Event Information
Day 1
All participants meet at NC National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ), 1636 Gold Star Dr. Raleigh, NC. Riders need to be at JFHQ no later than 8:15AM for check in and bike prep. Have your overnight bag loaded into our baggage truck no later than 8:45AM. Everyone is asked to bring at least one bag of food for donation to the food bank - we will drop them off at the end of the ride in Wilmington. The Opening ceremony, family invited, starts at 9:20 with all riders on their bikes and ready to go! The media, VIPs, and loads of cheering Soldiers will get us underway promptly at 9:30AM. We will then travel through Raleigh, Cary, and Fuquay-Varina before stopping for lunch in Angier at the Fire Department. A police escort is provided until we get out of Cary! We will start together and then break into groups.
Groups have the flexibility to stop as needed in addition to the scheduled rest stops. (We offer not only 3 different ability groups to ride in, but also 2 distances for each day. The full day ride will be around 75 miles, but for those that don't quite feel up to that distance, you can opt to ride the shuttle at any point during the ride to where we'll stop for lunch or to the final stop for the day) - fast riders usually add an additional 25 miles to their ride-depends on group leader. If you wish to do just 50 miles, you can get on the bus then.
Once at the Roseboro Armory, (101 Armory Dr) there will be great food (around 5:30 PM) and time for recovery/shower. If you have family picking you up, we should be there at 5PMish roughly - you can call them from our final rest stop with better estimate. Family can stay for dinner but must pay. We will have corn hole boards as available as in the past. The bus leaves for Raleigh right after dinner. If you'd like to stay at the Armory, you're more than welcome to; however, those that want more comfort, the hotel is the Inn at Clinton located at 1406 Sunset Ave. Clinton, NC. Rate is $77.00 per night, and transportation will be provided to the hotel on the night of Day 1, and back to armory at the start of Day 2.
THERE IS NO RAIN DATE OR REFUNDS-IF RAINING, WE RIDE. IF POURING, WE WAIT OR BUS RIDE 1/2 WAY UNTIL IT STOPS...Everyone is required to bring a bag
Day 2
We depart the Roseboro Armory promptly at 8:30AM after breakfast (please arrive at 7:30AM if you're joining us for Day 2 because we have to load bags, give the ride brief, break into groups, ...) and enjoy the scenic ride through Sampson, Pender and New Hanover Counties. We will have scheduled rest stops and groups can stop individually as needed on their own.
We will come together as one group near the city limits and will begin our final journey together to the NG Armory (2412 Infantry Rd. Wilmington, NC). You can have family members meet you at the armory as stated on day 1. The Van will take a few of the new day 2 riders back to Roseboro and the van will take some back to Raleigh (JFHQ) - most people have family/friends there for the dinner and then go to a hotel.
Day 3
We will leave the Wilmington location and proceed to the National Guard Training Center at Fort Fisher, NC where we will finish the ride.
Other Information:
You are responsible for loading and unloading your bike on vehicles if you are worried about scratches. Parking at facilities is no problem-lots of space.
If you have a military ID and are travelling from far away, you can stay in our Raleigh Armory the night before the ride.