John Cash of Landrum, and co-owner of Nature’s Storehouse, Tryon, finished first among local bicyclists in the May 16 Assault on Mt. Mitchell.

Cash, one of the area’s premier riders, placed 23rd overall, with a time of six hours, 43 seconds for the 102.7-mile course that includes over 10,000 feet of climbing from downtown Spartanburg to the top of the Mt. Mitchell Road, at over 6,500 feet above sea level.

Cash, who trains some 12,000 miles per year on local roads, including the most difficult climbs, reported that in spite of not feeling well, he was able to finish strong.

This year’s event, sponsored by the Freewheelers of Spartanburg, was the 41st such ride since friends rode the course in 1975. It’s considered a self-paced ride, not a race, with ample rest/food/water stops and help with turns along the route.

Finishing 24th overall at 6:02:28 was Green Creek’s Sebastian Streit, currently a student at Brevard College and a member of Brevard’s cycling team.

Spencer Crowe of Greer placed seventh overall, with a time of 5:33:18.

Other local riders who completed the grueling ride (with a mandatory 6:30 p.m. cutoff—it begins at 6:30 a.m.) were (in order from the fastest) Rob Wilder of Landrum, Jeff Hendricks of Columbus, Tryon’s Peter Mayrhofer, Michael Philpott of Greer, Ed Castro of Greer, Brendan McGrane of Landrum, Inman’s Roger Myers, Jeff Cook of Greer, Matt Dillard of Greer, Fred Roleke of Inman, Saluda’s Drew RefshaugeCharles Palmer of Greer, Claire Moore of Landrum, Greer’s Peter Stasikelis, and Tryon’s Jim Ksenich.

Of some 734 riders attempting the route, 521 finished inside the 12-hour cutoff.