Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge is Saturday August 7

The Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge is back this year.  It’s set for this Saturday, August 7.  According to Highland County Recreation Director Jessy Wilfong Monday morning, it’s shaping up to be a big event.

“As of now, we have 238 registered riders, which is a very high increase from numbers that we’ve seen in the past,” says Wilfong.

Mountain Mama offers cyclists five different routes to choose from.   The shortest route is 27 miles and the longest one is just over 100 miles and it crosses nine mountains with 10,000 feet of climb.

“The biggest thing is the mountain climb,” says Wilfong.   “A lot of people aren’t used to riding the mountains, so it’s the high elevation of the climbs.  And then also the duration of the ride, especially for like the 100 mile, it’s a true challenge when you get that far.”

The swimming pool area in Monterey is the home base for Mountain Mama activity.   There will be no parking available at the pool, past the playground beginning Thursday morning.  A tent for Mountain Mama will be set up, so all parking will be directed to the school parking lot.

“For Saturday, we will do our mass start at 8am and then from 1 to 6pm we have the Blue Grass Ruritans doing our post ride meal,” says Wilfong.  “As they do the post ride meal, we’ll also be doing a small lawn party for the riders.  We’ll just be playing music, we’ll have games set out.  So, we have a lot camping.  They’ll be staying here in the field along 220 around the pool facility.  The pool facility will be open all weekend and it’s free for everyone all weekend. The one change that we’re doing this year is the entire event is going to be outdoors.  So we have a large event tent that’s going to be set up here at the pool complex to keep the event completely outdoors, versus in the past we’ve always used the school.  And then we’re also following CDC and VDH guidelines.”

The Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge is an annual fundraiser for the Highland County Recreation Commission.

“It’s our largest fundraiser,” says Wilfong.  “It’s truly what gets us through the year with all of our activities and for us to keep our costs at minimum.  It’s also bringing in revenue for the community as well and then helping us as part of the fundraiser. “

Cyclists will be on the road Saturday, August 7, from 8am until around 6pm.   The various routes will take them through Highland County and parts of Pendleton County and Pocahontas County in West Virginia.

Please use caution while driving.