Get those green costumes ready: the 14th Annual Bike of the Irish is coming Saturday, March 20th, 2021
The Bike of the Irish (COVID-19 Edition)
Missing group rides? Want to win some bragging rights? We have a fix for all that! A Scavenger Hunt!
This page contains our event rules; pre-registration is required. This event is free but donations are encouraged!
THE EVENT PACKET, MAPS, CHECKPOINTS ARE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE. Get your day-of-ride info drop!
Pre-Register, Then Join Us:
The Bike of the Irish ‘21 (COVID 19 Edition) 12 pm – 4 pm
6 PM documentation deadline
Socially Distanced Scavenger Hunt Ride
Start Your Free & Simple Ride With GPS Account »
See and Download the Routes:
City Centric »
Cruiser »
Rough and Rowdy »
Checkpoint-style ride format
A checkpoint ride format means that riders will start from any location they desire, distributed across the City. All riders will get the checkpoint map at the same time. City Centric and Cruiser rides will also receive a turn-by-turn Ride With GPS route. Rough and Rowdy riders will determine their own routes based on their knowledge. All riders will choose will accumulate as many checkpoints as possible in the time limit, as per the event rules.
Some checkpoints are designated “Shenanigan Spot.” These checkpoints are mandatory and teams can anticipate festive antics at each one.
Teams and or individuals activate their complimentary AoB Ride With GPS Account and roll out to as many checkpoints as possible. At the end of their ride, pics from checkpoints are uploaded to their Ride With GPS route and a link to the published route must be emailed to AoB. Bonus points will be awarded to those who post pics to their social media accounts and tag Asheville on Bikes and hashtag #avlbike. Simply include your social media handles in your end-of-day email.
Your legendary ride awaits!
This free event is open to the public. Pre-registration is required but is free and easy.
This event is scaled to appeal to a variety of riders:
- Rough & Rowdy – Be prepared for a long day on all kinds of roads and mixed surfaces. In-depth local cycling route knowledge, a sense of adventure, and a well-charged device are requisite. Participants create their own route. You probably won’t even finish. (60+ miles)
- City Centric –Riders will be given a route to follow. Be prepared for a ride throughout the city highlighting mainstays and unique nooks and crannies of our community. This option was created in the likeness of our community ride series. It’s fun and lighted with an interesting twist and turn or two or three. Participants create their own route. (10 – 20 – 30+ miles)
- The Cruisers – Riders will be given a route to follow. Chill, flat ride mostly along the French Broad River. If you’re just getting back on a bike or looking for a relaxing pedal, this option is for you. Cruisers will receive a route map via our Ride With GPS Membership Account.
This is a ride-at-your-own-risk event. All participants need to recognize that Asheville lacks connected dedicated bicycle facilities and participants will be riding on our City’s roads, in traffic. This event is unlike other AoB rides in that we are not providing route finding signage, pedal patrol, or any on-route support.
What: Bike of the Irish (Covid-19 Edition) Checkpoint event w/ three routes to ride.
What do I need to participate?:
- Pre-Register here
- Bicycle in safe, working order
- Helmet required
- One team member designated to command the Ride With GPS and photo document arrival at the checkpoints. A well-charged device and battery backup is encouraged.
- A Social Media Account to post photos of each checkpoint/activity
When: Saturday, March 20th, 12 pm – 4 pm
Documentation deadline 6 PM
Where: In and around Asheville
How do I sign up?
- Individuals or teams must sign up in advance by filling out the registration form online by 5:00 pm Friday, Oct. 30. When you register, you’ll select your ride option.
- We strongly encourage participants to make a donation but entry is free.
How it works:
1 – Register in advance (free and required)
2 – Activate your free and simple Ride With GPS AoB Club account for turn-by-turn directions.
3 – Wear Green and start from home.
4 – On the morning of March 20 you will receive ride details. There are three distance options available: The Cruisers (Flat and easy), City Centric (10-20-30 Miles), and Rough and Rowdy (60+ Miles)
5 – All riders go at their own pace, choosing to check in at as many checkpoints as possible in the time limit, as per the event rules.
6 – Some checkpoints are designated “Shenanigan Spot.” These checkpoints are mandatory and teams can anticipate festive antics at each one.
7 – Turn in your route and photos by the 6 pm documentation deadline.
City Centric and Rough and Rowdy participants must collect all mandatory checkpoints and begin the event from wherever they are at 12pm. Cruiser participants are encouraged to begin the day in the River Arts District, Carrier Park, or Hominy Creek Greenway.
After receiving the list of checkpoints at 9 am on Saturday, March 20, plan your adventuring and ride out at 12 pm to collect as many checkpoints as you can before the afternoon deadline of 4 pm.
City Centric and Cruisers will receive a detailed Ride With GPS route map to assist with route planning and logistics. It’s our way of rolling out the welcome map to you.
Prepare yourself and your bike for a robust adventure. We recommend having a water bottle, snacks, and supplies to change a flat tire or deal with a mechanical. We’re your advocates, not your mamma. Be prepared.
Please follow any State or local Coronavirus rules that are in effect at the time of the ride. Masks are currently required indoors in Buncombe County. There are no indoor checkpoints on this ride, but it is a good idea to have a mask with you just in case you need it.
Rules of Play:
- Limit participation to a maximum of four people/team. Individual riders are welcome, too.
- Teams must adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
- Teams are required to ride together but at safe social distances. No divvying up the checkpoints
- Electric-assist bikes are allowed but you must disclose that your team is using one or more e-bikes in your end-of-day email; our awards will reflect assisted vs non-assisted rider accomplishments.
- Designate one member of your team to activate your complimentary AOB Ride With GPS AoB Membership Account, record your route, and photo-document checkpoint completion. Strava doesn’t count.
- Follow the Safe Habits of Riding
Photograph yourself with your teammates at checkpoints and post to Instagram and /or Facebook. Posts must be marked public, tagged @ashevilleonbikes & hashtagged #avlbike #BikeofIrish, and provide indisputable evidence that your team has arrived at a checkpoint on the map. Festive and flamboyant photos are encouraged. Please post all photos by 5 pm.
- When participants are finished or at the afternoon deadline, whichever comes first, one team member must send an email, based on which category you chose, to one of these email addresses:
- roughandrowdy@ashevilleonbikes.com
- citycentric@ashevilleonbikes.com
- cruiser@ashevilleonbikes.com
IN YOUR EMAIL, PLEASE TELL US:
- YOUR TEAM NAME
- Team Member names
- E-bike disclosure
- Link to your finished route on RWGPS, marked public
- Link to your social media account where you were posting
For examples of how a finished RWGPS route looks after a scavenger hunt event, with photos attached, examine the routes turned in by the winners from the September Fall Out event.
Post-ride note about tabulating results:
As you can imagine, tabulating the results will take a bit of time. Please expect an email announcing the winners of each category 1 week after the event. Winners will be posted on the Asheville on Bikes webpage—check out the winners from the Summer Cycle Scavenger Hunt here and get your creative juices flowing!
