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This page identifies centuries, multi-day tours, and other bicycle events within driving distance of Abingdon. If you know of other rides of interest to the Abingdon Bicyclists send to information me. Anyone want to sign up for any of these?
The Horsey Hundred is held on Memorial Weekend in Lexington, KY. The Horsey Hundred features a variety of rides during the Memorial Day Weekend. All routes loop from the campus of Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. Saturday offers a choice of 30, 60, 75, or 100 mile routes, while Sunday's routes are 30, 50, and 65 miles. All routes traverse lightly traveled, paved roads in the scenic Bluegrass during Kentucky's springtime. Maps will be provided at check-in. Support vehicles will be on the road, with a mechanic at the college. Saturday night features an ice-cream social, door-prizes, and a Bluegrass band! Yee-ha!
The Wilderness Road Ride and Mountains of Misery Century are held on Memorial Day weekend. These are bicycle related activities
The Wilderness Road Bicycle Ride is a scenic and historical adventure in the splendor of Southwest Virginia's New River Valley. The 20, 35, 50, and 70 mile options offer everything from a relaxed journey to a challenge for the fittest athlete.
The 20-miler, within the ability of virtually any rider, features gentle hills and scenic beauty. The 35-miler has been added by popular demand, and offers increased distance and climbing with scenic views of the Little River. The 50-miler is tougher, with several character building hills. The 70-miler, surpassing many century courses for difficulty, is intense and demanding, with over 4,000 feet of net elevation gain! All Wilderness Road Ride courses offer the finest in panoramic views, pastoral scenes, and quiet Appalachian roads. And all take in sections of the original quot;Wilderness Roadquot;, reportedly plotted by famous frontier explorer Daniel Boone.
Billed as a challenge century, the course of 103 miles takes riders through the town of Christiansburg and to the village of Ellet before climbing to the town of Blacksburg. Riders will pedal to the town of Newport via US 460 ;and begin the roller coaster ride to the final switch backed descent into New Castle and the halfway point. Looming ahead is the challenging ascent of John's Creek Mountain (Cat.2) and downhill to Newport and the New River. The short, 14.6% grade, Spruce Mountain climb from the river will further testify to the rider's mettle. Save some energy for the final five-mile Cat. 1 climb to the Mountain Lake Resort finish line, where you will be greeted with fanfare. You can do it! It has been done before! Remember, MISERY LOVES COMPANY!
Blood Sweat and Gears has lots of climbing.
Rhododendron Cycling Celebration (also) takes place in late June in conjunction with the ;Rhododendron Festival. The Celebration will be a fun-filled weekend for bicycling enthusiasts;(from novice to professional) of all ages, and their families.;
Planned bicycle tours will include the:
- John Peterson Challenge, a 100 mile ride over mountainous terrain that is sure to challenge the most accomplished cyclists;
- The Roan Moan - just the name of this ride will give participants an idea of what they can expect as they cross the beautiful Roan Mountain;
- Frankie and Charlie, a 23.4 mile pleasure ride that mixes local history, scenic beauty, and easy climbing challenges; and
- Tour de Bakersville, which is a series of out and back courses that cover several scenic areas surrounding Bakersville. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
The bicycle tours will occur on Saturday.Participants may also choose to enjoy a cookout on Friday evening and a choice of out and back rides to the Penland School and the Orchard at Altapass on Sunday.
Shenandoah Valley Bike Festival in Bridgewater
Burke's Garden Century appears to be a minimum support ride held each August.
This century ride came about by accident.; In August of 1997, Tim Myers decided to lead a century out of Narrows Virginia into Burkes Garden and back.; He had about a dozen or so riders join him.; In 1998, he decided to lead the ride again.; With no advertisment and no added hype, almost 50 riders joined him. ; So, we decided to make this a yearly event.; This years ride will be held on Saturday, August 25th.; There will be a nominal fee this year of $5 to cover SAG wagon expenses and insurance.; This ride will not have nearly the ride support that Wilderness Road Ride has, but it will have multiple SAG vehicles which will also carry snacks for all of the riders.; Please check back at this site later in the year for more details about the ride.
Blue Ridge Brutal sponsored by the Ashe Co. NC Civic Center. Listed as
The Blue Ridge Brutal 100, held each of the past 11 years by the Ashe Civic Center and Mount Jefferson Century Flyers, quot;featured some of the most rugged and spectacular mountain terrain east of the Mississippi, including 24 miles of the National Park Service's stunning Blue Ridge Parkway,quot; explained the release.
The Brutal is a grueling 100-mile tour of three northwest North Carolina counties, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Grayson County, VA.; It has grown consistently in popularity since its inception in 1989, from 25 riders the first year to several hundred from all over the country.; The annual August event was promoted in 1993 as one of Bicycling magazine's top 10 rides, recognized in 1995 by North Carolina Year of the Mountains, and (given honorable mention in the League of American Bicyclists 1995 Century Challenge).
Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge is in Monterey, VA about 45 miles west of Staunton.
Over one hundred miles. Nine mountains. Nine percent grades. Ten thousand feet of vertical gain. But don't pack up the station wagon, the kids, and the dog thinking you're going on a leisurely drive in the country. This ride is for skinny tires only, two to be exact, and no motor. This is a ride for gutsy people on bicycles. This is the Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge.
HILLY HELLACIOUS HUNDRED in Asheville
BRIDGE TO BRIDGE BIKE RIDE held in NC in September.
Shenandoah Valley Century in Harrisonburg, VA
Autumn Chase Century in Bristol held in early September. Sponsored by Boyd's Bicycle Shop and Bristol Bikers. (See Bicycling Magizine for description
Artie Levin Century in Buchanan, Virginia. Near the end of September. Run by the Blue Ridge Cycle Club of Roanoke.
Bike Virginia this is a one week tour usually scheduled in mid to late June. The route differs each year. Looks like daily distances are around 60 miles with some options. This is a fully supported camping tour. Check the website after the first of the year for route, schedule, and costs.
Blue Ridge Parkway Bicycle Trip End-To-End. The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Inc. of Roanoke, Virginia (BRBC) has sponsored a bicycle trip along the beautiful and challenging Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). The BRP is a 469 mile scenic road along the crests of the southern Appalachians, linking two eastern national parks; Shenandoah and Great Smokey Mountains. The ride is a challenging with an average of approximately 60 cycling miles per day. The ride will begin at Milepost Zero in Waynesboro, VA and end in Cherokee, NC after total climbing of 48,601 feet in nine days.
As of April 10th this ride is not listed on the BRBC web site. It may be waiting for a new ride leader to take charge.
Cycle North Carolina is a one week cross state ride held in North Carolina. The location of the tour varies each year. This is a fully supported camping tour with options for motels. The cost for the camping option was $175 in 2001.
SHENANDOAH FALL FOLIAGE BIKE FESTIVAL is held in Staunton on a weekend each fall. There are two days of cycling with at least one century ride available.
Historic Staunton in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley welcomes you to the eleventh annual SHENANDOAH FALL FOLIAGE BIKE FESTIVAL.; View some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in Virginia at the peak of its glorious colors as you join over 1300 cyclists to bike winding country roads through Augusta and Rockingham Counties.; The Festival is designed for families as well as experienced cyclists and when the riding is over there will be much to see and do.;
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