Riders From All Over Come To Highland County For Mountain Mama

Monterey, VA – The Highland County Recreation Commission’s Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge will be held this Saturday. Riders are coming from all over the eastern United States to ride the mountain roads. Recreation Commission member Summer Cohen talks about this year’s event.

“Riders will leave from the high school in Monterey” says Cohen. “There are four different routes that riders can choose from – the Bluegrass Valley ride is 27 miles, the two state short ride which is 52 miles.”

“We also have the two state long ride which is a 70 mile ride, and we have the Century [ride] which is one hundred miles.”

Riders can register by going to the event website at bikemountainmama.homestead.com and get a registration form or they can register in person at the high school in Monterey Friday evening or Saturday morning between 6 AM and 8 AM. All riders will leave the high school at 8am Saturday and go off on their various routes.

“Some will be returning as early as 10am, and the majority will coming back between three o’clock and six o’clock” says Cohen.

The Highland Historical Society is holding a fundraiser spaghetti dinner on Friday evening at the Word of Faith Church in Monterey to help the riders load up on carbohydrates. Following the rides, the Millgap Ruritans will hold an Earth Roast Saturday afternoon at the fairground behind the school in Monterey.

“The Mountain Mama post ride concert this year will feature Crazy Chester from Harrisonburg – the concert starts at 7:30 at the [Highland] pool” says Cohen.

Admission to the concert is $ 5.00 and tickets can be purchased onsite. This event is the Highland County Recreation Commission’s largest fundraiser of the year. The funds support recreation programs for county residents.

An event like this cannot be put on without volunteers and over 30 local residents have stepped up to man the food and water stops, help with registration, and drive the routes in vehicles equipped to help riders who have breakdowns or need other assistance. Over 300 riders are expected to travel roads in Highland, Pendleton and Pocahontas counties on Saturday, so if you are on the road between 8 AM and 6 PM this Saturday look out for bicycle riders.