THE NEED FOR SPEED
Cyclists pursue ultramarathon speed records
Last summer, when most guys his age were on the golf course, 64-year-old Gerry Eddlemon set 10 state cycling speed records. Eddlemon, an extreme road biker from Knoxville, Tenn., is part of a small niche of ultracyclists who like to post the fastest times for pedaling across states from one end [...]
RUNTOWN U.S.A.
These top Southeastern running towns elevate the sport from pastime to passion.
WASHINGTON DC
Click here to download route maps for the DC area.
Politics may be D.C.’s business, but running is the city’s pleasure. Our nation’s capital has no less than 11 full-fledged running clubs, some of the region’s most popular races, a surprising amount [...]
Cool Schools
BRO’S Honor Roll of the Region’s Greenest Colleges and Universities
We did our homework for this assignment. Blue Ridge Outdoors researched, interviewed, and examined all of the region’s colleges and universities to determine which schools are not just teaching about a better world but also are actually doing something about it. Over the past year, [...]
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Why pay to run epic trail races, when you can stage your own for free?
Running one of the classic 100-mile ultra races seems like an impossible endeavor—and for most of us, it is—but what if you spread that distance across five days? The Minnesota-based Adventure Running Company is doing just that, taking small groups of [...]
Should hikers allow their dogs off-leash?
No: 47%
Dogs should absolutely be on leashes when they’re on public lands. Sometimes I think the length of the leash needs to be pointed out to some oblivious dog owners. More than once I have been running on a greenway and had a dog on a 20-foot leash dart across the path in front of [...]
Brevard, N.C.
The small western North Carolina town of Brevard has a big backyard—the Pisgah National Forest. No surprise, the gateway to Pisgah is a hotbed for a variety of adventure junkies and outdoor enthusiasts from hardcore mountain bikers to casual hikers enjoying the area’s many waterfalls. Todd Branham, professional trail builder and race director of the [...]
Who is the best olympic athlete?
Vote and tell us what you think and you’ve got a shot at winning a Dagger Kayak from Subaru!
Do you exercise primarily to lose weight?
Tell us what you think and you’ve got a shot at winning a Dagger Kayak from Subaru!
Virginias vs. Carolinas: Which offers superior recreation?
Carolinas: 46%
I think bigger is better. North Carolina has the highest peak in the Eastern United States with Mt. Mitchell, and the accompanying Black Mountain range has 18 mountains above 6,300 feet. The views from these great summits are spectacular and cannot be topped (literally) in the Southeast. North Carolina is a special place that’s [...]
High-Tech Highlights
Outdoor technology has come a long way since the first issue of BRO. What seemed like a product out of a ‘90s sci-fi movie feels like an antique now. Here’s a look at some of the most advanced gadgets on the outdoor market today.
Bike Computer: Sigma Rox 9.0.
You get all the speed, distance, cadence, heart [...]
The Ski Resort That Never Happened
Some of the region’s best backcountry skiing is found on a mountain once slated for a ski resort
A handful of guys with guns strapped to their shoulders are hovering around the trailhead. They have thick beards and orange hats. They’re laughing and drinking coffee. When we drive up, they get quiet.
It’s the first day [...]
Charlottesville, Va.
Jeff Smith is the owner of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Charlottesville, Va. The venerable indie outfitter started as a small operation in 1972 and has since expanded to 12 stores across the region. When Smith can escape from his office, he takes advantage of Charlottesville’s easily accessible adventure outlets—a result of the small city’s [...]