We climbed for FIVE HOURS just to ride this epic trail

[@jordanr8312]

Andrew has acquired and exercised his “Dad Strength.” It’s that special gear dads have to open tight pickle jars, loosen stuck bolts and climb steep trails with quiet ease. Parenthood builds grit in a man and it’s such a great experience. Thanks for the content.

[@The_Sampler]

I know this is a long vide, but I hope at least some of you enjoy getting to witness my full, slow decline into insanity, the kind you only get on truly epic rides such as this.

[@Joe-gn1cg]

We love the long ones. Glad you had fun. My bikes in the bike shop right now and im itching to ride.

[@sjcKsyrium]

I kept watching for the HBar tree grabbers! I've ridden CC road, been wanting to go Up this way also! Sweet Vid!

[@joeymalin]

I loved this video! This seems to be reminiscent of your original videos!!

[@_drawkward_]

I don't think any of us are gonna complain about the long video; lets us spend more time with you. Might have to do an epic on this one of these days.

[@clarissawebb7652]

Hey Alex, can you post your Strava links to some of these rides?

[@franksnyder363]

Please do an epic with BKXC next time you see him. The two of you suffering together is pretty wonderful--such positive vibes!

[@kiloyardstare]

Maybe one of the best mountain bike videos I've seen. Enduring the pain is what makes riding worth it.

[@mtbdadcebu2268]

one reason why you gotta love mountain biking is the amazing nature view. nice riding dude!

[@LuvinLifeInCA]

Suddenly, I believe in humanity again. Well done guys!!

[@diehippie1]

Never enjoyed a climbing video so much! Love your energy and your mental strength 👊

[@jakemercado7154]

bro it was a 28 mile ride you think that is testing mental strength they are goin like less 10 mph💀💀

[@diehippie1]

@@jakemercado7154 my comment received 10 thumbs up and a heart from the sampler, you only receive man sausage...

[@MichaelRei99]

Enjoyed every minute of that ride! No way I could make that climb so cheers to you both! Keep on doing what you do!

[@rossgirven5163]

The problem with having it soo chill and flat for ages at the start of a ride is that it means you are eventually going to his some very steep climbs!

[@abstraddic0442]

Man ! Those are tears of joy guys !!! I could almost feel the win on my face during the descend! Great ride. Keep up the amazing job!!! 👍 Yeah..That was absolutely enjoyable.

[@SlowpokeShred]

Maybe my favorite trail. We shuttled to the top of heartbreak, hit up heartbreak and star gap, then pedaled back up to Kitsuma. I loved it so much. Great video, such good vibes!

[@Talarkas]

As someone who likes biking (normally, was intereted in getting into mountain biking), but haven't been able to due to current life situation, I love your content. Vibes always on point and it's always just a blast following along on your adventures. Keep living ya best life my dude 🤘

[@dickie8015]

That was an amazing ride. Longest video of this type I've watched yet. I loved the little scenic route after getting down the mountain as much as the actual climb and decent.

[@clarencenewby716]

As a beginner I enjoy when you do gear checks! Awesome ride!

[@33R3X]

Dude the high altitude views to the right were amazing, now I want to ride this badly 😍

[@The_Sampler]

My job here is done :P

[@gwootsa1798]

Actually just got back from an epic few days of riding out in Snowshoe West Virginia! And he's a super new rider and falling in love with the sport very quickly. Love the content too, it helps inspire me to get out and ride

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

One of my favorites MNT videos I seen, what an epic ride!!!

[@MrRandomhero07]

Your positive and uplifting demeanor, is awesome, man. You help me feel better about being encouraging to people, even when it’s not always appreciated. Big fan of you and your channel. Thanks for impacting my life, in such a positive way.

[@marrtan8]

Epic! Thanks for taking us with you!

[@richr7604]

Man! A six hour total ride with all the altitude gain and an sweet downhill! That's absolutely a epic ride if i've ever seen one!! I feel you on the pain, happened to me riding across the Colorado rockies many moons ago. Absolutely great video bro! Lookinf forward to the next adventure!👍✌️

[@JClark2600]

Glad you're back posting videos Alex!

[@ryansinks4919]

Dude, you put a huge smile on my face, and now I must plan a trip!! 😉🤙

[@KestrelYI]

Western NC!

[@mrrims]

That was a big ride for sure! Thanks for sharing.

[@tripsy2524]

I rode the Duluth traverse (Duluth, MN) which is 44 miles with 3000/3000 elevation last year and it was brutal.

[@frankthetankricard]

I got tired watching the climb and had to go to sleep halfway through the video :D That downhill though, pretty sweet.

[@WildMeff]

the shots coming down through the green tunnel and the sunlight was sick, awesome adventure

[@brassmnky33]

This looks like a banger, have to comment, can’t wait to watch.

[@darrenmorin3084]

Double leg cramps for weeks is what I'd get! Way to go guys! Brutal!

[@ronniek.7331]

Absolute troopers…I’m not sure I will ever have the fitness for such an adventure.

[@SaskBryan75]

At the 16:50 mark, that's what she said. Awesome video. I enjoyed every second of it.

[@scottcriss342]

That climb is no joke!!!. 5 hours is about right. What an awesome downhill though.

[@jamesconnell323]

I’m 65 with chronic pain and fatigue. I can get the same exhausted feeling on any climb. 😊

[@Cam_mtblife]

Awesome man that is some gnarly riding the 5 hour climb is definitely worth it.

[@derrickbeil2040]

I did this when you could take the trails through the church (before they closed it). Definitely a ride to remember.. lots of pain.

[@Bike_and_Beer]

The Singletrack Sampler turned into his evil alter ego “The Doubletrack Disaster”

[@The_Sampler]

LOL 😂

[@crumblenoob]

Man I just accidentally did a ride yesterday that ended up being 2800' (wrong turn down a trail that squandered all my previous climbing that added another 1k) and it killed me. 5000' is no joke, awesome stuff!

[@dacesonbarton5665]

This is great! thank you for this type of experience! Love this. Just going to shoot for this in the future.

[@blackou7]

Cheers, another great video, have a lot of rain here for the past month+ in Bulgaria, but everytime you upload I just want to get out and ride!

[@shaunomeara843]

Awesome vid bud love the work, that was epic love this vid👍

[@8gentOrange]

This is the best video I have watched😂!!

[@DavidSanchez-vg6qx]

thanks for sharing your rides! this was an epic one for sure.

[@TheArrowFist]

Hats off to both you sirs!!!!

[@scottdavis2212]

These epic rides are so fun to watch! Quality sufferfest!

[@ssjj9584]

Love video’s like this 🥳🤘

[@CalebMichaelMartin]

Good video man makes me want to try the no shuttle route. I actually saw you at the Fletcher Mountain Bakery the other day and was going to give you a sup but you didn’t look like you were ready for human interaction at that point in the morning. Cool seeing you on the local trails, stay stoked!

[@BIGEUSMC]

I have the same Cognative MTB shorts and I really like them. I’m a lardass and it’s hard to find riding shorts so I appreciate the 2xl size

[@Friskee62]

Kudos on your EPIC ride. I remember watching that video when the trailers were there...

[@smog24]

last epic I did was the left and right loops at tsali + the overlooks a little west of cherokee (Fire mountain) . I think it was like 21 miles and 4k climb, but the climbing and DH were all mixed in along the ride. Epic views but not super gnarly, perfect for group rides and camping.

[@MikeKraemer87]

I did an epic ride with my 4 year old recently, we did around 3.5 miles. Epic ride for him lol. I went out about another 4 miles, doing some down hill stuff. Only 300ft up and 300ft down, but still a blast.

[@Biking-Viking]

Epic ride! This really looked like fun with all that climbing.

[@deathwatch76]

As my father used to say, "It's better to have and not need, than need and not have". Keep up the videos man. Some day you should come to Ohio. I know a place you would have a TON of fun.

[@jmoutdoors2801]

I’m giving her all she’s got captain! She can’t take much more of this!

[@ckadventures7767]

Bro that was an Awesome video for me one of your best you have always inspired me I'm now at 51 years old and mtb is not a hobby for me its a way of life keep it up stay STOKED

[@mattcrane]

For future huge climbs, i'd love a elevation time stamp, and little dot moving on a map!

[@Lui2692]

Looks like a sick ride!

[@JClark2600]

@7:00 I carry a little lock pick set with me so when I saw you come to that fire road gate the only thing I was thinking was if I could pick that lock faster than you could lift your bikes and jump over it. hahaha

[@XCBen]

One of my favorite rides out here. It's such an adventure. Looks like you got the peak bloom of the laurels too! That rock bed on the upper part of the toll road looked brutal. I have actually never done the route ya'll did up the old Mitchel toll road. My route starts where lower heartbreak (star gap) spits you out. I take star gap east to Jarret Creek road, then up the 8 miles fire road climb Curtis creek. Blue ridge parkway to Heartbreak entrance. About the 31 miles with 5,400 feet vert. I ride this route probably 3 to 5 times a year. Loved this video.

[@clockout5265]

Epic. Have not been up there since the sketchy trailers were taken away.

[@ericsharp5079]

Amazing video! I need a ride like that!!

[@1975normal]

You must ride one of these each month. 12-BIG RIDES EACH YEAR ❤

[@learpatrick2270]

You should ride at Legacy Bike Part in Lakeside Montana, It’s a fun sick park with lots of trails and sweet jumps. Would recommend Freestyle/DH bike. 👍👍

[@chandlerburrell3001]

@ 20:12 I have definitely been there. Hahah climbing up claw hammer the first time. My buddy was leading the way.

[@robtodd4726]

1:07……thought you were gonna turn around.😂

[@greenmindmtb7653]

Sweet VICTORY🍻

[@Lifesbeengood]

26:34 this made the climb all the more worth it

[@haemmertime]

" when he lied to me, only one will make it out of the forest", this got me laughing quite hard.

[@dbmagee21]

Why did you use quotation marks? He didn’t say that

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

So funny lmao no wrong turns allowed!!!

[@terryscroggs3133]

We rode Spencer last Saturday. About 500 yards down from where you took the right at that fork near the top. We came across a huge rattlesnake chilln in the middle of the trial. It was crazy. He wouldn't move lol Pictures and video on my strava

[@Zaksporebrainiac]

I wish i had as big of a climbs and as much forest here in the uk as you guys do in the US. The only place that could match that is the lake district, wales and scotland. Sadly I don't live near either so I'm just here wishing I had this.

[@kellenkromm6947]

Alex, you've got to ride Weed Patch if you haven't - it's got it all views, death march climbing and a 360° view at the top. Would be sick video. A buddy and I rode it without shuttle and I wanted to die. Thanks for the vids!

[@75keg75]

14:15 omg I thought you were gonna say you asked him to apply chamois butter for you… hahaha

[@somethingelsehere8089]

Loved the video. Love to see some climbing too - you did a fantastic job of making it entertaining. Any chance of sharing a link to the Strava for this?

[@greg4fiddy]

That was a crazy climb! Fast downhill! Excellent video! Enjoyed it all…Kudos!!

[@IthacaDon]

Dang! And you didn't do it on your e-Bike! Now you should do the route again on the ebike and compare how you feel after! Well done! And to put my comments in perspective, I am waiting for my Fezzari Timp Peak to arrive! I thoroughly enjoy your videos.

[@1975normal]

FINALLY SUM REAL MOUNTAIN BIKING 50/50 uphill/downhill

[@xXJerry202Xx]

Dude started plotting against Andrew and everything 😂😂

[@TylerM-j1i]

I used to have that excitement before rides, but after coming back from injuries and being older, I have near none. Such a lack of motivation.

[@granspeed]

Heartbreak and Kitsuma in one go. Oh I remember the pain the day of and the following day.

[@davidmilhouscarter8198]

34:38 Pedal uphill for five hours to ride downhill for seven minutes. Every mountain bike ride ever.

[@netposerx]

Love big rides. Wish I could do more as I usually don't like to to them solo.

[@TheJdubbs74]

What water filter do you use for your bike rides. I live in WNC as well.

[@anthonycordero5733]

Gonna need those energy tubes cause damn all uphill...

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

Epic! I haven’t done many 20+ milers recently unless you count the ebiking? Lol

[@floris2872]

I wish we had mountains like that in Belgium 😔

[@mattcrane]

Also bring zip ties Ive had to zip tie broken spokes, a dollar bill in case you slice a side wall or use a wrapper from a gel or bar. A patch kit, and first aid kit, and shit kit.

[@TrentSiggard]

How'd you record audio for this? It sounds fantastic!

[@ShredTactix]

I’ve got the epic ride FEELS!

[@snowman22ism]

Hey Alex... What is your bar width? My new bike came with 800mm bars and they feel soooo wide.. just curious what you ride.. Thinking of going to 760 or maybe 780.

[@erikdg]

It's not the miles, it is the climb!

[@claytonalbrecht6816]

I've ridden up that way, it really isn't that bad as I remembered lol

[@ifonly4486]

That's what mountain biking is all about. Pedalling up and down over a given distance. It's a sport after all.....

[@petedog9581]

The climbing was exciting! Lol. Wood Mountain Trail has very punishing climbs near there also. I hate rhododendrons after getting battered to death on that trail.

[@nattytambam]

wtb volt saddle changed the game for me!

[@reid3737]

Hey Alex, you'd really have a much better time (and better recovery) if you got more carbs in and more often. For 4+ hour rides you really need to be getting in at least 40g carb/hr on the low end and high end would be around 100g carb/hr. Two bars and a croissant aint gonna cut it for this long of a climb. You will be amazed at how much better you feel. Give it a shot.

[@chasingepic]

Truth. Carbs and regular eating on a ride like this make a world of difference.

[@playgroundchooser]

I just read something that a person can only absorb about 200-400 calories per hour (while working out). Your 40 - 100g / hour of carbs is spot on for max benefit and absorbing without as much GI distress.

[@reid3737]

@@playgroundchooser Its certainly an individual thing. I struggle to keep good GI with 100g/hr on 4+ hour rides but I can do 80g/hr pretty easily. The gut is also trainable to an extent. I think there's recent studies showing some people can even tolerate (and benefit from!) even higher amounts. Something like 120g/hour. Makes me sick just thinking about it haha.

[@carl_thunder]

I'm feeling that climb just looking at it. Good lord.

[@Mtbslacker]

Any chance that you'll make a video about your bikes? I'm interested in how you choose/acquire the bikes you've had.

[@nipd12]

Avoid the butt sore with a proper Coullote. Are very very comfortable.

[@taylorklein2378]

Brian is probably pissed he missed this ride.

[@AronJennings]

Great vid… what advice would u give a freshly on riding the mountains on bike in Colorado. I can’t afford to drive so I’m going to watch my son golf. Just a lil advice plz.

[@repenning1]

you asked when did you a similar epic ride with your buddies? We just did, yesterday. 32 miles, 5500 feet, in Switzerland. Took us about 10 hours including long breaks (that is pretty slow). Alex, If you ever come to Switzerland looking for epic rides let me know -Alex