Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge Returns Saturday, August 4, 2018
It’s that time of year when hundreds of bicyclists come in to Highland County and its surrounding roads to take on the Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge. 2018 marks the challenge’s 19th year, and it will be held on Saturday, August 4th. The annual event is organized by the Highland County Recreation Commission and features two states, three counties, nine mountains, 105 miles, and over 10,000 feet of climb. Recreation Director, Catie King, is anticipating between 275 and 325 riders this year.
The schedule of events begins on Friday, August 3, 2018, with a spaghetti dinner to benefit the Highland Historical Society and the Highland County Museum from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Monterey Firehouse. Participants in the ride can also register on-site at the Highland High School Gym from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Moving on to Saturday, August 4, 2018, on-site registration runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., along with a pre-ride breakfast. The mass start begins at 8:00 a.m. from Highland Public Schools. A post-ride meal is available starting at 1:00 p.m. Camping is also available in the lot adjacent to the Highland County Pool, and the pool will be open and free of charge Friday through Sunday. There are more options of things to do, available in a full weekend itinerary as part of the Crush Friday marketing campaign at www.highlandcounty.org/crushfriday.
The Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge features four courses of different ability levels. The Blue Grass Valley Ride features twenty-seven miles of rolling valley hills. The Two State Short Ride features fifty-three miles, and the Two State Long Ride features sixty-seven miles. The Century Ride is over 100 miles long with a loop through Highland County in Virginia and Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties in West Virginia. There are six fully stocked rest stops, which provide food and drink to fuel riders every fifteen to twenty miles along the routes, and Support and Gear (SAG) volunteers provide assistance as needed throughout the ride.
Registration for the event on Friday evening and Saturday morning will be $75, and there will also be a 2019 Mountain Mama registration table, where the cost to pre-register for next year will be $65. The ride cost will go up slightly after this weekend. Proceeds from Mountain Mama are vital in allowing the Highland County Recreation Commission to continue its operation of the Highland County Pool.
The Commission wants to ensure that riders have a great experience and will return year after year for the ride, so residents and travelers are reminded to be cautious and share the road for the safety and enjoyment of all.
For more information, folks can visit www.highlandcountyrecreation.org.
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