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More Videos: Riding the rough roads of Asheville could make any cyclist find religion; The annual Blessing of the Bikes is an always popular event.

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Thousands of dedicated bike riders have made their home in Asheville, a town which is notoriously inhospitable to folks traveling on fewer than four wheels. Drivers here are ornery, bike lanes are scarce, and -- given the topography of the mountains -- most trips really are uphill both ways.

So it's no surprise that dozens of cyclists annually participate in the Beating of the Bounds, a metric century that culminates with a group blessing at All Souls Cathedral, the Episcopalian church that George Vanderbilt built to serve the village adjoining his majesterial estate. The boundary ride, rooted in an ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition, follows the city's perimeter and pauses at its northern-, southern-, eastern- and western-most points (aka a Citgo station, Kountry Line gas station, BP station and another Citgo station). But the most eagerly-awaited stop is the church, where a clergy member prays for the cyclists' protection in the coming year.