The
2010 cycling season is underway, and it's time to join BMCC or renew
your BMCC membership. All existing memberships will expire
March 31,2010. Please renew.
BMCC
membership benefits include discounts at twelve area bike shops,
20% off Lynskey titanium frames, big discounts on Rudy Project items,
monthly e-newsletters and free listings on our members-only Trading
Post page.
But
the biggest benefit is being part of a club that gets so much done.
In 2010, BMCC will stage or support six mountain and road cycling
events for riders of all abilities. These events will draw hundreds
of visitors to the community and generate money for deserving charities
like the American Cancer Society.
And
at Kerr Scott Lake, mountain bikers can revel in over 30 miles of
sweet singletrack, thanks
to the dedication of BMCC trail builders, with more of the good
stuff on the way.
So
don't just sit there...join BMCC and let the good times roll! Go
here to get more info.
and
now back to other headlines...
Back
for its second year!!!
One of last
year's most talked about and exciting events is back for 2010.
Mark your calendars for April 3, 2010 and plan to spend your weekend
in the Moonshine Capital of the World on some of the most popular
trails in the Southeast. Registration for the event is full.
Join
us for the 17th Annual Edition of the
R.A.W.
Coming
up on May 1, 2010 is the 17th edition of the Ride Around Wilkes.
Registation is now open on Bikereg.
(Click the link to register at no extra charge.) On-site registration
will also be available on May 1 beginning at 7am.
This
year we'll be heading to the Amish Country of Wilkes County. But
don't worry, you'll still get to climb Windy Gap at mile 13 and
then the 7-mile climb of the back side of the Brushy Mountains
beginning at about mile 45. Here is the link to the new route
on mapmyride.com.
Cue sheets are up on the RAW page as well for all three rides.
The
optional 40-mile and 25-miles routes will remain the same as previous
years. More details as they develop.
so
six hours not enough for ya? Or weren't able to get in the Six Hour
race? We got ya covered!
The
BURN 24 Hour Challenge is back for its 10th consecutive year! We
want you to help us celebrate. We’ll drop the rag at noon
on May 29, 2010 for 24 hours of non-stop action on the sunny shores
of W Kerr Scott. Online registration can be found at Bikereg.com.All
the fine details can be found at the official race website.
The mail-in registration form can be found here.
We’re getting it updated as new details come in
July
26, 2010
An
American Cancer Society Relay for Life Benefit Event
Back
for a seventh year is the challenging Hurt, Pain and Agony. This
ride benifits the American Cancer Society. All proceeds go directly
to the ACS. The route encompasses northern Wilkes county, Alleghany
county and part of Virgina as well. The ride starts with a six mile
climb and finishes with a six mile decent. Registration will be
open soon for this great ride. Click this
link to find out more.
recap
of the
9th
Annual Burn 24 Hour Challenge
The
9th Annual Burn 24 Hour Challenge presented by Bikerumor.com went
off without problems on Memorial weekend. A few showers did pass
through but that didn't do much to dampen the enthusiasm of the
riders. the 351 participants set a new record turn out for the 24
hour race.
The
results are posted here.
If you would like to see the individual lap times go here.
For more info on the race, go to the Burn24hour
website!
The
official race photographer, Kinetic
Images,has uploaded his pictures from this weekend and they
can be seen here.
Pictures from BMCC members will come shortly. For those that are
ahead of the game check out ryansigsbeyphotography
, Robert Crews video
from thcvideo
, and Carolina Bicycle video on YouTube.
BMCC, partners to develop amenities
at Dark Mountain, OVT trail heads
Partners in the trail head development project at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir
Pictured left to right: Jim Horton, BMCC trail boss, Teresa Ford of the Friends of W. Kerr Scott Lake, R.G. Absher of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Col. Jefferson Ryscavage of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Jason Bumgarner, BMCC president
The Friends of W. Kerr Scott Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and BMCC were recently awarded an $8,000 grant from the Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority to aid in the development of a formal trail head at Dark Mountain. Improvements will include:
 Additional parkingChanging blinds
A bike wash
Potable water
Information kiosk
The OVT trail head at the Visitor’s Center will get a bike wash and potable water. BMCC has donated $2,000 to the Friends of W. Kerr Scott Lake for the project. Construction should start by the end of the year.
 New maps, signage help riders navigate
extensive trail system at Kerr Scott
It's easier than ever to find your way through the amazing variety of mountain biking trails at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, thanks to recently completed map and signage projects.
 Dark Mountain, Overmountain Victory Trail, Warrior Creek maps
BMCC trail designer Jim Horton has produced some handsome maps of all the mountain biking areas at Kerr Scott. Click the links below to download the maps (pdf files).
BMCC has been awarded a grant from the Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority to print and distribute 5,000 maps. They'll be available at the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Wilkesboro TDA and bike shops across the region soon.
Dark Mountain signage
Directional signs are now posted on all eight singletrack trails at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir's Dark Mountain recreation area. Trails are numbered using a new, simplified numbering system, and two color-coded routes are posted:
 The red route is shorter and easier...perfect for new mountain bikers.
The blue route includes the entire 6.5-mile BURN 24-Hour Challenge route.
The signs coordinate with the new
Dark Mountain Trails map
. If you're new to the trails, download the map, print it, and carry it with you so you won't miss any of the fun at Dark Mountain.
152 survive Hurt, Pain & Agony
benefit ride July 26th in Traphill
A rider grinds his way up Mahogany Rock, one of the steepest spots on the course.
Photo by Jason Bumgarner
Over 150 riders took on the tough terrain of the Hurt, Pain & Agony Metric Century and Half Century Saturday, July 26th in Traphill. Eric Austin was the first rider to the finish the 66-mile course, rolling back to Traphill School just ahead of Rodney Simpson. Austin and Simpson both finished in 3:12, averaging almost 21 mph on the hilly course. The last rider on the 66-mile course finished almost three hours later. Proceeds from the ride benefitted the American Cancer Society. Riders heaped praise on ride director Matt Daye and his small army of volunteers, calling the '08 HP&A the best ever.
Racing, weather are sizzling in July
King of the Lake races at Kerr Scott
The second installment of the Tifosi Optics King of the Lake N.C. State Championship Series brought hot racing action to the trails of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir near Wilkesboro July 12th and 13th.
Saturday morning's Rock n Road Bicycles Time Trial followed the much of the same course used during BURN 24 Hour Challenge. And riders felt the burn, taking on the most challenging climbs in the series as temperatures soared past 90 degrees. There was barely a breeze to break the heat.
Boone's Eric Marland blistered the course in 32:18, followed by May's King of the Lake time trial winner, Wes Dickson. The fastest Junior was Ben Calhoun of Pittsboro, N.C. with a time of 43:16. Johanne Tuttle of Carrboro was the fastest of four females competing, finishing in 40:10. Pee Wee participation was up. Levi Marland, son of Eric, followed in dad's footsteps, winning his age class with a time of 17:07.
The Luna Cycles dual slalom race proved to be just as exciting as the DS race in May. BMX Pro Brandon Hopkins from Raleigh took the title in the Expert Men's class followed by fastest male qualifier, Andy DeVault of Martinsville, Va. The female class was close, with less than a half a second separating the two qualifying times. BMCC's Ellen Adams took the top spot, edging out Johanne Tuttle, the early morning time trial champion. The fastest Juniors for the day were Ben Calhoun with a 29:32 time and Will O'Brien with a 29:53. Barber and O'Brien were in different age groups and secured victory in their respective classes. The Pee Wee class drew four racers with the honor going to Kernersville's Noah Barber.
Park Baker of Hendersonville posted the top male time in the Magic Cycles Super D on Sunday. Baker was the only rider to break the three minute mark. His 2:58 run secured the top spot in the Expert Men's class. The fastest Junior was Austin Park from Roxboro with a time of 3:21. Levi Marland capped off his weekend in the Pee Wee ranks with a time of 5:18. The closest race of the day was in the Expert Women's class. Ellen Adams and Johanne Tuttle battled it out, posting near identical times for both runs. Their first run was only separated by two seconds. Both stepped it up for the second and final run, driving their times down. Johanne turned in a 3:32 with Ellen posting a 3:31 to bag the win for the day.
Photos for all three races can be found at www.kinetic-images.com courtesy of series photographer Robert Seth. Race #3 is scheduled for September 13-14.
King of the Lake series opener May 3-4
packed with mountain biking action
Rider takes flight in the dual slalom competition at Warrior Creek May 3rd.
Photo by Robert Seth, Kinetic Images (336) 209-8298
The Tifosi Optics King of the Lake N.C. State Championship Series kicked off with a full weekend of mountain bike action May 3-4.
Wes Dickson of Pisgah Forest, N.C. took the expert men's category in the Boone Bike & Touring Time Trial Saturday, May 3. Dickson covered the eight-mile course in 34:08.
“Wes rocked the course, beating last year's record by 42 seconds on a course that was a half mile longer,” said race director Matt Adams.
Cameron Muir of Cary, N.C. was the top junior in the time trial. He blazed the course in 42:21.
After Saturday's time trial, riders pulled off the spandex and headed to the new dual slalom course located at Warrior Creek. The Clemmons Bicycle Dual Slalom Race provided a lot of excitement with close handlebar-to-handlebar racing.
Top qualifier was NORBA National Champion Chris Herndon of Asheville. Herndon laid down a time of 24.7 seconds, just .73 seconds ahead of pro racer Joe Haley of Raleigh. The top junior Ethan Miller of Raleigh blitzed the course in 29.03 seconds.
After qualifying, racers went head to head in a double elimination format, gradually whittling the field down to the final two in each category.
“The final race of day pitted Herndon against Haley and what a race it was,” Adams said. “Chris took the first run but only slightly. The second and final run was even closer with Chris prevailing again. Chris conveyed afterwards that both he and Joe laid it all out, pedaling the entire course, which generated some scary speed. One of Chris's concerns during the last race was that with so much speed he was going to land uphill on the last double!”
“A big thanks goes out to everyone that helped in sculpting the course,” Adams said, “especially to Mike, Moto and Steven who guided the course design.”
Sunday's competition combined cross country and dual slalom styles of riding in the Cycletherapy Super D Race. The Super D was held at the Dark Mountain Super D course. This event was the biggest draw of the weekend, pulling in 47 racers from three states.
Last year's Super D champion Chris Herndon continued his domination turning in a time of 2 minutes 57 seconds. The top junior was Austin Perkins from Roxboro, N.C. with a time of 3:24.
Sunday's Super D did have one casualty in the Sport Women's class. Ana Bamberger from Greensboro endo'd coming out of the woods on her second run. Ana was able to walk away but not without injury. “Ana, we all wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the trail soon,” Adams said.
Photos for all three races can be found at www.kinetic-images.com courtesy of series photographer Robert Seth.
Riders roast in the RAW June 7th
The front of the pack on the Windy Gap climb
Chucking some extra weight before the RAW's last big climb
Over a hundred riders survived the hottest Rides Around Wilkes ever Saturday, June 7th. Riders at the back of the pack labored up Brushy Mountain in full sun, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s. Click here for more photos of the 2008 RAW.
Riders 'feel the Burn' at Dark Mountain
More than 250 adrenalin stoked, sleep deprived mountain bikers scorched the trails at Dark Mountain recreation area May 24-25, 2008 during the Burn 24-Hour Challenge.
Racers vied for cash, merchandise and the right to compete in the world mountain bike endurance championships at Canmore, Alberta in late July.
The race, sponsored by Burn energy drink, drew top riders from across the eastern U.S. The event also attracted weekend warriors eager to test their physical and mental toughness against an expanded 7.5-mile course through the hills above W. Kerr Scott Reservoir.
Chris Johns finished first in the solo men's category, racking up about 210 miles in his first 24-hour race. Johns bested Mark Hendershot, last year's winner, by one lap.
Denelle Grant (right) was the fastest female solo rider in a small field, logging about 105 miles over the 24-hour period.
The event's most determined rider may have been Dave Nice (below), 27, of Denver, Colorado. Nice spent two days on a Greyhound bus heading to North Carolina, then pedaled his gear- laden bike over 50 miles from Winston-Salem to Wilkes. Making things even tougher, Nice rode a fixed gear bike to Wilkes and throughout the 24-hour event. NIce had no gearing options and couldn't even coast on the downhills! Nice finished thirty-fifth, riding about 82 miles.
Local riders excelled against tough competition.
Jim Horton of North Wilkesboro helped pace the Middle Ring Mafia Team to a second-consecutive first place finish in the male team category.
Wilkes natives Charlie Pendry and Michael Lockhart helped the Inland Construction team attain victory in the co-ed team division. Inland also boasted the fastest lap around the tougher-than-ever course.
Round the clock event demands endurance
The format of the Burn 24-Hour Challenge guaranteed fatigue. Racers ran to their bikes at noon Saturday in a furious mass start. Fifty riders in the men's and women's solo categories kept at it around the clock, taking only brief breaks, until noon Sunday. The rest competed in teams of two to five, alternating riding with rest. The top teams logged more than 285 miles of riding over the course of the 24-hour race.
The tough terrain took its toll. Wilkes Rescue Squad reported two riders were treated at Wilkes Regional Medical Center, one with a dislocated jaw and another with a possible wrist fracture from separate spills Saturday.
'08 Burn boasts expanded course, one expensive victim
BMCC volunteers added a mile to the Burn course during the off-season, adding a tough, scenic climb on the Fish Dam Creek Trail.
The expansion project claimed a victim, one of the club's Ditch Witch mini-bulldozers. The rig flipped during a trail building session earlier this month and burst into flames. Racers and spectators contributed more than $800 toward the $17,000 cost of a new Ditch Witch, BMCC president Jason Bumgarner said.
Trail
building shifts to Warrior Creek
Here we grow again!
After building 15 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails, what do you do for an encore? Why, build more trails, of course!
In
2008, BMCC's intrepid trail blazers will shift their focus upstream
to the Warrior Creek section of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir. This remote
area is where the Yadkin River first widens into a lake. The area's
rugged terrain will soon be home to more than ten miles of singletrack,
offering climbs beyond any currently available at Kerr Scott.
Here's the scoop on Warrior Creek from BMCC vice president Matt Adams:
"The new trail system at Warrior Creek will be more technical than Dark Mountain and the Overmountain Victory Trail and will provide riders with more challenging climbs. This will be our third trail system at W. Kerr Scott and will round out an offering for all levels of riders.
"OVT is very groomed and a great place for beginners, yet an adrenaline rush for advanced riders as you blast through berm after berm and shoot up relaxed climbs. Dark Mountain takes it up a notch from OVT with more difficult climbs and a high speed gravity section. Warrior Creek will take things to yet another level for the XC rider with climbs that require Mrs. Granny Gear. Beginners and beginner/intermediate riders will find this system extremely difficult.
"If you enjoy riding in Pisgah, then Warrior Creek is definitely for you. There's tons of technical sections (roots, rocks, off camber) and of course what comes with steep climbs is steep descents. This place brings mountain biking back to life for me...its awesome!"
Rehab
work on the Warrior Creek trails will continue during Saturday morning
work sessions throughout this winter and spring.
|
The
Brushy Mountain Cyclists Club is the club for all cyclists in
Northwest North Carolina. We're mountain
bikers and road riders of all ages and abilities who love the challenge posed
by the rugged and scenic terrain of the Blue Ridge foothills. 
Trail building day, Warrior Creek Campground, Sat., Dec. 20th, 9 a.m.-until
