing you can do, as the steepness of the winding road is as ugly as you can imagine (and will get in your head). Best to look down, concentrate on your breathing and focus on spinning perfect circles. At around mile 1.6, the grade kicks up to 20%. Around the next left bend the road visibly increases to 24% for about 250 feet! This is the epic "Wall" section, where you see people weaving, walking, falling off their bike, grunting and gasping for air like they're dying. It's so steep that your front wheel easily will leave the ground. You'll notice how slow you're going too. 4mph is pretty fast for this section and you'll be lucky if your cadence is above 30rpm. That's right, 30. Forget spinning circles and just try to muscle through it. If the road is clear, you can "paper boy" it to help flatten it out a bit. TIP: if you need to get off or fall off the bike at the wall section, fall on the "up" side of the mountain as it's a much shorter distance to the ground ;-). After you survive the Wall section, the grade returns to an 'easy' 10% - which is a welcomed relief at this point. The next mile and to the finish, is easier than the first mile and you can spin the lactic acid out of your legs as you finish the climb. Average grade for the entire ascent: 10.6%
THE DESCENT: Check your brakes at the gate NOW before going down. Make sure they're modulating and braking perfectly. Also check tire pressure. This is a serious, steep descent that is short but technical - with one left-hander and two right-hand hair-pin switchbacks that are blind and will require you to stay in your lane - so be prepared to grab massive handfuls of brake. In the straighter sections, let off the brakes for just a few seconds and your speed immediately rockets into the 40+mph range, literally without even turning a pedal. You probably didn't notice on your way up (b/c you were going so slow), but the road does a lot of winding around the mountain and requires your full concentration as there are cars, buses, campers, and other cyclists ascending while you're bombing down at super-sonic speed. Occasionally, the road will straighten out for a bit and you can "open it up" for a few seconds and get up to and over 50 mph easily. But, be ready to brake hard for the next turn. Many have made bad mistakes on this descent and died. Others have overcooked a turn and gone over the side rail or slammed into the side of the mountain. TIP: don't brake more than needed as your rims will get very hot and can blow out your tube or soften the glue on tubulars ;-) (mostly during the hot summer months). Blowing out the front tire on a switchback on this descent could be catastrophic.
Have fun and comment on YOUR Brasstown Bald experience!

[@ronburgandy5006]

I watched your "Groove Line" video. I thought this dude looks like a cyclist. I did 6 Gap too several times...Hog Pen was a hoot...Brasstown is indeed a monster.

[@jackabravanel2859]

Ditto!!

[@kimjasso9953]

And that is why I said banging bod. That is some athleticism. Beautiful thing to see.

[@habershamjim]

Fellow old school lover of music and cyclist! Be careful fellow roadie!

[@mickelkobeck7376]

I have ridden it once....planning on another trip to suffer

[@funonutube100]

Hey Alan where's that Brother to Brother cover we're all waiting for??? THANKS.....Gord

[@jackabravanel2859]

Crazy climb!!! Knee ice later..

[@zerodefectmachine]

It's a bee-yotch of a climb. Love it.

[@donaldswamp2501]

That explains the legs in the drumming video! You sure you don't hsve a motor?

[@dawgdaze420]

what gearing were you using on this climb?