Bicycling and Camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway extends for over 450 miles through the mountains over Virginia and North Carolina. It's scenic, lightly traveled, and has convenient campgrounds -- perfect for bike touring. But be prepared before you go -- it's no easy ride in the park. Here's some keys to success if you're planning a trip.

Be realistic about your fitness level

As the name suggests, the vast majority of the Blue Ridge Parkway follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Parkway. That makes for scenic views and beautiful scenery, but it also means lots of climbing. If you're an experienced climber you may be ready for it. But if you do most of your cycling on flat terrain, you're going to be challenged. Be realistic about your fitness level and plan accordingly by keeping your daily mileage at a reasonable level. Better yet, find some hills and get some training in. Remember, there's no substitute for time in the saddle, or as the great Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx said "Ride lots."

Make sure you've got the right gear

If you're going to camp and bike you'll need the right kind of bike. After all, you'll be carrying a lot of weight. There's no substitute for a well-built touring bike, especially if you'll be riding for multiple day trips. They can carry heavy loads, and are built for the demands of touring, with heavy-duty brakes, low gearings and attachment points for racks and panniers.

If you're not experienced at your own bike maintenance, be sure to get your bike into the shop and have the mechanic give it a tuneup before you go. And no matter your expertise, be sure to take along some basic tools, including (of course) spare tubes, patches, and a tire pump.

Keep the camping gear light

When you're climbing hills, you'll want the load to be as light as possible. Camping gear, including tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad, will be a substantial portion of that load. Strip down the weight wherever possible. If you're traveling in temperate weather, take the lightest sleeping bag you can. I got by fine on a recent tour with just a fleece bag -- very light and compact. If you don't mind bugs, consider a tarp rather than a tent, and go with the minimal sleeping pad you can bear.

The other essentials of camping gear -- food, stove, and the like -- can also be pared down with a little planning and preparation. You can keep the food load light by resupplying along the way, and your stove can also be cut down. I prefer a simple "Pepsi can" stove. It's light and indestructible, and the fuel is easy to get at any hardware store.

Plan, plan, plan

While it's fun to discover the countryside as you roll along, planning ahead shouldn't be ignored. There are many excellent resources to the Blue Ridge Parkway, like the National Park Service's site: http://www.nps.gov/blri/. For an excellent book on Blue Ridge Bike Touring, check out Bicycling the Blue Ridge. I found it invaluable in planning my first trip, and have often referred to it since.

Whether your trip is long or short, the Blue Ridge Parkway is well worth the effort. It's one of America's great highways, and is waiting for you to explore it. Enjoy!