BikeFest 2009
Date Saturday, August 08, 2009 Time 7:30 AM Venue Hillsborough Superior Courthouse Address South Churton Rd & West Margaret Ln   Hillsborough, NC   [area map] [parking map]

Experience the bucolic scenery of pastoral life pedaling through gently rolling terrain on the Carolina Tarwheels' BikeFest 2008. Routes of 31, 62, or 100 miles are fully-supported with rest stops, refreshments, restrooms, cue sheets, and roads clearly marked & SAG patrolled. T-shirts, custom designed by a local artist with no advertisements and made of a recycled cotton blend, are available, until July 15th, for an additional $12.50 (click here for gallery of previous T-shirts, then click browser back button). We take pride in the volunteers who contribute time, energy, and their hallmark homemade baked goods. They have made BikeFest one of the most enjoyable rides in North Carolina.

Important dates and information

Pre-registration by Aug 1st or when 850 cap reached -- no on-site registration

850 riders registered as of July 30th

Schedule

Ride details

The Tour begins at the Superior Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough [map], and offers a choice of several rides: a 31-mile half metric, a 62-mile metric century, and a 100-mile English century. The 35 and 62 routes will have 2 rest stops while the 100 mile route has 4 rest stops. All 3 will have a water only stop 10 miles before the end.

100 and 62 mile routes

Both routes leave at the same time and direction, winding thru rural Orange County, and briefly into Alamance County. The first 25 miles is mostly rolling countryside. After the rest stop these 2 routes split in different directions.

The 62-mile loop continues straight through northern Orange County and into Person County. This loop is flat to rolling countryside on roads with very little traffic.

The 100-mile loop turns left from the rest stop and proceeds into Alamance, Caswell, Person and back to Orange Counties. This loop is more challenging than the 62 mile route with numerous hills, however most of the climbs are less than 1 mile long. Estimated climbing is ~5000'. You will also ride on some of the best roads around, paceline riding at its best. There are two additional rest stops on this loop.

Just before rest stop 2 (the 4th stop for the 100 mile loop), the 62 and 100-mile routes re-unite and continue back to Hillsborough, with the 35 mile route joining for the last 17 miles over some very scenic flat to rolling countryside. There will be one final climb 2 miles from the end.

35 mile route

Riders leave Hillsborough roughly 30 minutes after the 100 & 62 mile riders and travel though Hillsborough and out to Orange county on flat to rolling hills visiting 2 rest stops. After the first stop at mile 10, the 35 joins the 62 briefly and has another rest stop at mile 18. After this last rest stop, the route joins the 62/100 mile loops back into town for the last 17 miles which includes some hills near the end.

7 mile Fun Ride

For those who want a much shorter ride, there is the free, family-oriented Historic District Fun Ride. The Fun Ride is a seven mile tour of historic sites in and around Hillsborough. All riders will be provided with directions, and can ride the route at their own pace. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the ride, but all riders are still encouraged to carry their own water bottles. While there is no fee for the Fun Ride, all riders must still register.