Vance County Tourism is again assisting Cycle NC with the “Mountains to Coast” bicycle ride. About 800 cyclists are expected to take part in the event, which kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Mt. Airy. The group will spend the night at Aycock Rec Center that night has they make their way east, according to information from Vance County Tourism’s Norman Dickerson.
The area was an overnight stop back in October 2023, Dickerson said. That year, they camped at the Henderson Family YMCA, but since the Y is in the middle of a major construction project, Dickerson said Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks is opening the rec center for those cyclists who plan to camp in tents on the grounds. Non-campers will stay in the four local host motels near Maria Parham Hospital.
“Bicyclists will begin arriving in Henderson around 1:30 pm on October 6, possibly earlier, from their previous overnight stop in Hillsborough, NC,” Dickerson said. Shuttle buses will provide transportation into downtown Henderson where the cyclists can have dinner and explore the area before returning to the camp for some rest and relaxation, he added.
This year’s route is a new one for the annual “Mountains to Coast” cycling tour, which is celebrating its 27th anniversary.
This year’s event is scheduled for a Mt. Airy to Hatteras Island trek from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10, with Oct. 3 serving as the check-in day. With beautiful tourist stops along scenic back roads, the “Mountains to Coast” ride is the highlight of the year for many cyclists from across the nation.
Participants from 38 states are signed up to make the 450-mile ride, and there are international cyclists, too, according to information from Cycle North Carolina, the event host.
Organizers said the riders will travel an average of 67 miles each day as they wend their way from Mt. Airy’s Veteran’s Park to the finish line at Hatteras Island.
In addition to the overnight stopover in Henderson, cyclists will travel through Stovall, Oxford and Warrenton in the four-county area.
The Cycle North Carolina “Mountains to Coast” Tour is the state’s only fully-supported ride. Luggage is transported in vehicles from one overnight host community to the next; rider support vehicles are available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical trouble; outdoor camping areas with amenities are set-up in overnight host communities; and rest stops will be available every 15-20 miles along the route, with beverages and snacks for all participants. Riders can register for the entire distance, Western & Eastern options, or first-day & last-day only options. Online registration is still open at www.ncsports.org!
Hosted by North Carolina Amateur Sports, Cycle North Carolina was developed to promote North Carolina’s scenic beauty, heritage tourism, visitor attractions, historic sites, state parks, fitness, healthy lifestyles and the benefits of bicycling to individuals and our state. During the past 26 years, Cycle North Carolina has stopped overnight in more than 100 North Carolina towns and visited over 800 North Carolina communities.
