2019 Kentucky Century Challenge and
Kentucky Cycling Challenge
Presented by Ale-8-One

Kentucky Century Challenge logo

 

Kentucky Cycling Challenge logo

 

 

Red Bud
Horsey Hundred
The Bourbon and Bluegrass Ride
Limestone Cycling Tour

2019 will be the 7th year for the Kentucky Cycling Challenge. We welcome back Ale-8-Oneｮ as our Presenting Sponsor, Capitol Bicycle Company from London, Kentucky will be our Platinum Sponsor. Our Gold Level Sponsor is now the Owensboro/Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Our Silver Sponsors are: the Mason County/Maysville Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Mason County Fiscal Court and London Downtown. In addition, we’re pleased to welcome back our Kentucky Century Challenge Supporter: the Cumberland Valley Cycling Club.

We are also thrilled to announce that we will be offering the Ale 8 Ambassador program for the 2nd year! 20 lucky cyclists will be selected to serve as 2019 Ale-8-One Cycling Ambassadors. Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn more about it, and to submit your application if you love Ale-8 and want to be an Ambassador

Registration for all of the Challenges and the Ale-8-One Ambassador Program is free, but to be a part of our Challenges for 2019 you must register in advance online. See below for more details and for the link to register.

You must still register and pay for each of the participating rides separately.

The Details

The Kentucky Century Challenge and Metric Century Challenge will provide an opportunity for cyclists completing all four of the century rides or metric century rides sponsored by the collaborating organizations to obtain a free Kentucky Century Challenge or Kentucky Metric Century Challenge jersey. Cyclists completing all four centuries or metric centuries will also receive a free pair of matching shorts or bibs.

The Kentucky Cycling Challenge will provide a free jersey to cyclists completing at least 185 miles, and participating in at least 3 of the 4 partner events.

We also have a new jersey vendor this year - Artletic Apparel. To learn more about them, visit their website. Since they are a new vendor, we will have fit kits at the last two rides so that participants can determine the appropriate size to order.

There are four participating rides - A brief description and dates for each ride are listed below.

We will offer three challenges and jerseys in 2019:

The Century Challenge (400 mile challenge): Register and ride all 4 centuries and earn a free jersey and bibs or shorts.

The Metric Century Challenge (250 mile challenge): Register and ride all four participating rides and accumulate at least 250 miles and earn a free jersey and bibs or shorts Note: Although we thought of this as cyclists completing the metric centuries at all four rides, and the jersey logo says “metric century challenge” you may also decide to accrue your 250 miles in a different way, starting with shorter mileage in the early rides and finishing with longer mileage in the later rides.

The Cycling Challenge (185 mile challenge): Register and ride over 185 miles in any combination of at least three out of our four rides, and earn a free Cycling Challenge jersey. Cyclists earning the Challenge jersey will have the opportunity to purchase matching bibs or shorts at our cost.

Registration for the free jerseys and possibly bibs or shorts is limited to the first 600 registrants. Registration will remain open if we reach the 600 registrant limit (until the closing date) and anyone who registers after we hit 600 registrants and earns a jersey will have the opportunity to purchase any jersey they earn at our cost.

The ONLY way to get one of these jerseys is to earn one!

Our Sponsors

The Kentucky Century Challenge and the Kentucky Cycling Challenge would not be possible without the generous support from our sponsors.

Please take time to read the information below about our sponsors, and be sure to thank them by visiting their communities, patronizing their businesses and using their products when you can.

They support the Challenges because they believe in cycling and cyclists and we truly appreciate their support!

 

Presenting Sponsor

 

Ale-8-One

We don't cater to the common. We don't run on a beaten path.
Confident that being made from scratch is the only way.
Loyal, steady, and proudly unconventional since 1926, our history is inspiration for the future. We have our own crisp, clean taste.
For those who share our independent, pioneering spirit and our discontent with the common can, we raise an Ale-8, the drink for those who find their own flavor. Find out more.

 

Platinum Sponsor

 

Capitol Bicycle Company

Our home is in London, KY, the official home of cycling in Kentucky. Let us charm you with our Southern hospitality as you become part of the Capitol family. We could bore you with details about how we use the best materials, how we have the technical backing of a team of qualified engineers and enough machinery to build a space shuttle, but why would we? What we really want is for you to hold your frame and feel that exceptional creation. To look at the meticulous welds, the beautiful custom paint and know that you have made the perfect choice.

We want you to be part of the Capitol family for life.

Visit us at www.capitolbicycles.com

Follow us on Facebook - https://business.facebook.com/CapitolBicycles/

 

Gold Sponsor

 

Owensboro/Daviess County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

Owensboro is Kentucky’s home for barbecue, bourbon and bluegrass music. Owensboro’s barbecue is a magnet for lovers of smoky pork, chicken and a distinctive regional favorite, mutton. Kentucky bourbon is produced in Owensboro at The O.Z. Tyler distillery, a facility built in 1885 offering daily tours and tastings. Owensboro is famous for ties to bluegrass music and is home to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Set in a sweeping bend of the mighty Ohio River, the centerpiece of Owensboro’s downtown is the six-block-long Smothers Park, with multiple performance venues, a riverside promenade, benches and swings for watching the river traffic, multiple fountains, a cascading waterfall and one of the largest fully handicapped-accessible playgrounds in the US. For more information, go to www.visitowensboro.com.

 

Silver Sponsors

 

Maysville-Mason County Tourism

Maysville-Mason County Convention & Visitor's Bureau is proud to continue to sponsor the KY Century Challenge, hosted by the Limestone Cycling League in Maysville, KY.

This event allots participant a unique way to discover our scenic town, rural roads and charming river valley. From the persepective of a bike you can experience our rich history, inspiring landscape and hospitatliy.

We take pride in having a healthy and vibrant community and events like this have a huge impact on not only our economy, but the participants, volunteers and visitors as well.

Maysville-Mason County CVB
Lacey Holleran
Tourism Director

 

The Mason County Fiscal Court

Mason County Fiscal Court members are excited and proud for Limestone Cycling League's success in becoming a participant in the Kentucky Century Challenge. As a Silver level sponsor we anticipate your visit to Mason County and will make every effort for a very enjoyable and memorable event.What a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful area.
Thank you Kentucky Century Challenge and Limestone Cycling League!
For more information: http://www.masoncountykentucky.us/

Warmest Regards,
Joe Pfeffer
Mason County Judge Executive

 

London Downtown

London Downtown, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established to enhance downtown London economic environment as a center of commerce while maintaining the character and integrity of the city central business district as an attractive place to live, work, and visit. London Downtown, Inc. is an accredited member of the Kentucky Main Street Program. The Kentucky Heritage Council developed the Kentucky Main Street Program to assist Kentucky communities with revitalization efforts in their downtown areas.

For more information: http://londonkydowntown.com/

 

Kentucky Century Challenge Supporter

 

Cumberland Valley Cycling Club - CVCC

 

Our Partner Rides

All participating rides are fundraisers for the sponsoring organizations. Each event features multiple route distances, making the events suitable for a wide variety of riders.

The Redbud Ride
Presented by London Downtown
London, KY
April 13, 2019

The first event of the 2019 Kentucky Cycling Challenge is the Redbud Ride. The Redbud Ride starts in beautiful downtown London, KY and stretches throughout the surrounding areas. The Redbud Ride attracts about 1,400 cyclists from across the country.

The routes for the Redbud Ride pass through some of the most beautiful scenery in Kentucky. The routes are filled with blooming redbud and dogwood trees! This ride is a must-do for cycling enthusiasts. Our rest stops are always a party, thanks to our wonderful volunteers & host locations! The Redbud Ride offers five route options ranging from almost flat 23 miles to the challenging 100 mile route.

Our 100 mile route was chosen by Active.com as “The Best Century Ride in America.” Riders receive a complementary pancake breakfast, live music after the ride, pre-ride and post-ride parties, a post-ride meal and the always special Redbud Ride t-shirt.

The Horsey Hundred
Presented by the Bluegrass Cycling Club and hosted by Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY
Georgetown, KY
May 24-25, 2019

The second “leg” of the 2019 Kentucky Cycling Challenge is the Horsey Hundred.

The event features a large vendor expo, live music and local food trucks on Friday evening. The rides on Saturday and Sunday feature multiple marked routes ranging in distance from 26 miles to the signature 100-mile century on Saturday. Both days, riders will be provided with maps, SAG support and lunch after the ride. Last year, the ride had participants from 27 different states, including large groups from Michigan and the Chicago area, as well as a large group from Ontario, Canada.

Challenge participants can combine mileage for both days of the Horsey Hundred provided that the combined total that a rider may receive credit for cannot exceed 100 miles. Register Now!!!

The Bourbon & Bluegrass Ride
Presented by Bicycle Owensboro,
Owensboro, KY
August 3, 2019

Celebrating their fourth year, the ride benefits Dream Riders of Kentucky, Inc. (http://dreamridersofky.org), a non-profit organization founded in 2003 that offers equine assisted activities and therapies to individuals of all ages who have special needs. Along with the full and metric centuries, there is also available a 33-mile ride. Our rides offer a few rolling hills and many miles of flat, rural roads through scenic western Kentucky including spectacular views of the Ohio and Green Rivers.

On Friday evening, there will be an early packet pick up with a mixer at O. Z. Tyler Kentucky Bourbon Distillery of Owensboro.

Friday nights in Owensboro have lots of entertainment on the waterfront which includes Friday After 5 (a free, fun, family friendly concert and street fair festival).

Limestone Cycling Tour
Presented by Limestone Cycling Tour, Inc.
Maysville, KY
September 7, 2019

The Limestone Cycling Tour will be the final ride in the lineup which will mark the 11th year for the annual charity ride. In 2018 organizers reported hosting over 400 cyclists from 13 states and 2 countries. Participants will enjoy the beautiful rolling hills surrounding Maysville, Mason County and many other communities in the area on the little-traveled back roads. Four routes are offered including a challenging century, metric century or the 40- and 25-mile loops. Routes are fully supported with surprise themes at the SAG stops staffed by community volunteers. After a fun and challenging day on the road, cyclists can expect to listen to some local music talent or take advantage of special offers at a few local eateries. It is some of the best cycling in Northern Kentucky not to be missed! Register Now!!!

Challenge Registration Information

One Registration for all three Challenges - Registration for all challenges is combined so you don’t have to decide at the time of registration which challenge you’re accepting.

The jersey you earn will be determined after all of the rides, based on the mileage you log at each ride when you check in.

Registration Window - Registration is open from January 15, 2019 through midnight on April 5, 2019.

Free Jersey Registration Cap - The first 600 people to register for the Challenges will have the opportunity to earn one of the free or discounted jerseys.

Registrants beginning with number 600 and beyond can still earn a jersey (remember the only way to get a jersey is to earn one!) however the jersey must be purchased at our cost.

 

REGISTER FOR THE CHALLENGES HERE!

 

All registrants will receive an e-mail the Wednesday or Thursday before each ride with instructions about where to check in and what information must be provided.

  • If you change your e-mail address, please let us know or you may not receive communications from us.
  • Please configure your inbox so e-mails from kycyclingchallenges.com will not go to your junk mail (since we send to a large list when we send out our pre-ride e-mails, the messages often get diverted to junk).

 

Thanks to all who registered for joining us in 2019 - May you all earn a jersey!

Announcing the 2019

 

Ale 8 One Ambassador Program

Do you love Ale-8-One?

Do you want to be among the first 20 people EVER to rock an Ale-8-One Cycling Jersey?

 

If so, you may be in luck! New for 2019, the Kentucky Cycling Challenges and Ale-8-One are launching the Ale-8-One cycling ambassador program.

Here’s how it works:

  • You must register for the Kentucky Cycling Challenges with an honest intention to complete at least 4 of the rides
  • You must apply to be an Ale-8-One ambassador before midnight on February 5, 2019 - using this application
  • After registration closes, we will select 20 lucky applicants to be our 2019 ambassadors based on responses to our questions, and geographic distribution - Our ambassadors will be invited to join the team by February 12th and the team will be announced on February 16th on our websites and social media sites
  • Each Ambassador will receive an Ale-8-One jersey and will be expected to wear the jersey during our events, and at other rides
  • Each person selected as an Ambassador will be required to sign an agreement of intention - Don’t worry, we understand that things happen that cause plans to change - we just want to make sure that our Ambassadors have an honest intention to participate in our rides. Ambassadors will also be required to allow us to take photos of them in their jerseys, and to use those photos on the Ale 8 and Challenge social media sites and any print advertising or promotions either entity may do.
  • All that we ask in return is that our Ambassadors wear their jerseys proudly while riding their bikes and drinking Ale-8-One!
  • Ambassadors will receive their jerseys at the Redbud Ride

Feel free to contact us