Mountains of Misery & Wilderness Road Ride
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East Coasters Mountains of Misery

The 2010 Mountains of Misery is SOLD OUT! There will be no event day registration. If you missed out this year, please consider doing the Wilderness Road Ride on Saturday, May 29 — we’ve brought back the challenging, 78 mile route!

Mountains of Misery Challenge Century Logo

Are you ready to climb?

East Coasters’ Mountains of Misery ride takes place Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (May 30, 2010).  There are 2 route options:

  • The Challenge Century is 104 miles, with 10,000′ of climbing.
  • The Double Metric Century is 200 kilometers, or 125 miles, with over 13,000′ of climbing.

Don’t worry — or maybe, worry — both routes finish with the 5 kilometer, Category 1 climb to Mountain Lake, with an average grade of 11.9%, and sections up to 16%!

Mountains of Misery Century Elevation Profile

Century elevation profile - click for a larger image

Mountains of Misery Double Metric Century Elevation Profile

Double Metric Century elevation profile - click for a larger image

You will receive a detailed map and cue sheet with your registration packet.

Gearing

Every year we get questions about gearing. A few points:

  • If you are at all unsure of your ability to climb steep grades for long distances, use a triple. Compact doubles (34-50, etc.) are a good solution too.
  • If you insist on using a standard double (39-53), put the biggest gear on the back that you can. Even fit, professional racers would use a 25t gear in the back. Flatlanders beware!
  • The final climb to Mountain Lake is a lot harder with over 100 miles on your legs already.

Consider this fair warning!

Special Ride Features

The post-ride BBQ at the finish area is the perfect place to recover, refuel, and relax, and cheer on the other riders as they finish.

To help ease your pain, massage therapists will be at the finish area, offering post-ride massages.

Important Rider Information

Download and print the 2010 Cyclist Information Guide (PDF).

The ride starts at 7:00 AM sharp. Be considerate — we cannot have late arrivals driving through everyone else’s start. Please arrive early!

We will repeat the starting procedure from 2009, where riders will be released in waves separated by two minutes. Your finish time will be adjusted accordingly.

The shoulder of Route 42 will be closed by VDOT. Please do not park on the shoulder of the road. Volunteers will be directing you to park at the Rec Center, and the overflow lot at the Newport Ballfield, just a quarter mile down the road. There is plenty of parking at these locations.

See our Directions page for detailed driving directions, or download our directions sheet (PDF).

No personal SAG vehicles are allowed.  If we discover you have a personal SAG vehicle, your finish time will not be recorded or posted, and you will not receive the famous Finisher’s Shirt!

Only ride finishers will receive the famous Finishers Shirt!

Mountains of Misery is not a race! All traffic laws, signals, and signs must be obeyed.

Because of time considerations, there is a 4:30pm cut-off time at the Newport Rec Center, before the final climb to Mountain Lake. No rider may proceed past this point after 4:30pm. The finish line closes at 6:00pm. Riders who don’t think they can finish by 6:00pm should quit at Newport.

There is no parking at the finish area for riders, family members, or spectators. Please park in Newport, and use the shuttles to get to the finish area.

Driving Directions

The ride starts at the Newport Recreation Center in Newport, just west of Blacksburg. See our Directions page for more detailed directions, and maps, or download our directions sheet.

Again, please don’t be late! We cannot have late arrivals driving through everyone else’s start.