TOUR RIDES
2012 HIGHLANDER CYCLE TOUR WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2012
The descriptions below are of the 2011 rides. Stay tuned for some revisions for this year.
THE RIDES
The annual Highlander Cycling Tour consists of a series of ride options on a Saturday in mid September. The rides are located in the scenic and hilly Finger Lakes region of upstate New York around the time of wine festivals and the beginning of fall foliage. The ride options include three challenging centuries, a hundred miler, metric and aproximately a double metric century, a very scenic and less challenging 100 mile century, an off-road mountain ride and an easy set of three courses ranging from 11 to 41 miles to suit a wide range of abilities. Despite the variety of ride routes, they are designed to share common sections so that cyclists on different rides can ride together and have common experiences. Tour routes take riders along lake shores, up hill tops with wide vistas, along scenic valleys, and wander through several small towns and hamlets. The Finger Lakes is a wine growing region and the route goes past many vineyards, usually located on east facing hillsides. The Tour is a charity event with proceeds above expenses donated to charities.
In addition to the Saturday Tour, there are optional time trial events on Friday afternoon; a 5 mile Mountain Prologue Individual Time Trial and a 22 mile Mountain Prologue Team Time Trial.
SAG stops are frequent and well stocked. Road rides, in addition to detailed maps and cue sheets, are well marked on paved roads with light vehicle traffic and the Mountain bike course has plenty of epic single track.
To keep the tour fresh and interesting, the ride routes are modified each year. The 2011 Highlander Cycle Tour continues its exploration of the scenic Finger Lakes visiting new hills, valley and lake shores. The Highlander is like no other tour out there. Come and see why.
In addition to our maps and cue sheets we provide links to our routes on Google maps as generated by Bike Route Toaster. This map route site, in addition to a map, cue sheet, and elevation profile, enables riders with GPS units on their bikes to download the routes. You can also download a KML file and use Google Earth for a virtual tour of the ride.
NOTE: Due to road work that is out of our control, we are going to have to eliminate the climb of Bills Road after Bopple (or you can climb/descend at your own risk). The tar/chip on Stid Hill is not set in enough on the downhill. This affects only the QH and DB4D riders. In addition, there is a 1 mile stretch of SR53 that has been milled in prep for paving. This section is passable and to avoid dozens of miles of rerouting/marking, we are going to ask you to bear with it through there. It's a mild downhill so you don't even have to pedal. Just take your time and it will be uneventful. Because of this section, we have also rerouted the Corkscrew 70 mile cutoff option to avoid this. There may be some other last minute route changes so please check the white board at the registration area for reroutes. All will be clearly marked on roads.
Below are brief descriptions of the 12th Highlander Cycle Tour rides with links to more detail.
Quads Hilla Centuries
For those seeking a climbing challenge one of these three rides is for you. The classic Highlander 100 mile century, renamed the Quads Hilla to remind you of what it is about, is back. This retooled challenging century combines most of the original climbs of the original Highlander in the Bristol Hills and Canandaigua Lake shores, with some of last years DB4D climbs plus some new climbs by visiting Keuka Lake with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing in 102 miles. This redesign enables two additional challenging centuries, a metric and a double metric to share much of the common route. Back also with the Quads Hilla is the classic 63 mile metric century, renamed the Quad Lite. It follows the the Quads Hilla route on the original climbs for 6,000 feet, skipping the Keuka Lake section. And, last but not least, to satisfy those seeking the extreme challenge, the 115 mile DB4D consists of the Quads Hilla route with an additional loop and challenging climb adding up to 11,000 feet of climbing.
Click here for more details, route map, cue sheet, ride summary, GPS file and Google Earth virtual tour KML file.
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Corkscrew Century
We received many accolades last year for this scenic course so we have kept all the best elements from that ride, dropping the short section on busy NY highway and replacing the route through Middlesex valley with the more scenic Italy valley. Also we modified the route from Prattsburg down to Branchport, choosing less traveled country roads with better views of Keuka Lake. You might want to bring a camera to save some of the scenic views if not a wine glass and stop along the way. In keeping with objective of this ride, it features the scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes while taking the gentlest route possible in this hilly terrain. It is a 100 mile ride, with a cumulative climb of about 6000 feet but nothing above 10%. You can also take shorter versions of 70 miles.
Click here for more details, route map, cue sheet, ride summary, GPS file and Google Earth virtual tour KML file.
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Yodeler
The Yodeler has been redesigned with two objectives in mind. To provide a sample of cycling in the Finger Lakes to the recreational cyclist not ready for a century ride and to provide friends and relatives of the century riders the option to ride the last five miles together.
The Yodeler Tour has three route options
that meander the Bristol Valley and Canandaigua Lake scene. The full 41 mile ride involves 2200 feet of climbing, with shorter options of 11 or 16 miles with less climbing, about 400 and 1000 feet repectively. They all have the Scenic Overlook rest stop on County Route 12 on their routes, with a great view of Canandaigua Lake as seen on our home page. At the rest stop the riders can meet up the century riders and ride together the last five miles. We’ve packaged as much vista and flat terrain as possible in these short but sweet rides. With just enough challenge to create that mountain-top experience, you’re sure to come away singing. Riders will enjoy the same amenities and many of the same scenic views as the longer riders.
See detailed information about the Yodeler Tour.
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MOUNTAINEER
For the mountain bike enthusiasts we offer a 30+ mile off-road challenge featuring 7,000 feet of climbing, including climbs up all of the areas 2,000 foot peaks. With renewed vigor and attention, the course will be well-marked and exciting with epic climbs, descents, and single track with the obligatory mud.
See detailed information about the Mountaineer Tour.
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PROLOGUE TIME TRIALS
The Friday Time trials offer two choices: The classic 5 mile Individual mountain time trial course features a gut wrenching 800 foot climb in the last mile. Or a two person Team Time Trial featuring two major climbs for a total 3000 ft in 22 miles ending with the same climb up Gannett Hill.
See detailed information about the Time Trial.
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HIGH TRI CHALLEGE
Want more challenge? Are you a triathlon enthusiast? You can receive a prize by completing a Highlander Century on Saturday and then on Sunday participating in the Finger Lakes Triathlon with prizes to the top M/F triathlon finishers. In addition to registering with the Highlander Tour, you need to separately register with the Finger Lakes Triathlon.
For details click on High Tri Challenge.
The results are in; 32 riders signed up for the High Tri Challenge and 22 completed. Congratulations for our winners:
Quads Hilla or DB4D and Olympic Tri:
Men – Doug Mauro, Pittsford, NY 2:33.23
Women – Bridget Baumer, Penfield, NY 3:14.43
Corkscrew and Sprint Tri:
Men – Bob Singer, Webster, NY 1:49.59
Women – Roseanne Jackson, Rochester, NY 1:55.51
Yodeler and Sprint Tri:
Men – Trevor Smith, Hilton, NY 1:28.26
Women –Amy Zeman, Rochester, NY 1:38.20
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