PRESS RELEASE FROM EVENT ORGANIZERS:
Brevard is preparing to host the third annual Cycle North Carolina weekend “Mountain Ride” slated for August 13-14, 2016. Brevard was the starting town on the 2012 Cycle North Carolina “Mountains to Coast” tour and was the third stop on the inaugural tour that stretched from Murphy to Manteo back in 1999.
The Mountain Ride annually brings in over 400 cyclists to participate in a fully supported weekend of summer cycling along the scenic mountain back roads in the region. The 2016 Mountain Ride participants represent 20 states (CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV). The oldest registered participant is 78 years old and the youngest is 3 years old. The fun-filled weekend will offer two days of cycling, plus many off-the-bike activities and opportunities to explore the beautiful mountain town of Brevard. Mountain bike rides, Hunger Games fan tours, guided fly fishing trips, canoe/kayak trips, waterfall tours and opportunities to hear many different types of music around town are all scheduled to give participants an experience unlike any other. Participants will enjoy meals throughout Transylvania County, including Kiwi Gelato and Blue Ridge Bakery, who will be on-site at Brevard College. Other restaurant highlights include Cedar Mountain Café and Cedar Mountain Canteen, which will be hot spots for the riders to visit on Saturday as well.
The Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is a fully supported bicycle event with support vehicles available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical breakdowns. Rest stops will be set up every 10-20 miles along each route for riders to get off their bikes and explore, while quenching their hunger and thirst. Indoor and outdoor camping areas with amenities will be provided at Brevard College, adjacent to the quaint but bustling downtown district. Participants will also fill the hotels, Bed and Breakfast Inns and vacation homes in Brevard. Cycling routes will pass through attractions and small towns such as Rosman, Lake Toxaway, Etowah, downtown Hendersonville, Bold Rock Hard Cider Facility, Oskar Blues Brewery, Southern Appalachian Brewery, Cedar Mountain and Connestee Falls, to name a few.
Evening entertainment will be provided both nights for participants in Brevard. Friday night is the Mountain Ride Kick-Off Expo and Beverage Garden for all participants at Brevard College. The Kick-Off Expo will feature free beer courtesy of Oskar Blues, Ecusta Brewing Company and Brevard Brewing Company along with local activity operators, many of whom will be running activities for the participants all weekend. The activity operators that will be part of the Kick-Off Expo are Sycamore Cycles, Davidson River Outfitters, Headwaters Outfitters, WNC Adventure Tours, Hunger Games Fan Tours and Pura Vida Adventures. Saturday night is the official CNC Mountain Ride Social, held at the Oskar Blues Brewery. All participants will be treated to a free meal of Oskar Blues beer can chicken, green beans and potato salad. During the meal, cyclists can enjoy the music of Calvin Get Down out of Asheville, NC, from 6-8pm, and of course plenty of Oskar Blues brews.
The Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is presented by Visit North Carolina. Partner organizations of Cycle North Carolina include: Powerade, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Lowe’s Foods, the N.C. Department of Transportation and Cycling Spoken Here. Local sponsors and partners of the 3rd Annual Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride include Brevard College, Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, Heart of Brevard, Blue Ridge Bicycle Club and the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce. Special thanks to the staff with the City of Brevard and Transylvania County for their efforts.
North Carolina Amateur Sports is a 501c(3) nonprofit charitable organization that annually organizes the Powerade State Games of North Carolina and Cycle North Carolina. NCAS is dedicated to the promotion of the spirit of amateur sports, physical fitness and health to all ages and skill levels through the participation in organized events which enrich the state of North Carolina. For more information on NCAS and its events, please access www.ncsports.org.
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