Tour de Cashiers

Events

1/4 Century :
Cycling : 25 Miles
Metric Century :
Cycling : Just Over 62 Miles
Century :
Cycling : 100 Miles
  • Race Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
  • Start Time: 9:00am
  • Entry Fee:Through April 16 -- $40 After April 16 -- $45;
  • City/State/Zip:Cashiers, North Carolina 28717
  • Country: USA

The Tour de Cashiers was started as a community ride by Clark Moore in 1992. There was one 11-mile route, and folks met in front of the Chamber of Commerce. It stayed this way for a couple of years. Then over the years, with the help of several local cyclists, the Tour was expanded to include multiple and longer rides, and post-ride food and entertainment. In 2001, a 75-miler was added to bring new challenges and to appeal to riders looking for something more.


The full 100-mile Century was added in 2004, and in 2006 the 50 and 75-mile rides were combined into a new Metric Century. The two century rides provide challenge and inspiration for riders wanting to tour the mountains and test their conditioning on an all-day supported ride.


The Tour de Cashiers is a non-profit now operating under the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation.  We put all net proceeds back into the community through donations to our local hospital and to such organizations as the Cashiers/Glenville Volunteer Fire Department, the Glenville/Cashiers Rescue Squad, The Village Green and other area fire and rescue departments and local schools.

The Jackson and Macon County Sheriff Departments help with leading or protecting the ride, and fire and EMS units from three counties are either on the course or on call. Many volunteers run the rest stops and keep riders stocked with fruit, bars, energy drinks and water.


As part of the ride, participants receive a T-shirt and a post-ride meal ticket.

REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 15 on active.com.

Course Information:

All of the Tour de Cashiers rides explore the heart of the Blue Ridge, and particularly a unique feature of Appalachia the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and its bordering slopes and valleys. The Plateau has a base elevation of around 3,500, with passes reaching 4,300 and peaks above 5,000. Surrounding valleys are about 2,000. The top of the Plateau itself is large enough, and hilly enough, to provide great variety for cyclists lakes, streams, solid climbs, nice descents, pastures and Christmas tree farms, forests and even some extended level stretches ideal for pace lines. And dropping off the plateau provides scintillating descents and challenging 2,000 climbs. The Tour de Cashiers combines these features into a variety of rides that fit all levels of interest, experience and conditioning. The roads are well paved and, with a few exceptions for connecting links on the main drags, have little traffic and almost no commercial development ideal for a great ride, whether youre into serious leg-burning or relaxed touring.

Rest stops, with food and water, are set about the half-way point for the 25-mile ride and at an average of 20 miles apart on the century rides. Sag wagon support is also provided.

Please remember that our mountain roads have lots of curves and steep descents. Keep your speed under control and stay alert curves can be blind or tighten up unexpectedly, and gravel and other debris often collects in curves. The rides are not races, and the only prize offered for getting down a hill is the pleasure of getting there without road rash, a broken collar bone or a busted bike. Be cautious, take your time, and have fun.

Other Info:

The Blue Ridge Double- We are again cooperating with the Issaqueenas Last Ride, to present The Blue Ridge Double. The ILR will be held one week before the Tour de Cashiers, April 28th, from Walhalla, SC our neighbor down the mountain. It explores the Blue Ridge foothills in each of its rides 32, 61 and 100 miles. The two century rides also take on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, which rises sharply from the Piedmont outside Walhalla. All rides are through low-traffic rural and mountain landscapes. While at lower elevations and with a little less climbing, these are serious bike rides, and should be a great preparation for the Tour de Cashiers and its exploration of the Heart of the Blue Ridge.

Together, the Tour de Cashiers and ILR provide two weekends of mountain immersion great training for whatever else may be in your seasons riding plans, or just a wonderful time enjoying Spring in the mountains, up close on a bicycle.

If you register for The Blue Ridge Double, you save $5 off the cost of each ride individually (total savings of $10).

You can register for The Blue Ridge Double (that is, both the TdeC and the ILR) with one Active.com transaction.

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