Upstate Forever’s Preservation Ride is a great way for cyclists of all ability levels to get together and ride some of the most scenic and spectacular routes in the Upstate of South Carolina. Our courses weave their way through the rolling horse and farm country of northern Spartanburg County, while the longer 75 mile route offers the challenge of climbing Skyuka Mountain Road in North Carolina. Tour de France Stage winner, George Hincapie has called Skyuka his, “favorite mountain in all of the Carolinas.” Come see why it’s one of George’s favorite training rides. We have also plotted a bypass if you prefer to skip the challenging 2800+ ft. climb. The 40 and 75 mile route also have a rest stop at Greenspace of Fairview, the largest easement protected by Upstate Forever at 1,331 acres. Greenspace of Fairview is defined by beautiful rolling pasture and almost two miles of frontage on the North Pacolet River. It includes mixed hardwood forests, some of which are old growth and self-replicating, as well as several threatened and endangered species of flora.
The Preservation Ride is a great way for you to show your support for one of the Upstate’s most respected and effective conservationorganizations. The Preservation Ride will start and finish at Strawberry Hill USA. Strawberry Hill USA is located at 3097 Hwy 11 in West Chesnee, SC.
Entry Fees and Fundraising:
$40 entry fee ($60 after August 31) gets you detailed queue sheets and route maps, a Ride T-shirt, lunch and post event celebration.
We’re also encouraging riders to raise $250 from their friends and family to support the conservation work of Upstate Forever. You can start fundraising now by creating your very own free fundraiser page on CrowdRise. It’s easy. It’s fast. And you’ll be impressed with how many people will help you reach your goal. If you need help registering on CrowdRise or would like us to set up your CrowdRisepage for you please email: [email protected]. Participants that raise a minimum of $50 will receive a custom pair of Upstate Forever DeFeet socks. Raise $250 and you will receive a SPECIAL Commemorative Hincapie cycling jersey in addition to your socks. Be sure to search for and choose Upstate Forever as your charity when you register on CrowdRise.
We are pleased to announce that we have a very special prize in mind for the person that raises the most money, so get out there and start fundraising. We’ll announce the prize details shortly, so check back soon!
The Routes:
We’ve chosen some beautiful routes for your enjoyment. If you’d like a sneak peak of our course this year you can view the routes in our inaugural Preservation Ride: The 75 Mile Route, The 40 Mile Route, The 20 Mile Route. This year’s routes will stay similar to our routes last year with a few minor changes. The 2013 routes will be available for you to view soon. The final routes will be marked by September 14 and official queue sheets will be available at the start.
The 75 Mile Route, featuring rolling hills with an optional climb up the challenging Skyuka Mountain, starts at 8:00am
The 40 Mile Route, featuring rolling hills with a few tougher climbs, starts at 9:00am
The 20 Mile Route, featuring rolling hills, is a beginer friendly route and starts at 9:00am
