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Every year I ask myself what is the best riding season in Upstate SC and WNC? Spring has the excitement of the new season ahead as temps finally warm up and things come to life. Summer has the long days where you can escape the heat by riding to the mountains most days. What more can you say about Fall with the incredible leaves changing, the mostly dry, warm, and still long days. Then you have the time period we are in now where the days are shorter, the leaves have mostly fallen, and the tourists have of all gone home. We are fortunate to have 4 changing seasons here but I surprisingly find myself actually saying that now is the time I like best.

Sure the days are short but the suns up earlier and the mornings warm up up pretty fast so you can still get in a full days ride for the most part. The crowds are gone and you have most of the great mountain roads to yourself. Since the leaves are down instead of seeing a road lined with thick greenness you can see deep into the woods at the streams, and how people live in their remote places usually tucked out of sight.

I ride all year so besides a few trips with a couple great out of state friends its just me alone and the excitement of my plan for the day. To add something exciting to each ride I really enjoy trying to get creative with recording video and photographing the places I go. Most times its just nothing out of the ordinary so I erase it and get things ready for the next time out. When its special, I make videos of rides with my friends or of something unique if its worthwhile. Mostly its just for my enjoyment as a hobby.

Video has pretty much been the same since the GoPro's and the like have come out. Yes each year the cams get better, the resolution over time has vastly improved, but its still straight ahead video of what is in front of you overall. 360 video has really changed that as it opens up a whole new world and perspective to your total surroundings. It is a totally new learning curve to shoot and edit this footage but its a fun challenge. As I mentioned, I like to get creative so I put together this video of a ride I took yesterday and thought I would share it here.

The locals call this stretch "The Cradle Of Forestry" which is a 4 mile climb at the end of Rt 276 to the BRP. Its about a 1200 foot change in elevations over those 4 miles constantly climbing through some fantastic twisties. Most times of the year you can never go through this without cars and tourists in the way. At this time of year its often wide open like in this video and you can see deep into your surroundings. Again, why I am starting to believe this is the best time to ride this area. In my opinion, the 360 video perspective really gives you a feel for the amount of curves over that stretch and its something unique in the way its captured. Its hard to really get a feel for that on standard video. So I hope anyone who wants to check out the short video enjoys it and thought I would share some thoughts on things as well.

Interesting perspective from that camera "angle". I like the music - fits the video. Well done.

To me, the best time to ride Appalacia is the early Fall. From a riding perspective only, it's usually very dry, the leaves haven't littered the roads yet, and the termperature is getting quite nice. The week after Labor Day is ideal, to me. Kids are back in school and the leaf peepers are holding at bay. During the week you basically get the roads to yourself.

I get what both of you are saying. Of course, anytime to ride in the mountains is a good time.

But Duane introduced me to the counter-intuitive goodness of riding down the twisty 276 highway after the leaves have dropped for the most part...and he made passes on curves up there that made ME blush. lol (cuz he could see through all 3-4 curves involved had no oncoming traffic). I took the hint after that.

But there is solitude and scenery to be had with the leaves down...hidden views of "out yonder" that are opened up that you wouldn't normally get.

I look forward to empty roads and beautiful scenery in upcoming years.

Best time as well for dual sporting. Not too hot, and you can really see all the beautiful mountains and streams.