I bikepacked through that area this past spring. Last week of April the weather was perfect. Old Fort was a highlight of the trip. Those Pisgah gravel climbs are serious! Great video. Thanks for sharing.
We used to live in North Carolina and this video made me really miss those Blue Ridge Mtns! Thanks for sharing your adventure! We have a Pisgah bikepacking video on our channel too, maybe give you an idea for another ride close to home if you haven’t don’t it already 🙌🏼
Nice video . I am in Wake Forest and planning to start bike packing after road riding for a while. Just got a gravel bike , looking for gear and places to go so your channel is perfect. Thanks for the info and presentation…
Enjoyed the video, thank you. Quite an adventure! The only way I’ve ridden Heartbreak Ridge trail is downhill on my mtb. That took some dedication for you to climb it! I like riding the Curtis Creek lollipop route on my gravel bike. It’s a grind to get up there, but so beautiful. The South Toe River side is pretty too.
Agree all around! I'll be attempting the downhill version of that route again soon with my full suspension bike 😁and I'm looking at putting together a nice route that starts downtown and then climbs up to Mt. Mitchell. It will make for some beautiful, tough, riding! The South Toe is gorgeous; I've camped along there and feel it's an underrated part of western NC, but maybe we can keep it as a hidden gem for a little while.
Sweet! That will be a fun mtb ride coming down Heartbreak Ridge. That will be a big climb up to Mt Mitchell! I’ve lived in Asheville for over 20 years, and surprisingly haven’t made it to Mt Mitchell. Yes, I’d like to get back over to the South Toe again sometime. Would really like to do a bikepacking overnighter in that area sometime.
cool vid, cool bike! i loved my microshift brifters but i just couldn't get over the external cabling. so, i spent more money... keep the great videos coming.
Thanks! External cabling is definitely a polarizing issue - I have bikes with external cables and those without, and each seems to have its advantages.
I have a Ghost Grappler too: I hoped it would be a rough road touring bike with drop bars; but it might be a heavy/slow road bike or a MTB that I wish I had a flat bar on….currently trying to decide it I want to make it a touring bike (29er gravel tires and a suspension post), or putting Ritchey Kyote bars on it to make it more rough road friendly.
Oh yeah, what wasn't rooty was rocky. The hike up was definitely Type 3 fun...but the parkway always seems to make a climb worth it! But next time I think I'll just take Curtis Creek or Hwy 80!
Cool. You have both the Surly Krampus and Ghost Grappler. What are your thoughts comparing both, more specifically sitting position/comfort and reach? Greetings from Belgium.
Very jealous you're in Belgium! I've visited and really enjoyed my time there. Having ridden both, I can say that the Krampus is very much my preferred bike. It's comfortable, solid, and can accommodate a suspension fork for even greater versatility. In the end, I didn't enjoy the Grappler. It's less versatile than a flatbar atb or mtb, but also less useful than my Kona Rove. I've ended up with two steel bikes: my Kona Rove LTD and the Niner Sir 9. Both steel bikes, but they both cover a lot of use cases. Hope this helps!
Funny you should ask...this is likely my last trip with the Ghost Grappler! I'll likely do a video outlining why it isn't the right bike for me - which isn't to say it's not the right bike for someone else. For me, I've realized it's basically just a heavier version of my Kona Rove LTD: same mounts, steel frame, drop bars. The gearing on the Grappler is better for steep stuff, but I haven't found that I desperately need more gearing. It wouldn't have made any difference on this hike-a-bike for instance. And, because of the carbon fork on the Kona, it weighs like 30-40% less than the Grappler. So, the Grappler is a great drop bar mountain bike (holds a line well, is sturdy as can be, has infinite mounts, great 1x gearing for climbing) and even rides relatively well on the road - but for me, I'd like a bike that is better all around and less specialized.
Oh yeah, that road is great. It’s actually what I rode down to close the loop. My goal was to try and find a non-paved overnight loop that starts in Old Fort.
Looks like a really good time. Rain and all. How long have you been riding the Cambium saddle? What is your opinion? I have a couple of B17 Imperials that I really like. But I have thought about the Cambium for all weather.
It's the only saddle I use. I've got one on my Kona Rove, the Ghost Grappler, and my Midnight Special (it sits on the smart trainer most of the time). It holds up in all weather, seems to be infinitely comfortable, and I don't have to worry about it tearing when its on a rack or going through brush. In other words, I love it!
All in all jelous of those views and trails, thanks for gettin me out w/ya lol good video man im watching it a few times here, good stuff! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it! It's why I figured it was worth documenting my time out there - I know I've spent hours watching other peoples' good times!
I have the Ghost Grappler too. It is not the fastest or the lightest bike but very comfortable. I love it.
I bikepacked through that area this past spring. Last week of April the weather was perfect. Old Fort was a highlight of the trip. Those Pisgah gravel climbs are serious! Great video. Thanks for sharing.
We used to live in North Carolina and this video made me really miss those Blue Ridge Mtns! Thanks for sharing your adventure! We have a Pisgah bikepacking video on our channel too, maybe give you an idea for another ride close to home if you haven’t don’t it already 🙌🏼
Nice video . I am in Wake Forest and planning to start bike packing after road riding for a while. Just got a gravel bike , looking for gear and places to go so your channel is perfect. Thanks for the info and presentation…
That's exactly why I started making some content, glad you've found it useful!
Nice work Jamie! Awesome black bear shot. Keep it up!
Thanks, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!
I really like your setup. Panniers are the way to go. Good video.👍
Thanks for watching!
This was nice. Thanks for sharing. We had a place in Lake Lure for a while, so I'm a *little* familiar with where you're riding.
Thanks for watching. That is a great area for cycling!
wow, I love the singletrack, full of challenge and fun outthere
Glad you enjoyed it - it was definitely more adventure than I signed up for, but that's part, if not most, of the fun!
Enjoyed the video, thank you. Quite an adventure! The only way I’ve ridden Heartbreak Ridge trail is downhill on my mtb. That took some dedication for you to climb it! I like riding the Curtis Creek lollipop route on my gravel bike. It’s a grind to get up there, but so beautiful. The South Toe River side is pretty too.
Agree all around! I'll be attempting the downhill version of that route again soon with my full suspension bike 😁and I'm looking at putting together a nice route that starts downtown and then climbs up to Mt. Mitchell. It will make for some beautiful, tough, riding! The South Toe is gorgeous; I've camped along there and feel it's an underrated part of western NC, but maybe we can keep it as a hidden gem for a little while.
Sweet! That will be a fun mtb ride coming down Heartbreak Ridge. That will be a big climb up to Mt Mitchell! I’ve lived in Asheville for over 20 years, and surprisingly haven’t made it to Mt Mitchell. Yes, I’d like to get back over to the South Toe again sometime. Would really like to do a bikepacking overnighter in that area sometime.
cool vid, cool bike! i loved my microshift brifters but i just couldn't get over the external cabling. so, i spent more money...
keep the great videos coming.
Thanks! External cabling is definitely a polarizing issue - I have bikes with external cables and those without, and each seems to have its advantages.
I have a Ghost Grappler too: I hoped it would be a rough road touring bike with drop bars; but it might be a heavy/slow road bike or a MTB that I wish I had a flat bar on….currently trying to decide it I want to make it a touring bike (29er gravel tires and a suspension post), or putting Ritchey Kyote bars on it to make it more rough road friendly.
How do you like the ghost grappler? Love the channel I live In NC carteret county. I plan on doing the Long weekend after watching your videos
Hey Jamie. Which mud guard is on the rear of you bike?
Hi there, it's the Dakine Marsh Guard. It worked well and I'd recommend it!
Thanks for sharing your ride. It did look sketchy editing and after the rain.✌
Oh yeah, it was something! I look back on it fondly, but hiking up felt like it took 100 years!
@@jamieroszel darn predictive text on my phone drives me nuts. Lol
It was supposed to say sketchy riding during and after the rain.
That's the rootiest route I've seen!
Oh yeah, what wasn't rooty was rocky. The hike up was definitely Type 3 fun...but the parkway always seems to make a climb worth it! But next time I think I'll just take Curtis Creek or Hwy 80!
Cool. You have both the Surly Krampus and Ghost Grappler. What are your thoughts comparing both, more specifically sitting position/comfort and reach? Greetings from Belgium.
Very jealous you're in Belgium! I've visited and really enjoyed my time there. Having ridden both, I can say that the Krampus is very much my preferred bike. It's comfortable, solid, and can accommodate a suspension fork for even greater versatility. In the end, I didn't enjoy the Grappler. It's less versatile than a flatbar atb or mtb, but also less useful than my Kona Rove. I've ended up with two steel bikes: my Kona Rove LTD and the Niner Sir 9. Both steel bikes, but they both cover a lot of use cases. Hope this helps!
@@jamieroszel thank you for the feedback.
Thanks for sharing!!! beautiful views... how did you feel the Ghost grappler? for riding on paved road, and in general... thanks man
Funny you should ask...this is likely my last trip with the Ghost Grappler! I'll likely do a video outlining why it isn't the right bike for me - which isn't to say it's not the right bike for someone else. For me, I've realized it's basically just a heavier version of my Kona Rove LTD: same mounts, steel frame, drop bars. The gearing on the Grappler is better for steep stuff, but I haven't found that I desperately need more gearing. It wouldn't have made any difference on this hike-a-bike for instance. And, because of the carbon fork on the Kona, it weighs like 30-40% less than the Grappler. So, the Grappler is a great drop bar mountain bike (holds a line well, is sturdy as can be, has infinite mounts, great 1x gearing for climbing) and even rides relatively well on the road - but for me, I'd like a bike that is better all around and less specialized.
Make and post that video
Is Curtis road not an option?
Oh yeah, that road is great. It’s actually what I rode down to close the loop. My goal was to try and find a non-paved overnight loop that starts in Old Fort.
Looks like a really good time. Rain and all.
How long have you been riding the Cambium saddle? What is your opinion? I have a couple of B17 Imperials that I really like. But I have thought about the Cambium for all weather.
It's the only saddle I use. I've got one on my Kona Rove, the Ghost Grappler, and my Midnight Special (it sits on the smart trainer most of the time). It holds up in all weather, seems to be infinitely comfortable, and I don't have to worry about it tearing when its on a rack or going through brush. In other words, I love it!
Hi Jamie
Hey there!
@@jamieroszel Good night
@@jamieroszel my name is Marcio