Murphy From Friday through Sunday starting at Konehete Veterans Park, the Cycle NC Mountain Ride will be taking place. Over the course of three days, more than 300 cyclists from North Carolina and surrounding states will come to Murphy.
Each day, there will be looped courses the cyclists can choose from. Each loop will begin at the weekend’s basecamp at Konehete Park.
- On Friday, there is a 16.2 mile warm-up loop, where cyclists will go from Konehete Veterans Park to Marble and back. The warm-up is available from 1-5 p.m.
- On Saturday, there are three loop options. There will be 25-mile, 48-mile and 63-mile loop options going south, with rest stops at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown and the downtown Hayesville square.
- On Sunday, there are also three loops of 22, 38 and 50 miles. Sunday’s loops head toward Andrews with rest stops at the Marble Volunteer Fire Department, in downtown Andrews and, for the longer route, a rest stop at Nantahala Lake.
- On Saturday and Sunday, the routes open at 7:30 a.m. They close at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Chip Hofler, race director and vice president of N.C. Amateur Sports, said there will be increased cyclist traffic on the roads, but they will spread out over the course of the route. There won’t be large groups of riders, because they will spread out; and there will not be any road closures, so vehicle traffic will not be affected by detours.
The majority of cyclists will be camping at Konehete Veterans Park. There will also be events for the cyclists.
On Friday, they will have drinks, food and entertainment at the L&N Depot on Hiwassee Street. On Saturday, they will do the same next door at the historic Hackney Warehouse.
The first Cycle NC ride in 1999 went across the state from Murphy to Manteo. Their ride that goes across the state is in October and changes cities each year.
This is the first year that their Mountain Ride will be in Murphy. In previous years, it has been held in towns such as Brevard, Bryson City and Marshall. Hofler said the average age of the riders is around 60.
The primary focus of the event is to focus on the host towns tourism and what they have to offer. Hofler said it is a tour, not a race. Cyclists are encouraged to see the town.
Cherokee County Transit’s “Downtown & Around” route will run extended hours Friday and Saturday. The route will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fares are waived, with donations accepted, for the “Downtown and Around” route only Friday and Saturday.