6/8/2026 5:35 UPDATE - the ride start time and location have changed. We will start at 5am from the Public Parking Lot at River Arts Pl, Asheville, NC. The ride will finish at a Soccer Pub where there just happens to be a World Cup match of Scotland vs Haiti starting at 9:00pm. One other change is our approach to Roan Mountain (Carver's Gap). It's slightly longer and they are a few short/steep pitches in there. But given we are riding around the peak of rhodendron season, it's prudent to stay off TN-143 if possible.
The classic AIR 300km. This was the first official route created by AIR before AIR existed. The route begen as a RUSA Permanent route in 2012 (Route #1606).
Unaka, pronounced you-NAY-kuh, is derived from the Cherokee word unega, meaning "white". Common lore is that 1 in 4 trees in the Unaka Range were American Chestnut trees prior to the great Chestnut Blight. Because the chestnut had long white blossoms, the Unaka Mountains turned white in color during the spring blossoming of the chestnut trees. They were called the White mountains by the local Cherokee.
The bridge across the South Toe River on Blue Rock remains impassable.
Therefore, we will be running the Helene Edition again this year.
Finish location: Olde London Road, 270 Depot St, Asheville, NC 28801
How long will it take me to finish? We can't say for sure but here's what we know from history.
