Update on Monday, September 28, 2020- The Grape Escape bike ride scheduled for October 17 and 18 has been canceled according to Terri Dennison with the Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce.
The organizers of the Grape Escape Bike Ride announced ealier this month that the metric century and half-century bicycle ride through Bladen County would take place on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 with a few adjustments to make the event safe during this year of COVID. However, the event has been canceled due to lack of participation.
Previous information before the cancellation announcement:
The Grape Escape Bike Ride has 2 loops connecting the county’s two wineries, Cape Fear Vineyards and Winery with Lu Mil Vineyards in Dublin. Both routes take riders through the scenic agricultural area.
“ We have heard from a few bicyclist that they are eager to get out for a ride, so we have expanded the event to two days this year to allow people to enjoy the scenery by doing both rides in a weekend,” Terri Dennison, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Town of Elizabethtown, said. “We are also taking precautions to allow a safe and enjoyable ride.”
For example, there will be a staggered start to the ride on Saturday. Bikers can start anytime between 10AM and noon. The starting and finishing line remains the same at the Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery. Bikers will be requested not to congregate in groups unless with members of their own household and to wear a mask while waiting for the ride to begin. Dennison added that riders should expect all the services from a rider aid and support to water stations along the ride.
Participants are encouraged to stay overnight and enjoy another ride or explore the Brown’s Creek Mountain Bike Park on Sunday. Primitive tent and RV camping is available for $20 per site at the Bike Park.
The cost of the ride is $45 per registrant and includes a t-shirt, meal ticket for Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery. On-line registration is available at https://www.bikereg.com/the-grape-escape and a downloadable registration form is available at the town’s website: https://www.elizabethtownnc.org/the-grape-escape .
This is the third year for the event, which organizers hope will highlight the increase interest in bicycling in the area. The Grape Escape is sponsored by the Town of Elizabethtown, Bladen County Community College (BCC) and the Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the ride support scholarships to BCC.
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