On Sunday, May 24, the North Carolina Outward Bound School will sponsor the Collier Lilly Ride — a gran-fondo cycling event — on the last day of the annual Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville.
That’s “gran fondo” for “great foundation,” and it can mean “great distance” and “great endurance.” The rides are mass-participation cycling events that have been popular in Europe for decades and are often named for famous cyclists. The May 24 event honors Collier Lilly, an Outward Bound graduate and Davidson College junior who died in an automobile accident. Proceeds from the event will fund scholarships for Western North Carolina youth
The May 24 event — name will time riders on two Blue Ridge Mountain routes, an 83- and a 46-mile routes. There’s also a Trips for Kids ride later in the day “for those who want to get the whole family involved.”
Here’s the full release from NCOBS:
NEW GRAN FONDO BIKE RIDE KICKS-OFF AT MOUNTAIN SPORTS FESTIVAL
Asheville, NC—The 15th Mountain Sports Festival will kick off on May 22 this year and last through the holiday weekend. The festival which is known for its music, food, outdoor gear demonstrations and events brings enthusiast from all over the Southeast. This year the festival will be getting yet another unique addition. Joining the celebration, on the last day of the festival, May 24, will be the Collier Lilly Ride for Outward Bound.
This gran fondo style ride will time riders up two beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain routes, an 83- and 46-mile. Both rides will offer plenty of picturesque climbs but it is the longer route that has the real excitement. Riders on this route will complete 8,600 feet of climbing and will be timed for ‘King of the Mountain’ segments which include prizes for the fastest riders up each climb. The Collier Lilly Ride will also be partnering with Trips for Kids to offer a kids route later in the day for those who want to get the whole family involved.
The ride is hosted by local nonprofit, North Carolina Outward Bound School, who has been offering challenging outdoor expeditions to people of all ages for nearly 50 years. Outward Bound programs deliver powerful life lessons by encouraging participants to safely and confidently step outside their comfort zones and realize they are capable of more than they know. The ride will honor the memory of Collier Lilly, a graduate from the school and an outdoorsmen and all proceeds will go directly to providing scholarships to area youth, teachers and veterans who attend Outward Bound. The ride was based in Davidson, NC for 11 years, this will be the first year the Collier Lilly Ride will be offered in Asheville, NC.
If you would like more information, want to register or volunteer, visit the Collier Lilly Ride for Outward Bound website at: www.collierlillyride.racesonline.com/.
About North Carolina Outward Bound
North Carolina Outward Bound School is a not for profit educational organization that uses the wilderness and sense of adventure as its classroom to teach students the principles of physical fitness, craftsmanship, self-reliance and compassion. For nearly 50 years it has delivered powerful life lessons by encouraging participants to safely and confidently, step outside their comfort zones and travel in spectacular wilderness areas.
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