The next stop in the Capo Cycling Apparel King of Pain Series is the Tom Dula’s Revenge Spring Classic Race and Gravel FUNdo in Wilkesboro, NC on June 2. Racers and recreational riders will be able to enjoy another Roubaix-style event on the scenic country roads of Wilkes County that inspired countless bluegrass legends, while chasing the ghost of Tom “Dooley” Dula. Click over to the event page for info, and sign up on BikeReg.com

Commit early to some awesome events and win big!

Registration is now open for the first two stops on the Capo Cycling Apparel King of Pain Series: the Boone-Roubaix Spring Classic and The Ascent 9.25 Mile Hill Climb.

Register on BikeReg.com for Boone-Roubaix before April 1 for only $40 – thats $20 off!

Register on SportOften.com for The Ascent 9.25 Mile Hill Climb before April 1 and you will be entered to win a Lupine Piko 3 900 Lumen Light and Uvex Supersonic LX Helmet Combo package from Gretna Bikes worth over $400!

The Ascent 9.25 mile Bike and 3.5 mile Run Hill Climbs
Sunday, August 11, Blue Ridge Mountain Club, Blowing Rock

This year you will have the option to double up and do BOTH of the Hardest Hill climbs in the South. Sign up for the Bike hill climb at 10AM, then compete in the Run at Noon – best combined uphill time wins (no downhill racing, that’s just begging for trouble). Of course, most folks will participate in either the Bike or the Run, and this year we will have shuttles available to make it easier to get from the finish to the legendary post-race party. Look for registration information to be posted on the Facebook page and the next newsletter.

Check it out!

http://bikehighcountry.com/kop/results

After two races we’ve had some shake up amongst the leaders in the Capo Cycling Apparel King of Pain Series. Donna Hill, George Berger, and Ed McCalley are crushing their divisions.  While Mock Orange Cycling continues to dominate – sitting in the top three slots in Men 30-39 – they may be vulnerable on the technical challenges at Three Peaks USA UltraCross.  Click over to the standings page, then sign up for Three Peaks USA for your chance to earn the title King of Pain.

What an awesome day!

Congrats to everyone for lining up and gutting it out at the Hardest Hill Climbs in the South.

Results are posted on the Lee Timing website – I’ll get them up here and on Active.com on Monday, write up something pithy, and post some pics.

http://www.leetiming.com/Calendar2012.html#bookmark9

…has been extended until 9PM Friday 8/10, but why dally? Sign up!

No Transactions Fees

Pirate Race Productions is thrilled to announce The Ascent Bike and Run Hill Climbs this Sunday, August 12, at the Blue Ridge Mountain Club in Blowing Rock, NC.

The Hardest Bicycle Hill Climb in the South is 9.25-miles, with 3,200 feet of ascending, yielding an average grade of 5.9 percent with a maximum pitch of 17.5 percent. Presented by Magic Cycles, the High country’s premier bicycle shop, the Ascent course has a “Category 1″ rating on Strava.com, the most difficult rating of any paved road in the Southern United States. The course records are held by pro racers Brian Sheedy (45:07) and Alison Arensman (1:01:41).  The Ascent bike race is the second stop in the Capo Cycling Apparel King of Pain Series following Boone-Roubaix this past April and Three Peaks USA UltraCross at the Banner Elk Winery and Villa on September 23.

New for this year is a running race that will start at the mid-point for 3.7 miles with 1,300 feet of ascending. The Ascent Run is the second stop in the High Country Summit Series along with the infamous Bear 5-Mile Run held in July and The Knob hill climb in Boone on October 5.

Both the bike and run courses use a brand new, buttery smooth road with incredible scenery around every bend. Unlike other hill climbs, we have the luxury of a two lane road that we can close, meaning your friends and family can watch from anywhere on the course, and you can ride, walk, or drive down from the top. Registration for both the run and the bike are available at Active.com for only $30 and $35 until 3PM, Thursday, August 8 with NO PROCESSING FEES or you can sign up on race day for an additional $5. The Ascent Facebook page will have updates about both the running and bike races.

Folks traveling to the Boone Area for the event can find great deals on lodging at ExploreBooneArea.com.

ExploreBooneArea.com is your go-to source of information about visiting the North Carolina High Country. The Boone Area is mecca for cyclists thanks to its unmatched beauty, quiet country roads, and notorious climbs. The area is home to a pair of colleges with national champion cycling teams, and some of the nation’s most popular and challenging cycling events.

Magic Cycles (est. 1993), conveniently located in downtown Boone, is the High Country’s premier bike shop for discriminating riders. Whether you’re a beginner and just getting started or a pro looking to shave grams of weight or seconds off your time, Magic has a professionally trained staff to take care of your needs. Everyone at Magic Cycles is committed to providing you with the best bike shop experience imaginable.

Blowing Rock Ale is a local brand that captures the essence of the High Country as much as you can with a beer. Refreshing, relaxing, recreation—these are part of everyday life in the High Country and these are the things Boone Brewing Company wants people to think about when drinking Blowing Rock Ale.

Blue Ridge Mountain Club is: family-focused and community-centric; naturally spectacular location and privileged member programming; completed infrastructure and debt-free; the reasons why more families are choosing to own at Blue Ridge Mountain Club over any other High Country community today are as long as our views and as deep as our valleys.

Pirate Race Productions is dedicated to staging and promoting athletic events that are incredibly fun for our participants, valuable marketing opportunities for our sponsors, a positive contribution to our host communities, and provide great entertainment for our spectators. Visit BikeHighCountry.com to learn about tons of fun events including The Ascent, Three Peaks USA, the Wilkesboro Cyclocross Festival, and Boone-Roubaix.

Unfortunately, I am cancelling the Breakaway. I hope you still plan to travel to the High Country the weekend of August 11-12 to enjoy The Ascent bike and run hill climb races at the Blue Ridge Mountain Club in Blowing Rock. www.bikehighcountry.com/ascent

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