My friends at the Wilkesboro TDA asked that I spread the word about the High Country Council of Governments‘ survey on bicycling. If you ever ride – on road or off – in Ashe (Jefferson), Avery (Banner Elk), Watauga (Boone), Wilkes (duh), Alleghany, Mitchell or Yancy Counties (I have no idea where the last three are) please take a couple of minutes and complete this survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HighCountryBikePlanSurvey

Pirate Race Productions is excited to announce two new race series:

The King of Pain Cycling Series, consists of Boone-Roubaix, The Ascent and Three Peaks USA. Finish all three races and be eligible to win a Capo Custom Leaders Jersey for 12 men’s and women’s age-group categories plus Top Three overall. Follow the KoP Facebook page for news

The High Country Summit Series is comprised of three of the hardest running hill climbs around: The Bear, The Ascent Run, and The Knob. Prizes will be awarded to top finisher in Men’s and Women’s 10-year age groups from U19 to 70+. Follow the Summit Series Facebook page for news.

Registration for The Ascent and the Ascent Run are now open on Active.com. Sign up by April 1 for only $25 for the Bike and $20 for the run. Best part: NO PROCESSING FEES!

Its official: we will be holding a run in conjunction with the Ascent this year – start at Watson Gap Pavilion and finish at the top for 3.7 miles with about 1,300 of climbing. Unlike other hill climbs, your friends and family can watch from anywhere along the route, and can drive you down from the top.

The Ascent run is the second stop in the High Country Summit Series. Along with The Bear and The Knob, runners can now test their mettle in a series constituted of the hardest hill climbs in the South.

Here is the route and course profile:

Mark your calendars: the Hardest Hill Climb in the South will be Sunday, August 12. Stay tuned for more info, including registration info and more.

Read all about the inaugural Reynolds Blue Ridge Classic in the Blowing Rock News, and check out five slideshows of the racing, after party, and awards.

Alison Arensman (ABRC), Golden Brainard-Moore (Fiets Maan Racing), and Amy Alexander (ABRC)

We were treated to incredible weather and the incredible hospitality of Reynolds Blue Ridge, making this perhaps Pirate Race Productions’ best race yet. Congrats to everyone for testing themselves against the Hardest Climb in the South.

Thanks to Brushy Mountain Bicycles, Boone Brewing Company, and Reynolds Blue Ridge, we’ll be throwing a post-race party at Watson Gap Park.  Our hosts are going to fire up the grill, while Shannon pours the Blowing Rock IPA.

Watson Gap Park is about half way between the bottom and top of the course, and there is a ton of parking about 100 meters down the hill, so this is a great place for your friends and family to cheer you on. Reynolds will be providing neutral water hand ups (cups) where the road begins to climb just past the big white tent. We will post results and hand out awards in the pavilion, so as to avoid congestion at the top of the hill.

Here is a shot of the final 15 meters of the climb. Yes, that is pavé. The finish line will be after the pavé ends where the corner of the gatehouse juts out into the middle of the frame above. Just in case you need to time your sprint, there will be distance markers at 2K, 1K, 500M, 200M, 100M and 50M. There is a bathroom in the gatehouse, but there is VERY limited parking on the shoulder of State Farm road. Please do not park in the Reynolds Blue Ridge Driveway.

Only one week until the Reynolds Blue Ridge Classic – don’t forget to book a room at the Meadowbrook Inn and Suites and take advantage of their incredible racer rates. Refuel after the crits at Black Cat Burrito in Boone and thank them for helping us raise money for the Mountain Alliance. Need extra motivation: Brushy Mountain Bicycles in North Wilkesboro is supplying the post-race keg on Sunday!
Sign up for the Reynolds Blue Ridge Crits benefiting the Mountain Alliance here:
http://pre-reg.com/Users/RacerMain.aspx?Type=1&EventID=594
and The Ascent of Reynolds Blue Ridge here:
http://pre-reg.com/Users/RacerMain.aspx?Type=1&EventID=595

Community Association Insurance Services – CAIS – is the newest sponsor of the Reynolds Blue Ridge Classic. CAIS specializes in serving condo, townhome and single-family homeowners associations, as well as covering commercial properties. If you are a member of a HOA or a commercial property owner, CAIS can provide your organization with realistic insurance packages meant to keep your return on investment at its highest potential.