Cliff Davis
We were shocked and saddened by the death of Cliff Davis. He apparently suffered a heart attack about two miles into the Metric Century that he and his wife, Lisa, were riding on a tandem. Cliff received immediate medical attention, first from a doctor/cyclist who happened to be riding a bit behind him, and then from the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad, which was on the scene within minutes. His collapse occurred on a short uphill stretch, so their speed at the time was not high and Lisa was not hurt in the fall.
Cliff and Lisa were experienced riders, and with their Seven tandem formed "Team Davis." They lived in Salem, SC, about 25 miles down the mountain from Cashiers. Everyone involved with Tour de Cashiers extends heartfelt condolences to Lisa and the rest of Cliff's family.
Thanks to Everyone Who Participated in the 2010 Tour de Cashiers We had 170 riders, including about 30 Blue Ridge Double riders. The weather cooperated, with comfortable temperatures throughout. After a light drizzle at the start, riders had dry roads and mostly cloudy conditions until late afternoon, when the drizzle returned for the later finishers among the 100-milers. It was a great group of riders, volunteers and sponsors. Thanks to all for making the event possible. Check back later this year when we will post the date for the 2011 edition of the Tour de Cashiers.
For 2010, we offer the same great routes we’ve used for the past few years. Holding the Tour on a Saturday, and a few weeks later in the season, were popular with our 2009 riders, so we are keeping that schedule.
Early Spring in our mountains is a time of cool mornings, warm afternoons, wild flowers and flowering shrubs, and dramatic differences in leafing at different elevations – which our riders will experience along their courses. Summer residents begin returning, and the stores and restaurants are reopened. But the pace (and traffic) are at a lower level than in mid-Summer. In short, an ideal time for a solid, supported bike ride in the mountains, and for any non-riding family members to come visit also.
This year we have some special new features.
For the first time ever, we are offering a striking, top-quality Tour de Cashiers jersey, available here on our website. We’ll only have a limited number, so place your order early and don’t count on them being available the day of the ride. If we sell out, and the demand is there, we would order a second run, but don’t count on that either. Also, in the future the price will have to be higher because we won’t have any more of the sponsor dollars that are helping keep down the cost of the first batch. (Of course, we will continue to provide a TdeC t-shirt to all riders who register by the early registration cut-off date of April 17.)
Also new this year is The Blue Ridge Double, presented in cooperation with Issaqueena’s Last Ride. The ILR will be held one week before the Tour de Cashiers, April 24, from Walhalla, SC – our neighbor down the mountain. It explores the Blue Ridge foothills in each of its rides – 32, 61 and 100 miles. The two century rides also take on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, which rises sharply from the Piedmont outside Walhalla. All rides are through low-traffic rural and mountain landscapes. While at lower elevations and with a little less climbing, these are serious bike rides, and a great lead-in to the Tour de Cashiers and its exploration of the Heart of the Blue Ridge.
Together, the Tour de Cashiers and ILR provide two weekends of mountain immersion – great training for whatever else may be in your season’s riding plans, or just a wonderful time enjoying Spring in the mountains, up close on a bicycle.
If you register for The Blue Ridge Double, you save $5 off the cost of each ride individually (total savings of $10). And if you complete both Rides, we will give you a special beautifully monogrammed cap to memorialize your achievement.
You can register for The Blue Ridge Double (that is, both the TdeC and the ILR) with one Active.com transaction at http://www.active.com/cycling/walhalla-sc/blue-ridge-double-2010, or by using the special BRD registration form on our print-and-mail registration feature.
