Kentucky Cycling Challenge

Need a cycling goal for the year? Looking for new routes to tour beautiful scenery and communities across Kentucky? All while earning a free jersey, cycling shorts, or bibs?

You and your cycling friends can participate in the 2024 Kentucky Cycling Challenge (KCC) for FREE!

Bike Walk Kentucky is excited to organize the 2024 Kentucky Cycling Challenge (KCC) again this year! This challenge promotes and supports cycling events across the Bluegrass! Cruise through rolling hills, mountains, and plains like 1000s of other riders do each year pedaling the Commonwealth. Geared toward seasoned riders, the KCC includes five organized rides.

The Redbud Ride – April 20, London, KY

The Horsey Hundred – May 24 – 26, Georgetown, KY

The Licking Valley Century – June 22, Alexandria, KY

Rock The Crater Ride – August 3, Middlesboro, KY

Limestone Cycling Tour – September 7, Maysville, KY

All participating rides are independent fundraisers in their respective communities. Each event features multiple route distances, making the events welcoming for a wide variety of cycling enthusiasts. Registering for the KCC does not register you for the ride. You are required to register for participating rides using their ride registration.

The Kentucky Cycling Challenge provides an opportunity for registered participants to complete:

All five of the century or metric century rides sponsored by the participating rides and obtain a free Kentucky Cycling Challenge kit consisting of a jersey and matching bibs or shorts.
The Kentucky Cycling Challenge will provide a free jersey to cyclists completing at least 250 miles (400 kilometers) and participating in at least four of the five participating rides, and to cyclists who attend all five rides regardless of total miles ridden.
Cyclists who earn a jersey may also order and pay for matching bibs or shorts at our cost.
Cyclists completing at least 180 miles (300 kilometers) but participating in only three of the five rides will be offered the opportunity to purchase the Cycling Challenge jersey at the jersey cost plus shipping.

You must also register for the KCC to be eligible for the KCC jersey. Registration will be limited to 500. Registration will be open through May 26, 2024. Once the 500 free registration is reached registration will remain open, however, all registrants after registrant number 500 who earn a jersey or kit will be required to pay the cost of the items plus shipping to receive the items. Kentucky Cycling Challenge jerseys, shorts, and bibs are not otherwise available for sale.

After completing each ride, look for the KCC table at the finish line. You are required to check in at the KCC check-in table with proof of mileage. It is your responsibility to ensure your miles have been recorded.

We look forward to seeing you at the rides and cheering for your success!

All rides are rain or shine. The only exception is for hazardous weather or thunderstorms.

Ride Bios

April 20

REDBUD RIDE – LONDON, KY

Presented by London Downtown, the Redbud Ride is the first event of the 2024 Kentucky Cycling Challenge located in London, KY. The Redbud Ride was established in 2006. The ride is inspired by the Redbud trees that surround the routes during early spring. The Redbud Ride attracts professional and amateur cycling enthusiasts from across the country. The rest stops are always a party, thanks to our wonderful volunteers and host locations! The Redbud Ride offers four route options: a 24-mile flat course for beginners, a 34-mile at a casual pace for experienced riders, a 72-mile intermediate route mixed with short hills, and the 100-mile advanced route considered the pinnacle of the Redbud Ride. Active.com named the Redbud Ride “Century Ride of the Year.” Riders receive a registration goody bag, a post-ride meal voucher, and a special Redbud Ride t-shirt. Riders will also have the option of purchasing a unique Redbud Ride jersey.

Register at https://www.londonkydowntown.com/redbud-ride/

Contact us londonkydowntown@gmail.com

Follow us https://www.facebook.com/redbudride

May 24-26

THE HORSEY HUNDRED – GEORGETOWN, KY

Presented by the Bluegrass Cycling Club and hosted by Georgetown, KY – May 24 – 26, 2024. The second “leg” of the 2024 Kentucky Cycling Challenge is the Horsey Hundred. The event features a large vendor expo, live music and local food trucks. The Saturday ride features five route options ranging from approximately 25 miles to the signature 100 miles. The Sunday ride has four route choices ranging from approximately 25 – 75 miles. Both days, riders will be provided with maps, rest stops, SAG support, and post ride meals. The Horsey Hundred expects to draw over 2,500 riders from much of the United States and many from Canada.

Register at https://horseyhundred.com/

Contact us https://horseyhundred.com/contact-us

Follow us https://www.facebook.com/HorseyHundred

June 22

THE LICKING VALLEY CENTURY – ALEXANDRIA, KY

Presented by the Cincinnati Cycle Club. The Licking Valley Century will begin near Alexandria, Kentucky in Campbell County and travel through Pendleton, Bracken, and Robertson counties. Enjoy the beauty and challenge of riding the ridge tops and valleys of Northern Kentucky. Come and see the beautiful shaded valleys and amazing vistas while pedaling along roads with very little traffic. Routes offered include a challenging 103-mile century route, a 65-mile metric century, and 41 and 29-mile loops. Our routes will have SAG support and fully stocked rest stops with a local flair to quench your thirst and foods to energize you throughout the ride. After you complete your ride, relax and enjoy a tasty meal and cold beverage. Event proceeds benefit the Henry Hosea House in Newport, KY, a wonderful local food bank that served over 48,000 meals in 2020.

Register for the race HERE!

Contact us: Lickingvalleycentury@gmail.com

Follow the race on Facebook HERE!

August 3

ROCK THE CRATER – MIDDLESBORO, KY

Rock the Crater Ride is a fundraiser hosted by and benefiting First Priority, a non-profit 501(c)3. The ride begins and runs all the way through downtown Middlesboro before journeying to the backroads through the beautiful scenic hills and hollows of Eastern Kentucky with minimal traffic. Many the roads run beside creeks that are lined with trees, offering shade along the way. Rock The Crater has four different routes to accommodate everyone from a beginner to an avid cyclist with distances of 21 miles, 38 miles, 59, and a full century. All of our routes will run through part of the historical Cumberland Gap National Park.

Register by clicking HERE!

Contact us by clicking HERE!

Follow on Facebook HERE!

SEPTEMBER 7

LIMESTONE CYCLING TOUR – MAYSVILLE, KY

Organized by the Limestone Cycling League and the Maysville Rotary Club, four routes, each with varying degrees of challenge, provide a challenging alternative for almost any level of training. Each is almost entirely on curvy, lightly traveled back roads where cyclists can experience the beauty of the rolling hills surrounding Maysville and Mason County.