Brasstown is kind of bucket list. I haven’t done it in 25 years (for a reason). I’m not sure I’d do it the day before 6 Gap, but like was said before none of the 6 gap climbs compare to it. In some ways, the descent especially on rim brakes is worse than the ascent. It can get away from you quickly and you won’t be able to slow down. So be careful on the descent.
Well, survived the hot weekend.
On Saturday we parked at Vogel State Park and rode up Jack’s gap to Brasstown Bald. BB was a bad idea in hindsight. Made it to the top (parking lot) but had to stop 3 times to not overcook myself. Turns out they don’t allow you to even walk your bike up to the observation deck so that was kinda a bummer. One mean a$$ climb though!
Descending BB needs to be done with some caution! I was on my CAAD10 disc with 140mm rotors f&r, nowhere near enough for that descent. I cooked my brakes somewhere around The Wall section coming down and they lost all friction. Was riding one footed looking for a spot to ditch it when luckily it leveled out enough to come to a stop. Cheated death, lesson learned.
The 6 Gap ride went great, very very organized for the amount of people! I paced myself maybe a little too conservatively because of the heat, finished in 6:30. One thing I noticed, there seemed to be a lot more traffic compared to 2016. And also, it seems the route has become a race course for motorcycles and we were just obstacles on that course.
Nice work!
I only managed a 5:33 for 6 gaps but I did win the Crit on Saturday so overall it was a decent weekend. I really need to lean up before next year if I want to hit my goal of sub 5:30.
i’ve only heard amazing things about this and hope I can make it next year! did you go?
Here’s the descent but on carbon rims and rim brakes. It’s not for everyone!
This looked like a good event, until I saw your video. My road bike has carbon wheels and rim brakes. Im looking for an event to do to celebrate turning 70. If I did this I wouldn’t make it to 71.
I also did this descent a few times on carbon rim brake wheels. It was sketchy, and I’m a comparatively light 150 lbs! I had some heavier friends who overheated/delaminated rims up in the Georgia mountains. Those are roads where modern discs are unambiguously better than rim brakes.
The climb/descent in that video is not part of the event—it’s quite a bit steeper than anything you’ll ride at 6 gap. That said, the 6 gap climbs are absolutely no joke.
If I could do the climbs (a huge if) is it safe to do the 6 gap with carbon wheels and rim brakes? I’m 140 lbs. I’m looking to do a challenging event but I’m a time crunched athlete (still working a lot of hours in very demanding career).
I did it twice on carbon rim brakes at 150 lbs. My friends who killed their wheels were well over 200 lbs. Of course, braking technique plays a role (don’t drag your brakes down the whole descent) but generally speaking those descents are exceptionally fun and smooth (many even have slightly banked corners). It’s been a few years since I rode down there but I really hope to get back.
I was around 195-200 when I did Brasstown, and yeah disc would have been a TON better. Having to pulse scrape speed in a straightaway just so that you could slow in time in a corner. That year we had 2 guys ruin their carbon wheels. This was 2014, before everyone had disc brakes.
I finally did Brasstown this summer and the only gap that is even in the same ball park imo is Hogpen. Btw Brasstown being a zone 2 workout on TR is kinda funny.
Thanks. Very helpful. Now “all” I need to do is train for it 
The gran fondo national series -georgia, does two (or three?)of the same climbs the goes to the east for more rolling terrain. Check it out if you are interested in a competitive event (segment racing). 6 gap is fine, but its really sketchy until the first climb. People riding all over the road into blind corners. Kinda gives cyclists a bad image
With appropriate gearing, none of the rides are beyond the capacity of a reasonably-trained cyclist. You’ll do just fine!
Thanks. Over the years I’ve noticed that with appropriate training ordinary people can do extraordinary things. These events give me the motivation to get on the trainer in the early morning before work.
Yes! I live/retired/ride in Dahlonega. When I saw Brasstown as a Z2 workout, I had a little laugh to myself.
If you don’t want to do the full 6gap, consider the 3gap ride. You get three of the 6 mountains, and its only about 55 miles.
6gap is a great ride but that climb up Hogpen is relentless. I felt like I could see straight up the road forever, and also like my Garmin rarely showed less than 12% for the entire climb
Thanks. I will see how the training is going this winter before signing up.
Yes absolutely you can. Just be smart with the brakes and you will be fine. I’ve done it multiple times without an issue and I have 60+lb on you.