George Hincapie's Anti-Sticky-Bun Blowout
Age: 32
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Team: Discovery Channel
Credentials: Won stage 15 of 2005 Tour de France; second in 2005 Paris-Roubaix;
two stage wins in 2005 Dauphin� Lib�r�
Ask most cyclists in Greenville, South Carolina, what their favorite local ride
is, and the answer you usually get is the Bakery Ride to Saluda, for sticky buns
at the Wildflour Bakery. But George Hincapie says, "The climb isn't hard enough.
Plus, those sticky buns are like a thousand calories." His favorite: Caesars
Head, which has what he calls "one of the hardest climbs in the area." The ride
crosses part of the Mountain Bridge State Natural Area near the North Carolina
border, then heads back over Paris Mountain. You start casually, pedaling out of
Greenville and through the tree-lined mall of Furman University. After 15
minutes, Hincapie says, you'll hit the rolling hills, rivers and old farms of
South Carolina's Upcountry, then the 6-mile Caesars Head climb, which averages
about 7 percent. Just before the summit, at 3,266 feet, there's a chocolate shop
on the left. Hincapie skips it. But everyone should stop at the crest to gawk at
Table Rock and the Blue Ridge Mountains. In mid-September to November, watch for
migrating birds flying through the valley below.
On the way back to Greenville, Hincapie takes a detour for more intervals up
Paris Mountain. While his heart rate often averages around 130 bpm for the
entire ride, he says he can hit 185 on the climbs. "Both climbs are really good
gauges of my fitness," he says.
The Ride: Greenville-Caesars Head-Paris Mt.
Distance: 80 miles
Hincapie's Time: 4 hours
Directions:
Depart left out of Hincapie Sportswear (45 Pete Hollis Blvd.) on Buncombe St.
RIGHT on Old Buncombe Rd.
LEFT on Duncan Chapel Rd.
RIGHT into the back entrance of Furman University
Continue through the campus and exit the gate on Old Roe Ford Rd.
Cross Hwy. 25 onto Roe Ford Rd.
Road changes name from Roe Ford Rd. to New McElhaney Rd.
Road changes name from New McElhaney Rd. to Old McElhaney Rd.
RIGHT on Old Hunts Bridge Rd.
RIGHT on Hunts Bridge Rd.
Jog left across 186 then turn RIGHT on Owings Rd.
RIGHT on Pace Bridge Rd.
RIGHT on Hwy. 288 (Pumpkintown Rd.), then quickly LEFT on Marked Beech Rd.
LEFT on Moody Bridge Rd.
RIGHT on Pleasant Grove Rd.
RIGHT on Hwy. 11 (Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy.)
Bear LEFT on Hwy. 8 (Caesars Head Hwy.)
Bear LEFT on Hwy. 276 up to the summit of Caesars Head
LEFT at the Caesars Head overlook entrance at the top of the climb
Reverse route to Roe Ford Rd.
On Roe Ford Rd., cross Hwy. 25 and quickly bear LEFT on New Roe Ford Rd.
Cross Hwy. 276
LEFT on Old Buncombe Rd.
RIGHT on Altamont Rd. (Paris Mountain climb)
Continue on Altamont Rd.
Cross Hwy. 253 (State Park Rd.); road changes name as Altamont Rd. becomes Piney
Mountain Rd.
LEFT on N. Pleasantburg Dr. (Hwy. 291)
RIGHT on Rutherford Rd.
LEFT on 276 (Rutherford St.)
RIGHT on Pete Hollis Blvd.
Arrive at Hincapie Sportswear