Rollin' Round the River

a bike tour for the Millers Creek Cristian School
Family Oriented Ride for all levels of cycling
from beginners to advanced

Saturday, September 18, 2010
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., ride rolls at 9:00 a.m.
Wilkes Family YMCA, Highway 268 West, Wilkesboro, NC
(Take Exit 286-B from US 421, then go west on NC 268 1.5 miles)

Cost:$25 includes support, post-ride meal, and rest stops at living history sites ($10 for the Kids Ride on the Greenway)

*All riders registered by September 1 will receive a free t-shirt commemorating the ride*

Enjoy the scenery, experience the history of the upper Yadkin valley, and spend valuable time with your family


* The 10 mile tour follows the Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir. The Blood Creek Overlook is the turn around point and the first rest stop. Port-a-johns are available at this rest stop. The pavement is very smooth with only gently rolling hills out and back. This route is highly recommended for young children all the way through adults. This route is easy enough for mountain bikes, comfort bikes, or adults pulling bike trailers.

* The 20 mile route rolls through the hills west of Wilkesboro with scenic views of Kerr Scott Lake and the surrounding mountains. The route’s turn-around point is Whippoorwill Academy and Village, a living history site with a 19th century schoolhouse, a replica of daniel Boone’s Yadkin Valley cabin, an art gallery and an extensive collection of Tom Dula (“Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dolley”) memorabilia. It’s a scenic and interesting route for the casual cyclist.

NEW FOR 2010

The 30 mile route is new this year. It will turn around at the 15 mile mark with a rest area here also.

* The 50 mile route follows the Yadkin River upstream into Happy Valley, a quiet agricultural area rimmed with mountains.The 50-miler is a fast out-and-back route with several stretches perfect for pacelines, if you’re so inclined. Or take it slow...there’s no clock ticking on the ride!


*The Kids Fun Ride on the Yadkin River Greenway starts next to the registration area and follows the Greenway. This is a paved level surface, perfect for toddlers with tricycles or training wheels or new riders of any age. Even bring your grandparents singlespeed beach cruiser. The turn around point will be around 1.5 miles, making the entire ride about 3 miles. You may turn around at anytime before that point if you need to. The Greenway is always closed to motor vehicles. This ride will be ongoing from the 9:00 until 12:00, so that if a parent is participating in a longer ride, they should return in time to see their child ride. Parents must be present when their child is riding on the Greenway. Helmets are required.


 The Rollin’ Round the River is a bike tour, not a race, with plenty to see and do along the way. The rolling out-and-back route is a snap to follow and, with no extended climbs, it’s flat enough so everyone from novices to hard core racers can have fun. Not sure you can finish the entire route: Ride as far as you want, then turn around!

Rollin’ Round the River will include several new options for the 2010 tour. Our goal is to promote cycling for all ages. The 10 mile tour is great for beginners, younger children, adults, or young at heart. You do not have to have a road bike to ride this ride. Mountain bikes are welcome, especially for the 10 and 20 miles options. Parents are encouraged to come out and ride with their children on the 10 mile route. The tour is an out and back, which means no turns to remember. It will include 4 rest stops along the way, providing gatorade, water, fruit , cookies, etc. The rest stops will be at 5 miles, 10 miles, 15 miles and 20 miles on the way out, and you can stop at these same rest stops on the way back. There will also be SAG support along the entire route, which means that someone is driving in their car along the entire route helping anybody who needs assistance. The SAG can provide minor mechanical help, or they can pick you up and bring you back to the YMCA if you need to return. Local law enforcement will also help to control traffic at the beginning of the ride. There will also be a kids ride on the Yadkin River Greenway. Snacks and drinks will also be provided for the kids ride. Kids can bring tricycles, bicycles, or whatever they want to ride. The entire tour has gently rolling hills, smooth pavement, and very scenic views of the countryside.

Helmets are required for all rides, and you must obey all traffic laws. You may pre-register on line at bikereg.com or download a registration form and mail it in. There will be a post-ride meal for all who participate in the ride.

All proceeds will benefit Millers Creek Christian School. You may visit their website for information on the school. All proceeds will be used to fund scholarships and purchase supplies for the school.


The ride features a rolling out-and-back route that's a snap to follow and flat enough that everyone from novices to hard-core racers can participate.
The ride follows N.C. 268, a North Carolina Scenic Byway and part of the federally-designated Overmountain Victory Trail. Rest stops on the ride are located at Blood Creek Overlook, Whippoorwill Academy and Yadkin Valley Fire Department.

A fun ride for all kinds of riders
Riders ranging in age from 8 to 77 have successfully completed the ride. Participants have included father-daughter and father-son tandem teams. About a third of our riders are female.

There is no time clock and no ranking of riders at the Rollin' Round the River Ride. Everyone's a winner!

The route is a simple out-and-back design, making it just about impossible to get lost. The out-and-back design also enables riders to trim the route to any length desired. Terrain is rolling. Hills aren't terribly steep and there are no extended climbs. Elevation spread on the 50-mile route from the high spot near Patterson to the lowest point near the shores of Kerr Scott Lake is only 327 feet.