Phil Gaimon's "Worst Retirement Ever" - Asheville, North Carolina - Mt. Mitchell

[@joegilbody4337]

production quality has just gone up and up, chapeaux phil

[@johnpaulstez]

Jose M that's just what I was thinking! The editing tempo, voice over, and music track segments are VERY similar to early Real World intro's.

[@dtqjr]

Damn, was also going to write the exact same thing.

[@jordanhendricks9863]

Crazy that this comment was a year ago and the quality has continued to improve.

[@BassWhiz92]

"I got it by, like, 11 minutes. That's a good one." So much emotion! lol, you're awesome Phil. Keep up the great work!

[@Johnny_Fairlane]

I climbed Mt. Mitchell.......then raced the Off Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell two days later. My last name is Mitchell, it was a bucket list adventure, loved it and what an awesome area to ride.

[@worstretirementever]

Haha nice

[@alwaysup22]

Phil, love the enhanced production quality but fight to keep the rawness from early episodes, what makes it personal and great to watch

[@barfonhim]

Phil is the rawness, hes weird in a good way and he'll always be there. he production quality just makes it so much more pleasing to watch.

[@charlired6]

The quality of this episode was amazing!

[@hugolepine9819]

Your videos are getting better and better, just keep roling, youve got something great going!

[@IamPhil]

Any chance you'll do Haleakalā in Maui? That could be titled "Worst Vacation Ever"

[@pahouseholder]

I'd LOVE to see Phil do Hale! 10k in 36 miles seems like the PERFECT next climb to conquer.

[@dmv915]

Mike Woods...

[@jrudmanjr]

Maui No Ka Oi

[@prid99]

False, Rusty Woods has it now.

[@AlexCheng42]

The videos are getting better by the episode. So pumped every time a new video is released!

[@BrunoVasco]

awesome editing too, the whole video was beautiful! kudos for the video and for the kom!

[@flourcitybread2898]

Finally. Great production value. Music. Editing. Power overlay. Backstory. Boom. Nicely done. There was even a drone.

[@gracci01]

These videos are getting so much better!! Whoever is producing them, well done.

[@shawnreddick9312]

Fantastic. Good effort! Thanks for describing the climb. Those are tourist points for those in the area who want to bike.

[@batbawls]

I just can't get enough of these

[@jacobhuseby3221]

Loved the editing! Production quality was top notch!

[@nickerickson2719]

Production was wonderful! Music and editing was on point!

[@mediumrick7667]

The Eastern Sierra has got an epic climb every few miles for a couple hundred miles. There are literally dozens of HUGE climbs within a days drive of each other. You should consider retiring there.

[@LiamsGap]

Production value is really great on this episode! I think the show has found a great new personality!

[@danotter3176]

Anyone else want Phil to start his own brand of cookie energy bars and cookie flavored gels? Just me? ok then

[@worstretirementever]

I've decided to not attempt to monetize cookies. Come to my Fondo and I give you cookies. I don't want to SELL cookies. The number of nice folks who brought me cookies at races will be one of my best memories, and I think it would ruin the purity of the cookie thing to cash in.

[@worstretirementever]

That said if Chips Ahoy comes knocking, I have bills to pay.

[@darnwalton]

Don't sell yourself short- I think you could land Pepperidge Farms

[@robmayerik9229]

Love Chips Ahoy!

[@crsandelli]

Phil's cookie will "Phil" you up 😜

[@drsus0]

ooooh!! production value step-up!! love this

[@ecycled3d]

Awesome video and effort! Thanks for the flashbacks/memories of some fine riding I've enjoyed in that area.

[@thomassmith8170]

Really enjoyed the new video production, Well done on the KOM

[@mdx9286]

That was badass! I wished you had posted more footage of the climb. I was just about to settle in, and it was over.

[@Irnmn123]

Great video Phil. Entertaining and informative. Cant' wait to try my own "attempt". Although don't think I can hold 380W for more than 10 seconds.

[@benmeadors8352]

Hey Phil! You should come up to Tahoe and try and take the KOM on Kingsbury Grade. Levi is the current KOM holder.

[@basedrad]

I second Beech Mtn in Banner Elk, NC. Great work Phil. Keep these coming. You should pitch a cycling oriented tv show where you profile interesting cycling personalities, teams, group rides, places to ride, places to eat, cookies, etc.

[@henryyork5608]

Phil try Pikes Peak, it is the hardest climb in the continental US.

[@malikdod4773]

I did that event when it left from the dirt parking lot and was mostly dirt road to the top. It is not even the hardest climb in Colorado much less in the USA. I would say the long version of The East Portal climb is much harder. I have done the Mt. Washington climb and it is way tougher the Pike's Peak.

[@henryyork5608]

Pikes Peak was paved years ago. It is 23 miles at over 6% and it only gets steeper towards the top. What makes it the toughest climb in the continental US is the length and altitude, cycling at 14000ft is no joke.

[@malikdod4773]

I have done the old Pike's climb in the 90's when it was mostly a dirt road climb and in the late 2000s after it was paved. (I lived in Ft. Collins). It is tough but not nearly as tough as Mt. Washington. Have your ridden them both like I have to see the difference? I have ridden the Mt. Mitchell climb twice while I lived in Charlotte NC. That is a fun ride most of the way. I rode in a group with George Hincapie for most of the ride until he took off on the other side of Marion. He was trying to break the ride time himself but I believe he can up just short.

[@plain-bagel]

Mt. Evans is paved all the way up too, and is a bit higher :)

[@chriswitek9455]

its 20 feet higher but it never breaks abover 6 percent where as pikes peak averages 6.4. if you look at the strava times evans despite being 8 miles longer in length is a 20 minute faster climb due to the less extreme gradient. pikes peak has better road conditions and i believe provisions as well as far as refilling bottles or getting food if need be.

[@adamoneil7435]

I lived in AVL from '82 to '06, and did a lot of Parkway riding. I didn't do Mitchell too terribly much just because it was a really hard ride, and I'm not all that. My point is this is neat to see, thanks for doing this.

[@St1ff]

Can you post separate videos showing more of the climbs/ride?????

[@wackery_zeimer]

Best one yet! Thanks, Phil!

[@andyh2677]

phil make the videos longer there great ...cant wait for the next one .thankyou

[@fredo69ification]

love these episodes keep em coming

[@jeanbout7868]

Dude 6w/kg for 1.5 hours isn't enough for the world tour ?? Man you are a machine keep up the great work!!

[@lollofinn392]

Epo 😔

[@jakubwieczorkiewicz8431]

Plus this is a dude that isn't REALLY happy with anything, at least that's a constant vibe he puts out.

[@davidbenner6551]

It’s not just threshold, you need to have the top end to follow moves, get into breaks. As a guy with no top end, happens all the time I put out more wkg than other guys on the same segment but if I get shaken loose , my time is going to be slower.

[@DEAR7340]

@@davidbenner6551 Yep. I'm just the opposite, "I punch above my weight" but can easily be shaken off on a long steep grade. Other than that, I seem to find a way to hang onto much better riders than me, just because I can hold acceleration a bit - - for an old guy.

[@nathansmith1006]

Have you thought about Beech Mtn in Banner Elk N. Carolina. As far as I know Lance Armstrong still has the fastest time up it from the Tour of Georgia. It would be good to see you beat that time.

[@chriswitek9455]

beech mountainfrom banner elk isnt held by lance but by someone who has a strava name of kibbles n bits lololol

[@Jace_Roams]

Crushed it! Have you thought of going back to Mt. Washington, in NH? I'd love to see you annihilate that segment. Current time is 51:40.

[@samlelacheur3019]

i dont know if Washington is open except for on the race day, but id love to see that one. a real brute

[@joesinboston]

Looks like he is registered for the race this year :)

[@samlelacheur3019]

yay! i live locally so maybe ill sneak on up

[@JensDueOhlsen]

One cookie in the US, is the size of 5 cookies in Denmark.

[@Cruzanracer]

Loving it, Phil!! Keep 'em coming!

[@NoName-ot]

Production quality is sooooo much better!

[@FrancoMonet]

"I still go it!" Love that, and Phil you will always have it.

[@user93634]

I love riding Mount Mitchell, both Mountain biking and road riding

[@nathanbtoben]

Been looking forward to this!

[@danwilliams6367]

Best one yet all-around!

[@jamesoxford4260]

I have an aunt that lives just off the blue ridge parkline outside of asheville... i live in flat michigan so this is really the only road bike climb that I have some reference for, someplace I've been. thats pretty serious climbing...

[@calmenda]

The "Retired" hat cracked me up. Love this video series.

[@JS-tb9hu]

400+ watt threshold! That is amazing!

[@avoycendeether8869]

Super fun little video.

[@chrissmyth8921]

Should take some stills from that foggy ascent, some epic shots there! Then sell them to Rapha ;)

[@ranga8038]

K Smythe While wearing Castelli

[@hannonayer9792]

The only uphill Strava segment on all of mount Mitchell that you didn't get is held by a guy who has the Cookie Monster as his picture. Seems fitting.

[@user93634]

I was laughing as soon as he asked the brake question knowing the area. Hey Phil, if you like mountain biking, come out to the Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell next year. It is a blast, and has a lot of great people to ride with.

[@BrunoZub]

Wow, the production value is top notch now

[@benwolf8011]

awesome edit

[@cameronsmith3966]

Nice one! Looked a bit moist🌨🌨

[@johnhall298]

What are you doing? POST up! How much of a temperature swing did you experience? I usually ride up from Asheville, which I've seen swings of almost 30F between the visitor center on the BRP at Asheville and the top lot of Mitchell.

[@phila9288]

I know this is an old vid, but thanks for the inspiration to do mt. Mitchell !😊

[@worstretirementever]

Love it!

[@SentinelWERA43]

Badass! Welcome to NC Phil! Is there an online schedule of where you're going next?

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

really enjoying these but can you show more of you doing the climbs though

[@nancia2587]

if you are watching at 7:11 there is ZERO chance of a dislike....

[@Nondezeusproduction]

new editing is great

[@billbove7304]

Hey Phil! Super Flag and Super James in Boulder would be fun to do!

[@tommackrall6631]

Good stuff, hurry up and do another one : )

[@globalnomad]

Congratulations! By the way my favorite part was the bit with the cookie.

[@nathanong87]

I heard you like hillclimb KOMs, you should come back to Ellicott City and tackle the fearsome illchester road climb again for the MABRA hillclimb championship

[@apv1]

Hell yes this is so good compared to the others. Production quality I mean

[@christianmatheron6444]

The surface looked incredible. Were you happy with avg power? I couldn't tell.

[@SwedishHouseFifa]

We want more when you actually take on the KOM, good video as always :D

[@hieroraven]

Awesome music!

[@GettingtheTruthOut]

I drove my motorcycle up there today and saw a bunch of cyclists. You guys are beasts for making those climbs.

[@HolmsOnBikes]

Welp, you now have to go back and retake this one.

[@williamhughes6366]

Great work Phil!

[@martman800]

You should go for the Red Lodge to Beartooth Pass KOM.

[@frankdelatank8454]

Return top the (B)EAST Coast! Apple Orchard Mountain (lowest to highest points of the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA), Wintergreen, maybe others?

[@BikeLife154]

Cool, yet still a very humble and down to earth man.

[@MegaSPEED999]

awesome music

[@theBidon]

These are the best!

[@SuperAlecv]

Post old la Honda

[@beeble2003]

The intro to this was awesome but I wish the video was a bit longer to have more cycling in it.

[@deanhenthorn8674]

Have you ever had STrava Fail on the upload after a KOM attempt? Its happened to me twice on good runs..and I dont get many of those so I was pissed.

[@pahouseholder]

Best line: And if I screw it up, it's going to be very embarrassing. And, I've got to add to the request for Haleakala. Maui, the beach at Paia, the summit of a volcano. What's not to like?

[@RonDonson]

Congrats, Phil!!! I'm from NC and the Assault on Mt. Mitchell is a classic. Just doing the last part was pretty awesome. If you get back to NC you might want to try the Snake Mtn portion of the Blood, Sweat and Gears ride. I'm sure you're up for that as the nasty part hits 18-20% grade.

[@camm67]

Hey Phil, I know it's not long, but you should crush the Gibraltar Road ascent in Santa Barbara.

[@tobysfig]

Is WRE EP4 KZbin the final title?

[@worstretirementever]

Oops. Thank you...

[@BIGDO13]

that's two in a row... he's on a streak...

[@jmkmckenny]

It's brilliant seeing the watts

[@samlelacheur3019]

Do Mount washington!! thats a good one.

[@FinnThomsen]

come do Mix Canyon Road! 4.5 miles at 9.5%, last mile is 14.9%. take it on!

[@derekjanson2063]

Awesome job Phil!

[@Cokecanninja]

I made a bear crap itself during a descent. I saw it in the road, it didnt see me, I screamed as I buzzed it at 30+ and saw some poo come out when it took off

[@GotYourWallet]

Crushed it!

[@justinsotdorus1364]

come do mt. evans in idaho springs, colorado. Its 7k gain in 22 mi and tops at 14k ft. Or do pikes peak. and give me a shout, ill bring cookies

[@chriswitek9455]

im trying pikes peak in july, whats the odds i get cookies?

[@saltydog9117]

Awesome.

[@0321recon]

Cannondale - who keeps the creaks out of your bottom bracket? I've a super six evo 1k miles and don't like the creak.

[@ryanpeterbergen]

I had the same problem w my BB30, now, probably 2k in, it has disappeared. Either I am deaf to it, or it has resolved itself somehow.

[@0321recon]

Thanks, I'm working with my store to see how it can be sorted, pretty bad right now. Glad it has worked out for you.

[@paulnewman8803]

Congratulations Phil, u destroyed my time from '94 (?). I rode the entire assault, which no doubt explains how you crushed my time of 4:15. (No typo -- I was riding fast enough to stay upright.) Needless to say, no one considers me a climber, LOL. PS, to be clear, my 4:15 was for the last 28 miles only, and I was using a 26 x 26.

[@Blackstoked]

do Paris Mountain next

[@migolarte]

awesome!!!! epic!!!! so cool

[@PaddleAsia]

Everyone knows that if a bear gets in your way, you simply bunny hop that bear. ;-)

[@ruski024]

Love the 'Retired' hat.

[@psalmon3582]

Palomar II...ring ring...hello who's calling?...Palomar Phil, you left 8 seconds up here Phil, just want to know when you're coming back for it...click.

[@usget]

Can't get over how much that dude looks like the very strange British MP Jacob Rees Mogg. Has to be a distant cousin

[@cup_and_cone]

Everytime I see your bars I think it's an amputee.

[@gregg1571]

The cookies are so big in America! I want one...

[@snp4dx]

GAIMON = CYCLING YEZUS