About the Ride
The Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride offers participants and their families a fun-filled 3-day weekend while both on and off the bike. Start your day by hopping on your bike and exploring one of the many fully supported routes this ride has to offer. Each day will feature a variety of routes ranging anywhere from 10 miles to 100 miles. The flat roads and minimal traffic counts will allow you to fully experience all of the sights and sounds of the Elizabeth City area including an abundance of coastal wildlife and many historic sites that are deeply rooted to the local communities.
Elizabeth City also has plenty of activities for when you are off of the bike. Those that are feeling adventurous can take a kayak expedition or do a little paddle boarding. Those looking to relax might prefer to explore the mix of boutiques, antique shops and restaurants in the downtown area. This will be the first time Elizabeth City has hosted the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
What Does My Registration Fee Include?
- Indoor and outdoor camping facilities with indoor bathrooms
- Electronic cue sheets & route maps
- Access to Ride with GPS premium membership features including voice commands and GPS downloads
- Rest Stops with a variety of snacks & beverages including BODYARMOR Sport Water with electrolytes, BODYARMOR Sports Drink, apples, bananas, Clif Bars, Kind Bars, pickle cups, fig bars, sodas, Sweet 'N Salty trail mix and Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches
- Clearly marked routes
- SAG (Support and Gear) Support
- Catered meal at the Coastal Ride Social
- Fat Tire Beverage Gardens and local entertainment & activities
- Portable restrooms at rest stops and at camp
- Shower facilities at camp
- Mechanical support at rest stops and camp
- Access to the Cycle NC mobile app
CLICK HERE for more FAQs!
Routes & Format
The Coastal Ride is a loop ride event, with routes beginning and ending at Mid-Atlantic Christian University (715 N Poindexter St) along the Pasquotank River. Friday, Saturday and Sunday offer multiple route options ranging from 5 miles to 100 miles, depending on the day. Routes will traverse through Camden, Sligo, Mayock, South Mills, Nixonton, Hertford, Belvidere and Gatesville among others. There are may points of interest on the routes, including the Great Dismal Swamp, Merchants Millpond State Park, the Pasquotank River, the North River Gameland, downtown Hertford and downtown Gatesville to name a few. The best part about the Coastal Ride format is that the routes begin and end from the same location, so there's no hassle of moving camp each day!
For more information on the routes, CLICK HERE.
About Elizabeth City
Located on a narrow bend of the Pasquotank River, Elizabeth City, NC, is a small town with a historic past. Founded in 1793, the town's businessmen helped construct the Great Dismal Swamp canal, which was integral to the success of Elizabeth City's commerce. As the seat of Pasquotank County, the town was established as a thriving deep-water port and powerful regional economic center based on industries such as lumbering, shipbuilding, grain export and fish and oyster processing by the mid 1800s. During World War II, one of the largest Coast Guard stations in the United States was constructed in Elizabeth City, and it is still there today. With numerous buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and plenty of museums and historic sites, Elizabeth City encourages heritage tourism. The downtown has many restaurants, breweries and wineries ready for your arrival as well.
For more information about Elizabeth City, NC, CLICK HERE.
About the Organizers
The Coastal Ride is organized by North Carolina Amateur Sports (NCAS), a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1983. NCAS created Cycle North Carolina in partnership with Visit North Carolina, Capitol Broadcasting Company and the N.C. Department of Transportation in 1999. In addition to the Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride, NCAS organizes the Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Ride, the Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride and the BODYARMOR State Games annually.